Book 1  Continuation .....................
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time as they comply, and do turn away all their other wives, removing them from the place where they live, which shall be done to all, who during the life of their first wife have presumed to take others until they shall be brought to live only with the first; and besides, they shall be punished with other punishments at the pleasure of the prelate, or of the Holy office of 62Inquisition to which this doth belong.

Whereas it is a thing unworthy of a Christian to observe the superstitious ceremonies of the Heathens, from whence it is imagined good success may be derived, the synod being informed that there are some ill Christians, that, in imitation of the heathens, do go to some of them, and others to some of their own superstitious priests, to learn which are the best days and hours to be married on, after the manner of the Infidels; and do furthermore on their wedding-day make certain circles, into which they put rice, and certain persons using several superstitious Ceremonies, which are plainly Heathen; and do moreover make certain Figures behind their doors to make their marriage fortunate, and use several prayers with ceremonies, which they call the Ring of Solomon; all which being Devilish, superstitious, and heathenish ceremonies, condemned by Holy mother church: Wherefore the synod doth command and exhort all Faithful Christians, neither to practise any such ceremonies themselves, nor to suffer others to use them in their houses; and that all who shall presume to practise them themselves, or permit others to do it in their houses, shall be denied the sacrament for a whole year, and be rigorously punished at the pleasure of the prelate: and the same shall be done to those that go to heathens, to learn what days are fortunate.

The synod having been informed, that when contracts de futuro are celebrated among the Christians of this Diocess, or marriages are concerted, that it is performed with some heathenish and superstitious ceremonies, and that many times when the parties contracted are not of age, or have not judgment enough to give their consent, doth command, that no such contracts be made, but when the parties contracting are of sufficient age to understand what they do, and are capable of giving their consent de futuro; and, if the parents will make such matches, they shall do it by a simple Writing, or by shaking hands, or by any other way that has nothing of superstition in it; neither shall they use any superstitious ceremonies, upon pain of being severely chastised at the pleasure of the Prelate; commanding the priests, in virtue of holy obedience, not to be present at contracts, where any such damnable Superstitions are performed, that so they may not seem to authorize them by their person and dignity.

The Synod doth condemn the Custom, or abuse that has obtained in this Diocess of the new-married couple’s not going to church till after the fourth day after their marriage, when they use to wash themselves, which is according to the Judaical ceremonies condemned by the law of Christ, but on the contrary, doth exhort all new-married people, without respect of days, to go to church and say their prayers, knowing for certain, that if any of the days that they stay from Church, should happen either to be a saint’s-day or a Sunday, upon which all people are obliged to hear mass, that they sin mortally in not hearing it, if hindred by no other cause: Neither are they to imagine, that such washings do any way contribute to the spiritual health of their souls, the worship of god, or the reverence of the church.

Whereas the universal catholick church is Ruled, inspired, and Taught by the holy spirit, by whose direction, for the better Government of Christians, and the more commodious administration of the sacraments to the faithful, it has divided the provinces of the whole world into Diocesses, which are all subject to their several bishops; and the Diocesses into Parishes, which are all subject to their Parish-Priests, so that as the Diocesses and all the faithful Inhabitants of the same are subject to their several Bishops, and through them to the Bishop of Rome, the Universal Pastor and Head of the Church, and christ’s Vicar upon Earth; so all the faithful Inhabitants in every parish are subject to their Rector or vicar, that administer the Sacraments to them, and are the particular pastors and curates of their souls, through whom they are subject to their bishop, and through the bishop to the pope, and through the pope to Christ; which order has been at all times preserved in the church all over the world, and for want whereof, this church is so confused and Disorderly as it is; every one doing what seems good in his own eyes, without ever being called to an account for what they do, having none that are under any obligation to take care of their Souls, nor no particular Pastor to assist them in their Necessities, nor distinct parishes, unto which every one is bound to resort; therefore this synod conforming it self to the Government of the whole Catholick church, doth ordain, that this Diocess be also divided into parishes, allotting such a number of people to each parish as shall be found most convenient, and furnishing them with particular Vicars and Curates, to watch over the souls of the faithful; and as for other priests and curates that shall be in any church, they shall be therein as Beneficed Persons, and Co-adjutors to the Vicars in the administration of the Sacraments to the People, as also in the Divine Service and Worship of the Church, as they have hitherto been, having the same profits and dividend they had formerly, save that the Synod intends to deprive them of those Fees which formerly they Simonaically received for administration of the sacraments, as to which they shall observe what is before decreed, as the vicars and Parish-Priests are to have what is allotted for their maintenance in the Twenty-first and Twenty-second Decrees; and the said Vicars shall make a Roll of all the inhabitants of their several Parishes, that so they may be acquainted with their Customs and way of living, and may administer the sacraments unto them, and comfort them in their Troubles and Necessities; neither shall the Faithful receive the sacrament from any but their own vicar, without his licence in Form.

The synod doth declare, That the Division of parishes, and the laying of people to them, has at all times belonged to the Prelate; so that he may at any time Divide or Unite parishes at his pleasure, and as he shall find to be most convenient for the administration of the sacraments to the Faithful, to whom it also belongs to provide Vicars and Curates for Churches, whom he may Institute or Depose as often as he shall judge it to be necessary, to the better feeding of the Flock of Christ, which he is charged with, and is to give an account of; and for the present the most Reverend Metropolitan shall make such a reparition of parishes and people in this his visitation, uniting or Dividing them as shall seem to him to be most commodious for the administration of the sacraments to the faithful, who at the end of the synod will name Vicars for every Parish: And the Synod, for the just Respects and the better Government of the Church, will not have any Vicars so Established, as not to be removable at the pleasure of the Prelate.

The Synod doth furthermore declare, That no Priest shall hold Two Churches with Cure, or receive the Fruits of them according to the Holy Canons: And whereas in this Diocess there are many that have two or three Churches, which they have had commended unto them in several parts, either because they were built by their Relations, or for some other Reason; all which being a great Abuse, the Synod doth declare, That after the division of the Parishes is made, none shall have any Jurisdiction therein besides their proper Vicars, to whom only it shall belong to order all the Affairs of their Churches, and to whom whosoever shall deny to yield obedience, shall be declared Excommunicate, and shall be punished at the pleasure of the Prelate as disturbers of the Church; and all such priests as are in present possession of the Churches, if qualified, and there be no just Impediment, the Synod will have it be instituted Vicars of one of their Parishes, as the most Reverend Metropolitan shall think fit; not that the Synod intends to prohibit the Prelate, in case he is not provided of a sufficient number of able Priests, or where there is not a sufficient maintenance, to recommend two Churches to one Vicar, provided they are at such a distance that he can look after both, without any wrong to the administration of the Sacraments. However, this shall never be done, but when there is an urgent and necessary Reason for it.

Whereas there are a great many Churches in this Diocess that have no Priests, to the great detriment of the Faithful, who by that means are for several years without Mass, or any to administer the Sacraments to them, as has appeared to the Reverend Metropolitan in his Visitation of the Churches, in some of which he found there had been no Masses said in five or six years, and that there are Children of that or a greater Age, that have never been Baptized; therefore the Synod both command, That there be no Church that is made Parochial, how poor and inconsiderable soever the people may be, for any long time without a Curate or Vicar to administer the Sacraments to the Faithful, of which the Prelate is to take special care; and if it should so happen, as it does too often, that he cannot have a Priest to supply such Cures, in that Case, the Synod declares, that the Prelate may oblige whomsoever he pleaseth, by Penalties and Censures to serve such Churches, that so the Necessities of the Faithful may be provided for, giving them whereon to subsist in the said Churches.

The Synod being informed that there are many Villages in this Diocess, which, by reason of their great distance from any Church, have little of Christianity left in them besides the Name of the Christians of St. Thomas, which has been occasioned through the great negligence of the former Schismatical Prelates of this Bishoprick; wherefore the Synod doth, in virtue of Holy Obedience, command all Priests that are nominated Vicars, so soon as they shall come to their Churches, to make a strict inquiry into the Christians that live in the Skirts of their Parishes, and to report what they shall discover as to this Matter to the most Reverend Metropolitan, that so he may take such course therein as shall be most for the Service of Christ, and the Benefit of Souls; and the same diligence shall be used in all parts, where there are such people found, and have never been baptized, and where it is thought necessary, there shall be new Churches built, and Vicars appointed for the reducing such to true Christianity, and the use of the Holy Sacraments of the Church.

Whereas the Church of Travancor is at this time totally demolished, the greater part of its Parishioners having above forty years ago turned perfect Heathens, all which has happened through the negligence of sending priests among them by reason of their great distance from any other Church, there being nevertheless several good Christians there still, therefore the Synod doth command, that a Vicar be forthwith collated to that place, who shall set immediately about rebuilding the Church; there shall likewise be some Preachers sent along with him to reduce the said people into the bosom of Holy Mother Church, and to the Holy Catholick Faith of Christ, according to the Orders given therein by the most Reverend Metropolitan, and the Vicar shall continue there baptizing and receiving all, according to the necessity of the Church, for which an Olla, or License has been already obtained from the King of Travancor, and shall from henceforth continue in the Church according to the necessity thereof.

The Synod being informed, that upon the borders of the Territories belonging to the Samorim King of Calecut, at the distance of four leagues from any Church in this Bishoprick, there is a Country called Tadamalla, in which there are certain Villages of Christians, who were anciently of this Church, but at present have nothing of Christianity but the bare Name, doth command that Priests and Preachers be sent thither immediately from this Church to reduce them to the Catholick faith, and baptize them, in which matter, through the diligences that have been used by the most Reverend Metropolitan, they will meet with no difficulties on the part of those who have lost their Christianity only for want of Instruction, and the Synod doth recommend this People, as a Member of their Church to the Spiritual Care of the most Reverend Metropolitan.

Whereas the use of the holy oils was instituted by Christ in the church, who made the oil of Chrism, the matter of the sacrament of confirmation and Extream Unction; and did furthermore appoint other holy Unctions for the Catechumeni, delivering the Doctrine of the consecration of such oils in his last supper to his disciples, as we are taught by holy tradition from the apostles and the doctrine of the Holy fathers of the church, and there having notwithstanding this been no such thing in use, or known in this church to this day: Therefore the synod doth command, that in all parish churches there be a box that shall hold three vessels of plate, tin, or glass, in which the holy oils shall be kept with due decency and reverence, with their several names upon each vessel, so that they may not be used one for another, commanding the vicars that are to be nominated, not to go from hence without carrying these boxes along with them, to their respective churches, which the most reverend metropolitan will furnish them withal, and with the holy oils which he consecrated on holy Thursday last for this purpose in the church of Carturte in this Diocess, which boxes they shall put under lock and key in their repositories, either in the chief Chapel of the high Altar, or in their Vestries, or near to the Font, having them always decently covered with Silk, or in case the vicars live at a considerable distance from their churches, or in the heaths, in some decent place in their houses for fear of infidel robbers, and that they may be always at hand, when they shall be called to administer the sacrament of unction, and whensoever they are carried to church for baptism, or are carried to the sick, they shall be always carried by a priest, if it is possible, but at least by one in holy orders; and upon holy Thursday they shall either burn all the Oils that remain of that year in the lamps of the church, or pour them into the font, so as after that day not to make use of any oils but such as are new, which after Easter they shall either go or send to the prelate for, or to the place where he has ordered them to be distributed, and in case the see be vacant, they shall then by order from the Governour of the Diocess, have recourse to the bishop of Cochim, and the vicars that shall neglect to go or send for the said holy oils for the use of their churches, so as not to have them within a month after Easter, shall be suspended by the prelate, who is desired to be very watchful in this matter, from his office and benefice for six months, and be obliged to fetch them, and the children that shall be baptized during that time, shall be anointed with the holy oils of baptism when they come, neither shall the vicars depart from hence, until they are fully instructed in the use of the oils by persons appointed by the synod to teach them, that so they may not be mistaken in the administration of the holy sacraments.

There being a great confusion in this bishoprick as to the holy days that are to be kept under the obligation of a mortal sin, as well as to the hearing of mass, as to the doing of work; wherefore the synod doth declare that they are these following, to wit, all the Sundays in the year.

In January, the first day being the circumcision of our Lord, and the sixth being the feast of the epiphany.

In February, the second day being the purification of our Lady, and the twenty fourth being the Feast of the Apostle St. Matthew, which in the Bissextile is to be celebrated on the twenty fifth.

In March, the twenty fifth day, being the anunciation of our lady.

In April, the twenty third being the feast of St. George the martyr, according to the custom of this bishoprick.

In May, the first being the feast of the Apostles St. Philip and St. James.

In June, the twenty fourth being the feast of St. john the Baptist, and the twenty ninth being the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul.

In July, the second being the visitation of our lady, and the third being the feast of the glorious apostle St. Thomas, which by some is said to be the day of his Translation, by others of his arrival in these parts, and which has by ancient custom been still kept in this bishoprick; and the twenty fifth being the feast of the apostle St. James.

In August, the sixth being the Transfiguration of our lord, according to the custom of this bishoprick, the fifteenth the assumption of our lady, and the twenty fourth the feast of St. Bartholomew the apostle.

In September, the eighth being the Nativity of our lady, the fourteenth the feast of the holy cross, according to the custom of this bishoprick. The twenty first the feast of St. Matthew the Apostle, the twenty ninth the Feast of St. Michael the archangel.

In October, the twenty seventh being the feast of the Apostles St. Simon and St. Jude.

In November, the first being the feast of all saints, the thirtieth of St. Andrew the Apostle.

In December, the eighth being the conception of our lady, the eighteenth being the day whereon the 63Holy cross of the Apostle St. Thomas did sweat: the twenty first being the feast of the same holy Apostle St. Thomas; the twenty fifth the feast of the nativity; the twenty sixth the feast of St. Stephen the Protomartyr, the twenty seventh of St. John the evangelist, the twenty eighth of the innocents.

The Thursday of our Lord’s Supper, from the time the offices are begun in the church until midnight, according to the custom of the church. Easter, and the three days following, notwithstanding they may have hitherto observed only two days. The day of our lord’s ascension, the most holy feast of Pentecost, with the two following days.

The most holy feast of the body of god, or of the most holy sacrament, which, according to the custom of these parts, they celebrate on the Thursday after Easter.

Also the days of the consecration of their churches, and the Feasts of the saints, to whom they were Dedicated, in their own parishes only.

The synod doth furthermore declare, that the Fridays from Christmas to lent, which use to be observed in some parts, shall not be kept hereafter, the saints that were celebrated on some of them, having their particular feasts; and others of them being dedicated to Hereticks, as is above observed, whose memories ought not to be celebrated; and the vicars shall not fail on Sundays at mass, to warn the people of all the holy-days of the week, that so they may be advertised to keep them.

Not only what Holy-days were to be kept, were uncertain, and not uniformly observed in this Bishoprick, but the same also happened to the fasting-days, which Christians are under an obligation to keep; wherefore the synod doth declare, that the fasting-days, as well the ancient ones, as those that are now commanded, are these following.

The holy and solemn fast of lent, which according to the custom of this bishoprick, begins upon the Monday after Quinquagesima.

The holy fast of advent, which is kept in this bishoprick with great rigor from the Sunday, that is next to the first of December, until Christmas.

The first day of February, being the vigil of the purification of our lady, the 23d. being the vigil of St. Matthias the Apostle.

The 23d. of June, being the vigil of St. John the Baptist, and the 28th. of St. Peter and St. Paul.

The 24th. of July, being the vigil of St. James the Apostle.

The 12th. of August, being the vigil of the Assumption of our Lady, and the 23d. of St. Bartholomew the apostle.

The 7th. of September, being the vigil of our lady’s nativity, the 13th. of the holy cross.

The 27th. of October, being the vigil of St. Simon and Jude, and the last, of All-Saints.

The 29th. of November, being the vigil of St. Andrew.

The 2d. of December, being the vigil of the Glorious apostle St. Thomas, on the 24th. of our Saviour’s nativity, notwithstanding these two do both fall in advent.

And that this Diocess may be in all things comformable to the customs of the universal church, the synod doth command, the fast of the four times to be published and observed therein; they are the first Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after the first Sunday in lent; and the first Wednesday and Friday, and Saturday after Whitsuntide; and the first Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after the feast of the holy cross, in September; and the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after the feast of the holy cross, on the 13th. of December, which falls in with the advent fast.

And the synod doth furthermore declare, that the fast of our lady’s assumption, which begins on the first of august, and lasts to the day of the festivity, and the fast that is called the apostles, which begins on the first day after Whitsuntide, and lasts fifty days, notwithstanding they are holy and laudable, it wisheth they were not kept as they are by the Christians of this Diocess, after the same manner as the ancient fasts are; nevertheless, since they are observed by some and not by others, that there may be no scruples nor Disorder, the synod doth declare, that the keeping of them is not commanded under the precept of a mortal sin, though they may be kept out of Devotion by those that have a mind to’t, neither are People under any obligation to a Lent Fare on these Days; and as to the three Fasting Days of the Prophet Jonas, called Mononebo, which begins eighteen days before the first day in Lent, the Synod, out of respect to its Antiquity and Holiness, doth permit it to be observed with great strictness: But whereas people do assemble together in the Churches on those days, there to eat the Nercha’s that are distributed, the synod, tho’ it is not willing to oblige people to fast on those three days under the obligation of a Mortal sin, doth nevertheless oblige them to a Lent Diet at least upon them; and the Vicars shall be obliged to give notice to the people of all the Fasts of the Week upon Sundays, that so all may be warned to observe them.

The Synod doth approve of the Holy and Laudable Custom observed by the Christians of this Diocess, of eating neither Eggs nor Cheese, nor any thing made of Milk, nor of Fish, and of abstaining totally from Wine, and from their Wives during the whole time of Lent; all which it desires them to continue to observe inviolably, as also to begin the Fast upon the day after Quinquagesima Sunday; and some Abuses being reformed, it doth declare, That Fasting doth not only consist in Peoples abstaining from some sorts of Meat, but also in their not eating so often as they may desire, the Integrity of the Precept of Fasting obliging people not to eat above one Meal a day; and that at 64an hour appointed, and at Night they that shall stand in need of it, and have an appetite to drink for their Healths-sake, may eat a light Collation, according to the permission of the Church; but if they shall exceed either in the quality or quantity of the said Collation, or eat oftner than twice after this manner, they do violate the Fast, and Sin Mortally; and if through infirmity or weakness, they should break the Fast upon any day, they shall not, as some imagine, be released by their having broke Lent once: from continuing the Fast, but on the contrary, they shall be guilty of so many Mortal Sins, as there are days of Obligation, on which they neglect to Fast: They are also bound to fast on all the saints days, tho’ never so Solemn, that shall fall in Lent, Sunday only excepted, upon which it is not lawful for any Christian to fast, as to which matter there are great Abuses introduced in to this Diocess.

The Synod doth declare, That notwithstanding Fasting is of great benefit, that it doth not intend to oblige any that are under one and Twenty, nor such as are very ancient, or weak, or sickly, nor Women with Child, nor those that give Suck, nor those that cannot Fast conveniently by reason of some hard Labour they are obliged to, to Fast any otherwise than by eating a Lent Diet on Fasting-days, as to which too the weak and sick are excepted, who may at all times eat what is necessary to their health; and it shall also be lawful for Women with Child to eat whatsoever they long for, to prevent Abortion.

The Synod doth very much condemn what some ignorant observers of Heathenish Superstition imagine, viz. That if they do not wash their Bodies betimes in the Morning on a Fastday, their Fast will be of no worth; and that if they happen to touch any of a base Race, or a Naires, they must wash themselves to make their Fast to be of any Merit; and declares, that all such Washings and Superstitious touches, are commanded neither by God nor the Church, and are no ways proper for Christians; and doth furthermore command the observers of all such Superstitions to be punished severely by the Prelate, as followers of 65Heathenish Vanities, condemned by Holy Mother Church, earnestly desiring that all such things may be totally rooted out of the hearts of the very Infidels in this Diocess.

Notwithstanding the Synod doth approve of the laudable Custom that has obtained in this Diocess, of beginning the Holy Fast of Lent, upon the Monday following Quinquagessima Sunday: Nevertheless in conformity to the usage of the Universal Church, it doth ordain and command, that on the Wednesday following, they consecrate Ashes in the Church, which shall be sprinkled on the Heads of the People by the Priest that celebrates Mass, using these words, Remember Man that thou art dust, and that to dust thou shalt return, as he is directed by the Roman Ceremonial translated into Syrian, by the order of the most Reverend Metropolitan, leading by this Holy Ceremony the Faithful to a deeper Repentance, for their Sins, and a sense of their own vileness in that Holy time; which ashes so far as it can be done, shall be made of the branches that were blessed the former Year upon Palm Sunday, which is called Osana in this Diocess, as it is likewise ordered in the said ceremonial, but at the same time the People shall be told that this is only a Holy Ceremony of the Church, and not a Sacrament.

That this bishoprick may in all things be conformable to the customs of the Catholick church, the synod doth command all the members thereof upon pain of mortal sin, not to eat flesh upon Saturdays, in memory of our Lord’s Burial, but Eggs, Milk, Butter or Cheese they may lawfully eat upon Saturdays, as also upon all Fish-days that are not Fasts, and since the custom of not eating Flesh on Wednesdays is not observed over the whole Diocess, but only in some parts thereof, and that but by a few; the Synod doth declare, that albeit that custom is Holy and Laudable, and it were to be wished that it were universally observed by all Christians, it doth not think fit to oblige People thereunto upon pain of Sin, so that all that list may eat Flesh upon Wednesdays.

The Synod doth declare, That the Obligation of not eating Flesh on prohibited days, lasts from midnight to midnight, beginning at the midnight of the prohibited day, and ending at the midnight of the day following, so that the Obligation of not eating flesh upon Frydays and Saturdays, begins at the midnight of Fryday, and ends on the midnight of Sunday, and the Obligation of ceasing from labour begins at the midnight of the said day, and ends at the midnight of Monday: being to understand that in beginning the Fasts and Festivities on the Evening of the former, and continuing them to the Evening of the latter day, they do conform themselves to the Customs and Rites of the Jews condemned by Holy Mother Church, in which days and their observances are not reckoned from Evening to Evening, but from midnight to midnight.

Whereas it is the Custom of the Universal Church, to have 66 Holy Water at the entrance of the Churches, that so the faithful by sprinkling themselves therewith, may have their Venial Sins pardoned, and the Holy Water that has been hitherto made use of in this Diocess has not been blessed by the Priest, nor by any Prayer of the Church, the Sextons only throwing a little of the Clay into it, that is brought by Pilgrims from the Sepulchre of St. Thomas, or from some other Holy Place relating to him, and where such Clay has been wanting, the said Sextons have thrown some Grains of Incense into it: Whereupon without any further Consecration, it has been esteemed Holy: Therefore the Synod doth declare, that such Water is not Holy, and that the Faithful ought not to make use of it; and albeit that all the Earth of Holy places, and of the Sepulchres of Saints approved of by the Church, ought to be kept with much Veneration, yet that the Earth of the Holy places belonging to St. Thomas, has not the virtue of such a Consecration in it: for which reason it commands all Priests to bless the said Water, by throwing Holy Salt into it, according to the custom of the Universal Church, as is directed by the Roman Ceremonial translated into Syrian by the order of the most Reverend Metropolitan, according to the Form whereof the true Vicars shall take care to consecrate Water, and every Saturday Evening, or Sunday Morning to furnish the Water-pots therewith; and upon Sundays the People being assembled, the Priest being in his Surplice and Stole, but without his Planet, shall before he begins Mass, sprinkle the who’e Congregation, repeating the Antiphona, and the Prayer contained in the said Ceremonial: and at Masses at which the Deacon and Sub-Deacon officiate, the Deacon may repeat the Antiphona, but the Prayer shall always be said by the Priest. The Vicars must also instruct the People at their entring into the Church, to take Holy Water and bless themselves therewith, in the form of a Cross, and to give over the saying the Prayer to the impious Heretick Nestorius, which they used to do when they took Holy Water as they entred into the Church, the Synod condemning the same as heretical and Blasphemous.

Whereas the greatest part of the People of this Bishoprick are not instructed in the Doctrine, and they that are, know only the Pater Noster, and Ave Mary in the Syrian Tongue, which they do not understand, and most of the Children know not how to bless themselves, nay the Clergy themselves are ignorant thereof, not being able to say the Commandments; therefore the Synod doth command, that in all Parish Churches in the Morning and Evening, as the Vicar shall think most convenient, one of the Boys or the Bell-man shall ring the little Bell to call the Boys and Girls together in the Church, where being assembled, the Vicar, or some other Clergyman that he shall appoint, shall instruct them in the Doctrine, that is to say, the Sign of the Cross, the Pater Noster, Ave Mary, the Creed, and the Commandments of God, and the Church, the Articles of Faith, and other Christian Doctrines in the Malabar Tongue, that so all may understand them, and not in the Syrian, which the People do not understand, it being the custom of the Church to teach the Doctrine to Children, and to the People in their Mother Tongue, and furthermore upon all Sundays and Holydays, either before or after Mass, the Vicar shall teach the said Doctrine in the Congregation, that so all may be instructed therein, and shall also after having called the people together with a Bell, teach it on the Evenings of Sundays, and as for the Churches that are in the Heaths, the Vicars shall give orders that the Children, or at least such of them as are nighest to the Church, shall upon a certain day of the Week come to learn the Doctrine, employing others persons to instruct the rest therein, and the Schoolmasters that teach Syrian, or that teach to read and write, shall every day before they begin School repeat the said Doctrine to their scholars in Malabar, neither shall any inferior Orders, no not the first Tonsure, be given to Children before they can say the whole Doctrine in Malabar, in which they must be examined according to the Holy Council of Trent, and in all Churches there shall be a Book of the 67Doctrine in the Malabar Tongue, for the instruction of Children: which the Synod doth entreat the Father Rector, of the College of Jesuits of Vaipicotta, to order to be translated by some of that College, commanding all the Churches of this Diocess, as also exhorting all the Christians thereof at Night to cause the said Doctrine to be taught in their Houses to their whole Families, that so their Servants and Slaves may be instructed therein, and the Confessors in their Confessions must not fail to examine their Penitents in the Doctrine, and to exhort them to learn it.

That the Faithful Christians in this Diocess may in their Common Prayer be conformable to the whole Catholick Church, they must not from henceforward say the Ave Mary, as they have been taught by the perfidious Nestorians, but must say it thus, Ave Mary full of Grace, the Lord be with thee, blessed art thou among Women, blessed is Jesus the fruit of thy Womb; Holy Mother of God pray for us Sinners, now, and at the hour of our Death, Amen, Jesus. And in this form it shall be inserted into all the Prayer Books of this Diocess.

Whereas the Christians of this Diocess do not shew the least reverence to the most holy name of Jesus when it is mentioned, which ariseth from the false doctrine of the nestorian Hereticks, who do impiously assert, That it is not worthy of Reverence, being the Name of a humane person, teaching falsly that there are two persons in Christ, therefore since that Divine name contains in it so many divine mysteries, being the name of our redemption, and the name above all names, at which St. Paul saith, every knee in heaven and in earth, and below the earth ought to bow, the synod doth command, that as often either in the gospel or prayers of the mass, or offices, or any where else that that name is mentioned, all people do reverently bow their body, whether they be sitting or standing, and the Clergy and other Christians, having their caps on shall take them off, and the vicars and preachers must not neglect to put their people frequently in mind thereof; and whereas the name Lye is the same with the most sweet name of Jesus in the Malabar Language, and is commonly given to children in baptism; the synod doth strictly prohibit the giving of that Name to any body for the future, commanding all that are called by it, to take another name in confirmation, or at any other time, it being a great irreverence for any one to be called by so high and Divine a name.

Whereas it is necessary that the feast of Christ’s nativity should be celebrated with great solemnity and uniformity through the whole Catholick church; the synod doth command that on the eve of that festivity, all the clergy and people do assemble together in the church, there to say the matins, with the greatest solemnity possible; and that after they have done these prayers, which shall end about midnight, they shall make the customary procession, which being over, a solemn mass shall be said, with all possible festivity, after which the priest may say a mass at break of day, and a third at the usual time of mass; for the priest must know, that for the greater solemnity of this festival, they are permitted to say three masses upon it, that is, one at midnight, one at break of day, and a third at the ordinary time; or being private masses, all three together after break of day, but being publick, shall be all said in the fore-mentioned order; neither shall they after the first two take the lavatory, but after having received the blood, shall go on with the mass without taking the lavatory, that so they may be fasting to celebrate the third; and they shall be very careful to have the cups well scoured, and their fingers washed clean with water, which shall be preserved in a particular vesiel in order to its being afterwards either thrown into a pond, or poured under the altar, or into the baptismal water that is in the font; and if any priest through carelessness should in either of the two first masses take the lavatory, after that it shall not be lawful for him to say any more, because the mass is not to be celebrated but fasting, which the taking of the lavatory breaks.

The Synod doth command, That the Priests in the solemn administration of the Sacraments of Baptism, Matrimony, and Extream Unction, or when they administer the Holy Eucharist without the Mass, for the greater decency and reverence for what they are about, do wear a Surplice with a Stole about their Necks: And whereas hitherto there has been no such thing as a Surplice in this Bishoprick, the most Reverend Metropolitan having been pleased to provide such Vestments as are necessary in this Bishoprick, no Vicar shall go from hence without taking a surplice along with him, which he is to wear in the administration of the holy sacraments, wherein the synod commands them likewise to use the rites and ceremonies prescribed in the roman ceremonial, which the said Lord metropolitan has commanded to be translated into Syrian and to be kept in all churches, which contains the forms of baptizing, of anointing the Sick, of Marrying, of Sacramental Absolution, with the customary Prayers therein; of administring the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, of the Exorcisms of the Church, for people possessed with the Devil, the Blessings of Holy Water, of Ashes, of Chains and Branches, as also the Form of Burying the Dead, Old and Young, and of reconciling Churches and Church-Yards. which books being Bound, shall be kept in all Churches; neither shall any Priest presume to apply them to his own private use, or to take them out of the church: And the synod doth earnestly recommend it to the rector of the college of the Jesuits of Vaipicotta, to have always some of these books translated by some of the said college by him, in order to the supplying of the necessities of these churches.

The synod desiring that this church may in all things be conformable to the holy Roman and whole Italian church, doth command, that on the second of February, being the day of our lady’s purification, before mass, the wax candles which are in the church, be blest, as also all the candles that shall be brought by the people out of devotion, according to the roman ceremonial, translated into Syrian; and after the publick and solemn benediction is over, there shall be a procession in or round the church, in which all the clergy shall carry blessed candles lighted in their hands, as the people shall also do that have any, in memory of the mystery of our lord Jesus Christ, the divine light and splendor of the father, first entrance into the temple, there to offer himself to his Eternal father, cloathed with our Humanity: So likewise upon the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before the feast of our lord’s holy ascension, in the morning, either before or after mass, there shall be a procession in the church, or where the vicar shall appoint, in which the litanies shall be said according to the customs of the church, which shall also be translated in the said roman ceremonial, expunging the names of all the Hereticks, who according to the custom of the Nestorians, were commemorated in this church; and it is the desire of the synod, that the use of the said litanies be brought into this church to be read in their necessities, or when they desire, to implore the divine mercy.

The synod being informed, that in the remote parts of this bishoprick, as well towards the south, as towards the north, the Christians that dwell in the heaths are guilty of working and Merchandizing on Sundays and holy-days, especially in the evenings, doth command the vicars to be very vigilant in this matter, and to admonish and reprehend all that they shall find so doing; and if after three particular Admonitions, they shall not reform, they shall after that be thrown out of the church, and have the casture denied them; neither shall any priest go into their houses until they have yielded obedience.

Whereas in this Diocess there are many churches dedicated to Marxobro and Marphrod, who are commonly stiled saints, of whom there is 68nothing known, only it is commonly said, that they came into these parts and wrought wrought miracles, and returned afterwards to Babylon, from whence they came, others affirming that they died in Coulaon, there being nothing writ of them that is Authentick, neither does it appear that they were ever canonized by the church; but on the contrary, since they came from Babylon, there is just cause to suspect that they might be Hereticks: Wherefore the synod doth command, that all the churches which are dedicated to them, be dedicated to all the saints, and that the festivities used to be kept to their honour, and the Nerchas that used to be given upon their days, shall be given on all saints day, being the first of November: and for the future there be no more Churches dedicated to them, Churches and festivities being never to be dedicated, nor prayers made to any but to saints canonized and approved of by the church.

Whereas experience has demonstrated that many churches have been robbed by reason of the Poors box being kept in them and not opened in many years, no not when the necessities of the churches did require it; therefore the synod doth command, That in every church upon the first of January there be chose four substantial and consciencious men to be overseers of the poor, and to take care of the church, who at the end of the year shall open the poors box and take out all the alms they find therein , which shall be put down in a book by one of the four overseers, and the said alms shall be afterwards put into a chest locked with three different keys, which shall stand in any one of their houses as they shall agree, of which Keys the Vicar shall have one, and the other two the two Overseers, who are not the Scrivener, nor in whose Houses the Chest is not kept: He that's the Scrivener shall also have a book, in which he shall set down the Expences of the said alms, how much has been laid out upon the Fabrick of the church, and in the reparation of the walls and roof, how much in adorning it, and in necessary linen, and in pictures, and in keeping it clean: And whensoever there is any great extraordinary expence, it shall not be made without the consent of the four overseers, according to custom; neither shall the chest be opened but when they are all five present, or some one in the place of him that is lawfully hindred; and when new overseers are chose, the old ones shall deliver the said chest to them, for which the elect shall give a receipt, that so it may always appear how much has been received and how much is remaining: And the prelate in his visitation shall look over the said books and inform himself of the Expences, and may order the alms to be disposed of as he shall think fit and necessary. And the synod intreats the most reverend Metropolitan to see that this decree be put in execution at the visitation he intends to make, it being a thing of great advantage to the churches.

Whereas most of the churches of this Diocess are kept very nasty, being full of dust and cobwebs, for want of an officer to keep the church clean, therefore the synod doth command, that the overseers appoint a Capiar, who shall be paid out of the alms, for sweeping the church and keeping clean the lamps and candlesticks; and the Capiar shall take care that the church be swept at least three times a week, and there be always one lamp at least lighted before the high altar, and the vessels wherein the lamp-oil is kept, without they be so small as not to be seen, shall not be kept in the church, nor the Bategas or kettles, nor any thing else that is undecent, but shall be kept in the Capiar’s or overseers houses, that so the church may be kept clean and decent.

The synod doth command, that in all Vestries of churches there be cupboards and chests with locks, to keep the cups, corporals, and ornaments in; and where there is no vestry until one shall be built, they shall be kept some where in the church; except in the heaths, where the churches are in danger of being robbed, where the vicars shall keep them in their houses, and shall by no means leave any of them upon the altars, as has been the custom, which was the occasion of the ornaments being so dirty, and of the altars being so much out of order: And whereas most of the chief chapels are extreamly dark, they shall take care to have windows opened, and fortified with iron to let in air and light, which must nevertheless be so contrived, that the heathens when they come may not see the divine mysteries thorow them.

Whereas almost all the churches of this Diocess are without pictures, which was the effect of their being governed by nestorian Hereticks, who do not allow of the healthful use of sacred images; therefore the synod doth command, That in churches that are finished, the first work that shall be done after that of the baptismal font out of the alms of the parish, shall be to set up some images, according to the directions of the prelate, who shall always be consulted about every picture; and after that of the High altar is once set up, if the church has any side-altars, they shall also have images set up in them, and on every altar besides an image, there shall be a cross or some matter or other set up; and in all churches that are large enough, and yet have no pulpits, pulpits shall be erected for the preaching of the word of god; and they shall also put bells in their steeples to be rung at meet times, and to call the people to church, which shall not be hung within the church, where besides that they cannot be rung as they ought to be, they do take up too much room; and in places where there is danger of having their bells stole, they shall have their steeples fortified and shut up after the manner of towers; and where the kings and Bramens of the Pagods will not consent to their having a building higher than the church, which often happens through their imagining that the Pagods are made melancholly by the hearing of such Bells; they shall hang them within the Church but at such a height, that they may ring them without touching them with their hands, and that they shall take up no room below in the church; and in those Churches where they have no bells, the synod grants licence until such time as they can procure some, to make use of boards, as they have done formerly, to call the faithful together, and to give the signal at the mass.

The synod doth teach and declare, That by ancient Right always observed in the Church, Churches may be so violated in certain Cases, that it is not lawful to Celebrate in them, nor to bury the Dead until they are reconciled, which through ignorance of the Canons has not hitherto been observed in this Bishoprick; the Cases are, when humane Blood is injuriously shed in the Church, or there is a Natural Cause given of such shedding, or of Death; as if one has a Mortal Wound given him in the Church, or a Wound that fetches Blood, notwithstanding the Wounded Person shall be got out of the Church before any Blood is shed; but if the Wound was given without the Church, notwithstanding the Blood thereof should come to be shed therein, the Church is not violated thereby; and by a Wound that is injuriously given in the Church, whereby Blood is shed, tho’ the Wound should not prove Mortal, the Church is violated. The second Case is, when humane Seed is voluntarily spent in the Church, tho’ in conjugal Copulation : The third is, when one that is Excommunicated is buried in the Church: The fourth, when an Infidel is buried in it; in which Case the Church is not only to be reconciled, but the Walls are also to be scraped: The fifth is, when the Church has been Consecrated or Blessed by a Bishop that was publickly Excommunicate; in all which Cases the Church is to be reconciled, which reconciliation being to be done to a Church that was Consecrated by a Bishop, none but a Bishop can perform it: But having been only Blessed by one, or by a Priest, the Vicar may perform the Reconciliation, according to the Form, and with the Prayers and Ceremonies contained in the Roman Ceremonial Translated into Syrian; and it is to be observed, that when a Church is violated, the Church-yard that belongs to it is violated also, if they are not at some distance the one from the other; but when the Church-yard is violated in any of the forementioned Cases, the Church it belongs and is joined to, is not violated thereby.

It being of mighty moment that Consecrated Churches be had in great Reverence; and whereas in this Diocess it is a common thing for Sick people out of Devotion to lie in Churches with their Wives and Families for several days, hoping thereby to be cured of their Distempers, which cannot be done without many Services; wherefore the Synod doth command, That no person whatsoever, tho’ never so Sick, do lie in the Church with his Family, the time of War only excepted, but the Sick having performed their Devotion, shall lie at home at their own Houses, or if they shall desire it may Lodge in some Houses that are near to the Church, or in the Porches thereof, but by no means within the Church.

WHereas there is a great neglect in carrying the Corps of those that die in the Heaths to the Church, which are sometimes buried without a Priest, and in unconsecrated Earth; wherefore the Synod doth command, That the Kindred, or those in whose Houses Christians do die, do carry their Corps, how far soever they may live off, near to the Church, where the Vicars shall go to fetch them, with the Cross of the Church, and in their Surplice and Stole, praying all the way they go with the rest of the Clergy, and Interr them, which all, tho’ never so poor, shall be oblig’d to do: And if at the time when they bring the Corps they shall meet with no Priests in the Church, they shall then assemble as many Christians together as conveniently they can, and bury the Corps in the Church-yard, praying for their Souls with Christian Charity: And whosoever shall neglect to bring their Dead to the Church, and shall bury them in Profane Ground, shall be severely punished by the Bishop.

WHereas the Small-Pox is looked upon in these parts as a very dangerous and infectious Distemper, for which reason a great many Christians dying thereof are not carried to the Church, nor buried in Holy ground; herefore the Synod doth very much recommend it to the Vicars to take order, that the Corps of such as die of that Sickness may be brought with due caution to the Church-yard, where they with the rest of the Clergy at some distance are to recommend them, and pray for them, as they do for others, and to see them interr’d: all which Christian charity will teach them to do, according to the obligation of their office.

The synod doth order that no town or Village, wherein there is a church dedicated to any saint, shall dedicate the same to any other, or if they do, they shall appoint another Orago, or wake, so as to have two Festivals to prevent those Emulations that are common in these parts. The synod also condemns the 69Ignorance of those Christians who imagine that they do an injury to a church, in dedicating a new one in the same Country to a different saint, from whence it is that all the Churches in the same Country are as it were called by the same Name, and doth furthermore command, That upon the Orago’s of Churches where there are Sermons, people having no Sermon in their own Parish, do repair thither that so there may be no divisions among churches, to the prejudice of charity and Christian unity, as the synod is informed there is in many places, all which it is desirous to remove, as not becoming Christians, and for the further service of the church commands fraternities to be erected, but especially for the festivities, by which means such things as are necessary for the church may be greatly advanced.

The synod doth very much recommend it to the vicars of churches, and other priests to labour much in the conversion of infidels, and that by just and gentle methods, namely, by the preaching of the gospel to bring them to the Catholick faith, and to omit no opportunity of instructing as well the Naires as the Chegos, or baser sort of people in the knowledge of the Truth; but above all, the poor Malleans who live in the Heaths, who as the synod is informed, are less wedded to their errors, particularly that of the Adoration of idols, and are much better disposed to receive the evangelical doctrine than others; and whensoever any infidel is converted, the Priest shall advise the prelate thereof, that he may take such order therein as he shall judge most convenient, and to be most for the service of Christ, earnestly entreating that the Conversions that are begun in some parts by the most Reverend Metropolitan, may be carried on by the clergy of this Diocess, by providing themselves continually of such priests as are fit to advance the same, and where-ever there is any considerable number of converts, they shall immediately build churches, and appoint vicars to take the cure of their souls.

Whereas the synod is informed, that the meaner sort of people are much better disposed to receive the faith than the Naires, or nobles, and being extreamly desirous to find some way whereby such well disposed people may be made Christians, so as to assemble together with the old Christians, as why should they not, since they all adore the same god, with whom there is no distinction of Persons, and are all of the same Faith, and do all use the same Sacraments, and whereas after mature deliberation, and having oftentimes recommended the matter to God, and conferred about the most proper methods for the effecting of it in the Congregations, we have not been able to find any that are effectual, by reason of the Heathen Kings and Lords to whom all the Christians in these parts are subject, who, if they should observe that we withdraw their common Subjects from their Religion, would correspond with us no longer to the loss of the Trade and Commerce we do at present maintain with them, all which being observed by the Synod, it doth command that if any of the poorer sort of People shall desire to turn Christian, that they be received to Baptism, and the Prelate shall be advised thereof, that he may give order for the building of distinct Churches for them, and may appoint Priests to take the Cure thereof, that so the meaner sort of People may not have the Gate of Christianity and Salvation shut against them, as it has been hitherto in this Church; and in case they have not a Church to themselves, they shall then hear Mass without doors in the Porch, until Christ shall provide some better way for them, and the Heathen Kings shall be brought to allow the mean People that turn Christians to be esteemed as Noble, upon the account of the Relation that all Christians stand in to one another: and the Synod doth beg it of His Majesty the King of Portugal, that by means of the great Power he has in these parts, he would procure this privilege of the Kings and Lords of Malabar.

The Synod being desirous that the Church of the Serra, should in all things be conformable to the Latin customs, or Holy Mother Church of Rome, unto which See she has now yielded a perfect Obedience, and whereas in the Roman Church, the custom is to make the Sign of the Cross and Blessings from the left to the right, so that in saying, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, they put their hand on their Forehead, and after that descended to their Breast, where after having crossed themselves, they go next to the left shoulder, and from thence to the right, thereby signifying among other Mysteries, that by virtue of the Cross of Christ the Son of God, we are translated from the left hand, the place of Reprobates, to the right, the place of the Elect; and the custom of this Diocess is to make the said sign from the right to the left; wherefore the Synod doth command that all Children and all other People be taught to cross and bless themselves from the left to the right, according to the Latin custom, which shall also be observed by the Priests in the blessings they give to the people, and in the Crosses they make in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and the Administration of the other Sacraments.

The Synod doth declare, that the Execution of Last Wills lawfully made by deceased Christians does by the Canon Law belong to Prelates and Bishops, who are to take care that they be observed; and that whatsoever Christian has made a Will that is valid according to the custom of the place, if it is not complyed with in a Year after the Death of the Testator, the Bishop shall by censures, and other Penalties, if found necessary constrain the Heirs, or others, whose Duty it is to fulfill the same.

Whereas it often happens that persons dying who were under the scandal of having committed some grievous sin, tho’ never proved upon them, are upon that account denyed the prayers, and other offices of the dead, especially if they desired confession, and were confessed at their death, which is contrary to the order and custom of the church, which deprives none of her publick prayers, but such as die Excommunicate, or in the act of some mortal sin, without having given any sign of contrition: Therefore the synod doth command, that whatsoever sins one may have committed, if the censure of excommunication was not annexed to them; or unless the person died in the very act of some mortal sin, without giving any sign of contrition, or slowly in his bed, without desiring to be confessed, or to have a priest called to him to that effect, as is appointed by the decrees of the sacrament of penance, they shall pray and perform the office of the Dead for him, and bury him in holy ground with the same prayers they do other people.

The synod having thanked the Jesuits of the college of Vaipicotta in this Diocess, and of the other residencies, for the pains they have been at in instructing the Christians of these parts, does for the greater benefit of the souls of the said Christians, grant licence to the said religious, as well of the college, as of their other greater Residencies to preach and hear Confessions, and administer the sacraments in all churches where-ever they come, without standing in need of any further licence, the sacrament of matrimony only excepted, which it shall not be lawful for them to administer without leave from, or at the request of the parish priests, commanding all vicars and curates of churches, and all the people to receive the said fathers chearfully, and to entertain them with great kindness and thanks, for the great trouble they are at in travelling continually over the Mountains only for the salvation of their souls, and rejoyce to learn from them how to administer the Sacraments, and to have their flocks instructed by them in all such doctrines as are necessary to their souls, and their vicars shall oblige their People to come to church, to hear them, whenever they preach, the synod being very confident, that the said fathers will exercise all the said Functions in great love and charity with the parish, and all the other Priests of the church.

Whereas the constitutions of the bishoprick of Goa have been received in the provincial Councils thereof, and have been ordered to be observed thorow the whole province, of which this church being a suffragan, is obliged by the said councils, and to which this Synod yielding a due Obedience, doth command, That in all things that can be observed in this Bishoprick, or concerning which there is no provision made in this Synod, the said constitutions be kept and obeyed, and doth likewise command, that appeals whensoever made from sentences given in this Bishoprick to the metropolitan, such appeals being made in such cases wherein the canons allow them, shall be granted; nevertheless not intending hereby to alter any thing in that mild method of the Prelate, and four or more persons composing matters amicably to the prevention of many Discords, but if the parties shall not submit to such determinations, but will appeal to the metropolitan, it shall not be denyed them, being done in due form.

Whereas of all the evil customs that are to be rooted from among the faithful, those are the most dangerous which have something of the heathen superstition in them, of which this bishoprick is full, therefore the synod desiring that all such customs were totally extirpated, that so Christians may enjoy Christianity in its purity, doth in order thereunto command, that all superstitious washings which are by some most superstitiously practised as holy Ceremonies be utterly abolished, such as the washing of dead corps the day after they have given a dole, reckoning it a sin to neglect such washings, the making of circles with rice, into which they put the parties that are to be married, having given rice before to children, as also the taking a thred out with great Superstition when they cut a Web of Cloath, and the taking two grains of Nele back again, after they have sold and measured it: all which Heathenish vanities the synod totally prohibits, commanding all that shall use them hereafter to be severely punished.

Tho’ it would much rejoice the synod to see the superstitious and absurd customs of the Heathen Malavars of the better sort not mixing with the lower, and of having no communication or correspondence with those that have but touched any of them, totally abolished among the Christians of this bishoprick; yet forasmuch as the Christians thereof, by reason of their being subject to infidel princes, whom they are forced to obey in all things, wherein the faith is no ways concerned; and that Christians, if they should but touch those of the baser rank, could not after that, according to the laws, have any trade or communication with the better sort of people, and so would not be able to live among them; for which reason the synod doth declare, that the custom of not touching any of the baser sort, being observed only in complyance with the heathens, and looked upon as a superstitious heathen vanity, and not voluntarily observed, is no Superstition, nor for the abovementioned reasons any matter of scruple, and that Christians may in all places thus lawfully observe it, where there are Naires or any of the better sort, or where it is likely they may be, or may come to hear of it: But in all places where these causes do not concurr, or in secret, or among the Portuguezes, this superstition cannot be observed without doing a great injury to their consciences; on the contrary, the Synod doth admonish all the faithful to receive all such with great love and charity, tho’ never so poor and mean, and especially if they are Christians, knowing that there is no distinction of persons with god, who is lord of all: And albeit they do not touch the base sort of people upon the forementioned account, yet if they should happen to touch any of them, they shall not wash themselves thereupon, that being a thing that can never come to the knowledge of the heathens, and would therefore be a manifest superstition; those also that will not touch the Naires, or if they should, do wash themselves, which, as the synod is informed, is what the Christians in the southern parts do observe, where the forementioned impediment is not among the Heathens, who are rather scandalized by such a contemptuous carriage: Therefore the synod doth command all that shall be found guilty of forbearing to touch such, or having touched them, shall wash themselves, to be severely punished as superstitious followers of the Heathen Customs, and commands the Preachers and Confessors to admonish them thereof in their sermons and confessions.

The synod being informed, that in some parts when any one of the baser sort do but touch the cisterns of Christians, that Christians do 70Disempolear or purify them, by performing certain ceremonies after the manner of the heathens, which is very contrary to the purity of the Christian religion, being an intolerable superstition, doth with great rigour command those that make the said Disempoleamento or Purification, or use the said ceremonies, to be thrown out of the communion of the church, and to be denied the Casture during the prelate’s pleasure, or at least for one year, and to be punished with the penalties that such ceremonies do deserve.

Whereas in the feast of the heathen, called Ona, which is celebrated in august, in which they go out one against another with bows and Arrows, and other arms, in which conflicts some are killed, and more wounded; and some Christians, unmindful of their obligations, living among them, and communicating much with them, do go forth with them, and armed as they are to the said feasts, and are thereby liable to the same Disasters: Therefore the synod doth command all the faithful Christians of this Bishoprick, in Holy Obedience, and upon pain of Excommunication, not to presume to resort to this or any other Heathen Festivity, tho’ there should be no Ceremony belonging to a Pagod therein; forasmuch as all such Feasts are dedicated to the said Pagods, and are celebrated and observed to their Honour and Veneration; which is the rather to be forbore in this of the Ona, by reason of the danger of death that there is probably therein, the Heathens superstitiously imagining that all that die in that occasion, go immediately to Heaven; but Christians shall only observe their own Holy Festivities among themselves, and that with a due moderation and decency, as becomes the Professors of the Law of Christ; without having any thing to do with the Superstitious Festivals of the Heathens, which are dedicated to the Honour of the Devil, and if any Christian shall die in the said Heathen Feast, he shall be denied Ecclesiastical Burial.

Faithful Christians must not only avoid the Ceremonies and Superstitions of the Heathens, but the Judaical Rites and Ceremonies also, which were all abrogated by the sufficient promulgation of the Gospel, for which reason the Synod, tho’ it doth very much commend the Holy Custom of carrying Children to Church forty days after they are born, to offer them to the Lord, in imitation and praise of what was done by our lady the most holy virgin; nevertheless it condemns the separating of Women for the said forty days after the birth of a Male, as if they were unclean so as not to suffer them to enter into the Church, imagining they would sin in doing it, and eighty days after the birth of a Female; both which are Jewish Ceremonies, that are now abrogated, and not only useless but prejudicial, and as such, the Synod doth totally prohibit the observance of them; declaring, that if Women have Health and Strength sooner, they shall be obliged to go to Church to hear Mass upon Sundays and Holy-days: and after forty days they may, according to their Custom, carry their Sons to Church with Devotion, understanding that there is no Precept of the Church for it, but that it is only a pious Devotion of faithful Women that are willing to make such an Offering of their Sons to God in imitation of the most Holy Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, taking her for the Intercessor of the Children thus offered to God both for Spirituals and Temporals.

One of the greatest Sins in the sight of God, and which he has always prohibited and punished above all others, is the consulting of Witches, and such as hold a correspondence with the Devil; wherefore the Synod being informed that a great many Christians of this Bishoprick, and especially among those that live in the Heaths, by reason of the Communication they have with Infidels, and their having so many Witches and Fortune-tellers about them, when they intend to Marry, have recourse to such People to know what Success they shall have, governing themselves so much by what they are told, as to break off Matches after they are concluded, and to make new ones at the pleasure of the said Witches; as also when they are Sick, that they send for such people to perform some Ceremony whereby they hope to have their Health restored; and at other times to help them to Children, and to discover Thefts, and for several other purposes; all which are things repugnant to the Christian Religion, doth command all Christians convicted of having consulted any of the said Witches for these or any other purposes, to be thrown out of the Church; neither shall any Priest go to their Houses or give them the Casture, during the Prelate’s pleasure, or for one Year at least, and shall be punished with such other Penalties as the Ceremonies they performed and consented to shall deserve.

The Synod being informed, that some wicked Christians are not content only to go to Witches to consult them, but do furthermore send for them to their Houses, where they joyn with them in the Invocation of their Pagods, and in making offerings and Sacrifices to them, in killing Dogs, and performing other Ceremonies, that are contrary to the Faith, namely, one which they call Tollicanum, Ollicanum, Bellicorum, Conum, which they do often publickly to the great scandal of Christianity, as if they were not Christians, and at other times permit the Heathens to perform them in their Houses, doth command in virtue of Holy Obedience, and upon pain of Excommunication to be Ipso facto incurred, that no Christian shall presume to perform any of the said Ceremonies, or consent to the performing of them in their Houses, and that all that do transgress therein, shall be declared Excommunicate in the Church, until they shall beg for mercy, and have undergone condign and publick Punishment in the Church, and tho’ upon their Repentance appearing to be true and sincere, they may be absolved, yet they shall not have the Casture given them, neither shall any Priest go to their Houses in two Years, save in case of peril of Death; and they who shall go to offer any thing to a Pagod, or shall make any Vow to one, shall be punished after the same manner, and with the same Penance, and shall incurr Excommunication lpso facto, in all which Matters the Vicar must be very watchful for the prevention of all such Idolatries.

A Great many ignorant Christians of this Bishoprick being unmindful of the Purity of their Christian Obligations, do carry Notes about them which have been given them by Witches for the Cure of their Distempers, hoping for relief from their vertue, hanging them like-wise about the Necks of their Cattle to keep them well, and putting them in their Orchards to encrease the Fruit, and communicating them to several other things for various effects; all which the Synod detesting as Diabolical, doth command all that are guilty thereof to be severely punished by the Prelate, and all Vicars not to permit any such Offenders to enter into the Church, nor to give them the Casture, and no Priests to go to their Houses, and they shall be compell’d to deliver all such Notes to their Vicars to be torn, and all that have used any of them, tho’ they should never do it more, shall be punished for the space of six months with the said Penalties.

The Onzena, or practice of Usury, is a grievous Sin in the sight of God, and is very much condemned in the Scriptures, Christ commanding us to lend to others, hoping for nothing again, and the Synod being very much troubled to find the greatest part of the Christians of this Diocess entangled therein, through their ignorance of what gains are lawful, and what are not, and of what may be kept, and what ought to be restored, doth therefore admonish in the Lord, all Faithful Christians to consult the Learned about these Matters, giving them an account of all their Contracts, in order to their being rightly instructed as to what they may lawfully take for Money they have lent out. And the Synod doth furthermore declare, that according to the best Information it has received, the Interest of Money in Malabar is Ten per cent. and whatever is taken more, if the Principal runs no 71risk is Onzena, or Usury,

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