3/17/2021
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| Lorenzetti, "St. Sabinus" |
Nullo 5 says the custodian must never leave the church during the time that it is open to the faithful, and has few or none visiting it. It indicates that the necessity of the omnipresence of the custodian is greater for city churches. It describes the behavior of thieves who, especially in city churches where they are less likely to be immediately recognized by the faithful, prowl around and are ready to perpetrate in an instant their sacrilegious thefts. These thieves frequently have already previously visited the church precisely in order to observe the state of the church’s security so that they can proceed when their time comes, with greatest ease, even if need be, after hours.
In country churches and smaller villages it may be easier for such a stranger to arouse the suspicions of observant locals. Nevertheless, the parish priest remains duty-bound to guard the MBS. In these cases, SCR leaves the “mode of custody” to his prudence. It suggests, by way of an example, the parish priest’s own frequent visitation of the Church during the day as well as assigning a neighborhood watch consisting of trustworthy persons and a private Eucharistic visitation schedule for parishioners.
This description of the activity of thieves is certainly not exhaustive. But it does give the impression that SCR has some expertise in the area of security.
The character of shrewdness, vigilance, of being alert to danger, and of being ready to remedy a circumstance wherein there could be malicious intent may appear to some to contrast with a pastoral persona of tranquillity, tolerance, acceptance and withholding judgment. The alleging of this contrast is false and needs to be resisted as every bit injurious as the sacrileges which it intends to conceal.
Nullo 5 next addresses the practicality of keeping an eye on the workmen who may frequent the church for their various service calls.
