Ваганты

Vagantes are wandering (clerici vagantes or vagi). According to the ancient canonical law, this was the name given to clergy who, having received ordination, at the same time did not receive a specific position and, as a result, wandered around in search of work. Laws against the unsightly behavior of such persons were already issued in the 4th and 5th centuries, and the Council of Chalcedon (451) prohibited, with its 6th canon, the giving of “unconditional or empty ordination” (Grdinatio absoluta sive vaga) without any titulus ordinationis, i.e., general ordination without a corresponding office. Nevertheless, vagantes soon appear again, especially in countries in which the introduction of Christianity has not yet ended, or in their vicinity. Since it was only occasionally possible to appoint missionaries to certain dioceses, and since they were often deprived of the opportunity to act either as a result of pagan persecution, or simply out of fear of them, in safer areas there were often many such missionary bishops and priests who did not recognize any permanent authority over themselves, but simply adhered to some Christian community, bearing the name slerici acerhali (clergy without a head). Added to this were other unfavorable circumstances. Vagantes often achieved ordination through simony and used it as a kind of means of industry. They hired themselves out to other bishops or priests who enjoyed benefices, and carried out their labor for a certain remuneration, entered the service of some rich gentleman or nobleman as private house priests, combining with this position many other minor matters; sometimes they became simply vagabonds. During the Carolingian period, complaints against them became very numerous, and Charlemagne twice renewed the prohibition against “vagrant ordination” (oridinatio maga). In the 9th century, several councils passed laws against vagrants, such as Concil. Mogunt, 847, and Consil. Ticinense, 850 (Mansi, 14, pp. 906 and 936); and many bishops zealously fought against this evil, like Agobard of Lyons (De privelegio et jure sacerdotii) and Godegard of Gildsheim (see his Vita. 4:26). In the 12th century, complaints about this disorder can be found in Georgoch of Reichersberg in his De Corrupto ecclesiae statu and Adversus Simoniacos. But finally the proper remedy was found. It was decided that if the bishop ordained a priest without giving him a specific place or position, he himself had to support him at his own table, that is, at his own expense, until the ordained person was given a specific position. This rule was confirmed by the Council of Trent (1545 - 63, Session 23, p. 23) and the result was that the Roman Catholic Church was almost completely freed from the placeless clergy. In accordance with Western vagrants, we had the so-called. Sacral butts, about which see under this word.