III.
De residentia beneficiatorum, Dissertatio historico-canonica, quam ad gradum doctoris sacrorum canonum in academia Lovaniensi consequendum, conscripsit Ludovicus Henry, juris canonici Licentiatus. Lovanii, 1863 (238 pp).
This book contains eight chapters. The two first treat of general principles, and the remaining chapters discuss how far residence is obligatory upon cardinals, bishops, canons, parish priests, curates, and those holding simple benefices. Each chapter is ordinarily divided into two parts; the first treats of the ancient discipline, the second of modern discipline, such as the Council of Trent and the Apostolical Constitutions have made it. Dr. Henry has consulted good authorities: Thomassinus for the ancient law; the Decrees of the Sacred Congregations and the Roman Canonists have furnished him with principles to solve the various cases to which modern discipline has given rise. We omit to notice the obligations of cardinals, bishops, and canons in the matter. As to parish priests, the author has carefully made a collection of the decisions regarding their obligation to reside in their parishes. We shall be satisfied with citing such as bear upon really doubtful cases.
1. An Parochi, qui nocturno caeteroquin tempore resident apud suas ecclesias, possint, celebrata summo mane missa in dictis ecclesiis, se conferre ad civitatem, et in ea diurno tempore totius vel majoris partis anni commorari, licet apud dictas ecclesias adsint eorum substituti? Resp. Negative.
2. An parochus villae, in qua non est alius sacerdos, etiamsi nullus infirmetur, sine episcopi licentia, gratis ubique concedenda, abesse possit a parochia per duos, vel tres dies, nullo idoneo relicto vicario? Resp. Negative.
3. An saltem abesse possit a mane usque ad vesperas, et quid si hoc semel in hebdomada evenerit. Resp. Affirmative dummodo non sit die festo, et nullus adsit infirmus et raro in anno contingat.
4. Sacra Congregatio censuit parochum nec posse per hebdomadam abesse non petita, vel non obtenta licentia, etiam relicto vicario idoneo ab ipso Ordinario approbato.
"Dr. Henry's book" (says the editor of the Analecta, from which work we have drawn our notice of the work), "is valuable on account of its exactness and clearness. He has neither omitted nor treated superficially any important question, especially in the chapters concerning the residence of bishops and parish priests".