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CODICIS
IURIS CANONICI FONTES
Constitutio
Cum
ex apostolatus
(15
febr. 1559) (*)
PAULUS
PAPA IV
PAULUS
EPISCOPUS,
Servus
Servorum Dei. Ad perpetuam rei memoriam.
Cum
ex apostolatus officio Nobis, meritis licet imparibus, divinitus credito,
cura Dominici gregis Nobis immineat generalis, et exinde teneamur pro fideli
illius custodia, et salubri directione, more vigilis Pastoris, assidue
vigilare, et attentius providere, ut qui hac aetate, peccatis exigentibus,
propriae prudentiae innitentes scientius, et perniciosius solito contra
orthodoxae fidei disciplinam insurgunt, et superstitiosis, ac fictitiis
adinventionibus sacrarum Scripturarum intelligentiam pervertentes, Catholicae
Ecclesiae unitatem et inconsutilem Domini tunicam scindere moliuntur, ab
ovili Christi repellantur, nec magisterium erroris continuent, qui discipuli
veritatis esse contemnunt.
§
1. Nos considerantes rem huiusmodi adeo gravem, et periculosam esse, ut
Romanus Pontifex, qui DEI, et Domini Nostri IESU CHRISTI vices gerit in
terris, et super gentes, et regna plenitudinem obtinet potestatis, omnesque
iudicat, a nemine in hoc saeculo iudicandus, possit, si deprehendatur a fide
devius, redargui, et quod ubi maius intenditur periculum, ibi est plenius, et
diligentius consulendum, ne pseudoprophetae, aut alii etiam saecularem
iurisdictionem habentes, simplicium animas miserabiliter illaqueent,
innumerabilesque populos eorum in spiritualibus, aut temporalibus curae, et
regimini commissos, secum in perditionem, et damnationis interitum trahant,
nec aliquando contingat Nos abominationem desolationis, quae dicta est a
Daniele Propheta, in loco sancto videre, cupientes, quantum cum Deo possumus,
pro nostro munere Pastorali vulpes vineam Domini demoliri satagentes capere,
et lupos ab ovilibus arcere, ne canes muti videamur nequeuntes latrare, et
perdamur cum malis agricolis, ac mercenario comparemur.
§
2. Habita super his cum venerabilibus fratribus nostris S. R. E. Cardinalibus
deliberatione matura, de eorum consilio, et unanimi assensu omnes, et
singulas excommunicationis, suspensionis, et interdicti, ac privationis, et
quasvis alias sententias, censuras, et poenas a quibusvis Romanis
Pontificibus Praedecessoribus nostris, aut pro talibus habitis, etiam per
eorum literas extravagantes, seu sacris Conciliis ab Ecclesia Dei receptis,
vel Sanctorum Patrum decretis, et statutis, aut sacris Canonibus, ac
Constitutionibus, et Ordinationibus Apostolicis contra haereticos, aut
schismaticos quomodolibet latas, et promulgatas, Apostolica auctoritate
approbamus, et innovamus, ac perpetuo observari, et in viridi observantia, si
forsan in ea non sint, reponi, et esse debere, necnon quoscumque, qui
hactenus a fide Catholica deviasse, aut in aliquam haeresim incidisse, seu
schisma incurrisse, aut excitasse, seu commisisse comprehensi, aut confessi,
vel convicti fuerint, seu (quod Deus pro sua clementia, et in omnes bonitate
avertere dignetur) in posterum deviabunt, seu in haeresim incident, aut
schisma incurrent, vel excitabunt, seu committent, et deviasse, seu
incidisse, aut incurrisse, vel excitasse, seu commisisse deprehendentur, aut
confitebuntur, seu convincentur, cuiuscumque status, gradus, ordinis,
conditionis, et praeminentiae existant, etiamsi Episcopali, Archiepiscopali,
Patriarchali, Primatiali, aut alia maiori dignitate Ecclesiastica, seu
Cardinalatus honore, et Apostolicae Sedis ubivis locorum, tam perpetuae quam
temporalis Legationis munere, vel mundana etiam Comitali, Baronali,
Marchionali, Ducali, Regia, et Imperiali auctoritate, seu excellentia
praefulgeant, et eorum quemlibet sententias, censuras, poenas praedictas
incurrere volumus atque decernimus.
§
3. Et nihilominus considerantes dignum esse, ut qui virtutis amore a malis
non abstinent, metu poenarum ab illis deterreantur, et quod Episcopi,
Archiepiscopi, Patriarchae, Primates, Cardinales, Legati, Comites, Barones,
Marchiones, Duces, Reges, et Imperatores, qui alios docere, et illis bono
exemplo, ut in fide Catholica contineantur, esse debent, praevaricando
gravius ceteris peccant, cum non solum seipsos perdant, verum etiam alios
innumerabiles populos eorum curae, et regimini creditos, seu alias eis
subditos, secum in perditionem, et puteum interitus trahant, de similibus
consilio, et assensu, hac nostra in perpetuum valitura constitutione, in
odium tanti criminis, quo nullum in Ecclesia Dei maius, aut perniciosius esse
potest, de Apostolicae potestatis plenitudine sancimus, statuimus,
decernimus, et definimus, quod sententiis, censuris, et poenis praedictis in
suo robore, et efficacia remanentibus, ac effectum suum sortientibus, omnes,
et singuli Episcopi, Archiepiscopi, Patriarchae, Primates, Cardinales, Legati,
Comites, Barones, Marchiones, Duces, Reges, et Imperatores, qui hactenus, ut
praefertur, deviasse, aut in haeresim incidisse, seu schisma incurrisse,
excitasse, vel commisisse deprehensi, aut confessi, vel convicti fuerint, et
in posterum deviabunt, aut in haeresim incident, seu schisma incurrent, vel
excitabunt, aut committent, et deviasse, seu in haeresim incidisse, vel
schisma incurrisse, aut excitasse, seu commisisse deprehendentur, aut
confitebuntur, seu convincentur, cum in hoc inexcusabiliores ceteris
reddantur, ultra sententias, censuras, et poenas praedictas, sint etiam eo
ipso, absque aliquo iuris, aut facti ministerio, suis Ordinibus, et
Cathedralibus etiam Metropolitan. Patriarchalibus, et Primatialibus
Ecclesiis, ac Cardinalatus honore, et cuiusvis Legationis munere, necnon voce
activa, et passiva, omnique auctoritate, ac Monasteriis, beneficiis, et
officiis Ecclesiasticis, cum cura, et sine cura, saecularibus, et quorumvis
Ordinum regularibus, quae ex quibusvis concessionibus, et dispensationibus
Apostolicis in titulum, commendam, et administrationem, aut alias
quomodolibet obtinuerint, et in quibus, vel ad quae ius aliquod habuerint,
necnon quibusvis fructibus, redditibus, et proventibus annuis super similibus
fructibus, redditibus, et proventibus eis reservatis, et assignatis,
Comitatibus quoque, Baroniis, Marchionatibus, Ducatibus, Regnis, et Imperio
penitus, et in totum, perpetuo privati, et ad illa de cetero inhabiles, et
incapaces, habeanturque pro relapsis, et subversis in omnibus, et per omnia,
perinde ac si prius haeresim huiusmodi in iudicio publice abiurassent, nec
ullo umquam tempore ad eorum pristinum statum, aut Cathedrales,
Metropolitanas, Patriarchales, et Primatiales Ecclesias, seu Cardinalatus,
vel alium honorem, aut quamvis aliam maiorem, vel minorem dignitatem, seu
vocem activam, vel passivam, aut auctoritatem, seu Monasteria, et beneficia,
vel Comitatus, Baronias, Marchionatus, Ducatus, Regna, et Imperium restitui,
reponi, reintegrari, aut rehabilitari possint, quinimmo saecularis
relinquantur arbitrio potestatis animadversione debita puniendi, nisi
apparentibus in eis verae poenitentiae indiciis, et condignae poenitentiae
fructibus, ex ipsius Sedis benignitate, et clementia in aliquo Monasterio,
aut alio Regulari loco ad peragendum perpetuam in pane doloris, et aquae
moestitiae poenitentiam retrudendi fuerint. Quodque pro talibus ab omnibus
cuiuscumque status, gradus, ordinis, conditionis, et praeeminentiae
existentibus, ac quacumque etiam Episcopali, Archiepiscopali, Patriarchali,
et Primatiali, aut alia maiori Ecclesiastica dignitate, et etiam Cardinalatus
honore, seu mundana, etiam Comitali, Baronali, Marchionali, Ducali, Regia, et
Imperiali auctoritate, excellentia pollentibus haberi, tractari, et reputari,
et ut tales evitari, omnique humanitatis solatio destitui debeant.
§
4. Et qui iuspatronatus, aut nominandi personas idoneas ad Cathedrales, etiam
Metropolitanas, et Patriarchales, ac Primatiales Ecclesias, seu Monasteria,
vel alia beneficia Ecclesiastica per privationem huiusmodi vacantia habere
praetenderint, ne illa diutinae vacationis exponantur incommodis, sed de
servitute haereticorum erepta personis concedantur idoneis, quae illarum
populos in semitas iustitiae fideliter dirigant, teneantur ad Ecclesias,
Monasteria, et beneficia huiusmodi alias personas idoneas infra tempus a
iure, vel ex eorum concordatis, seu compactatis cum dicta Sede initis
statutum, Nobis seu pro tempore existenti Romano Pontifici praesentare,
alioquin tempore huiusmodi elapso plena, et libera Ecclesiarum,
Monasteriorum, et beneficiorum praedictorum dispositio ad Nos, et Romanum
Pontificem praedictum eo ipso pleno iure devolvatur.
§
5. Et insuper qui ipsos sic deprehensos, aut confessos, vel convictos
scienter quomodolibet receptare, vel defendere, aut eis favere, vel credere,
seu eorum dogmata dogmatizare praesumpserint, sententiam excommunicationis eo
ipso incurrant, efficianturque infames, nec voce, persona, scriptis, vel
nuncio, aut procuratore aliquo ad publica, seu privata officia, aut consilia,
seu Synodum, vel Concilium generale, vel provinciale, nec conclave
Cardinalium, aut aliquam fidelium congregationem, seu electionem alicuius,
aut testimonium perhibendum admittantur, nec admitti possint. Sint etiam
intestabiles, nec ad haereditatis successionem accedant, nullus praeterea
cogatur eis super aliquo negotio respondere. Quod si forsan Iudices
extiterint, eorum sententiae nullam obtineant firmitatem, nec aliquae causae
ad eorum audientiam deducantur, et si fuerint Advocati, eorum patrocinium
nullatenus recipiatur, si vero Tabelliones extiterint, instrumenta confecta
per eos nullius sint penitus roboris, vel momenti. Et insuper clerici
omnibus, et singulis Ecclesiis, etiam Cathedralibus, Metropolitan.
Patriarchalibus, et Primatialibus, ac dignitatibus, Monasteriis, beneficiis,
et officiis Ecclesiasticis, etiam, ut praefertur, qualificatis per eos
quomodolibet obtentis, et tam ipsi, quam laici, etiam, ut praemittitur
qualificati, et dignitatibus praedictis praediti quibuscumque Regnis, Ducatibus,
Dominiis, Feudis, et bonis temporalibus per eos possessis privati existant eo
ipso, Regnaque, Ducatus, Dominia, Feuda, et bona huiusmodi publicentur, et
publica sint, efficianturque iuris, et proprietatis eorum, qui illa primo
occupaverint, si in sinceritate fidei, et unitate S. R. E. ac sub nostra, et
successorum nostrorum Romanorum Pontificum canonice intrantium obedientia
fuerint.
§
6. Adiicientes quod si ullo umquam tempore apparuerit aliquem Episcopum, etiam
pro Archiepiscopo, seu Patriarcha, vel Primate se gerentem, aut praedictae
Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem, etiam ut praefertur, Legatum, seu etiam Romanum
Pontificem ante eius promotionem, vel in Cardinalem, seu Romanum Pontificem
assumptionem a fide Catholica deviasse, aut in aliquam haeresim incidisse,
promotio, seu assumptio de eo etiam in concordia, et de unanimi omnium
Cardinalium assensu facta, nulla, irrita, et inanis existat, nec per
susceptionem muneris, consecrationis, aut subsecutam regiminis, et
administrationis possessionem, seu quasi, vel ipsius Romani Pontificis
inthronizationem, aut adorationem, seu ei praestitam ab omnibus obedientiam,
et cuiusvis temporis in praemissis cursum, convaluisse dici, aut convalescere
possit, nec pro legitima in aliqua sui parte habeatur, nullamque talibus in
Episcopos, seu Archiepiscopos, vel Patriarchas aut Primates promotis, seu in
Cardinales, vel Romanum Pontificem assumptis, in spiritualibus, vel
temporalibus administrandi facultatem tribuisse, aut tribuere censeatur, sed
omnia, et singula per eos quomodolibet dicta, facta, gesta, et administrata,
ac inde secuta quaecumque viribus careant, et nullam prorsus firmitatem, nec
ius alicui tribuant, sintque ipsi sic promoti, et assumpti, eo ipso absque
aliqua desuper facienda declaratione, omni dignitate, loco, honore, titulo,
auctoritate, officio, et potestate privati, liceatque omnibus, et singulis
sic promotis, et assumptis, si a fide antea non deviassent, nec haeretici
fuissent, neque schisma incurrissent, aut excitassent, vel commisissent.
§
7. Subditis personis, tam clericis saecularibus, et regularibus, quam etiam
laicis, necnon Cardinalibus, etiam qui electioni ipsius Pontificis antea a
fide devii, aut haeretici, seu schismatici interfuerint, seu alias consenserint,
et ei obedientiam praestiterint, eumque adoraverint, ac Castellanis,
Praefectis, Capitaneis, et Officialibus etiam Almae Urbis nostrae, et totius
Status Ecclesiastici, etiam eisdem sic promotis, vel assumptis homagio, seu
iuramento, vel cautione obligatis, et obnoxiis, ab ipsorum sic promotorum,
vel assumptorum obedientia, et devotione impune quandocumque cedere, eosque
ut magos, ethnicos, publicanos, et haeresiarchas evitare, eisdem subditis
personis fidelitati, et obedientiae futurorum Episcoporum, Archiepiscoporum,
Patriarcharum, Primatum, Cardinalium, et Romani Pontificis canonice intrantis
nihilominus adstrictis remanentibus, et ad maiorem ipsorum sic promotorum, et
assumptorum, si eorum regimen, et administrationem continuare voluerint, confusionem,
contra eosdem sic promotos, et assumptos, auxilium brachii saecularis
implorare, nec propterea ab ipsorum sic promotorum, et assumptorum
fidelitate, et obedientia, praemissorum occasione recedentes, tamquam tunicae
Domini scissores aliquarum censurarum, seu poenarum ultioni subiaceant.
§
8. Non obstantibus constitutionibus, et ordinationibus Apostolicis, necnon
privilegiis, indultis, et literis Apostolicis eisdem Episcopis,
Archiepiscopis, Patriarchis, Primatibus, et Cardinalibus, ac quibusvis aliis
sub quibuscumque tenoribus, et formis, ac cum quibusvis clausulis, et
decretis, etiam Motu proprio, et ex certa scientia, ac de Apostolicae
potestatis plenitudine, seu etiam consistorialiter, aut alias quomodolicet
concessis, et etiam iteratis vicibus approbatis, et innovatis, ac etiam in
corpore iuris clausis, necnon quibusvis capitulis conclavis, etiam iuramento,
aut confirmatione Apostolica, vel quavis firmitate alia roboratis, et per nos
ipsos iuratis. Quibus omnibus eorum tenores praesentibus pro expressis, ac de
verbo ad verbum insertis habentes, illis alias in suo robore permansuris, hac
vice dumtaxat specialiter, et expresse derogamus, ceterisque contrariis
quibuscumque.
§
9. Ut autem praesentes literae ad omnium quorum interest notitiam deducantur,
volumus eas, seu earum transumptum (cui manu notarii publici subscripto, et
sigillo alicuius personae in dignitate ecclesiastica constitutae munito,
plenam fidem adhiberi debere decernimus) in Basilicae Principis Apostolorum
de Urbe, et Cancellariae Apostolicae valuis, atque in acie Campi Florae per
aliquos ex cursoribus nostris publicari, et affigi, earumque copiam inibi
affixam dimitti, publicationemque affixionem, et copiae affixae dimissionem
huiusmodi sufficere, et pro solemni, et legitima haberi, nec aliam
publicationem requiri, aut expectari debere.
§
10. Nulli ergo omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostrae approbationis,
innovationis, sanctionis, statuti, derogationis, voluntatum, decretorum
infringere, vel ei ausu temerario contraire. Si quis autem hoc attentare
praesumpserit, indignationem Omnipotentis Dei, ac beatorum Petri, et Pauli
Apostolorum eius se noverit incursurum.
Datum
Romae apud Sanctum Petrum, Anno Incarnationis Dominicae 1559. 15. Kal.
Martii, Pontificatus nostri anno 4.
†
Ego Paulus Catholicae Ecclesiae Episcopus. SS.
BULLARIUM
ROMANUM. TOMUS PRIMUS. ROMAE, Ex Typographia Reverendae Camerae Apostolicae.
MDCXXXVIII (1638). SUPERIORUM PERMISSU, pp. 602-604.
CODICIS
IURIS CANONICI FONTES. CURA Em.mi PETRI Card. GASPARRI EDITI. VOLUMEN I. CONCILIA GENERALIA –
ROMANI PONTIFICES USQUE AD ANNUM 1745. N. 1-364. ROMAE. Typis Polyglottis
Vaticanis MCMXXXVI (1936), n. 94, pp. 163-166.
Notae:
(*)
Confirmatur haec constitutio a Pio V in eius bulla Inter multiplices.
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Cum ex
Apostolatus Officio
Apostolic Constitution of Pope Paul IV, 15th
February 1559
(Roman Bullarium Vol. IV. Sec. I, pp.
354-357)
Text translated by Mr John S. Daly
By virtue of the Apostolic office which, despite
our unworthiness, has been entrusted to Us by God, We are responsible for the
general care of the flock of the Lord. Because of this, in order that the
flock may be faithfully guarded and beneficially directed, We are bound to be
diligently watchful after the manner of a vigilant Shepherd and to ensure
most carefully that certain people who consider the study of the truth
beneath them should be driven out of the sheepfold of Christ and no longer
continue to disseminate error from positions of authority. We refer in
particular to those who in this age, impelled by their sinfulness and
supported by their cunning, are attacking with unusual learning and malice
the discipline of the orthodox Faith, and who, moreover, by perverting the
import of Holy Scripture, are striving to rend the unity of the Catholic
Church and the seamless tunic of the Lord.
1. In assessing Our duty and the situation now
prevailing, We have been weighed upon by the thought that a matter of this
kind [i.e. error in respect of the Faith] is so grave and so dangerous that
the Roman Pontiff,who is the representative upon earth of God and our God and
Lord Jesus Christ, who holds the fulness of power over peoples and kingdoms,
who may judge all and be judged by none in this world, may nonetheless be
contradicted if he be found to have deviated from the Faith. Remembering also
that, where danger is greater, it must more fully and more diligently be
counteracted, We have been concerned lest false prophets or others, even if
they have only secular jurisdiction, should wretchedly ensnare the souls of
the simple, and drag with them into perdition, destruction and damnation
countless peoples committed to their care and rule, either in spiritual or in
temporal matters; and We have been concerned also lest it may befall Us to
see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by the prophet Daniel,
in the holy place. In view of this, Our desire has been to fulfil our
Pastoral duty, insofar as, with the help of God, We are able, so as to arrest
the foxes who are occupying themselves in the destruction of the vineyard of
the Lord and to keep the wolves from the sheepfolds, lest We seem to be dumb
watchdogs that cannot bark and lest We perish with the wicked husbandman and
be compared with the hireling.
2. Hence, concerning these matters, We have held
mature deliberation with our venerable brothers the Cardinals of the Holy
Roman Church; and, upon their advice and with their unanimous agreement, we
now enact as follows:-
In respect of each and every sentence of
excommunication, suspension, interdict and privation and any other sentences,
censures and penalties against heretics or schismatics, enforced and
promulgated in any way whatsoever by any of Our predecessors the Roman
Pontiffs, or by any who were held to be such (even by their "litterae extravagantes"
i.e. private letters), or by the sacred Councils received by the Church of
God, or by decrees of the Holy Fathers and the statutes, or by the sacred
Canons and the Constitutions and Apostolic Ordinations - all these measures,
by Apostolic authority, We approve and renew, that they may and must be
observed in perpetuity and, if perchance they be no longer in lively
observance, that they be restored to it.
Thus We will and decree that the aforementioned
sentences, censures and penalties be incurred without exception by all
members of the following categories:
(i) Anysoever who, before this date, shall have
been detected to have deviated from the Catholic Faith, or fallen into any
heresy, or incurred schism, or provoked or committed either or both of these,
or who have confessed to have done any of these things, or who have been
convicted of having done any of these things.
(ii) Anysoever who (which may God, in His
clemency and goodness to all, deign to avert) shall in the future so deviate
or fall into heresy, or incur schism, or shall provoke or commit either or
both of these.
(iii) Anysoever who shall be detected to have so
deviated, fallen, incurred, provoked or committed, or who shall confess to
have done any of these things, or who shall be convicted of having done any
of these things.
These sanctions, moreover, shall be incurred by
all members of these categories, of whatever status, grace, order, condition
and pre-eminence they may be, even if they be endowed with the Episcopal,
Archiepiscopal, Patriarchal, Primatial or some other greater Ecclesiastical
dignity, or with the honour of the Cardinalate and of the Universal Apostolic
See by the office of Legate, whether temporary or permanent, or if they be
endowed with even worldly authority or excellence, as Count, Baron, Marquis,
Duke, King or Emperor.
All this We will and decree.
3. Nonetheless, We also consider it proper that
those who do not abandon evil deeds through love of virtue should be deterred
therefrom by fear of punishment; and We are aware that Bishops, Archbishops,
Patriarchs, Primates, Cardinals and Legates, Counts, Barons, Marquises,
Dukes, Kings and Emperors (who ought to teach others and offer them a good
example in order to preserve them in the Catholic Faith), by failing in their
duty sin more gravely than others; since they not only damn themselves, but
also drag with them into perdition and into the pit of death countless other
people entrusted to their care or rule, or otherwise subject to them, by
their like counsel and agreement.
Hence, by this Our Constitution which is to
remain valid in perpetuity, in abomination of so great a crime (than which
none in the Church of God can be greater or more pernicious) by the fulness
of our Apostolic Power, We enact, determine, decree and define (since the
aforesaid sentences, censures and penalties are to remain in efficacious
force and strike all those whom they are intended to strike) that:-
(i) each and every member of the following
categories - Bishops, Archbishops, Patriarchs, Primates, Cardinals, Legates,
Counts, Barons, Marquises, Dukes, Kings and Emperors - who:
(a) hitherto (as We have already said) have been
detected, or have confessed to have, or have been convicted of having, deviated
[i.e. from the Catholic Faith], or fallen into heresy or incurred schism or
provoked or committed either or both of these;
(b) in the future also shall [so] deviate, or
fall into heresy, or incur schism, or provoke or commit either or both of
these, or shall be detected or shall confess to have, or shall be convicted
of having [so] deviated, or fallen into heresy, or incurred schism, or
provoked or committed either or both of these;
(since in this they are rendered more inexcusable
than the rest) in addition to the aforementioned sentences, censures and
penalties, shall also automatically, without any exercise of law or
application of fact, be thoroughly, entirely and perpetually deprived of:-
their Orders and Cathedrals, even Metropolitan, Patriarchal and Primatial
Churches, the honour of the Cardinalate and the office of any embassy
whatsoever, not to mention both active and passive voting rights, all
authority, Monasteries, benefices and Ecclesiastical offices, be they
functional or sinecures, secular or religious of whatsoever Order, which they
may have obtained by any concessions whatsoever, or by Apostolic
Dispensations to title, charge and administration or otherwise howsoever, and
in which or to which they may have any right whatsoever, likewise any
whatsoever fruits, returns or annual revenues from like fruits, returns and
revenues reserved for and assigned to them, as well as Countships, Baronies,
Marquisates, Dukedoms, Kingships and Imperial Power;
(ii) that,
moreover, they shall be unfit and incapable in respect of these things and
that they shall be held to be backsliders and subverted in every way, just as
if they had previously abjured heresy of this kind in public trial; that they
shall never at any time be able to be restored, returned, reinstated or
rehabilitated to their former status or Cathedral, Metropolitan, Patriarchal
and Primatial Churches, or the Cardinalate, or other honour, any other
dignity, greater or lesser, any right to vote, active or passive, or
authority, or Monasteries and benefices, or Countships, Baronies,
Marquisates, Dukedoms, Kingships and positions of Imperial power; but rather
that they shall be abandoned to the judgement of the secular power to be
punished after due consideration, unless there should appear in them signs of
true penitence and the fruits of worthy repentance, and, by the kindness and
clemency of the See itself, they shall have been sentenced to sequestration
in any Monastery or other religious house in order to perform perpetual
penance upon the bread of sorrow and the water of affliction;
(iii) that
all such individuals also shall be held, treated and reputed as such by
everyone, of whatsoever status, grade, order, condition or pre-eminence he
may be and whatsoever excellence may be his, even Episcopal, Archiepiscopal,
Patriarchal and Primatial or other greater Ecclesiastical dignity and even
the honour of the Cardinalate, or secular, even the authority of Count,
Baron, Marquis, Duke, King or Emperor, and as such must be avoided and must
be deprived of the sympathy of all natural kindess.
4. [By this Our Constitution, which is to remain
valid in perpetuity, We] further enact, determine, decree and define:-]
that those who shall have claimed to have the
right of patronage or of nominating suitable persons to Cathedral,
Metropolitan, Patriarchal and Primatial Churches, or to Monasteries or other
Ecclesiastical benefices which may be vacant by privation of this kind (in
order that those which shall have been vacant for a long time may not be
exposed to the unfit, but, having been rescued from enslavement to heretics,
may be granted to suitable persons who would faithfully direct their people
in the paths of justice), shall be bound to present other persons suitable to
Churches, Monasteries and benefices of this kind, to Us, or to the Roman
Pontiff at that time existing, within the time determined by law, or by their
concordats, or by compacts entered into with the said See; and that, if they
shall not have done so when the said period shall have elapsed, the full and
free disposition of the aforesaid Churches, Monasteries and benefices shall
by the fulness of the law itself devolve upon Us or upon the aforesaid Roman
Pontiff.
5. [By this Our Constitution,] moreover, [which
is to remain valid in perpetuity, We] also [enact, determine, decree and
define:-] as follows concerning those who shall have presumed in any way
knowingly to receive, defend, favour, believe or teach the teaching of those
so apprehended, confessed or convicted:
(i) they
shall automatically incur sentence of excommunication;
(ii) they
shall be rendered infamous;
(iii) they
shall be excluded on pain of invalidity from any public or private office,
deliberation, Synod, general or provincial Council and any conclave of
Cardinals or other congregation of the faithful, and from any election or
function of witness, so that they cannot take part in any of these by vote,
in person, by writings, representative or by any agent;
(iv) they
shall be incapable of making a will;
(v) they shall
not accede to the succession of heredity;
(vi) no one shall be forced to respond to them
concerning any business;
(vii) if perchance they
shall have been Judges, their judgements shall have no force, nor shall any
cases be brought to their hearing.;
(viii) if they shall have been Advocates, their
pleading shall nowise be received;
(ix) if they shall have been Notaries, documents
drafted by them shall be entirely without strength or weight;
(x) clerics shall be automatically deprived of
each and every Church, even Cathedral, Metropolitan, Patriarchal, Primatial,
and likewise of dignities, Monasteries, benefices and Ecclesiastical offices,
and even, as has been already mentioned, of qualifications, howsoever
obtained by them;
(xi) laymen, moreover, in the same way - even if
they be qualified, as already described, or endowed with the aforesaid
dignities or anysoever Kingdoms, Duchies, Dominions, Fiefs and temporal goods
possessed by them;
(xii) finally, all Kingdoms, Duchies, Dominions,
Fiefs and goods of this kind shall be confiscated, made public and shall
remain so, and shall be made the rightful property of those who shall first
occupy them if these shall be sincere in faith, in the unity of the Holy
Roman Church and under obedience to Us and to Our successors the Roman
Pontiffs canonically entering office.
6. In addition, [by this
Our Constitution, which is to remain valid in perpetuity We enact, determine,
decree and define:-]
that if ever at any time it shall appear that any
Bishop, even if he be acting as an Archbishop, Patriarch or Primate; or any
Cardinal of the aforesaid Roman Church, or, as has already been mentioned,
any legate, or even the Roman Pontiff, prior to his promotion or his
elevation as Cardinal or Roman Pontiff, has deviated from the Catholic Faith
or fallen into some heresy:
(i) the
promotion or elevation, even if it shall have been uncontested and by the
unanimous assent of all the Cardinals, shall be null, void and worthless;
(ii) it
shall not be possible for it to acquire validity (nor for it to be said that
it has thus acquired validity) through the acceptance of the office, of
consecration, of subsequent authority, nor through possession of
administration, nor through the putative enthronement of a Roman Pontiff, or veneration,
or obedience accorded to such by all, nor through the lapse of any period of
time in the foregoing situation;
(iii) it
shall not be held as partially legitimate in any way;
(iv) to
any so promoted to be Bishops, or Archbishops, or Patriarchs, or Primates or
elevated as Cardinals, or as Roman Pontiff, no authority shall have been
granted, nor shall it be considered to have been so granted either in the
spiritual or the temporal domain;
(v) each
and all of their words, deeds, actions and enactments, howsoever made, and
anything whatsoever to which these may give rise, shall be without force and
shall grant no stability whatsoever nor any right to anyone;
(vi) those thus promoted or elevated shall be deprived
automatically, and without need for any further declaration, of all dignity,
position, honour, title, authority, office and power.
7. Finally, [by this Our Constitution, which is
to remain valid in perpetuity, We] also [enact, determine, define and
decree]:-
that any and all persons who would have been
subject to those thus promoted or elevated if they had not previously
deviated from the Faith, become heretics, incurred schism or provoked or
committed any or all of these, be they members of anysoever of the following
categories:
(i) the
clergy, secular and religious;
(ii) the
laity;
(iii) the
Cardinals, even those who shall have taken part in the election of this very
Pontiff previously deviating from the Faith or heretical or schismatical, or
shall otherwise have consented and vouchsafed obedience to him and shall have
venerated him;
(iv)
Castellans, Prefects, Captains and Officials, even of Our Beloved City
and of the entire Ecclesiastical State, even if they shall be obliged and
beholden to those thus promoted or elevated by homage, oath or security;
shall be permitted at any time to withdraw with
impunity from obedience and devotion to those thus promoted or elevated and
to avoid them as warlocks, heathens, publicans, and heresiarchs (the same
subject persons, nevertheless, remaining bound by the duty of fidelity and
obedience to any future Bishops, Archbishops, Patriarchs, Primates, Cardinals
and Roman Pontiff canonically entering).
To the greater confusion, moreover, of those thus
promoted or elevated, if these shall have wished to prolong their government
and authority, they shall be permitted to request the assistance of the
secular arm against these same individuals thus promoted or elevated; nor
shall those who withdraw on this account, in the aforementioned
circumstances, from fidelity and obedience to those thus promoted and
elevated, be subject, as are those who tear the tunic of the Lord, to the
retribution of any censures or penalties.
8. [The provisions of this Our Constitution,
which is to remain valid in perpetuity are to take effect] notwithstanding
any Constitutions, Apostolic Ordinations, privileges, indults or Apostolic
Letters, whether they be to these same Bishops, Archbishops, Patriarchs,
Primates and Cardinals or to any others, and whatsoever may be their import
and form, and with whatsoever sub-clauses or decrees they may have been
granted, even "motu proprio" and by certain knowledge, from the
fulness of the Apostolic power or even consistorially or otherwise howsoever;
and even if they have been repeatedly approved and renewed,have been included
in the corpus of the Law or strengthened by any capital conclaves whatsoever
(even by oath) or by Apostolic confirmation or by anysoever other
endorsements or if they were legislated by ourself. By this present document
instead of by express mention, We specially and expressly derogate the
provisions of all these by appropriate deletion and word-for-word
substitution, so that these may otherwise remain in force.
9. In order, however, that this document may be
brought to the notice of all whom it concerns, We wish it or a transcription
of it (to which, when made by the hand of the undersigned Public Notary and
fortified by the seal of any person established in ecclesiastical dignity, We
decree that complete trust must be accorded) to be published and affixed in
the Basilica of the Prince of the Apostles in this City and on the doors of
the Apostolic Chancery and in the pavilion of the Campus Florae by some of our
couriers; [we] will [further] that a quantity of copies affixed in this place
should be distributed, and that publication and affixing of this kind should
suffice and be held as right, solemn and legitimate, and that no other
publication should be required or awaited.
10. No one at all, therefore, may infringe this
document of our approbation, re-introduction, sanction, statute and
derogation of wills and decrees, or by rash presumption contradict it. If
anyone, however, should presume to attempt this, let him know that he is
destined to incur the wrath of Almighty God and of the blessed Apostles,
Peter and Paul.
Given in Rome
at Saint Peter's in the year of the Incarnation of the Lord 1559, 15th
February, in the fourth year of our Pontificate.
+ I, Paul, Bishop of the Catholic Church…
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