d personally by the
Holy Spirit in their sacred councils, piously and rightly ordered and
commanded that all the prelates and pastors of the universal Church
be obliged, in person or through their visitors, to make annually
a general visit and investigation of their subordinates and clergy,
both seculars and regulars, who have in charge the administration of
souls. This shall include the offices that they hold, in curacies
and in churches, hermitages, hospitals, and confraternities, all
which should be directed to the spiritual welfare of souls--which
consists in being, through the grace of God, our Lord, separated
from sins, especially public and disgraceful sins, which offend His
[Divine] Majesty so greatly. In order to fulfil this our obligation,
we admonish and order that those of you who shall know or who shall
have heard anything said concerning the father cura, your minister, who
has charge of you in the matter of the administration of sacraments,
or of any other person, which cannot or ought not to be tolerated
by the citizens and inhabitants of this said village of Dilao, of
whatever nation and rank he be, shall tell and declare it to us;
especially if he shall have committed what will be mentioned and
related to you later in this edict, in whole or in part, or any other
thing similar to it. You shall declare and manifest the same before
us within the three days first following after this our letter and
edict shall be declared and read to you.

First, if you know or have heard said whether the said father cura N.,
your minister, has been remiss and negligent in the administration
of the holy sacraments of baptism, penance, the eucharist, extreme
unction, and matrimony.

_Item_: Whether anyone has died without holy baptism through his
neglect and carelessness, or without confession, communion, or
extreme unction.

_Item_: If you know whether the said your minister has not said mass
for you on every Sunday or feast that is observed; or whether he has
made any signal omission in this; and whether he preaches and teaches
the Christian doctrine to you, as he is obliged.

_Item_: Whether the administration of the holy sacraments takes place
with the reverence and propriety that is fitting; whether he has
married anyone before daybreak, or without the admonitions ordered by
the holy council, or without the notification of our vicars, and their
permission having preceded, in the cases in which it ought to be made