that affifts at the Mafs to be a Deacon; the Synod doth therefore ordain and command, that from henceforward the Chamazes, who do affist at the Mafs, and are not Deacons, be not permitted to wear the Stole; it would alfo be decent for the Deacons when they wear the Stole, to be in a Surplice, and to have a Towel, and not to have it over their ordinary wearing Cloths, as has been hitherto the Custom,

THE

Decree VII.

He Synod doth command, That in all Churches there be Stamps of Hofts (or Instruments wherewith to print the Wafers that are to be Confecrated) which fhall be bought forthwith out of the Fabrick money, or the Alms of the Church; and that the Vicars take care to be always provided of the flour of Wheat, for the making of them, which they must be sure not to mix with any thing else, as is done commonly in other Bread, for fear there fhould be no Confecration therein; wherefore they must either make them themselves, or employ fuch as are of known Skill and Fidelity to do it, and the fame care fhall be taken of the Wine that it be no other than that of Portugal, and that it be not mixed with the Juice of Raisins, or with any other Wines of the Countrey for the fame danger.

Decree

250

Decree VIII.

TH He Synod doth earnestly recommend it to the Priests of this Diocefs to take heed in what Wine they celebrate, having been informed, That as fome Churches, by reafon of their Poverty, are without Portugal Wine, fo where it is that the Priest keeps it in Glass Bottles, where being in a small quantity, and kept a long time, it must neceffarily decay and turn to Vinegar, with which they celebrate notwithstanding, not confidering the danger there is of there being no Confecration; for remedy whereof the Synod in the strictest manner that it can, doth command, That in every Church there fhall be in the Vicars keeping a sweet pipe, or fmall Runlet of Wood, or a Frask, in which the Wine for the Masses fhall be kept, and that the Vicars be extreamly careful, that the Wine do not decay or turn to Vinegar; which if it should happen fo as to have loft the effence of Wine in the Opinion of those that have good Palates, they fhall not then celebrate therewith, it being a great Sacrilege to do it, seeing there can be no Confecration.

W

Decree IX.

Hereas for want of Portugal Wine, it many times falls out that there are no Maffes celebrated in this Diocess, to the great pre

judice of the Faithful Christians, who for that reason are several months without hearing Maß, and without an opportunity of receiving the most Holy Sacrament, and the Sick of receiving the Holy Viaticum; wherefore the Synod, for remedy hereof, doth entreat his Majesty the King of Portugal, out of his great Piety, and as he is Protector of the Chriftians of thefe parts, once a Year to fend us as an Alms, a Pipe and a half, or two Pipes of Mufcatel Wine of Portugal, to be diftributed among the Chriftian Churches of this Bishoprick, and of the whole Indies, and till fuch time as an Anfwer fhall be returned to this Petition, the most Illuftrious Lord Archbishop of Goa, Dom ffray Aleixo de Menezes, Metropolitan of this Church, Primate of India, and Prefident of this Synod, is pleased to give the faid quantity of Wine to be diftributed among the Churches of this Bishoprick, the diftribution whereof shall be made by the Prelate according to the Informations he fhall receive of the Neceffities of every Parish, and whereas all the fucceffes of this Life are uncertain, if this should happen to fail at any time, the Prelate fhall then at his Vifitation take fo much out of the stock of every Church as fhall fuffice to purchase what ́ Wine is neceflary, and the Wine fhall be committed to the Vicar, who fhall make ufe of it only in the Maffes that are faid in the Church, and order fhall be taken that the Mafs of the day, which belongs to the whole Parish, and is the chief obligation of the Church, fhall be celebrated without fail. Decree

TH

Decree X.

His Synod being very doubtful whether the Stones of the Altar, on which the Maffes are faid in the Churches of this Diocefs, be confecrated with Holy Oil, or truly Blessed, by reafon of the small care and knowledge which the former Prelates coming from Babylen had of such Matters; doth command, That all fuch as are not well known to have been lawfully Confecrated, shall be brought to the most Reverend Metropolitan that they may be Confecrated by him, whom the Synod doth intreat to provide fuch Churches with Stones as want them: Commanding likewise, all Cups that are not of Gold, Silver, Copper or Tin, to be broke, and *no Cups to be used but what are made of one of these Metals, and that Mafs be never faid in any of these after they are broken; and feeing there are many Churches that for want of Cups have no Maffes, the Lord Metropolitan is defired to give order, that all Churches be furnished with Cups.

No Cups.] In the Primitive Church they thought it no fuch Crime to make use of wooden Chalices in the celebration of the Sacrament. So Honorius in the 89 Chap. of his 3. Book De gemma anime, faith, Apoftoli & eorum fucceffores in ligneis Calicibus Miffas celebrarunt: And Boniface Bishop

of Mentz, being asked in the Council of Triburis, whether it were Lawful to celebrate in Wooden Chalices, answered, Quondam Sacerdotes aurei ligneis Calicibus utebantur, nunc è contra lignei Sacerdotes aureis utuntur Calicibus.

Decree

W

Decree XI.

Hereas there are many poor Churches in this Bishoprick, and efpecially in the Heaths, that have no confecrated Vestments for the faying of Mass, and for that reason have but few faid in them, to the great prejudice of the faithful Parishioners; therefore the Synod doth command, That out of the Alms of the Parish the most Reverend Metropolitan may provide all Churches with Holy Veftments, fo that none may be without them, and for that reafon be without having Maffes every Sunday; and in those Parishes where the Alms fhall not be found to be fufficient to do it, the faid Lord Metropolitan is defired to take fuch order therein, that they may be fome way or other provided, and have fo great a want fupplied.

Decree XII.

Hereas the Chriftians of this Diocefs have

not hitherto heard Mafs as upon obligation, having never imagined that the not hearing thereof upon fome particular days was a mortal fin; for which reason,fome have without any fcruple neglected going to hear it, and others have not ftayed to hear it out; therefore the Synod doth declare, That it is the Precept of the Univerfal Church, and that upon penalty of a mortal Sin, that all Chriftians, Men and Women, having no lawful