Selingstad, Council of

Selingstad, Council Of (Concilium Salegunstadiense). This council was held in August, 1022, by the emperor Henry; Aribo, archbishop of Mayence, presiding. Twenty canons were published.

3. Forbids the celebration of marriages from Advent to the octave of the Epiphany, from Septuagesima to the octave of Easter, during the fourteen days preceding the Feast of John the Baptist, and on fast days and vigils.

4. Forbids a priest having drunk anything after cockcrow in summer to say mass on the following day; allows of cases of necessity in winter.

6. States that complaints had been made of the conduct of some very foolish priests who were in the habit of throwing the corporal into a fire for the sake of extinguishing it, and strictly prohibits it.

9. Forbids talking in church, or in the church porch.

10. Forbids lay persons, and particularly matrons, to hear daily the gospel "In principio erat verbum;" and particular masses, such as the mass of the Holy Trinity or of St. Michael. The canon seems to imply that this had been done for the sake of divination.

16. Forbids any person to go to Rome without first obtaining the permission of his bishop or his deputy.

18. Notices the folly of those who, being guilty of some crimes, despise the penance imposed by their own priests, and trust to obtaining a plenary absolution from the Roman pontiff. It declares that such indulgence shall not be granted to them, but that in future they shall first fulfill the penance imposed, and then go to Rome, if they choose, having first obtained leave from their own bishop.

After the canons follows an appendix concerning the manner of celebrating a council.