Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsTitus 1

Ordain Priests.

^[1] Though Priests or Bishops may be nominated and elected by the Princes, people, or Patrons of places, according to the use of the time and diversity of Countries and fashions, yet they cannot be ordered and consecrated but by a Bishop who was himself rightly ordered or consecrated before, as this Titus was by S. Paul. And here it seemeth that he did not only consecrate them whom the people had elected before, but himself also made choice of the persons, no mention being here made of any other election popular. ^[2] Which though it were long used in the primitive Church, yet for diverse causes and specially for continual tumults, partialities, and disorders. which S. Augustine much complaineth of in his time, was justly taken away, and other better means of their designment appointed. See Conc. Laodic. cap. 12. 13. S. August. de adult. coniug. li. 2. c. 20. Ep. 110. and Possid. in vita Aug. c. 8.

• 1 Priests must be consecrated by Bishops only.
• 2 The popular election of the Clergy taken away.

^[1]

And that the ordering of Priests or imposition of hands to that purpose, belongeth only to Bishops, and to no inferior Priests or other persons, it is plain by the Apostolic practice set down in the Scriptures, namely in the Acts, and in the Epistles to Timothee and Titus. And S. Hierom, who seemeth sometimes to say that in the primitive Church there was no great difference betwixt a Bishop and Priest, yet he ever excepteth giving Holy Orders, which preeminence he attributeth to Bishops only. ep. 85. as he doth also Confirming the Baptized by giving them the Holy Ghost through imposition of hand and holy Chrism. Dial. cont. Lucifer. c. 4. ^[2] Note also that Ærius was of old condemned of heresy, for holding that there was no difference betwixt a Priest and a Bishop. Epiph. hær. 75. August. hær. 53. ^[3] Note lastly the fraudulent translation of the Heretics, always turning for Priests (which here is evident to be a calling of Order and office) elders, saying, That thou ordain Elders. which in our vulgar tongue signifieth the age, and not the Office properly: and all this for hatred of Priests.

• 1 The preeminence of a Bishop above a Priest.
• 2 To put no difference between them is Ærius' heresy.
• 3 Heret. translation.

Of one wife.

^◦ To that which is said upon the like words 1 Tim. 3: add this testimony of S. Epiphanius li. 3. to. 2. cont. hæreses in fine. Holy Priesthood, saith he, for the most part proceedeth of Virgins: and if not of virgins, yet of them that live a sole or single life: but and if the single and sole persons suffice not to the Ministry, of such as contain from their wives, or after once marrying remain widows. For, him that hath been married twice, it is not lawful to take to Priesthood, &c. If you list to see the causes why bigamy is forbidden them that are to be Priests, and continency required of the Clergy, see the same author li. 2. to. 1. hæres. 59. S. Ambrose li. 1. Offic. c. 50. and upon 1 Tim. 3. S. Augustine de bono Coniugal. c. 18. S. Hierom ep. 50 c. 5 ad Pammachium, and against Iovinian li. 1 c. 19. S. Leo ep. 87. and other ancient authors.

^[1]

And if the studious reader peruse all antiquity, he shall find all notable Bishops and Priests of God's Church to have been single, or continent from their wives, if any were married before they came to the Clergy. So was S. Paul, and exhorteth all men to the like. 1 Cor. 7, 7. So were all the Apostles after they followed Christ, as S. Hierom witnesseth, affirming that our Lord loved John specially for his virginity. Apol. ad Pammach. c. 8. & li. 1 cont. Iovin. c. 14. S. Ignatius ep. 6 ad Philadelph. saith of the said John, and of Timothee, Titus, Evodius, Clement, that they lived and died in chastity, reckoning up of the old Testament diverse notable personages that did the same, as Elias, Jesus Nave (otherwise called Josue) Melchisedec, Elisæus, Hieremie, John Baptist. No man is ignorant that all the notable fathers of the Greek and Latin Church lived chaste: Athanasius, Basil, Nazianzen, Chrysostom, Cyprian, Hilarie (who entered into Holy Orders after his wife's death) Ambrose, Hierom, Augustine, Leo, Gregory the great. Certain other notable Fathers had once wives, but no holy men ever used them, much less married, after they were in Holy Orders. ^[2] A marvelous thing, that so many heretofore should have the gift of chastity then, and now so few, if the Protestants say true, that scarce one among them in our age of all their sects, even of their principal Superintendents, hath had it.

• 1 The notable men of both Testaments, that lived continently from wives.
• 2 Only the Protestants complain that they have not the gift of chastity.
• ◦ Bigami excluded from holy Orders, and the causes thereof.