Interstitia Temporum
Interstitia Temporum [1]
The Council of Sardica established the principle "Potest per has promotiones (i.e. to consecrate), quae habebant utiqueprolixum tempus, probari, qua fide sit, qua modestia, qua gravitate et verecundia, et si dignus fuerit probatus, divino sacerdotio illustretur, quia conveniens non est, nec ratio vel disciplina patitur, ut temere et leviter ordinetur episcopus aut presbyter aut diaconus … sed hi, quorumper lonygums tempus examinata sit vita et merita fuerint comprobata." Consequently every member of the clergy was obliged to spend a preparatory interval (interstitium) before he could be promoted from a lower to a higher order (ordo) (Dist. 59, c. 2). This principle was also observed concerning the consecration for the lower orders of the priesthood while special ecclesiastical functions were attached to them, but, as their earlier character changed, the discipline also became more lax as regards the time of probation (see Dist. 77, c. 2, 3, 9). After the consecration to these lower offices had come to be considered a mere formality for the transition to higher ordines, the observation of these probations was also neglected. The Council of Trent attempted to restore the old customs concerning the lower degrees of the priesthood (c. 17, Sess. 23, De Reform.), and stated expressly that "per temporum interstitia, nisi aliud episcopo expedire magis videretur, conferantur, ut … in unoquoque munere juxta praescriptum episcopi se exerceant" (c. 11, etc.); yet this had but little or no effect, and it is even usual in some Roman Catholic countries to confer at once the tonsure and all the lower orders. The Council of Trent decided also that between the lower consecration and the higher, and between each of these, there should be an interval of one year, "unisi necessitas aut ecclesie utilitas aliud exposcat" (c. 11, 13, 14, etc.), but that "duo sacri ordines non eodem die, etiam regularibus, conferantur, privilegiis ac indultis quibusvis concessis non obstantibus quibuscunque" (c. 13, etc.; compare also c. 13, 15, X. De temp. ord. 1, 11; c. 2, X. De eo qui furtiv. 5, 30). These years of interval are computed, not according to the calendar, but according to the Church year. With regard to the right of dispensation conceded to the bishops by the Council of Trent (c. 11, cit.), the Congregatio Concil decided that the simultaneous administration of the ordines minores and the subdeaconship is a punishable offence (No. 1, ad c. 11, cit. in the edition of Schulte and Richter). See Thomassen, Vet. et nov. eccl. discipl. 1, 2, c. 35, 36; Van Espen, Jus eccl. univers. 1, 1, c. 2; 2, 9, c. 5; Phillips, Kirchenrecht, 1, 648 sq.; Herzog, Real Encyklopadie, 6:707.
