UBI PRIMUM (On the Duties of
Bishops)
Pope
Benedict XIV
Encyclical of Pope Benedict XIV promulgated on December 3, 1740.
To Our Venerable Brothers, the Patriarchs, the
Primates, the Archbishops, and the Bishops.
Venerable Brothers, Greetings and Apostolic
Benediction.
When it first pleased God to raise Us to the
supreme See of Saint Peter, He entrusted to Us the power of the Vicar of Christ
as governor of His universal Church. We heard the divine voice:
"Feed my lambs; feed my sheep." The
care of both the lambs of the Lord's flock (who are the people scattered
through the entire world) and of the sheep, (the bishops who act as tender
parents of the lambs) is entrusted to the pope. Therefore, brothers, receive
the words of your shepherd through this letter. You are called to share in Our
concerns. Understand from Our warnings and exhortations how much the desire to
fulfill Our duties presses upon Us. Keep in mind also the strength of Our love
for you, which leads Us to earnestly desire the eternal joy of the shepherds
which comes from the progress of the flock.
Importance of Clergy
Above all, see to it that the clergy excel in
character and in zeal for divine worship and that ecclesiastical discipline is
kept in good condition or restored where it has suffered. The example of
dedicated clerics is the best inspiration for the faithful. Therefore, direct
the keenness of your mind so that those men are chosen for the clergy from whom
it can reasonably be expected that their lives will command respect from all
who walk in the law of the Lord and who go from virtue to virtue. Their work
will bring spiritual benefit to your churches. It is better to have a few
ministers who are upright and effective, than many who labor in vain to build
up the Church. You are aware of how much caution the holy canons require the
bishops to exercise in this matter. Do not allow yourselves to be led away from
this rule, which should be observed in its entirety, by any human consideration
or by the requests of patrons. Observe the precept of the Apostle not to
conduct the laying on of hands too hastily-especially when it concerns the
promotion to the sacred mysteries and Holy Orders. Attaining the age which the
holy laws of the Church have prescribed for each order is not sufficient.
Neither should everyone who is now in lower orders be indiscriminately promoted
to a higher order, as if it is his right. You should diligently investigate
whether the way of life of those in lower orders and their progress in sacred
learning are such that it may be said to them: "Rise to a higher
place." It is more expedient for some to remain in an inferior position,
rather than be promoted to a higher one, which would bring danger to them and
scandal to others.
Seminaries
2. Because this matter concerns those who are
called to the Lord's portion, you should take care to educate them to piety,
integrity of life, and to the canonical discipline from an early age. Where
there are still no seminaries, they should be established as soon as possible.
Where seminaries exist already, they should be enlarged if it is necessary due
to the increased number of students. The bishops have already been instructed
in the means to use to that end. We shall add other things to these
instructions if We learn of their necessity from you. You should cherish these
colleges with special concern by visiting them often, by studying the life,
talent, and progress in studies of each of the young men, and by appointing
suitable teachers and men endowed with an ecclesiastical spirit. Honor their
literary exercises and their ecclesiastical functions with your presence
occasionally. Finally, confer some benefice on those who are outstanding
examples of virtue or who win the greatest honors. It should not grieve you to
water these tender shoots in this manner as they mature. Your work will then
bring you a happy harvest in an abundance of good laborers. Bishops usually
complain that the harvest is indeed great, but the laborers are few. Perhaps it
also ought to be lamented that the bishops did not expend the necessary efforts
in order to prepare enough good laborers for the harvest. Good and strong
laborers are not born, but made. But the making of them is a matter for the
work and the skill of the bishops.
Selecting Clerics
3. It is of the utmost importance that you
entrust the care of souls to exemplary men who are conspicuous for their
doctrine, piety, purity, and good works. They should truly be and should be
considered the light and the salt of the people. These men are your principal
aides in forming the flock entrusted to your care, governing it, purifying it,
leading it in the path of salvation, and rousing it to Christian virtue. You
should choose as parish priests men who may be judged suited to the fruitful
governing of people. Concentrate on this matter above everything else, so that
all those who exercise the care of souls may nourish the people entrusted to
them with salutary words at least on Sundays and other feast days. They should teach
those things which the faithful must know for their salvation and explain the
main principles of divine law and Catholic dogma. They should also teach the
children the basics of that same faith once they have completely removed any
wicked habits contrary to it. How can the people hear if there is no one to
preach to them? How can they know the faith and lead holy lives if the men who
have the care of their souls are sluggish, idle, or remiss? It is impossible to
overstate the tremendous threat to the Christian community which arises when
those who have care of men's souls neglect the training of the young,
especially their catechetical instruction. Those who exercise this office and
others who hear confessions would benefit greatly if you could see to it that
they have a few days rest each year for spiritual exercise. They will be
spiritually renewed by such a retreat and strengthened from on high. They will
return to their tasks quickened and eager to work for the glory of God and the
salvation of souls.
Necessity of Residency
4. You know, brothers, that the divine precept
commands all pastors to know their sheep and to nourish them by preaching, by
the administration of the sacraments, and by the example of every good work.
Those priests are by no means able to fulfill these or the other duties of the
pastoral office who neither look after their flock nor assiduously guard the
Lord's vineyard, over which they have been placed as watchmen. Therefore, you
should remain at your post and maintain your personal residence in the church
or diocese to which you have been bound by the duty of your office. The many
decrees of the general councils and the constitutions of Our predecessors
clearly commanded this.
Do not consider it appropriate for a bishop to
be absent from his diocese for any reason for a period of three months each
year. For this to be permitted to bishops, it is necessary that there be a
compelling reason requiring such an absence. At the same time, it should be
determined that no harm would come to the flock in the interim. Remember that
He who sees and knows everything will be your judge. Therefore, see to it that
your reason is truly one which can be judged worthy by the Prince of the
shepherds who will demand an account of the sheep entrusted to you. Certainly a
shepherd would try in vain to protect himself in that judgment with the excuse
that the wolf captured and devoured the sheep while he was away and unaware. If
we consider the matter carefully, it is apparent that the evil which besets a
diocese abandoned by its bishop can be attributed to him whose duty it is to
recall his subjects who stray from the right path with warnings, to entice them
with examples, to strengthen them by word, and to keep them together by his
authority and love. In addition, everyone understands that it is much better
for others to take care of business elsewhere than for the bishop himself,
tarrying outside his diocese, to do so. The bishop, and not administrators,
should take care of the protecting and the governing of the flock. As suitable
and upright as the priests may be, nevertheless the sheep are not accustomed to
hearing the voice of the priests as the voice of the true shepherd. Nor can
their vicarious work substitute for the vigilance and the work of the bishop,
to whom the special grace of the Holy Spirit gives assistance for this matter,
as experience clearly shows.
Visitation
5. As in every domestic matter, there is
nothing more beneficial than for the head of the family to examine everything
frequently and nourish the labor and diligence of his family with his own
vigilance. We therefore enjoin upon you the obligation of visiting your
churches and dioceses yourselves (unless a serious matter arises which requires
you to entrust this duty to others) order to acquaint yourselves with your
sheep and with the appearance of your flock. That sentence which we recalled
above is full of fear and terror: namely that no excuse is allowed to the
shepherd if the wolf devours the sheep and the shepherd does not know it. The
bishop will be unaware of many things and many things will be hidden from him
if he does not visit every part of his diocese himself and if he does not look,
listen, and examine everywhere for which evils a remedy may be prepared. He
should probe the causes of those evils and then take preventive measures lest
they come to life again. The condition of human weakness is such that thorn
bushes, prickles, and weeds grow gradually in the Lord's field, the cultivation
of which is entrusted to the bishop. If the gardener does not return frequently
to pluck them out, his seedlings will wither with the passage of time.
But neither is it sufficient that you examine
your dioceses and that there is provision for the administration of the
dioceses by your precepts. It remains that you put into effect those things
which were decided during your visitations. For even the best laws are
worthless unless that which is sanctioned in words is actually executed by
those to whom this task falls. Therefore, after you have prepared remedies to
cast out or prevent diseases of the soul, do not relax your concern. Rather,
promote with all your strength the execution of the precepts you decreed. You
can achieve this best through repeated visitations.
Exhortation
6. Finally, to cover many matters in a few
words, it is fitting that you yourselves be the promoters, the leaders, and the
teachers in every sacred and ecclesiastical function and in every exercise of
divine worship and of piety. Thus, both the clergy and the whole flock may be
enlightened, as if by the brightness of your holiness and may be warmed by the
fire of your love. Therefore, be an example for your flock in the frequent
celebration of the Mass, in devout offering, in solemn celebration of Masses,
in administering the sacraments, in reciting the breviary, in respect for and
in the splendor of the churches in the discipline of your household and of your
spiritual family, in love for the poor and in helping them, in looking after
the sick and supporting them, in welcoming pilgrims with hospitality, and
finally in every good work of Christian virtue. Thus, all may be imitators of
you just as you are imitators of Christ as is fitting for bishops whom the Holy
Spirit placed in charge of the Church of God which Jesus redeemed by His blood.
Look back often on the apostles to whose place you have succeeded. Follow in
their footsteps in works, in vigilance, in bearing hardship, in keeping the
wolves away from your sheep, in removing the roots of vices, in teaching the evangelical
law, and in leading back to salutary penance those who have strayed.
The omnipotent and merciful God will surely be
with you. In that comforter, we can do everything. We trust that religious
princes will give you their help. In addition, this Holy See will assist you
whenever you think Our Apostolic authority will be helpful. May all of you whom
We love in Christ Jesus come to Us with confidence as
Our brothers, Our helpers, and Our crown of glory. Come to the Holy Roman
Church, your mother and the head and teacher of all the churches. The source of
religion comes from her. The rock of faith and the fount of priestly unity resides here, as well as the teaching of uncorrupted truth.
We desire nothing more and find nothing more pleasant than to serve the glory
of God with you and to work for the protection and the propagation of the
Catholic faith. We want to save souls for whom We would willingly offer Our
lives if necessary. Finally, may the great reward which waits for you rouse you
and spur you on. When the Prince of Shepherds appears, you will receive an
unfading crown of glory and a crown of justice which is reserved for those
faithful dispensers of the mysteries of God and for those energetic and
vigilant observers of the house of
Given in