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A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

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§ 105. Foundation of Mediæval Culture and Schools 709That presbyters in their parishes shall bring up and instruct youngreaders in their houses. It was decided that all presbyters who areplaced in parishes should, according to a custom which we learnis very beneficially observed throughout Italy, receive youngreaders, as many as they have who are unmarried, into their [649]house where they dwell, and as good fathers shall endeavor tobring them up spiritually to render the Psalms, and to instructthem in the divine readings, and to educate them in the law of theLord, that so they may provide <strong>for</strong> themselves worthy successors,and receive from the Lord eternal rewards. But when they cometo full age, if any of them, on account of the weakness of theflesh, wish to marry, they shall not be denied the right of doingso.(e) II Council of Toledo, A. D. 531, Canon 1. Bruns, I, 207.Concerning those whom their parents voluntarily give in the firstyears of their childhood to the office of the clergy, we have decreedthis to be observed; namely, that as soon as they have beentonsured or have been given to the care of appointed persons,they ought to be educated by some one set over them, in thechurch building, and in the presence of the bishop. When theyhave completed their eighteenth year, they shall be asked by thebishop, in the presence of all the clergy and people, their willas to seeking marriage. And if by God's inspiration they havethe grace of chastity, and shall have promised to observe theprofession of their chastity without any necessity of marriage, letthese who are more desirous of the hardest life put on the mostgentle yoke of the Lord, and first let them receive from theirtwentieth year the ministry of the subdiaconate, probation havingbeen made of their profession, that, if blamelessly and withoutoffence they attain the twenty-fifth year of their age, they may bepromoted to the office of the diaconate, if they have been provedby their bishop to be able to fulfil it.…

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