_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".