or in commendam or under any other name whatsoever; seeing that he is to be accounted, exceedingly fortunate, to whose lot it has fallen to rule one church well and fruitfully, and unto the salvation of the souls committed to him. But they who now hold several churches contrary to the tenor of the present decree, shall be bound, retaining the one which they may prefer, to resign the rest, within six months if they belong to the free disposal of the Apostolic See, in other cases within the year; otherwise those churches, the one last obtained only excepted, shall, by the very fact [of their non-resignation] be deemed vacant.
CHAPTER III.
Benefices shall be conferred only upon competent Persons.
Inferior ecclesiastical benefices, especially those which have the cure of souls, shall be conferred upon persons worthy and competent, and who can reside on the spot, and exercise personally the said cure;. according to the constitution of Alexander III., in the Council of Lateran, which begins. Quia nonnulli; and that other of Gregory X., published in the general Council of Lyons, which begins. Licet Canon. A collation, or provision, made otherwise, shall be rendered wholly null: and let the ordinary collator know, that he will himself incur the penalties in the constitution of the general council[1], which begins, Qrave nimis,
CHAPTER IV.
The Retainer of several Benefices contrary to the Canons shall he deprived thereof.
"Whosoever for the future shall presume to receive, or to retain at the same time several cures, or ecclesiastical benefices otherwise incompatible, whether by way of union for life, or in perpetual commendam, or under any other name or title soever, contrary to the appointment of the sacred canons, and especially of the constitution of Innocent III., beginning, De multa, shall be by the very fact[2] deprived of the said benefices, according to the disposition of the said constitution, and also by virtue of the present canon.
