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The history of the popes, from the close of the middle ages : drawn ...

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ESTABLISHMENT OF SEMINARIES. 211<br />

<strong>the</strong> observance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Tridentine decrees was <strong>the</strong> one and<br />

only cure for <strong>the</strong> wounds <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Church. ^<br />

If he exacted obedience <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> bishops for all <strong>the</strong> pre-<br />

cepts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Council, <strong>the</strong>re was one in particular which he<br />

insisted upon in <strong>the</strong>ir regard, which was fully in accordance<br />

with <strong>the</strong> wishes <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> assembly, namely <strong>the</strong> establishment<br />

<strong>of</strong> seminaries for <strong>the</strong> education <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> future clergy. ^ He<br />

frequently wrote that among all <strong>the</strong> ordinances <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Council<br />

none was so useful or so much in keeping with <strong>the</strong> needs <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> times as <strong>the</strong> decree about seminaries.^ It is true that in<br />

more than one diocese <strong>the</strong>re was a long delay before <strong>the</strong><br />

establishment <strong>of</strong> a seminary was brought about ; Pius V.<br />

<strong>the</strong>refore found himself obliged to send pressing exhortations<br />

to many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bishops,* and to o<strong>the</strong>rs, especially <strong>the</strong> ordinaries<br />

^ " Ad has igitur, quibus afflicta laborat ecclesia, tot tantasque<br />

plagas utcunque sanandas et ad iram Dei aliquo mode avertendam<br />

atque placandam unicum nobis remedium superest, diligens vide-<br />

licet ss. oecumenici concilii Tridentini decretorum custodia."<br />

(Christophoro episcopo Palentino, on February i, 1566, in Goub.\u<br />

3).<br />

" NuUum enim occurrit nobis, mentem nostram hue et illuc<br />

versantibus, aliud remedium ad ecclesiam ipsam in commodiorem<br />

et tranquilliorem statum redigendam, quam ut s. generale con-<br />

cilium Tridentinum . . . utique servetur " (to <strong>the</strong> Archbishop<br />

<strong>of</strong> Gran, February 11, 1566, ibid. 6).<br />

^ " Districte praecipimus ut ipsum concilium . . . observes ac<br />

praeter cetera illud de seminario in unaquaque ecclesia instituendo<br />

saluberrimum laudatissimumque decretum primo quoque tempore<br />

exequaris," (to <strong>the</strong> Bishop <strong>of</strong> Wiirzburg, January 23, 1566, in<br />

Laderchi, 1566, n. 223).<br />

" Obtestamur, ut <strong>of</strong>ficii vestri memores,<br />

cum alia, quae ... in ipso concilio statuta fuerunt, debita<br />

obedientia observare curetis, tum illud de clericorum seminario in<br />

unaquaque ecclesia instituendo," (to <strong>the</strong> Archbishop <strong>of</strong> Gran,<br />

February 11, 1566, in Goubau 7).<br />

* " Quo nihil utilius, nihil his temporibus ecclesiis opportunius<br />

neque accommodatius statui potuit " (Goubau 7).<br />

" Res ipsa<br />

declarat, nihil a concilio Tridentino providentius et utilius statutum<br />

fuisse," (to <strong>the</strong> Archbishop <strong>of</strong> Prague, July 23, 1568, ibid. 95).<br />

* Cf. <strong>the</strong> briefs to Prague and Gran already cited. *Exhortation<br />

on October 26, 1570, to <strong>the</strong> Grand Master <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Teutonic Order

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