The Ceremonies, solemnities, and prayers, used at the opening of the holy gates of four Churches, within the City of Rome, in the year of jubilee: And also the great jubilee for this year of our Lord 1600. granted by Pope Clement the eight, that now is; Together with the Bull of the said Pope Clement, made touching the jubilee, for all those that shall visit the great Churches of S. Peter, S. Paul, S. john de Latran, and S. Marry mayor, in the City of Rome, this present year of our Lord 1600. aforesaid. IHS' Prin●●d at London for john Wolf. 1600. The ceremonies, solemnities and prayers used at opening of the holy gates of four Churches, within the City of Rome, in the year of jubilee. And first, the opening of the gate of the Church of Saint Peter in Vatican. Upon the 24. day of the month of December, being the vigil of the birth of Christ (commonly called Christmas day) after dinner, about Evening, our holy Father the Pope, appareled in his Pontificalibus, accompanied with my Lords the Cardinals, and Prelates, each man clothed according to their dignities & degrees, the Officers appointed for the purpose, marching all in procession, and the Cross borne before them, went to the Chapel of the Apostolical palace, where our holy Father falling upon his knees before the holy Sacrament, with the rest of the company, made their prayers; in the mean time, certain candles were lighted, and given unto my Lords the Cardinals, Prelates, and Officers, the Cardinals candles being white wax, and weighing three pounds, the Prelates and Officers candles of common wax, each, six ounces the piece. There, our holy Father being still on his knees, powered incense upon the holy Sacrament: which done, they began to sing, Veni creator spiritus: which Hymn the Choristers continuing, the procession began to march out of the Chapel, to go to Saint Peter's Church, our holy Father being borne in his Chair to the gate of the said Church, the said gate being walled up, and all the rest of the gates shut; where being arrived, our holy Father descended out of his Chair, with a wax candle burning in his hand, went up into an other higher seat than the first, prepared for the purpose, hard by the said holy gate, in the which Chair he sat down, and having rested for a time, he descended, and with a hammer appointed for the purpose, he struck three blows upon the gate, pronouncing these verses following three times; unto each of the said verses, the Choristers answering as followeth: V. Aperite mihi portas justitiae. Lord open unto me the gates of justice. R. Et ingressus in eas, consitebor Domino. And being entered therein, I will praise the Lord. V Introibo in domum tuam, Domine. Lord, I will go into thy house. R. Adorabo ad templum sanctum tuum in timore tuo And will worship in thy holy Temple, with fear and trembling. V Aperite mihi portas, quoniam nobiscum Deus. Open the gates, for God is with us. R. Quiafecit virtutem in Israel. Because he hath showed his glory in Israel. Which done, our holy Father returning to his Chair, said, V. Domine exaudi orationem meam. Lord, hear my Prayer. R. Et clamour meus ad te veniet. And my cry shall ascend up unto thee. And being in his Chair, the Masons and other workmen with their tools, break down the wall of the said holy gate, and the Pope continuing his prayers, said, V. Dominus vobiscum. The Lord be with you. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. And with thy spirit. Oremus. Let us pray. Oratio. ACtiones nostras quaesumus, Domine, aspirando praeveni, & adiwando prosequere, ut cuncta nostra oratio & operatio a te semper incipiat, & per te coepta finiatur, per Christum Dominum nostrum. The prayer. LOrd, we pray thee, to inspire us in our actions, and assist us in our ways, to the end that all our words and works may begin, continue, and end in thee, through jesus Christ our Lord. Which prayer being ended, the Choristers sung the Psalm, Iubilate Deo omnis terra etc. Let all the inhabitants of the earth rejoice in the Lord, etc. With other Canticles of praise and thanks giving. In the mean time the said workmen and all the people, moved with devotion, took and bore away the stones and mortar of the said gate, with so great diligence, and dexterity, that all whatsoever was found (great or little) were voided from thence, (as it may be said) in the twinkling of an eye; the Penitentiaries appareled in their habits and ornaments, washing the posts of the said holy gate, with holy water. Which holy gate being opened, and the stones borne away, as afore said, our holy Father the Pope, before he entered, said the versicles following, whereunto the Choristers answered. V Haec est dies quam fecit Dominus. Behold the day which the Lord hath made. R. Exultemus & laetemur in ea. Let us be glad, and rejoice therein. V Beatus populus tuus, Domine. Lord, thy people are happy and blessed. R. Qui scit jubilationem? Who can declare their gladness? V Haec est porta Domini. Behold, the gate of the Lord. R. justi intrabunt in eam. The just shall enter therein. V Domine, exaudi orationem meam. Lord, hear my prayer. R. Clamour meus ad te veniat. And my cry shall ascend unto thee. V Dominus vobiscum. The Lord be with you. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. And with thy spirit. Oremus. Let us pray. Oratio. DEus, qui per Moysem famulum tuum populo Israelitico annum jobelei, & remissionis instituisti, concede propitius nobis famulis tuis jobelei annum hunc tua auctoritate institutum, quo portam hanc populo tuo ad preces tuae maiestati porrigendas ingrediente solenniter aperiri voluisti foeliciter inchoare ut in eo venia atque indulgentia plenae remissionis omnium delictorum obtenta, cum dies nostrae advocationis advenerit, ad coelestem gloriam perfruendam tuae misericordiae munere perducamur, per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. The prayer. O Lord, who by thy servant Moses didst ordain and appoint for thy people of Israel, the year of jubilee, & remission of sins, grant us thy grace, and to all thy servants, that we may happily begin this present year of jubilee ordained by thee, and wherein thy pleasure is, that this gate should with all solemnity be opened unto thy people, to enter, and present our prayers unto thee, to the end, that in this year, having obtained full remission & pardon of all our sins, that when the day, wherein it shall please thee to take us out of this transitory world, shall come, we may by thy great mercy, enter into thy glory, through jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. This prayer ended, the cross is given unto our holy father, who kneeling before the holy gate, beginneth to say, Te Deum laudamus etc. Lord, we praise thy holy name. And being entered by the said gate into the church, the choristers sang the rest of the said Hymn, unto the end. Our holy father being entered, he ascended again unto his chair, wherein he was borne by the officers (thereunto appointed) to the high altar of the said church of S. Peter: and there descending out of his chair, he prayed before the altar: which prayer being ended, he ascended into an other seat higher, and more elevated, where for a time having rested himself, he stood up, and began Evening prayer, rehearsing the Nativity of our Lord jesus Christ, as the manner is. Upon the same day, and at the like hour, three of my Lords the Cardinals went unto the other three holy gates, of the three churches, of S. Paul, S. john de Latran, S. Mary mayor. Which Cardinals, at every of the said churches, using the same ceremonies, and like prayers aforesaid, opened the gates of the said three Churches. All the said gates of S. Peter, S. Paul, S. john de Latran, & S. Mary mayor, remain open, from the same day, until the end of the same year, and so continue every year of jubilee, to the end that all faithful Christians may therein continually obtain pardon and full remission of their sins, to the praise, and glory of God and all his holy Church. Amen. The Bull of our holy Father, (by the grace of God) Clement the eight, made touching the jubilee, for all those that shall visit the great Churches of S. Peter, S. Paul, S. john de Latran, and Saint Mary Maior, in the City of Rome, in the year of our Lord 1600. CLement Bishop, and servant of the servants of God, to all faithful Christians, to whom these letters shall come, greeting, and spiritual Apostolical benediction. dearly beloved children in jesus Christ, at this present (by the grace of God) approacheth the placable year of our Lord, the year of remission and pardon; now cometh the acceptable time, and the days of eternal salvation begin to approach for the redemption of men's sinne●, and salvation of their souls. Behold, not far hence, the year of jubilee, so much pleasing and wished for by all Christians, which is the 1600. year, from the most blessed childbearing of (the holy mother of God) Marry the Virgin, the which we mean to celebrate, according to the ancient custom, with joy, and assembly of the faithful, in this our noble City of Rome; and with so much the more joy, because the said year formally, and with efficacy, representeth the first original of the same: for as it is well known by old traditions, and monuments of our ancestors, agreeing and conformable to the most ancient institutions of the Church of Rome, as the years and times pass and come to an end, that is, that every hundredth year, from the birth of our Lord and Saviour jesus Christ, there were most large indulgences, pronounced unto all such as devoutly shall visit the most holy and sacred Churches of the most blessed Apostles: & certainly, this most ancient institution, of celebrating the 100 year within the city of Rome, extracted (not from a vain superstition of the Gentiles, but proceeding from a pure zeal & devotion, with a great concurrence and assembly of the Christians) hath been confirmed by Pope Boniface the 8. of happy memory, by his Apostolical decree, not only for an assurance to all those of our age, but also a perpetual memory in time to come. And although other Popes our predecessors, such as succeeded him, restrained the time of celebrating the jubilee to a shorter number of years, because of the brevity of man's life: yet this custom of the celebration of the 100 year, is by good right, of more authority in regard of the ancient tradition and ordinance thereof: And in truth, it seemeth to be wrought by the secret counsel of GOD, that in the last year of every age, (which commonly in these days is accounted the longest time of man's life,) all Christians in general should (even in the very fortress, and house of Christian religion) reiterate so great a benefit, which is, that jesus Christ the brightness of the justice of God, by whom all mankind hath received salvation, was borne of a virgin; and also, that all Christians should likewise repair unto the seat of the holy Apostle S. Peter, and to the stone and foundation of the faith, as children to their Parents, and sheep to their sovereign pastor: And further, herein we may evidently behold the perfect unity of a troop of sheep and their pastor, and that the brightness of one universal faith doth shine and give light into all places, which faith hath never changed, nor been altered by any end or alterations of times, but still by an inviolable confession, hath continued whole and entire among the faithful, without any corruption; and also that the world might know, that the members are more straightly bound and united unto their visible head, by the gluing and bands of faith and charity, and that in the end, the same Spirit, by the which the only Catholic Church and her body, is miraculously conjoined and united together, may be evidently manifested, then when as in the said Church of Rome, the mother of unity is celebrated (as if all the Christians were assembled) with all devotion and solemn ceremonies, of a whole year upon certain days appointed, which by good right is called the holy year. Now this holy year, a year agreeable to the Lord, and such a year, as appeaseth his wrath, a year wherein men may do penance, and be perfectly converted from the bottom of their hearts, unto the Lord the father of mercy, was first denounced unto the world by jesus Christ the son of GOD, the true author both of our lives and salvations, whom the Father hath anointed with the holy Ghost; and having powered upon him all fullness of grace, sent him to preach unto the poor, to aid the humble, to ease the heavy hearted, to preach indulgence, and remission unto those that were captive, deliverance unto prisoners, and to open the way unto the blind. We likewise, who (although abjects and unworthy) by divine disposition, do exercise the place of Vicars to jesus Christ upon earth, sitting in the highest sentinel of the Apostolical watchtower, to announce, declare, and preach the same year of jubilee, of true repentance, and spiritual comfort, unto all you that are faithful Christians in jesus Christ. And for that the charity of our Lord and Saviour jesus Christ, for whom we exercise the charge and embassage unto all Nations, doth entice us, the zeal of the salvation of men's souls touching our hearts, we exhort and desire every man in general, by the virtue of the blood which Christ hath shed, and by his holy coming, as also by the name of the day, wherein he shall sit as a terrible judge, that every one of you, especially in this time of jubilee, withdraw himself from his evil ways, and return unto the Lord, with a pure and sincere heart, a good conscience, and an unfeigned heart, because our GOD is gentle and merciful, full of compassion, and one that deferreth the punishing of all those that are true repentants. But in the mean time, that with great joy, according to our pastoral office, we call and invite our well-beloved son in jesus Christ, the Emperor, Kings, and Catholic Princes, & all other faithful Christians throughout all the world, and namely, such as inhabit the provinces and Regions furthest distant, unto that most agreeable celebration of this jubilee: we are in a manner pricked with an extreme dolour and grief, calling to mind how many great Nations and numbers of people are most miserably cut off and disjoined from the unity and communion of the Catholic and Apostolical Church, who in the precedent hundredth years, marching with us in one Catholic and Apostolic Church, with one will and consent, in this house of our Lord, have celebrated with great joy and spiritual exaltation, the holy year of the said jubilee, for whom we would most willingly lose our lives, and shed our heart bloods (if need were) to obtain the eternal salvation of their souls. In the mean time, you our obedient children, and true Catholics, come, mount up into this place which God hath chosen, come to the Spiritual Zion, and the holy jerusalem, not by letter, but by Spirit, from whence, from the beginning and Original of the Church, the law of God, and the truth of the Gospel hath spread itself throughout all the Nations and parts of the earth. This is the happy City, the faith whereof, is commended to all the world, having been commended by the mouth of the Apostle, wherein the most happy Apostles, Saint Peter and Saint Paul, have both preached their doctrine, and shed their blood, to the end that being made the head of all the world by the sacred seat of S. Peter, it should be mother of all believers, and mistress of all other Churches. Here is the stone of faith, here is the fountain of sacerdotal unity, here is the doctrine of pure verity, here are the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and the sovereign power to bind and unbind; and to conclude, here is the treasure of the Church, full of sacred Indulgences, never able to be diminished, whereof the Bishop of Rome is Guardian, and dispensator, who distributeth them at all times, when he knoweth by the secret will of God, that it is requisite, but specially, in the year of the holy jubilee he enlargeth, and bestoweth them, with a most holy and liberal hand, then when the holy gates of the most ancient, and most religious temples, and Churches of this noble City, are opened by solemn ceremonies, and the faithful, purged of the spots and foulness of their sins, enter joyfully before the face of the Lord, no more unto the end that according to the precepts of the old law, (which only had the shadow of goodness to come,) nor according to the custom of the Hebrews, to whom all things were set down by figure, or else as bondslaves, tied under the yoke of human servitude, in becoming free, or as prisoners detained in prisons, are released, or as such as are charged with great debts, are acquitted, whereby they may re-enter into the lands and possessions of their ancestors; for all these terrestrial things are transitory & not permanent: but the fruits of the holy year of our jubilee are most fruitful and abundant, that is, that men's souls, redeemed by the blood of jesus Christ, are delivered from the insupportable yoke of diabolical tyranny, and from the obscure prison and chains of sin, by the divine virtue of the Sacraments, and their sins and punishments being remitted, they are adopted sons of God, and admitted to the heritage of the heavenly kingdom, and possession of Paradise, receiving other infinite benefits of God. We therefore, following the paths and footsteps of the sovereign Bishops, our predecessors, & observing their devout, and most holy institution, with the consent of our most reverend brethren the Cardinals of the holy Church of Rome, and by the authority of the most puissant God, & of the most blessed Apostles, Saint Peter and Saint Paul, as also by our own, with as much spiritual rejoicing as possibly we may, to the glory of God, and exaltation of the Catholic Church, do publish and signify unto all men, the celebration of the jubilee, in this year, being the year of our Lord 1600. to begin at the evening of the Vigil of the Nativity of our Saviour jesus Christ, of the same year of 1600. and to continue for the space of one whole year than next ensuing: in the which year of jubilee, we in mercy and compassion in our Lord, give and grant free indulgence, remission and pardon of all sins, to all the faithful in jesus Christ, without exception of person, who being truly repentant and confessed, shall devoutly visit the chief Churches of the blessed Apostles, Saint Peter and Saint Paul, as also those of Saint john de Latran, & Saint Marie Maior, within the city of Rome, once in a day, for the space of thirty days following, or otherwise, if they be Romans or inhabitants of the City, or for the space of fifteen days, if they be pilgrims, or other strangers, upon condition that they shall make humble prayers unto God, for the salvation of all the faithful and all Christian people: and because it may fall out, that among such, as by reason of this jubilee, shall have enterprised this journey, or that are arrived in this City of Rome, some being let or hindered by the way, or otherwise within this City, by sickness, or some other lawful impeachment, or being prevented by death, cannot effect these things, and visit the Churches and Temples aforesaid, not having accomplished the days limited, or otherwise have not begun them; we, as much as possible we may, benignly desiring to favour their devoutness, will, that such people being truly repentant and confessed, shall all be made participants of this our indulgence and remission, as if they had effectually visited the said Churches and Temples of Rome, upon the days by us prescribed. And you our Reverend brethren, patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, & Bishops, which partly at our request are summoned and called hereunto, you that are guides, & Pastors of the people, the light of the world, and the salt of the earth, take into your hands the trumpets of silver, which you must use in this year of jubilee, that is to say; preach the word of God continually, announce this joy unto the people, that they may be sanctified, & that by the aid of God's divine grace, they may be prepared to receive the celestial benefits, which God, the giver of all good things, by our weak ministry hath prepared for all his dear & well-beloved children; draw your brethren by words, & the simple & unlearned by good examples, bringing them unto the paps of this their most dear mother, that hath begotten them in jesus Christ: bring the children to their father, the sheep to their sovereign pastor, the members to their head, the faithful to the stone and foundation of the faith, wherein all the edificy & building of the Christian church is erected: bring the people to the holy Church of Rome, and to the glorious Princes of the earth, S. Peter & S. Paul, which taught the law of God throughout all the world, as also the faith; whose dignity and authority is as yet extant and in force in their unworthy successor. Call therefore the assembly unto these sacred Indulgences, that they may receive the salutary fruits thereof, in this City of Rome: assemble the people, sanctify the Church, instruct the sheep committed to your charge, because we are but strangers and pilgrims here in this life, having no permanent place, but seek for that which is to come. And because the days of this our troublesome and miserable pilgrimage are but short, and for that we know not when the master of the family, & our espouse jesus Christ will come, warn them, that for this cause they will be watchful, & bear in their hands burning lamps, filled with the oil of love and charity, and that they make haste to enter into this rest: for if ever they had cause, it is now, that for the love of jesus Christ, they should abandon and leave off all wrath, riots, debates, contentions, and inveterated enmities: it is now time that the servants ought to have pity upon their conservators, to the end that our most merciful God may freely forgive them all their sins; it is at this time, that we must specially purge and cleanse ourselves of all the impurities of the flesh, to the end that the Temple of God may be pure and clean, and that every man may have his earthly vessel laden with honour, and sanctification, & so God may dwell within their bodies. To conclude, we must wholly exterminate and abandon all thefts, robberies, homicides, adulteries, and all other sins, to the end that the wrath of God may be appeased, and that those that attribute unto themselves the name of Christians, may by him be accounted and holden for true Christians, imitators of jesus Christ, and followers of good works. Teach them then, how they ought, with a contrite heart, and humble spirit, to prepare themselves by continual prayers, fastings, and other works of mercy, to merit and obtain these salutary indulgences, and that those that are endued with the riches of this world, should open their hearts, and by that means relieving the necessity of their poor brethren, and that before all other things, they extend their merciful charity unto such pilgrims, as shall travel to Rome, renewing with spiritual joy, the holy hospitality agreeable and pleasing unto God, which by the most ancient Christians in times past (even in the middle of all storms, tempests and persecutions) hath with great diligence been observed & kept: advertise them also, that they pray for all kings, and Christian princes, that we may live in peace and tranquillity, and that peace may perpetually be kept and observed. To conclude, teach them with what modesty, with what devotion, & with what brotherly love, they are to make themselves known, when as they shall once have enterprised the holy voyage, to the end that, in all places they may yield the sweet savour of jesus Christ. Show yourselves also, my reverend brethren, and all the Clergy, to be the example of all good works, and the formality of the troop, to the end that all others may be conserved, as it were, by the salt of your virtues, & religion, and abhor all filthiness of sin, & that in the end, all we with full consent and agreement, in one spirit of Christian charity, with all holiness and righteousness may serve God. We also exhort and desire, in the name of God, our most dear sons in jesus Christ, the Emperor, kings, & all Catholic Princes, that seeing they have received divers and most great benefits, of him, by whom all Kings do reign, with so much the more ardency, as reason requireth, they should be stirred up with a great and good zeal, to procure the glory of God; and before all things, that they comfort and aid the careful vigilancy of our brethren, the Bishops, and other superior Prelates, charging their Magistrates and Officers to further & assist them, to the end that the unbridled liberty of the wicked may be restrained, and the intentions of honest men by their royal aid and favour relieved & sustained: and specially, that they use their benevolence and charity towards pilgrims, giving order, that they may safely pass along the way, and by no means be impeached by the wicked and perverse generation, that being lovingly received into the public hospitals, and by that means comforted, and relieved with all things necessary for their voyages, they may joyfully without interruption pursue, and end their journey taken in hand, & so return into their own countries: for by these offerings, kings and Princes shall please God, to the end they may live long and in all happiness upon the earth, and that at the last they may be received into the eternal tabernacles, by the same poor and miserable people, to whom they shall have exercised their charities, which are those in whose bodies jesus Christ is nourished and fed. And to the end that this our present Bull may with more ease fall into the hands of all the faithful, wheresoever they be, our pleasure is, that to the copies hereof being imprinted, signed with the hand of a public notary, and sealed with the seal of some man of Ecclesiastical authority, the like credit shall be given, as unto these, being the original. Let no man therefore be so foolish-hardy to infringe or gainsay this our Bull of Indiction, promulgation, confession, impartition, exhortation, prayer, and will: and if any man be so bold to attempt it, let him know that he shall incur the indignation of God, and of his most blessed Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul. Given at Rome in the Church of Saint Peter, in the year of the incarnation of our Lord jesus Christ 1599 the nineteenth of May, and in the eight year of our Pontificate. Signed B. Dat. Marcellus Vestrius Barbianus. Registered by Marcellus the Secretary. A. de Alexis.