She who leaves her father for the sake of virginity is to be commended to grave women.
This canon is Canon xxxj. of the Synod of Hippo, a.d. 393.
Canon XLV.
(Greek xlviii.) Concerning those who are sick and cannot answer for themselves.
That the sick are to be baptized who cannot answer for themselves if their [servants] shall have spoken at their own proper peril a testimony of the good will [of the sick man]. (Greek Canon xlix.)
Concerning players who are doing penance and are converted to the Lord.
That to players and actors and other persons of that kind, as also to apostates when they are converted and return to God, grace or reconciliation is not to be denied.
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon XLV.
That he who cannot answer for himself on account of illness is to be baptized when he shall have given evidence of his desire.
A repentant actor is to be received to penance.
This canon is made up of Canons xxxij. and xxxiij. of the Synod of Hippo, a.d. 393.
Johnson.
"Apostates," i.e., those who elsewhere are called Lapsi; those who had done sacrifice through the violence of torment in time of persecution, professing in the meantime that their consciences did not consent to what their hands did.
Canon XLVI.
(Greek I.) Concerning the passions of the martyrs.
The passions of the Martyrs may be read when their anniversary days are celebrated.
Note.
Ancient Epitome of Canon XLVI.
The passions of the martyrs are to be read their commemorations.
This canon is the last part of Canon xxxvj. of the Synod of Hippo, a.d. 393.
Canon XLVII.
(Greek li.) Concerning [the Donatists and ] the children baptized by the Donatists.
Concerning the Donatists it seemed good that we should hold counsel with our brethren and fellow priests Siricius and Simplician concerning those infants alone who are baptized by Donatists: lest what they did not do of their own will, when they should be converted to the Church of God with a salutary determination, the error of their parents might prevent their promotion to the ministry of the holy altar.
But when these things had been begun, Honoratus and Urbanus, bishops of Mauri- tania Sitifensis, said: When some time ago we were sent to your holiness, we laid aside what things had been written on, this account, that we might wait for the arrival of our brethren the legates from Numidia. But because not a few days have passed in which they have been looked for and as yet they are not arrived, it is not fitting that we should delay any longer the commands we received from our brother-bishops; and therefore, brethren, receive our story with alacrity of mind. We have heard concerning the faith of the Nicene tractate: True it is that sacrifices are to be forbidden after breakfast, so that they may be offered as is right by those who are fasting, and this has been confirmed then and now.