[De horis canonicis]

similar things. It is otherwise if it concerned a man only, as noted in the said
c. ii. de spon

chapter "Concerning espousals."

I ask what if a cleric beneficed in minor orders has a meager benefice, so that he cannot be sustained from it; is he held to read these hours? It is answered according to Hostiensis in his Summa, concerning the Church, or elsewhere in the paragraph "And from whom," that he is. And Goffredus feels the same, and it is imputed to him because he allowed himself to be promoted to a meager benefice. This is supported by the chapter "Horrendous," 33, Question 5, and note [the explanation] well by the gloss in the chapter "Clerics' sustenance," in the Distinction. And the reason, according to the doctors there, is that just as a husband is held to provide the necessary things to a wife who otherwise cannot render the debt or has not otherwise given a sufficient dowry to the husband from which he can support the burdens of matrimony, as in the chapter "You have posited," 33, Question 7, so also the cleric, although he might not receive the debt of necessary sustenance from his spiritual spouse, that is, the Church, he is nevertheless held to officiate it and to minister the necessary things in both divine and temporal matters and to support its burdens. And let him say with the Apostle, "I know how to be hungry and to have abundance, and I can do all things in Him who strengthens me," written in Philippians, chapter 4, and in the chapter which says "Religious," in the Distinction, and note in the said chapter "Clerics," allegated above. And elsewhere, the same Apostle says: "These hands have ministered to those things which were needful for me." These words are also in the chapter 1, 21, Question 1, in the gloss.

I ask, suppose that a cleric beneficed in minor orders is absent from his benefice for a rational cause; is he excused from those hours, especially if he provides for it to be served through a substitute? It is answered by those who appear to hold that he is, in this our chapter. And they say that this chapter does not stand in the way because it speaks of a presbyter and not of a cleric existing in minor orders, when the text says: "The presbyter, once the morning office is completed, etc.," because a presbyter is held to the canonical hours for a double reason, namely of order and of benefice.

The same is held by Guillaume in the said Clementine, saying that one established in sacred orders is excused from the hours only by infirmity. But a beneficed one can be excused for many reasons, yet because of custom or another cause. But one established in sacred orders is obligated by reason of order.

But let us speak briefly in this matter with Innocentius, whose