Chapter I

Here begins the resolutory treatise of the doubts and difficulties frequently occurring regarding the office of the mass and those things which are required for the due celebration of the same: according to the constitutions of the sacred canons, and the firmer and safer opinions of proven doctors.

Chapter one: Regarding the intention of the collector, and the matter to be treated, and the number, distinction, and order of those things to be treated: containing two articles.

Art. I. Prefacing the preface, and exposing the intent and things to be treated.

De. profe. di. v.
c. Sufficit.

The more great and worthy the office is, the more care, solicitude, and diligence must be exercised in it. For one sins more gravely if, in the execution of this, he allows negligence, a defect, or any error. Among all the offices committed to human faculty, there is none greater, more worthy, or more difficult than the due celebration of masses. In which the sacrament of the most precious body and blood of Jesus Christ our redeemer is consecrated, offered, and consumed. The sacred canon attesting: "It is not a small thing," it says, "to celebrate one mass." And very happy is he who can celebrate one worthily. It remains, therefore, that nowhere can one sin with graver danger than if negligence or error is committed in the execution of this most worthy office. Therefore, so that simple priests who do not have knowledge of the canons, nor can easily have recourse to their superiors or to learned men, may be better able to beware lest they fail or err in this great mystery, and that where any of these things might happen, they may know how to amend them with due remedies, we have judged it to be very useful and necessary that opportune instruction be handed down to them regarding these things. So that this may become clearer, doubts occurring more frequently regarding each thing required for the due celebration of the mass will be raised. From the resolutions of which...