/ approve of the publication, by Messrs. John Murphy & Co., of the Papal Definition, and other documents respecting the Immaculate Conception. f FRANCIS PATRICK, Archbishop of Baltimore. Baltimore, 14th May, 1855. IPTO(M - pius rr. OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS CONNECTED WITH THE DEFINITION OF THE DOGMA OF THE f mmaatlate €mttytim OP THE BLESSED YIRGIN MARY. $n f atm mb (tifytify WITH" A COMPLETE LIST OF THE CARDINALS AND PRELATES PRESENT IN THE BASILICA OF ST. PETER, THE 8TH DECEMBER, 1854. BALTIMORE: PUBLISHED BY JOHN MURPHY & CO. No. 178 MARKET STREET. LONDON CHARLES DOLMAN, 61 New Bond Street. 1855. OS Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1S55. by JOHX MURPHY & Co. in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Maryland. PREFACE. The papers comprised in this volume need no preface to set forth their value, or increase the interest of the important event they are collected to commemorate. They are the official documents relating to the definition of the dogma of the Im- maculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. From them we may learn the solicitude of the Church to guard unchanged the deposite of faith, and her zeal to promote the sanctification of her children by unfolding for their instruction those sacred truths which God has revealed to secure his merciful ends. The eighth of December, 1854, must be num- bered among the most memorable days of the nineteenth century. We know that many, long since gathered to the eternal abodes of heavenly glory, longed to see this day. They were men who walked in holiness before God; they were, moreover, gifted with extraordinary graces; but this one they did not possess; it has been reserved for those who are, perhaps, far less worthy in the l* 5 6 PREFACE. sight of Heaven. They saw, and bore witness to this truth; but it was as the traveller who sees the sun shrouded in the morning mist. The orient has now arisen in full splendor, and no longer can its beams seem in any way less bright than they are. We have seen the day when so much has been fulfilled, that the venerable Pontiff has been moved to say, that he has done so much for the glory of the Mother of God, that he sees not well how more could be done; thus "honoring in her, more and more, her only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, since the honor and praise that are offered to the Mother redound to the glory of the Son." Thus, the last and the brighest jewel has been added to the crown of Mary; and, surely, to those who love her as their Mother, the day of so great a triumph must be a day of joy, ever memorable and dearly to be cherished. Besides, what consolation to the Catholic heart to see, even in this his day, things that are to its peace; that Peter still speaks and confirms his brethren; that his Church is the living stream, ever flowing from the mount of God. "I saw upon a mountain a Lamb standing, from beneath whose feet there flows a living stream. The stream of the river maketh joyful the city of God." CONTENTS. PAGE Preface 5 Allocutio SS. D. Pii PP. IX. habita in Consis- torio Secreto 9 The same in English 14 Litters Apostolic^ de Dogmatica Definitions Immaculate Conceptionis Virginis Deipare 19 Apostolic Letters of the Definition of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mother of God 59 Allocutio habita in Consistorio Secreto, Die IX. Decembris, Anno MDCCCLIV 99 The same in English 120 Cardinales S. E. R., Patriarchje, Archiepiscopi, et Episcopi, in Basilica Vaticana adstantes Pio IX. Pont. Max... 145 7 SANCTISSIMI DOMINI NOSTRI PII DIVINA PROVIDENTIA PAPJ IX. ALLOCVTIO HABITA IN CONSISTORIO SECRETO DIE I. DECEMBRIS MDCCCLIV. Venerabiles Fratres: INTER graves multiplicesque angustias et aerumnas, quibus affligimur, maximani certe Nobis et universae Ecclesiae laetitiam parat clementissimus niisericordiarum Pater, et Deus totius consolationis. lam enim prope esse videtur, Venerabiles Fratres, op- tatissimus ille aeque ac iucundissimus dies, quo Immaculatus sanctissimae Dei Geni- tricis Yirginis Mariae Conceptus suprema Nostra auctoritate decernatur. Nulla qui- dem maior laetandi causa Nobis in hac vita 10 contingere poterat, cum eiusmodi decretum vel maxime conducat ad magis atque magis augenduin fovendumque hie in terris ho- norem, cultum et venerationem erga glorio- sissiinam illam Virginem, quae exaltata super omnes Angelorum choros, Sancto- rumque ordines, ae potentissima apud Eum, quern genuit, deprecatrix assidue pro uni- verso Christiano populo intercedit in caelis. Optime nostis, quanta in catholico orbe erga Immaculatum Deiparae Conceptum quotidie magis extiterit pietas et cultus, et quanto studio Ecclesia ao Praedecessores Nostri banc pietatem, cultum, atque doctri- nam tueri, fovere, ac promovere gloriati fuerint, et quibus iteratis enixisque precibus non solum catboliei Antistites, verum etiam Summi Principes postulaverint, ut Imma- culata Dei Matris Oonceptio ab hac Apos- tolica Sede veluti catholicae fidei dogma definiretur. 11 Cum autem huiusmodi postulationes fe- licis recordationis Gregorio XVI. Praedeces- sori Nostro ac Nobis ipsis oblatae fuerint, turn ab exordio Nostri Pontificatus curas cogitationesque in hanc rem intentissimo studio convertimus. Sed omnem in tanti momenti negotio maturitatem adhibere vo- lentes instituimus, veluti probe cognoscitis, peculiarem ex pluribus amplissimi vestri Ordinis Congregationem, ac plures ex Clero sae.culari et regular! viros theologicis disci- plinis apprime excultos selegimus, ut hoc argumentum accuratissimo examine perpen- derent, suasque sententias Nobis expone- rent. Deinde encyclicam quoque Epistolam die 2 Februarii Anno millesimo octingen- tesimo quadragesimo nono Gaietae datam ad omnes Catholici orbis Sacrorum Antis- tites misimus, ut suis litteris Nobis signifi- carent quae proprii cuiusque Cleri, popu- lique fidelis esset erga Immaculatam Dei- 12 parae Conceptionem pietas, et quid ipsi potissimuni Episcopi de hac re sentirent, quidve exoptarent. Postquam singulari certe animi Nostri gaudio turn ex commemoratae peculiaris Congregationis suffragiis, turn ex omnium fere Episcoporum responsis, atque ex eorum- clem Theologorum votis intelleximus, hanc clefinitionem a Nobis summopere expostu- lari, Apostolicarum Litterarum exemplar conficiendum, Yobisque communicandum esse mandavimus. Itaque post haec omnia hodierno die de hac gravissima re, dum di- vini luminis opem demississime implora- mus, vestras quoque sententias, servato a Praedecessoribus JSTostris more, perlibenter exquirimus. Placet ne igitur Yobis, ut dog- maticum de Immaculata beatissimae Yir- ginis Mariae Conceptione proferamus decre- tum? 13 HABITIS OMNIBVS SVFFRAGIIS PONTIFEX HAEC ADIECIT. Yenerabiles Fratres, summa certe affici- mur iucunditate, cum vestra suffragia Nos- tris votis respondere videamus. Itaque iam nunc diem octavum huius mensis Decein- bris, quo de gloriosissimae Yirginis Concep- tione festum ab universa Ecclesia concele- bratur, indicimus pro emittendo ac vulgando hoc decreto, atque id solemni ritu et pompa in Patriarchali Nostra Vaticana Basilica peragemus. Interim vero ne intermittatis a Deo enixius semper exposcere, ut, Ipso fa- vente et inspirante, maximam hanc rem ad divini sui nominis gloriam, ad beatissimae Virginis decus et ornamentum, atque ad catholicae fidei exaltationem, et christianae religionis augmentum conficere possimus. ALLOCUTION Of our Holy Father, Pius IX., by the providence of G-od, Pope, delivered in the Secret Consistory held December 1st, 1854. Venerable Brethren: Amidst the grievous and manifold diffi- culties and troubles by which we are afflict- ed, the most tender Father of mercies and God of all consolation is preparing an exceeding great joy for us and for the whole Church. For now, Venerable Brethren, that long desired and most happy day seems to be near, on which the Immaculate Concep- tion of the most holy Virgin Mary, mother of God, may be defined by our supreme 14 15 authority. No greater cause of joy could happen to us in this life, since that decree may greatly conduce to increase and foster, more and more, the honor, devotion and veneration towards that most glorious Vir- gin, who being exalted above all the choirs of angels, and orders of saints, and being a most powerful mediatrix with Him, whom she bore, intercedes in heaven for the whole Christian Church. Tou are fully aware how great piety and devotion throughout the Catholic world to- wards the Immaculate Conception of the mother of God has daily increased, and with what zeal the Church and our predecessors have gloried in fostering and promoting this piety and devotion, and defending this doc- trine, and with what repeated and earnest prayers not only Catholic bishops, but also the most distinguished personages, have be- sought the Apostolic See to define the Im- 16 maculate Conception of the mother of God as a dogma of Catholic faith. As petitions of this kind were addressed to our predecessor of happy memory, Gre- gory XVI., and also to ourselves, we have, from the beginning of our pontificate, be- stowed our care and thoughts on this matter with the closest application. But desirous of using all deliberation in an affair of so much moment, as you truly know, we ap- pointed a special congregation, composed of several of your distinguished body, as well as members of the secular and regular clergy thoroughly versed in theological learn- ing, to weigh this subject with the most studious attention, and make known their sentiments to us. Afterwards we also sent an encyclical letter, given at Gaeta, Febru- ary 2, 1849, to all the prelates of the Catho- lic world, that they should inform us by their letters what was the belief of their IT own clergy and the faithful concerning the Immaculate Conception of the mother of God, and chiefly what the bishops them- selves thought of this subject, or what they desired in relation to it. When to the great joy of our heart we learned, both by the testimonies of the afore- said special congregation and the answers of almost all the bishops, as well as the de- sires of the same theologians, this definition was most earnestly demanded, we com- manded a draft of an Apostolic letter to be made and to be communicated to you. Wherefore, after all these measures, we to- day, while humbly imploring the aid of divine light, desire to know most freely your sentiments also on this most important sub- ject. Does it please you, therefore, that we should issue a dogmatic definition of the Immaculate Conception of the most blessed Virgin Mary? 18 The Votes of all having been given, the Pontiff continued : Venerable Brethren, we are truly affected with great joy since we observe your votes correspond to our desires. We therefore name the eighth day of this month of De- cember, on which the feast of the Immacu- late Conception is celebrated by the Uni- versal Church, for issuing and publishing this decree, and we will do it with solemn rite and ceremony in our Patriarchal Vati- can Basilica. But in the mean time do not cease to beg of God, that under His favor and inspiration we may happily accom- plish this important affair to the glory of His divine name, to the honor and praise of the most blessed Virgin, as well as the exaltation of the Catholic faith, and the advancement of the Christian religion. SANCTISSIMI DOMINI NOSTRI PII DIVINA PROVIDENTIA PAPiE IX. LITTERS APQSTOLICiE DE DOGMATICA DEFINITIONE IMMACULATE CONCEP- TIONIS VIRGINIS DEIPARE. Jjins (8|k0ps, 3>txbm mbmm §ti Efc ^Perpetuam ret ffltmoxwra. Ineffabilis Deus, cujus viae misericordia et Veritas, cujus voluntas omnipotentia, et cujus sapientia attingit a fine usque ad finem fortiter et disponit omnia suaviter, cum ab omni aeternitate praeviderit luctu- osissimam totius humani generis ruinam ex Adami transgressione derivandam, atque in mysterio a saeculis abscondito primum suae bonitatis opus decreverit per Verbi incarna- tionem sacramento occultiore complere, ut contra misericors suum propositus, homo 19 20 diabolicae iniquitatis versutia actus in cul- pani non periret, et quod in primo Adanio casurum erat, in secundo felicius erigeretur, ab initio et ante saecula Unigenito Filio suo matrem, ex qua caro factus in beata temporuin plenitudine nasceretur, elegit at- que ordinavit, tantoque prae creaturis uni- versis est prosequutus araore, ut in ilia una sibi propensissiuia voluntate complacuerit. Quapropter illam longe ante omnes Angeli- cos Spiritus, cunctosque Sanctos caelestiuni omnium cliarismatum copia cle thesauro clmnitatis dejorompta ita mirifice cumulavit, ut Ipsa ab omni prorsus peccati labe semper libera, ac tota pulclira et perfecta earn in- nocentiae et sanctitatis plenitudinem prae se ferret, qua major sub Deo nullatenus intelligitur, et quam praeter Deum nemo assequi cogitando potest. Et quidem dece- bat omnino, ut perfectissimae sanctitatis splendoribus semper ornata fulgeret, ac vel _J 21 ab ij3sa originalis culpae labe plane immti- nis amplissimum de antiquo serpente tri- umpliuni referret tarn venerabilis mater, eui Deus Pater unicum Filium suum, quern de corde suo aequalem sibi genitum tamquam seipsum diligit, ita dare disposuit, ut natu- raliter esset unus idenique communis Dei Patris, et Virginis Filius, et quam ipse Filius substantialiter facere sibi matrem elegit, et de qua Spiritus Sanctus voluit, et operatus est, ut conciperetur et nasceretur ille, de quo ipse procedit. Quam originalem augustae Virginis inno- centiam cum admirabili ejusdem sanctitate, praecelsaque Dei Matris dignitate omnino cohaerentem catliolica Ecclesia, quae a Sancto semper edocta Spiritu columna est ac firmamentum veritatis, tamquam doctri- nam possidens divinitus acceptam, et caeles- tis revelationis deposito comprehensam mul- tiplici continenter ratione, splendidisque 22 factis magis in dies explicare, proponere, ac fovere nunquani clestitit. Hanc enim doc- trinam ab antiquissimis temporibus vigen- tem, ac fidelium animis penitus insitam, et Sacrorum Antistitum curis studiisque per catholicum orbeua mirifice propagatam ipsa Ecclesia lueulentissime significavit, cum ejusdeni Yirginis Conceptionem publico fide- lium cultui ac venerationi proponere non dubitavit. Quo illustri quidem facto ipsius Yirginis Conceptionem veluti singularem, miram, et a reliquorum hominum primordiis longissime secretam, et omnino sanctam co- lendam exliibuit, cum Ecclesia nonnisi de Sanctis dies festos concelebret. Atque id- circo vel ipsissima verba, quibus divinae Scripturae de increata Sapientia loquuntur, ejusque sempiternas origines repraesentant, consuevit turn in ecclesiasticis officiis, turn in sacrosancta Liturgia adliibere, et ad illius Yirginis primordia transferre, quae uno 23 eodenique decreto cum Divinae Sapientiae incarnatione fuerant praestituta. Quamvis autero. liaec omnia penes fideles ubique prope recepta ostendant, quo studio ejusmodi de Immaculata Virginis Concep- tion doctrinam ipsa quoque Eomana Ec- clesia omnium Ecclesiarum mater et ma- gistra fuerit prosequuta, tamen illustria hujus Ecclesiae facta digna plane sunt, quae nominatim recenseantur, cum tanta sit ejusdem Ecclesiae dignitas, atque auc- toritas, quanta illi omnino debetur, quae est Catholicae veritatis et unitatis cen- trum, in qua solum inviolabiliter fuit cus- todita religio, et ex qua traducem fidei re- liquae omnes Ecclesiae mutuentur oportet. Itaque eadem Eomana Ecclesia nihil potius habuit, quam eloquentissimis quibusque modis Immaculatam Virginis Conceptionem, ejusque cultum et doctrinam asserere, tueri, promovere et vindicare. Quod apertissime 24 planissimeque testantur et declarant tot insignia sane acta Romanorum Pontificum Decessorum Nostrorum, quibus in persona Apostolorum Principis ab ipso Christo Do- mino divinitus fuit commissa suprema cura atque potestas pascendi agnos et oves, con- firniandi fratres, et universam regendi et gubernandi Ecclesiam. Enimvero Praedecessores Nostri vehe- menter gloriati sunt Apostolica sua auctori- tate festum Conceptionis in Eoniana Eccle- sia instituere, ac proprio officio, propriaque ruissa, quibus praerogativa immunitatis ab hereditaria labe nianifestissime asserebatur, augere, honestare, et cultuni jam institutum omni ope promovere, amplificare sive eroga- tis indulgentiis, sive facultate tributa civita- tibus, provinciis, regnisque, ut Deiparam sub titulo Immaculatae Conceptionis patro- nam sibi deligerent, sive comprobatis Soda- litatibus, Congregationibus, Eeligiosisque 25 Familiis ad Immaculatae Conceptionis ho- norem institutis, sive laudibus eoruni pietati delatis, qui monasteria xenodochia, altaria, templa sub Immaculati Conceptus titulo erexerint, aut sacramenti religione interpo- sita Iminaculatain Deiparae Conceptionein strenue propugnare spoponderint. Insuper summopere laetati sunt decernere Concep- tionis festum ab omni Ecclesia esse haben- dum eodem censu ac numero, quo festum Nativitatis, idemque Conceptionis festum cum octava ab universa Ecclesia celebran- dum, et ab omnibus inter ea, quae praecepta sunt, sancte colendum, ac Pontificiam Cap- pellam in Patriarchali Nostra Liberiana Basilica die Virginia Conceptioni sacro quo- tannis esse peragendam. Atque exoptantes in fidelium animis quotidie magis fovere hanc de Immaculata Deiparae Conceptione doctrinam, eorumque pietatem excitare ad ipsam Virginem sine labe originali concep- 26 tarn colendani, et venerandam, gavisi sunt quaro. libentissinie facultatein tribuere, ut in Lauretanis Litaniis, et in ipsa Missae prae- fatione Irnrnaculatus ejusdem Virginis pro- clamaretur Conceptus, atque adeo lex cre- dendi ipsa supplicandi lege statueretur. Nos porro tantoruni Praedecessomm vesti- giis inhaerentes non solum quae ab ipsis pientissime sapientissimeque fuerant consti- tuta iDrobavimus, et recepiraus, verum etiam memores institutionis Sixti IV. proprium de Ininiaculata Conceptione officium auetoritate Nostra munivimus, iiliusque usum universae Ecclesiae laetissinio prorsus animo concessi- mus. Quoniam vero quae ad cultum pertinent, intimo plane vinculo cum ejusdem objecto conserta sunt, neque rata et fixa manere possunt, si illud anceps sit, et in ambiguo versetur, idcirco Decessores Nostri Eomani Pontifices omni cura Conceptionis cultum 27 amplificantes, illius etiam objectum ac doc- trinam declarare, et inculcare, inipensissime studuerunt. Etenim clare aperteque do- cuere, festum agi de Yirginis Conceptione, atque uti falsam, et ab Ecclesiae mente alienissimam proscripserunt illorum opinio- nem, qui non Conceptionem ipsam, sed sanc- tificationem ab Ecclesia coli arbitrarentur et affirmarent. Neque mitius cum iis agendum esse existimarunt, qui ad labefactandam de Immaculata Yirginis Conceptione doctrinam excogitato inter primum atque alteram Con- ceptionis instans et momentum discrimine, asserebant, celebrari quidem Conceptionem, sed non pro primo instanti atque momento. Ipsi namque Praedecessores Nostri suarum partium esse duxerunt, et beatissimae Yir- ginis Conceptionis festum, et Conceptionem pro primo instanti tanquam verum cultus objectum omni studio tueri ac propugnare. Hinc decretoria plane verba, quibus Alex- 28 ander VII. Decessor Noster sinceram Ec- clesiae nientem declaravit, inquiens: — " Sane vetus est Christifidelium erga ejus beatissi- mani Matrem Virginem Mariam pietas sen- tientium, ejus aniniam in primo instanti creationis, atque infusionis in corpus fuisse speciali Dei gratia et privilegio, intuitu nie- ritorum Jesu Christi ejus Filii huniani gene- ris Kedemptoris, a macula peccati originalis, praeservatam immunem, atque in hoc sensu ejus Conceptionis festivitatem solemni ritu colentium, et celebrantium."* Atque illud in primis solemne quoque fait iisdeni Decessoribus Nostris doctrinam de Immaculata Dei niatris Conceptione sartam tectamque omni cura, studio et contentione tueri. Etenini non solum nullatenus passi sunt, ipsam doctrinam quovis modo a quo- piam notari, atque traduci, verum etiam ^Alexander VII. Const. Sollicitudo omnium Ecclesiarum VIII. Decembris, 1661. 29 longe ulterius progressi perspicuis declara- tionibus, iteratisque vicibus edixerunt, doc- trinam, qua Immaculatam Virginis Concep- tionem profitemur, esse, suoque merito liaberi cum ecclesiastico cultu plane consonam, eamque veterem, ac prope universalem et ejusmodi, quam Eomana Ecclesia sibi foven- dani, tuendamque susceperit, atque omnino dignam, quae in sacra ipsa Liturgia, solem- nibusque precibus usurparetur. JNTeque his contenti, ut ipsa de Imniaculato Yirginis Con- ceptu doctrina inviolata persisteret, opinio- nem huic doctrinae adversam sive publice, sive privatim defendi posse severissime pro- hibuere, eamque multiplici veluti vulnere confectam esse voluerunt. Quibus repetitis luculentissimisque declarationibus, ne inanes viderentur, adjecere sanctionem: quae om- nia laudatus Praedeeessor JSToster Alexan- der VII. his verbis est complexus : — "Nbs considerantes, quod Sancta Eomana 3* 80 Ecclesia de Intenieratae semper Yirginis Mariae Conceptione festuin solemniter cele- brat, et speciale ac proprium super hoc officium olim ordinavit juxta piam, devotarn, et laudabileni institutionem, quae a Sixto IV. Praedecessore Nostro tunc emanavit ; volen- tesque laudabili huic pietati, devotioni, et festo, ac cultui secundum illam exhibito, in Ecclesia Eomana post ipsius cultus institu- tionem nunquam immutato ; Romanorum Pontificum Praedecessorum Nostroram exem- plo, favere, nee ncn tueri pietatem, et devo- tionem hanc colendi, et celebrandi beatissi- mam Virginem, praeveniente scilicet Spiritus Sancti gratia, a peccato originali praeserva- tam, cupientesque in Christi grege unitatem spiritus in vinculo pacis, sedatis offensioni- bus, et jurgiis amotisque scandalis conser- vare : ad praefatorum Episcoporum cum Ecclesiarum suarum Oapitulis, ac Philippi Regis, ejusque Regnorum oblatam Nobis in- 31 stantiam, ac preces; Constitutiones, et De- creta, a Eomanis Pontificibus Praedecesso- ribus Nbstris, et praecipue a Sixto IV., Paulo Y. et Gregorio XY. edita in favorem sententiae asserentis, Aniinam beatae Ma- riae Yirginis in sui creatione, et in corpus infusione, Spiritus Sancti gratia donatam, et a peccato originali praeservatam fuisse, nee non et in favorem festi, et cultus Concep- tionis ejusdem Yirginis Deiparae secundum pi'am istam sententiam, ut praefertur, exhi- bits innovamus, et sub censuris, et poenis in eisdem Constitutionibus contentis, obser- vari, mandamus. " Et insuper omnes et singulos, qui prae- fatas Constitutiones, seu Decreta ita pergent interpretari, ut favorem per illas dictae sen- tentiae, et festo seu cultui secundum illam exhibito, frustrentur, vel qui hanc eandem sententiam, festum seu cultum in disputa- tionem revocare, aut contra ea quoquo modo 32 directe, vel indirecte aut quovis praetextu, etiam definibilitatis ejus exaniinandae, sive Sacram Scripturam, aut Sanctos Patres, sive Doctores glossandi vel interpretandi, denique alio quovis praetextu seu occasione, scripto seu voce loqui, concionari, tractare, dispu- tare, contra ea quidquam determinando, aut asserendo, vel argumenta contra ea afferen- do, et insoluta relinquendo, aut alio quovis inexcogitabili modo disserendo ausi fuerint ; praeter poenas et censuras in Constitutioni- bus Sixti IV. contentas, quibus illos sub- jacere volumus, et per praesentes subjici- nius, etiam concionandi, publice legendi, seu docendi, et interpretandi facilitate, ac voce activa, et passiva in quibuscumque elec- tionibus, eo ipso absque alia declaratione j)rivatos esse volumus; nee non ad concio- nandura, publice legendum, docendum, et interpretandum perpetuae inliabilitatis poe- nas ipso facto incurrere absque, alia decla- 33 ratione; a quibus poenis nonnisi a Nobis ipsis, vel a Successoribus JSTostris Komanis Pontificibus absolvi, aut super iis dispensari possint : nee non eosdem aliis poenis, nostro, et eorundem Komanorum Pontificum Sucees- sorum Nostrorum arbitrio infligendis, pariter subjacere volumus, prout subjicimus per praesentes, innovantes Pauli V. et Gregorii XV. superius memoratas Constitutiones sive Decreta. "Aclibros, in quibus praefata sententia, festum, seu cultus secundum illam in dubi- um revocatur, aut contra ea quomodocumque, ut supra, aliquid scribitur aut legitur, seu locutiones, conciones, tractatus, et dispu- tationes contra eadem continentur; post Pauli V. supra laudatum Decretum edita, aut in posterum quomodolibet edenda, proliibemus sub poenis et censuris in In- dice librorum prohibitoruni contentis, et ipso facto absque alia declaratione pro ex- c 34 presse prohibitis haberi volumus et man- damus." Omnes autem norunt quanto studio haec de Immaculata Deiparae Yirginis Concep- tione doctrina a spectatissimis Eeligiosis Familiis, et celebrioribus Theologicis Acade- miis ac praestantissimis rerum divinarum scientia Doctoribus fuerit tradita, asserta ac propugnata. Omnes pariter norunt quanto- pere solliciti fuerint Sacrorum Antistites vel in ipsis ecclesiasticis conventibus palam publiceque profited, sanctissimam Dei Geni- tricem Virginem Mariam ob praevisa Christi Domini Eedemptoris merita nunquam origi- nal subjacuisse j)eccato, sed praeservatam omnino fuisse ab originis labe, et idcirco sublimiori modo redemptam. Quibus illud profecto gravissimum, et omnino maximum accedit, ipsam quoque Tridentinam Syno- dum, cum dogmaticum de peccato originali ederet decretum, quo juxta sacrarum Scrip- 35 turamm, sanctoramque Patrum, ac proba- tissimorum Conciliorum testiinonia statuit, ac definivit, omnes lioinines nasci originali culpa infectos, tamen solemniter declarasse, non esse suae intentionis in decreto ipso, tantaque definitionis amplitudine compre- hendere beatarn, et immaculatam Virginem Dei Genitricem Mariam. Hac enim decla- ratione Tridentini Patres, ipsam beatissi- mara Yirginem ab originali labe solutam pro rerum temporumque adjunctis satis in- nuerunt, atque adeo perspicue significarunt, nihil ex divinis litteris, nihil ex traditione, Patrumque auctoritate rite afferri posse, quod tantae Virginis praerogativae quovis niodo refragetur. Et re quidem vera hanc de Irnmaculata beatissimae Virginis Conceptione doctrinam quotidie magis gravissitno Ecclesiae sensu, magisterio, studio, scientia, ac sapientia tam splendide explicatam, declaratam, confirma- 36 tarn, et apud omnes catholici orbis populos, ac nationes miranduni in modum propaga- tam, in ipsa Ecclesia semper extitisse veluti a majoribus acceptam, ac revelatae doctrinae cliaractere insignitam illustria venerandae antiquitatis Ecclesiae orientalis et occidenta- lis monumenta validissime testantur. Christ! enim Ecclesia sedula depositorum apud se dogmatum custos, et vindex nihil in his un- quam permutat, nihil minuit, nihil addit, sed omni industria Vetera fideliter, sapien- terque tractando si qua antiquitus informata sunt, et Patrum fides sevit, ita limare, ex- polire studet, ut prisca ilia caelestis doc- trinae dogmata accipiant evidentiam, lucem, distinctionem, sed retineant plenitudinem, integritatem, proprietatem, ac in suo tan- tum genere crescant, in eodem scilicet dog- mate, eodem sensu, eademque sententia. Equidem Patres, Ecclesiaeque Scriptores caelestibus edocti eloquiis nihil antiquius 37 habuere, quarn in libris ad explicandas Scripturas, vindicanda dogmata, erudien- dosque fideles elucubratis summam Virginis sanctitatein, dignitatem, atque ab omni pec- cati labe integritatem, ej usque praeclaram de teterrimo humani generis hoste victoriam multis mirisque modis certatim praedicare atque efferre. Quapropter enarrantes verba, quibus Deus praeparata renovandis mortali- bus suae pietatis remedia inter ipsa muncli primordia praenuntians et deceptoris serpen- tis retudit audaciam, et nostri generis spem mirifice erexit inquiens " Inimicitias ponam inter te et mulierem, semen tuum et semen illius" docuere, divino hoc oraculo clare aper- teque praemonstratum fuisse misericordem humani generis Redemptorum, scilicet Uni- genitum Dei Filium Christum Jesum, ac de- signatam beatissimam Ejus Matrem Virgi- nem Mariam, ac simul ipsissimas utriusque contra diabolum inimicitias insigniter ex- 4 38 pressas. Quocirca sicut Christus Dei honii- numque mediator huniana assumpta natura clelens quod adversus nos erat ehirographiun deereti, illud cruci trimnphator affixit, sic sanctissima Virgo arctissimo, et indissolubili vinculo cum Eo conjuncta una cum Illo, et per Ilium sempiternas contra venenosum ser- pentem inimicitias exercens, ac de ipso ple- nissime triumplians illius caput immaculato pede contrivit. Hunc eximium, singularemque Virginia triumphum, excellentissimamque innocen- tiam, puritatem, sanctitatem ej usque ab omni peccati labe integritatem, atque ineffabilem caelestium omnium gratiarum, virtutuni, ac privilegiorum copiam, et magnitudinem iidem Patres yiderunt turn in area ilia IS T oe, quae divinitus constitute a communi totius mundi naufragio plane salva et incolumis evasit ; turn in scala ilia, quam de terra ad coelum usque pertingere vidit Jacob, cujus gradibus 39 Angeli Dei ascendebant, et deseendebant, cujusque vertici ipse innitebatur Doininus ; turn in rubo illo, quern in loco sancto Moyses undique ardere, ac inter crepitantes ignis flammas non jam comburi aut jacturam vel minimani pati, sed pulchre virescere ac flo- rescere conspexit ; turn .in ilia inexpugnabili turri a facie inimici, ex qua inille clypei pen- dent, omnisque armatura fortium; turn in horto illo concluso, qui nescit violari, neque cormmpi ullis insidiarum fraudibus ; tum in corusca ilia Dei civitate, cujus fundanienta in montibus Sanctis; tum in augustissimo illo Dei teniplo, quod divinis refulgens splen- doribus plenum est gloria Domini; tum in aliis ejusdem generis omnino plurimis, quibus, excelsam Deiparae dignitatem, ej usque illi- batam innocentiam, et nulli unquam naevo obnoxiam sanctitatem insigniter praenuncia- tam fuisse Patres tradiderunt. Ad hanc eamdem divinorum munerum ve- 40 luti summam, originalemque Virginis, de qua natus est Jesus, integritatem describendam iidem Prophetaruni adhibentes eloquia non aliter ipsam augustam Virginem concelebra- runt, ae uti columbani mundam, et sanctam Jerusalem, et excelsum Dei thronum, et arcam sanctificationis et donmm, quam sibi aeterna aedificavit Sapientia, et Reginam illam, quae deliciis affluens, et innixa super Dilectum suum ex ore Altissimi prodivit om- nino perfecta, speciosa ac penitus cara Deo, et nullo unquani labis naevo raaculata. Cum vero ipsi Patres, Ecclesiaeque Scriptores ani- mo menteque reputarent, beatissimani Vir- ginem ab Angelo Gabriele sublimissimam Dei Matris Dignitatem ei nuntiante, ipsius Dei nomine et jussu gratia plenam fuisse nuncupatam docuerunt hac singulari solem- nique salutatione nunquam alias audita os- tendi, Deiparam fuisse omnium divinarum gratiarum sedem, omnibusque divini Spiritus 41 charismatibus exornatam, immo eorumdem charismatum infinitum prope thesaurum, abyssumque inexhaustam, adeo ut nunquam maledicto obnoxia, et una cum Filio perpe- tuae benedictionis particeps ab Elisabeth di- vino acta Spiritu audire meruerit benedicta Tu inter mulieres, et benedictus fructus ventris tut. Hinc non luculenta minus, quam concors eorundem sententia, gloriosissimam Virginem, cui fecit magna, qui Potens est, ea caelestium, omnium donorum vi, ea gratiae plenitudine, eaque innocentia emicuisse, qua veluti in- effabile Dei miraculum, immo omnium mira- culorum apex, ac digna Dei mater extiterit, et ad Deum ipsum pro ratione creatae natu- rae, quam proxime accedens omnibus, qua humanis, qua angelicis praeconiis celsior evaserit. Atque idcirco ad originalem Dei Genitricis innocentiam, justitiamque vindi- candam, non Earn modo cum Heva adhuc virgine, adhuc innocente, adhuc incorrupta, 4^ 42 et nonduin mortiferis fraudulentissiini ser pentis insidiis decepta saepissime contu- lerunt, verum etiam mira quadam verbo- rum, sententiarumque varietate praetulerunt. Heva enim serpenti inisere obsequuta et ab originali excidit innocentia, et illius manci- pium evasit, sed beatissima Virgo originale donum jugiter augens, quin serpenti aures unquam praebuerit, illius vim potestateinque virtute divinitus accepta funditus labefac- tavit. Quapropter nunquam cessarunt Deipararn appellare vel lilium inter spinas, vel terrain oinnino intactam, virgineam, illibatam, im- maculatam, semper benedictam, et ab omni peccati contagione liberam, ex qua novus forinatus est Adam, vel irreprehensibilem, lucidissimum, amoenissimumque innocentiae, immortalitatis, ac deliciarum paradisum a Deo ipso consitum et ab omnibus venenosi serpentis insidiis defensum, vel lignum im- 43 marcescibile, quod peccati vermis nunquam corruperit, vel fontem semper illimem. et Spiritus Sancti virtute signatum, vel divinis- simum templum, vel immortalitatis tliesau- rum, vel imam et solam non mortis sed vitae filiam, non irae sed gratiae germen, quod semper virens ex corrupta infectaque radice singulari Dei providentia praeter statas com- munesque leges effloruerit. Sed quasi haec, licet splendidissima, satis non forent, pro- priis definitisque sententiis edixerunt, nullam prorsus, cum de peccatis agitur, liabendam esse quaestionem de sancta Virgine Maria, cui plus gratiae collatum fuit ad vincendum omni ex parte peccatum ; turn professi sunt, gloriossimam Virginem fuisse parentum re- paratricem, posterorum vivifieatricein, a sae- culo electam, ab Altissimo sibi praeparatam, a Deo, quando ad serpentem ait, inimicitias ponam inter te et mulierem, praedictam, quae procul dubio venenatum ejusdem ser- 44 pentis caput contrivit ; ac propterea affirma- runt, eamdem beatissiniani Virginem fuisse per gratiam ab oruni peccati labe integram, ac liberam ab omni contagione et corporis, et aniruae, et intellectus, ac semper cum Deo conversatain, et sempiterno foedere cum Illo conjunctam, nunquam fuisse in tenebris, sed semper in luce, et idcirco idoneum plane ex- titisse Christo habitaculum non pro habitu corporis, sed pro gratia originali. Accedunt nobilissima effata, quibus de Virginia Conceptione loquentes testati sunt, naturam gratiae cessisse ac stetisse tremu- lam pergere non sustinentem ; nam futurum erat, ut Dei Genetrix Yirgo non antea ex Anna conciperetur, quam gratia fructum ederet : concipi siquidem primogenitam opor- tebat, ex qua concipiendus esset omnis crea- turae primogenitus. Testati sunt carnem Virginis ex Adam sumptam maculas Adae non admisisse, ac propterea beatissimam 45 Virginem tabernaculum esse ab ipso Deo creatuin, Spiritu Sancto formatum, et pur- pureae revera operae, quod novus ille Beseleel auro intextum variunique effinxit, eamdeni- que esse meritoque celebrari ut illam, quae proprium Dei opus primum extiterit, ignitis roaligni telis latuerit, et pulchra natura, ac labis prorsus oiunis nescia, taniquam aurora undequaque rutilans in mundum procliverit in sua Conceptione Iinraaculata. ISTon enim deeebat, ut illud vas electionis comniunibus lacesseretur injuriis, quoniam plurimuni a ceteris differens, natura cominunicavit non culpa, imuio prorsus decebat ut sicut Uni- genitus in coelis patrem habuit, quern Sera- phim ter sanctum extollunt, ita matrem ha- beret in terris, quae nitore sanctitatis nun- quam caruerit. Atque haec quidein doctrina adeo majorum mentes, animosque occupavit, ut singularis et omnino minis penes illos in- valuerit loquendi usus, quo Deiparam sae- 46 pissinie compellarunt inimaculatam, omnique ex parte irainaculatara, innocenteni et inno- centissiniam, illibatani et undequaque illiba- tani, sanctam et ab onmi peccati sorde alien- issiniani, totam puram, totam intemeratam, ac ipsam prope puritatis et innocentia for- mam, pulchritudine pulchriorem, venustate venustiorem, sanctiorem sanctitate, solanique sanctam, purissimamque anima et corpore, quae supergressa est omnem integritatem et yirginitatem, ac sola tota facta domicilium universarum gratiaram Sanctissimi Spiritus, et quae, solo Deo excepto, extitit cunctis superior, et ipsis Cherubim et Seraphim, et omni exercitu Angelorum natnra pufokrior, formosior et sandior, cui praedicandae cae- lestes et terrenae linguae minime sufficiunt. Quern usum ad sanctissimae quoque Litur- giae monumenta atque Ecclesiastica officia sua veluti sponte fuisse traductum, et in illis passim recurrere, ampliterque dominari nemo 47 ignorat, cum in illis Deipara invocetur et praedicetur veluti una incorrupta pulchritu- dinis columba, veluti rosa semper vigens, et undequaque purissima, et semper immacu- lata semperque beata ac celebretur uti inno- centia, quae numquam fuit laesa, et altera Heva, quae Emmanuelem peperit. Ml igitur inirum si de Immaculata Dei- parae Yirginis Conceptione doctrinam ju- dicio Patrum divinis litteris consignatam, tot gravissimis eorumdem testimoniis tradi- tam, tot illustribus venerandae antiquitatis monumentis expressam et celebratam, ac maximo gravissimoque Ecclesiae judicio pro- positam et confirmatam tanta pietate, reli- gione et amore ipsius Ecclesiae Pastores, populique fideles quotidie magis profited sint gloriati, ut nihil iisdem dulcius, nihil carius, quam ferventissimo affectu Deiparam Virginem absque labe originali conceptam ubique colere, venerari, invocare, et praedi- 48 care. Quaniobreru ab antiquis temporibus Sacrorum Antistites, Ecclesiastici viri regu- lares Ordines, ac vel ipsi Iniperatores et Eeges ab hac Apostolica Sede enixe efflagita- runt, lit Iimnaculata sanctissiniae Dei Gene- tricis Gonceptio veluti catholicae fidei dogma definiretur Quae postulationes hac nostra quoque aetate iteratae fuerunt ac potissi- miim felicis recordationis Gregorio XYL Praedecessori Nostro, ac Nobis ipsis oblatae sunt turn ab Episcopis, turn a Clero saecu- lari, turn a Keligiosis, Faniiliis, ac sumniis Principibus et fidelibus populis. Nos itaque singulari aninii Nostra gaudio haec omnia probe noscentes, ac serio consi- derantes, vix dum licet immeriti arcano di- vinae Providentiae consilio ad hanc sublimem Petri Cathedram evecti totius Ecclesiae gu- bernacula tractanda suscepimus, nihil certe antiquius habuimus, quam pro summa Nos- tra vel a teneris annis erga sanctissimam Dei 49 Genetricem Virginem Mariam veneratione, pietate et affectu ea omnia peragere, quae adhuc in Ecclesiae votis esse poterant, ut beatissiniae Virginis honor augeretur, ej us- que praerogativae uberiori luce niterent. Omnem autem maturitatem adhibere volen- tes constituimus peculiarem VV. FF. NN". S. E. B. Cardinalium religione, consilio, ac divinarum reruni scientia illustrium Congre- gationem, et viros ex clero turn saeculari, turn regulari, theologicis disciplinis apprime excultos selegimus, ut ea omnia, quae Im- maculatam Yirginis Conceptionem respi- ciunt, accuratissime perpenderent, propri- amque sententiam ad JSTos deferrent. Quam- vis autem Nobis ex receptis postulationibus de definienda tandem aliquando Immaculata Virginis Conceptione perspectus esset piuri- morum Sacrorum Antistitum sensus, tamen Encyclicas Litteras die 2 Februarii anno 1849 Gajetae datas ad omnes Venerabiles D 5 50 Fratres totius catholici orbis Sacrorum An- tistites misimus, tit, adhibitis ad Deum pre- cibus, Xobis scripto etiam significarent quae esset suorum fidelium erga Immaculatam Deiparae Conceptionem pietas, ac devotio, et quid ipse praesertim Antistites de hac ipsa definitione ferenda sentirent, quidve exopta- rentj ut, quo fieri solemnius posset, supreruuiu Nostrum judicium proferremus. Xon mediocri certe solatio affecti fuimus ubi eorundem Venerabilium Fratrum ad Xos responsa venerunt. Nam iidera incredibili quadain jucunditate laetitia, ac studio Xobis rescribentes non solum singularern suam, et proprii cuj usque cleri, populique fidelis erga Immaculatum beatissiraae Yirginis Concep- tum pietatem, mentemque denuo confirraa- rant, verum etiaui communi veluti veto a Nobis expostularunt, ut Iminaculata ipsius Yirginis Conceptio supremo Nostra judicio et auctoritate definiretur. Xec minori certe 51 interim gaudio perfusi sunius, cuni W. FF. NN. S. R. E. Cardinales commemoratae pe- culiaris Congregationis, et praedicti Theologi Consultores a Nobis electi pari alacritate et studio post exainen diligenter adhibituni banc de Inimaciilata Deiparae Conceptione definitionem a Nobis efflagitaverint. Post haec illustribus Praedecessorum Nos- trorum vestigiis inhaerentes, ac rite recteque precedere optantes indiximus et habuinius Consistorium, in quo Yenerabiles Fratres Nostras Sanctae Roinanae Ecclesiae Cardi- nales alloquuti sunius, eosque summa animi Nostri consolatione audivinius a Nobis expos- cere, ut dogmaticani de Imniaculata Deipa- rae Virginis Conceptione definitionem emit- tere vellemus. Itaque plurimum in Domino confisi ad- venisse temporum opportunitatem pro Im- maculata sanctissimae Dei Genetricis Virgi- nis Maria Conceptione definenda, quam 52 divina eloquia, veneranda traditio, perpetuus Ecclesiae sensus, singularis catholicorum An- tistituni, ac fidelium conspiratio et insignia Praedecessorum Nostrorum acta, constitu- tiones niirifice illustrant atque declarant; rebus omnibus diligentissiine perpensis et assiduis, fervidisque ad Deura precibus effiisis minime cunctanduni Nobis esse censuimus supremo Nostra judicio Immaculatam ipsius Yirginis Conceptionem sancire, definire, atque ita pientissimis catholici orbis clesi- deriis, Nostraeque in ipsam sanctissimam Yirginem pietati satisfacere, ac simul in Ipsa Unigenitum Filium suum Dominum Nostrum Jesum Christum magis atque magis honori- ficare, cum in Filium redundet quidquid ho- noris et laudis in Mat rem impenditur. Quare postquam nunquam intermisimus in humilitate et jejunio privatas Nostras et publicas Ecclesia preces Deo Patri per Filium Ejus offerre, ut Spiritus Sancti virtute men- 53 tern Nostram dirigere, et confirmare digna- retur, implorato universae caelestis Curiae praesidio, et advocato cum gemitibus Para- clito Spiritu, eoque sic adspirante, ad hono- rem Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis, ad decus et ornamentum Virginis Deiparae, ad exalta- tionem Fidei catholicae, et Christianae Eeli- gionis augmentum, auctoritate Domini Nostri Jesu Christi, beatorum Apostolorum Petri, et Pauli ac Nostra declaraixms, pronunciamus et defmimus, doctrinam, quae tenet, beatissi- mam Virginem Mariam in primo instanti suae Conceptionis fuisse singulari omnipo- tentis Dei gratia et privilegio, intuitu merito- rum Christi Jesu Salvatoris liumani generis, ab drnni originalis culpae labe praeservatam immunem, esse a Deo revelatam, atque id- circo ab omnibus fidelibus firmiter constan- terque credendam. Quapropter si qui secus ac a Nobis definitum est, quod Deus avertat, praesumpserint corde sentire, ii noverint, ac 5* 54 porro sciant, se proprio judicio condemnatos, naufragiuni circa fidein passos esse, et ab imitate Ecclesiae defecisse, ac praeterea facto ipso suo semet poenis a jure statutis subji- cere si quod corde sentiunt, verbo aut scripto, yel alio quovis externo modo significare ausi fuerint. Eepletum quidem est gaudio os Nostrum et lingua Nostra exultatione, atque huniilli- mas maximasque Christo Jesu Domino Nos- tro aginius et semper agemus gratias, quod singulari suo beneficio nobis licet immerenti- bus concesserit hunc lionorem atque hanc gloriam et laudem sanctissimae suae Matri offerre et decernere. Certissima vero spe et omni prorsus fiducia nitimur fore, ut ipsa beatissima Virgo, quae tota pulchra et Im- maculata venenosum crudelissimi serpentis caput contrivit, et salutem attulit mundo, quaeque Prophetarum, Apostolorumque prae- conium, et honor Martyrum, omniumque 55 Sanctorum laetitia et corona, quaeque tutis- simum cunctorum periclitantium perfugium et lidissima auxiliatrix, ac totius terrarum orbis potentissima apud Unigenitum Filium suum mediatrix, et conciliatrix, ac praecla- rissimum Ecclesiae sanctae decus et orna- mentum, firmissimumque praesidium cunctas semper interemit haereses, et fideles populos, gentesque a maximis omnis generis calamita- tibus eripuit, ac Nos ipsos a tot ingruentibus periculis liberavit; velit validissimo suo pa- trocinio efficere, ut sancta Mater Catholica Ecclesia cunctis amotis difficultatibus, cunc- tisque profligatis erroribus, ubicumque gen- tium, ubicumque locorum quotidie magis vi- geat, floreat, ac regnet a mari usque ad mare et a flumine usque ad terminos orbis terra- rum, omnique pace, tranquillitate, ac libertate fruatur, ut rei veniam aegri medelam, pusilli corde robur, afflicti consolationem, pericli- tantes adjutorium obtineant, et omnes er- 56 rantes discussa mentis caligine ad veritatis ac justitiae semitani redeant, ac fiat ununi ovile, et unus pastor. Audiant haec Nostra verba omnes Nobis carissimi Catholicae Ecclesiae filii, et arden- tiori usque pietatis, religionis, et amoris stu- dio pergant colere, invocare, exorare, beatissi- mam Dei Genetricein Virginem Mariam sine labe originali conceptam, atque ad hanc dul- cissimam misericordiae et gratiae Matrem in omnibus periculis, angustiis, necessitatibus, rebusque dubiis ac trepidis cum omni fiducia confugiant. Nihil enim timendum, niliilque desperandum Ipsa duce, Ipsa auspice, Ipsa propitia, Ipsa protegente, quae maternum sane in nos gerens animum, nostraeque salu- tis negotia tractans de universo humano ge- nere est sollicita, et coeli, terraeque Eegina a Domino constituta, ac super omnes Angelo- rum chores Sanctorumque ordines exaltata adstans a dextris Unigeniti Filii Sui Domini 57 JSTostri Jesu Cliristi inaternis suis precibus validissime impetrat, et quod quaerit invenit, ac frustrari non potest. Denique ut ad universalis Ecclesiae noti- tiam haec Nostra de Immaculata Conceptione beatissimae Virginis Mariae definitio deduca- tur, has Apostolicas, Nostras Litteras, ad per- petuani rei memoriam extare voluimus ; man- dantes ut harum transumptis, seu exemplis etiam impressis, manu alicujus Notarii pub- lici subscriptis, et sigillo personae in Ecclesi- astica dignitate constitutae munitis eadem prorsus fides ab omnibus adhibeatur, quae ipsis praesentibus adhiberetur, si forent ex- hibitae, vel ostensae. Nulli ergo hominum liceat paginam banc Nostrae declarations, pronunciations, ac definitionis infringere, vel ei ausu teme- rario adversari et contraire. Si quis au- tem hoc attentare praesumpserit, indigna- tionem, oronipotentis Dei ac beatorum Pe- 58 tri et Pauli Apostoloruni ejus se noverit incursurum. Datum Bomae apucl Sanctum Petrum Anno Incarnationis Dominicae millesimo oc- tingentesimo quinquagesiino quarto VI Idas Decembris Anno MDCCCLIY. Pontificatus ]S T ostri Anno ]S T ono. PIUS PP. IX. LETTERS APOSTOLIC OF OUR MOST HOLY FATHER PIUS IX., BY DIVINE PROVIDENCE POPE, CONCERNING THE DOGMATIC DEFINITION OF THE IMMACULATE CON- CEPTION OF THE VIRGIN MOTHER OF GOD. jjiits, §«![0p, j&rfcmt rf % sdmnfs of §b)h. dFor a perpetual remembrance* God who is ineffable, whose ways are mercy and truth, whose will is omnipotence, and whose wisdom reaches powerfully from end to end, and sweetly disposes all things, when He foresaw from all eternity the most sorrow- ful ruin of the entire human race to follow from the transgression of Adam, and in a mystery hidden from ages determined to com- plete, through the Incarnation of the Word, in a more hidden sacrament, the first work of His goodness; so that man, led into sin by 59 the craft of diabolical iniquity, should not perish contrary to His merciful design ; and that what was about to befall in the first Adam should be restored more happily in the Second: — from the beginning and before ages chose and ordained a Mother for His only- begotten Son, of whom made flesh, He should be born in the blessed plenitude of time, and He loved Her above all other creatures, that in Her alone He pleased Himself with a most benign complacency. Wherefore, far before all the Angelic Spirits and all the Saints, He so wonderfully endowed Her with the abundance of all the heavenly gifts drawn from the treasure of divinity, that She might be ever free from every stain of sin, and all fair and perfect, and might possess that ple- nitude of innocence and holiness than which, under God, none is greater, and which, except God, no one can reach even in thought. And indeed it was most becoming that She should 61 be always adorned with the splendor of the most perfect holiness, and free even from the very stain of original sin, should gain a most complete triumph over the ancient serpent, — the Mother so venerable, to whom God the Father gave His only Son, whom begotten and equal to Himself He loved as Himself, in such a manner that He would be by na- ture One and the Same common Son of God the Father, and of the Virgin, and whom the Son himself chose to make substantially His Mother, and from whom the Holy Ghost willed and operated that He should be con- ceived and born from whom He himself pro- ceeds. Which original innocence of the august Virgin agreeing completely with her admira- ble holiness, and with the most excellent dig- nity of the Mother of God, the Catholic Church, which, ever taught by the Holy Spirit, is the pillar and ground of Truth, as possessing a 6 62 doctrine divinely received, and comprehended in the deposit of heavenly revelation, has never ceased to lay down, to cherish, and to illustrate continually by numerous proofs, and daily more and more by splendid facts. For this doctrine, flourishing from the most ancient times, and implanted in the minds of the Faithful, and by the care and zeal of the holy Pontiffs wonderfully propagated, the Church herself has most clearly pointed out when she did not hesitate to propose the Con- ception of the same Virgin for the public de- votion and veneration of the Faithful. By which illustrious act she pointed out the Con- ception of the Virgin as singular, wonderful, and very far removed from the origin of the rest of mankind, and to be venerated as en- tirely holy, since the Church celebrates festi- val days only of what is holy. And, there- fore, the very words in which the Sacred Scriptures speak of the Uncreated Wisdom 63 and represent His eternal origin, she has been accustomed to use not only in the offices of the Church, but also in the holy Liturgy, and to apply to the origin of that Virgin, which was preordained by one and the same decree with the incarnation of the Divine Wisdom. But though all those things everywhere justly received amongst the Faithful show with what zeal the Roman Church, the Mo- ther and Mistress of all Churches, has sup- ported the doctrine of the Immaculate Con- ception of the Virgin, yet -the illustrious acts of this Church are evidently worthy that they 1 should be reviewed by name ; since, so great is the dignity and authority of the same Church, and so much due to her who is the centre of Catholic Truth and Unity, in whom alone religion, has been inviolably guarded, and from whom it is right that all the Churches should receive the tradition of Faith. Thus the same Roman Church had 64 nothing more at heart than to assert, to pro- tect, to promote, and to vindicate in the most eloquent manner the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin, its devotion, and doctrine, which fact so many illustrious acts of the Eoman Pontiffs, Our predecessors, most evi- dently and fully testify and declare, to whom in the person of the Prince of the Apostles was divinely committed by Christ our Lord the supreme care and power of feeding the lambs and sheep, of confirming the brethren, and of ruling and governing the universal Church. Indeed, Our predecessors vehemently glo- ried to institute in the Eoman Church by their own Apostolic authority the Feast of the Conception, and to augment, ennoble, and promote with all their power the devotion thus instituted, by a proper Office and Mass, by which the prerogative of immunity from hereditary stain was most manifestly as- 65 serted; and to increase it either by indul- gences granted, or by leave given to states, provinces, and kingdoms, that they might choose as their Patroness the Mother of God, under the title of Her Immaculate Concep- tion; or by approved sodalities, congrega- tions, and religious societies, instituted in honor of the Immaculate Conception; or by praises given to the piety of those who have erected monasteries, hospitals, or churches, under the title of the Immaculate Conception, or who have bound themselves by a religious vow to defend strenuously the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God. Above all, they were happy to ordain that the Feast of the Conception should be celebrated through the whole Church as that of the Nativity; and, in fine, that it should be celebrated with an Octave in the universal Church, and be placed in the rank of the festivals which are commanded to be kept holy by all; also that E 6* 66 ■ a Pontifical function should be celebrated yearly in Our Patriarchal Liberian Basilica on the day sacred to the Conception of the Yirgin; desiring to cherish daily more and more in the minds of the Faithful this doc- trine of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God, and to excite their piety to the worship and veneration of the Virgin conceived without original sin, they have gladly given leave that in the Litany of Lo- retto and in the Preface of the Mass itself should be proclaimed the Immaculate Con- ception of the same Virgin, and that thus the law of faith should be established by the law of prayer. We ourselves, treading in the footsteps of so many Predecessors, have not only received and approved what had been most wisely and piously established and ap- pointed by them, but also, mindful of the in- stitution of Sixtus IV., We have appointed by our authority a proper Office of the Im- 67 maculate Conception, and with a most joyful mind have granted the use of it to the uni- versal Church. But since those things which pertain to worship are evidently bound by an intimate chord to its object, and cannot remain fixed and determined, if that be doubtful, and re- main in uncertainty, our predecessors the Eoman Pontiffs, increasing with all their care the devotion of the Conception, studied most especially to declare and inculcate its object and doctrine; for they taught clearly and openly that the festival was celebrated for the Conception of the Virgin, and they con- demned as false and most foreign to the in- tention of the Church the opinion of those who considered and affirmed that it was not the Conception itself, but the sanctification, to which devotion was paid by the Church. Noy did they think of treating more leniently those who, in order to weaken the doctrine of the Ininiaculate Conception, drawing a dis- tinction between the first and second instant of the Conception, asserted that the Concep- tion was indeed celebrated, but not its first moment; for Our predecessors themselves thought it their duty to protect and defend with all zeal both the Feast of the Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin, and the Concep- tion at the first instant, as the true object of the cultus. Hence the words in which Alex- ander VII. declared the intention of the Church, saying, " Certainly, it is the ancient piety of the Faithful of Christ towards His Most Blessed Mother the Virgin Mary, be- lieving that her soul, in the first instant of its creation, and infusion into the body, was by a special grace and privilege of God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ her Son the Eedeemer of mankind, preserved free from the stain of original sin, and in this sense they keep and cele- brate with solemn rite the Festival of Her Conception.' 7 Our predecessors thought it their duty to preserve from contention the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God ; and guarded and protected it with all care and zeal. For not only have they never suffered that this doctrine should be censured or traduced in any way, but they have gone much farther, and in clear declarations on repeated occasions they have proclaimed that the doctrine in which we confess the Im- maculate Conception of the Virgin, is of its own merit, to be held in veneration, that it is of ancient and nearly universal belief, which the Roman Church has undertaken to cherish and protect, and, above all, worthy to be placed in its sacred liturgy and its solemn prayers. JSTor content with this, in order that the doctrine of the Immaculate Concep- tion of the Virgin should remain inviolate. 70 they have most severely prohibited the opi- nion adverse to this doctrine to be defended either in public or in private, and they have wished to destroy it, as it were, by repeated wounds. To which reiterated and most clear declarations, lest they might appear empty, they added a sanction ; all which things Our illustrious predecessor, Alexander VI. , em- braced in these words: — " Considering that the Holy Eoman Church solemnly celebrates the Festival of the Con- ception of the Immaculate and Ever Blessed Virgin, and has appointed for this a special and proper office according to the pious, de- vout, and laudable institution which ema- nated from Our predecessor, Sixtus IV, and wishing, after the. example of the Eoman Pontiffs, Our Predecessors, to favor this laud- able piety, and devotion, and the reverence shown towards it, in the Eoman Church in- variably, since the institution of the honor 71 itself; in order also to protect this devout practice of venerating and celebrating the Most Blessed Virgin, preserved from original sin by the preventing grace of the Holy Ghost, and desiring to preserve in the flock of Christ unity of spirit in the bond of peace, removing offences, and scandals; at the instance and prayers of the said Bishops, with the Chap- ters of their Churches, and of King Philip and his kingdom — We renew the constitu- tions and decrees issued by the Roman Pon- tiffs, Our Predecessors, and especially by Sixtus IV., Paul V., and Gregory XV., in favor of the opinion that the Soul of the Blessed Virgin, in its creation and infusion into the body, was endowed with the grace of the Holy Ghost, and preserved from ori- ginal sin ; likewise, also, in favor of the Fes- tival of the same Virgin Mother of God, cele- brated according to that pious belief which is recited above ; and We command that it 72 shall be observed under the censures and pe- nalties contained in the same constitutions. "And against all and each of those who try to interpret the aforesaid constitutions or decrees so that they may frustrate the favor shown through these to the said belief, and to the festival or cuttus celebrated according to it, or who try to recall into dispute the same belief, festival, or cultus, or against these in any manner, either directly or indirectly, and on any pretext, even that of examining the grounds, of defining it, or of explaining or interpreting the Sacred Scriptures, or the Holy Fathers or Doctors ; in fine, who should dare, under any pretext or on any occasion whatsoever, to say either in writing, or by word of mouth to preach, to treat, to dis- pute, by determining or asserting any thing against these, or by bringing arguments against them, and leaving these arguments unanswered, or by expressing dissent in any 73 other possible maimer; besides the punish ments and censures contained in the consti- tutions of Sixtus IV., we desire to add, and by these presents do add, that they should be deprived ipso facto, and without other de- claration, of the faculty, of preaching, of lectur- ing in public, or of teaching and interpreting, and also of their voice, whether active or pas- sive, in elections ; from which censures they cannot be absolved, nor obtain dispensation unless from Us, or Our successors, the Eoman Pontiffs; likewise we wish to subject, and we hereby do subject, the same persons to other penalties to be inflicted at Our will, and at that of the same Eoman Pontiffs, Our Succes- sors, renewing the constitutions or decrees of Paul V. and Gregory XV., above mentioned. "And We prohibit, under the penalties and censures contained in the Index of Prohibited Books, and We will and declare to be es- teemed prohibited ipso facto, and without 7 74 other declaration, books in which the afore said belief and the festival or devotion cele- brated according to it is called into dispute, or in which any thing whatever is written or read against these, or lectures, sermons, treatises, and disputations against the same, published after the decree above eulogized of Paul V., or to be published at any future time." All are aware with how much zeal this doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God has been handed down, asserted, and propagated by the most distin- guished Religious Orders, the most celebrated theological academies, and the most eminent Doctors of the science of Divinity. All know likewise how anxious have been the Bishops openly and publicly to profess, even in the Ecclesiastical assemblies themselves, that the Most Holy Mother of God the Virgin Mary, by virtue of the merits of Christ our 75 Lord, the Saviour of mankind, never lay un- der original sin, but was preserved free from the stain of guilt, and was thus redeemed in a more sublime manner. To which, lastly, is added this fact, more grave, and in an es- pecial manner, most important of all, that the Council of Trent itself, w T hen it promul- gated the dogmatical decree concerning original sin, in which, according to the testi- monies of the Sacred Scriptures, of the Holy Fathers, and of the most approved councils, it determined and defined that all mankind are born under original sin; solemnly de- clared, however, that it was not its intention to include in the decree itself, and in the amplitude of its definition, the Blessed and Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Indeed, by this declaration, the Tridentine Fathers have asserted, according to the times and the circumstances of affairs, that the Blessed Virgin Mary was free from the 76 original stain, and thus clearly signified that nothing could be justly adduced from the sacred writings, nor from the authority of the Fathers, which would in any way gain- say so great a prerogative of the Virgin. And, in truth, illustrious monuments of a venerated antiquity of the Eastern and of the Western Church most powerfully testify that this doctrine of the Immaculate Con- ception of the Most Blessed Virgin, every day more and more so splendidly explained and confirmed by the highest authority, teaching, zeal, science, and wisdom of the Church, and so wonderfully propagated amongst all the nations and peoples of the Catholic world, always existed in the Church as received from Our ancestors, and stamped with the character of a Divine revelation. For the Church of Christ, careful guardian and defender of the dogmas deposited with her, changes nothing in them, diminishes 77 nothing, adds nothing, but, with all industry, by faithfully and wisely treating ancient things, so studies to limit and perfect their expression, that these ancient dogmas of heavenly faith may receive evidence, light, distinction, but may still retain their fulness, integrity, and propriety, and may increase only in their own kind, that is, in the same sense and the same belief. The Fathers and writers of the Church, taught by the heavenly writings, had nothing more at heart, in the books written to ex- plain the Scriptures, to vindicate the dog- mas, and to instruct the Faithful, than emu- lously to declare and exhibit in many and wonderful ways the Virgin's most high sanc- tity, dignity, and freedom from all stain of original sin, and Her renowned victory over the most foul enemy of the human race. Wherefore, repeating the words in which, at the beginning of the world, the Almighty, 7* 78 announcing the remedies of His mercy, pre- pared for regenerating mankind, crushed the audacity of the lying serpent, and wonder- fully raised up the hope of our race, saying — "I will place enmity between thee and the Woman, thy seed and hers," they taught that in this Divine oracle was clearly and openly pointed out the merciful Eedeemer of the human race — the only-begotten Son of God, Christ Jesus, and that his Most Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary, was designated, and at the same time that the enmity of both against the serpent was signally ex- pressed. Wherefore, as Christ, the Mediator of God and men, having assumed human na- ture, blotting out the handwriting of the de- cree which stood against us, fastened it tri- umphantly to the Cross, so the Most Holy Virgin, bound by a most close and indisso- luble chain to Him, exercising with Him and through Him eternal enmity against the 79 malignant serpent, and triumphing most thoroughly over the same, has crushed his head with Her Immaculate foot. This illustrious and singular triumph of the Virgin, and her most exalted innocence, purity, and holiness, Her freedom from all stain of sin, and ineffable abundance of all heavenly graces, virtues, and privileges, the same fathers beheld in that ark of Noah which, divinely appointed, escaped safe and sound, from the common shipwreck of the whole world; also in that ladder which Jacob beheld reaching from earth to Heaven, by whose steps the Angels of God ascended and descended, on whose top leaned God himself; also in that bush which, in the holy place, Moses beheld blaze on every side, and amidst the crackling flames, neither consumed nor suffering the least injury; also in that tower unassailable in the face of an enemy, from which depend a thousand bucklers and all 80 the armor of the brave ; also in that garden fenced round about, which cannot be violated nor corrupted by any schemes of fraud; also in that brilliant city of God, whose founda- tions are in the holy mounts; also in that most august temple of God, which, shining with divine splendor, is filled with the glory of God; likewise in many other things of this kind, which the Fathers have handed down, that the exalted dignity of the Mo- ther of God, and her spotless innocence and holiness, obnoxious to no blemish, have been signally pre-announced. To describe the same totality, as it were, of Divine gifts, and the original integrity of the Virgin, of whom Jesus was born, the same Fathers, using the eloquence of the Prophets, celebrate the august Virgin as the spotless dove, the holy Jerusalem, the ex- alted throne of God, the ark and house of sanctification, which Eternal "Wisdom built 81 for itself; and as that Queen who, abounding in delights and leaning on her beloved, came forth entirely perfect from the mouth of the Most High, fair and most dear to God, and never stained with the least spot. But when the same Fathers and the writers of the Church revolved in their hearts and minds that the Most Blessed Virgin, in the name and by the order of God himself, was pro- claimed full of grace by the Angel Gabriel, when announcing Her most sublime dignity of the Mother of God, they taught that, by this singular and solemn salutation, never heard on any other occasion, is shown that the Mother of God is the seal of all Divine graces, and adorned with all the gifts of the Holy Ghost— yea, the infinite storehouse and inexhaustible abyss of the same gifts; so that, never obnoxious to an evil word, and alone with her Son partaker of perpetual benediction, She deserved to hear from Eliza- F 82 beth, inspired by the Holy Ghost, " Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb." Hence it is the clear and unanimous opinion of the same that the Most Glorious Virgin, for whom He who is powerful has done great things, has shone with such a brilliancy of all heavenly gifts, such fulness of grace and such innocence, that She has been an ineffable miracle of the Almighty, yea, the crown of all miracles, and worthy Mother of God; that She approaches as nearly to God as created nature can do, and is exalted above all human and angelic eulogies. And therefore to vindicate the original in- nocence and justice of the Mother of God, they not only compared Her to Eve as yet virgin, as yet innocent, as yet incorrupt, and not yet deceived by the deadly snares of the most treacherous serpent, but they have 83 extolled Her with a wonderful variety of thought and expression. For Eve, miserably obeying the serpent, fell from original inno- cence, and became his slave, but the Most Blessed Virgin, continually increasing her original gift, not only never lent an ear to the serpent, but by a virtue divinely received utterly broke his power. Wherefore they have never ceased to call the Mother of God the Lily amongst the thorns, earth entirely untouched, Virgin un- defiled, immaculate, ever blessed, and free from all contagion of sin, from which was formed the new Adam, a reproachless, most sweet paradise of innocence, immortality, and delights planted by God Himself, and fenced from all snares of the malignant ser- pent, incorruptible Branch that the worm of sin hath never injured; Fountain ever clear, and sealed by the virtue of the Holy Ghost, a most Divine Temple, or Treasure of im- 84 mortality, or the sole and only Daughter not of Death but of Life, the Seed not of enmity but of grace, which by the singular provi- dence of God, has always flourished, budding from a corrupt and infected root, contrary to the settled and common laws. But as if these encomiums, though most splendid, were not sufficient, they proclaimed in proper and defined opinions that when sin should be treated of, no question should be entertained concerning the Holy Virgin Mary, to whom an abundance of grace was given to conquer sin completely. They also declared that the Most Glorious Virgin was the reparatrix of Her parents, the vivifier of posterity, chosen before ages, prepared for Himself by the Most High, predicted by God when He said to the serpent, " I will place enmity between thee and the Woman," who undoubtedly has crushed the poisonous head of the same serpent; and therefore they 85 affirm that the same Blessed Virgin was through grace perfectly free from every stain of sin, and from all contagion of body, and soul, and mind, and, always conversant with God, and united with Him in an eternal cove- nant, was never in darkness but always in light, and therefore was plainly a fit habi- tation for Christ, not on account of Her bodily estate, but on account of original grace. To these things are added the noble words, in which, speaking of the Conception of the Virgin, they have testified that Nature yielded to Grace and stood trembling, not being able to proceed further ; for it was to be that the Virgin Mother of God should not be conceived by Anna before grace should bear fruit. For She ought thus to be con- ceived as the first-born, from whom should be conceived the First-Bom of every crea- ture. They have testified that the flesh of 86 the Virgin, taken from Adam, did not admit the stains of Adam, and on this account that the Most Blessed Virgin was the tabernacle created by God himself, formed by the Holy Spirit, truly enriched with purple which that new Beseleel made, adorned and woven with gold ; and that this same Virgin is, and is deservedly, celebrated, as She who was the first and peculiar work of God, concealed from the fiery weapons of evil, fair by nature, and entirely free from all stain, came into the world all shining like the morn in her Ilnmaculate Conception; nor, truly, was it right that this Vessel of Election should be assailed by common injuries, since, differing much from others, she had community with them only in their nature, not in their fault. Far more, it was right that, as the Only Begotten had a Father in Heaven, whom the Seraphim extol as thrice holy, so He should have a Mother on the earth, who never 8T should want the splendor of holiness. And this doctrine, indeed, so filled the minds and souls of our forefathers, that a marvellous and singular form of speech prevailed with them, in which they very frequently called the Mother of God immaculate and entirely immaculate, innocent and most innocent, spotless, holy, and most distant from every stain of sin, all pure, all perfect, the Type and Model of purity and innocence, more beautiful than beauty, more gracious than grace, more holy than holiness, alone holy and most pure in soul and body, who has surpassed all perfectitude and all virginity, and has become the dwelling-place of all the graces of the Most Holy Spirit, and who, Gocl alone excepted, is superior to all, and by nature fairer, more beautiful, and more holy than the Cherubim and Seraphim; She, whom all the tongues of Heaven and earth do not suffice to extol. No one is ignorant that these forms of speech have passed, as it were, spontaneously into the monuments of the most holy Liturgy, and the Offices of the Church, and that they occur often in them; since the Mother of God is invoked and named in them as a spotless Dove of beauty, as a Eose ever blooming and perfectly pure, ever spotless and ever blessed, and is cele- brated as Innocence which was never wounded, and a second Eve who brought forth Emmanuel. It is no wonder, then, if the Pastors of the Church and the faithful people have daily more and more gloried to profess with so much piety and fervor this doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mother of God, pointed out in the Sacred Scriptures, according to the judgment of the Fathers, handed down in so many mighty testimonies of the same, expressed and celebrated in so many illustrious monuments of revered an- 89 tiquity, and proposed, and with great piety confirmed by the greatest and highest judg- ment of the Church ; so that nothing would lbe more dear or more pleasing to the same than everywhere to venerate, invoke, and proclaim the Virgin Mother of God con- ceived without original stain. Wherefore from the ancient times the Princes of the Church, Ecclesiastics, and even emperors and kings themselves, have earnestly en- treated of this Apostolic See that the Im- maculate Conception of the Most Holy Mother of God should be defined as a dogma of Catholic faith. Which entreaties were re- newed also in these Our time's, and especially were addressed to Gregory XVL, Our prede- cessor of happy memory, and to Ourselves, not only by Bishops, but by the Secular Clergy, Religious Orders, and the greatest princes and faithful peoples. Therefore with singular joy of mind, well 8* 90 knowing all these things, and seriously con- sidering them, scarcely had We, though un- worthy, been raised by a mysterious dispen- sation of Divine Providence to the exalted Chair of Peter, and undertaken the govern- ment of the whole Church, than, following the veneration, the piety, and love We had entertained for the Blessed Virgin from Our tender years, We had nothing at heart more than to accomplish all these things which as yet were amongst the ardent wishes of the Church, that the honor of the Most Blessed Virgin should be increased, and her preroga- tives should shine with a fuller light. But wishing to bring to this full maturity We appointed a special congregation of our Ve- nerable Brethren the Cardinals of the Holy Eoman Church, illustrious by their piety, their wisdom, and their knowledge of the sacred sciences, and we also selected Eccle- siastics, both Secular and Regular, well 91 trained in theological studies, most carefully to weigh all those things which relate to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin, and report to us their opinion. And, although from the entreaties lately received by us to at length define the Immaculate Concep- tion of the Virgin the opinions of most of the Bishops of the Church were understood : yet We sent Encyclical Letters, dated at Gaeta, the 2nd day of February, in the year 1849, to all our Venerable Brethren, the Bishops of the Catholic world, in order that having offered prayers to God they might signify to Us, in writing, what was the piety and devotion of their flocks towards the Im- maculate Conception of the Mother of God, and especially what the Bishops themselves thought about promulgating the Definition, or what they desired, in order that We might pronounce Our supreme judgment as solemnly as possible. 92 Certainly we were filled with, no slight consolation when the replies of our Vene- rable Brethren came to Us. For, with an incredible joyfulness, gladness, and zeal, they not only confirmed their own singular piety, and that of their Clergy and faithful people, towards the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin, but they even entreated of Us with a common voice that the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin should be defined by Our supreme judgment and authority. Nor, indeed, were we filled with less joy when our Venerable Brethren of Our Holy Roman Church, the Cardinals of the Special Congregation aforesaid, and the consulting Theologians chosen by Us, after a diligent examination demanded of Us with equal alacrity and zeal this definition of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God. Afterwards treading in the illustrious foot- 93 steps of Our Predecessors, and desiring to proceed duly and properly, We proclaimed and held a Consistory, in which We addressed Our Brethren, the Cardinals of the Holy Ko- man Church, and with the greatest consola- tion of mind We heard them entreat of Us that We should promulgate the dogmatic definition of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mother of God. Therefore, having full trust in the Lord that the fitting time had now come for defin- ing the Immaculate Conception of the Vir- gin Mary, Mother of God, which the Divine words, venerable tradition, the perpetual opinion of the Church, the singular agree- ment of Catholic Prelates and Faithful, and the signal acts and constitutions of Our Pre- decessors wonderfully illustrate and proclaim ; having most diligently weighed all things, and poured forth to God assiduous and fer- vent prayers, We resolved that we should no 94 longer delay to sanction and define, by Our supreme authority, the Immaculate Concep- tion of the Virgin, and thus to satisfy the most pious desires of the Catholic world and Our own piety towards the Most Holy Virgin, and, at the same time, to honor more and more the Only-Begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, since whatever honor and praise are given to the Mother redound to the Son. Wherefore, after we had unceasingly, in humility and fasting, offered Our own prayers and the public prayers of the Church to God the Father, through His Son, that He would deign to direct and confirm Our mind by the power of the Holy Ghost, and having im- plored the aid of the entire Heavenly Host, and invoked the Paraclete with sighs, and He thus inspiring, to the honor of the Holy and undivided Trinity, to the glory and adornment of the Virgin Mother of God, to the exaltation of the Catholic Faith and the 95 increase of the Catholic religion, by the au- thority of Jesus Christ Our Lord, of the Blessed Apostles, Peter and Paul, We declare, pronounce, and define that the doctrine which holds that the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the first instant of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace of the Omnipotent God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind, was preserved immacu- late from all stain of original sin, has been revealed by God, and therefore should firmly and constantly be believed by all the faith- ful. "Wherefore if any shall dare — which God avert — to think otherwise than as it has been defined by Us, let them know and un- derstand that they are condemned by their own judgment, that they have suffered ship- wreck of the faith, and have revolted from the unity of the Church; and besides by their own act, they subject themselves to the penalties justly established if w T hat they think 96 they should dare to signify by word, writing, or any other outward means. Our mouth is filled with joy and Our tongue with exultation, and We return, and shall ever return, the most humble and the great- est thanks to Jesus Christ Our Lord, because through His singular beneficence He has granted to us, though unworthy, to offer and decree this honor, glory, and praise to His Most Holy Mother. "We rely, moreover, with most certain hope and confidence that this Most Blessed Virgin, who, all fair and im- maculate, has bruised the poisonous head of the most malignant serpent, and brought salvation to the world, who is the praise of the Prophets and the Apostles, the honor of the Martyrs, and the crown and joy of all the Saints — who is the safest Kefuge and most faithful Helper of all who are in danger, and the most powerful Mediatrix and Conciliatrix in the whole world, with Her Only-Begotten 97 Son, and the most illustrious Glory, Orna- ment, and most firm Defence of the Holy Church, who has destroyed all heresies, and snatched from the greatest calamities of all kinds the faithful peoples and nations, and delivered Us from so many threatening dan- gers, will effect, by Her most powerful pa- tronage that, all difficulties being removed, and all errors dissipated, Our Holy Mother the Catholic Church may flourish daily more and more throughout all nations and coun- tries, and may reign from sea to sea and to the ends of the earth, and may enjoy all peace, tranquillity, and liberty ; that the sin- ful may obtain pardon, the sick healing, the weak strength of heart, the afflicted consola- tion, and that all who are in error, their spi- ritual blindness being dissipated, may return to the path of truth and justice, and may be- come one flock and one shepherd. Let all the children of the Catholic Church 98 most dear to Us hear these Our words, and, with a more ardent zeal of piety, religion, and love, proceed to honor, invoke, and pray to the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, conceived without original sin ; and let them fly with entire confidence to this most sweet Mother of Mercy and Grace in all dan- gers, difficulties, doubts, and fears. For no- thing is to be feared, and nothing is to be despaired of under Her guidance, under Her auspices, under Her favor, under Her protec- tion, who, bearing towards us a Mother's love, and taking up the work of our salva- tion, is solicitous for the whole human race, and, appointed by God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, and exalted above all the choirs of Angels, and orders of Saints, standing at the Eight Hand of the Only-Begotten Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord, intercedes most pow- fully, and obtains what she asks, and can- not fail. 99 Finally, in order that this Our definition of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary may be brought to the knowledge of the universal Church, We will that these Letters Apostolic do stand for a perpetual remembrance of the same, com- manding that to transcripts or printed co- pies, subscribed by the hand of some notary public, and authenticated by the seal of a person of Ecclesiastical rank, appointed for the purpose, the same credit shall be given which would be given to these presents if they were exhibited or shown. Let no man presume to infringe this Our declaration, pronunciation, and definition, or to oppose and contradict it with presumptuous rashness. If any should presume to assail it, let him know that he will incur the indig- nation of the Omnipotent God and of His blessed Apostles Peter and Paul. 100 Given at Rome, at Saint Peter's, in the year of the Incarnation of Our Lord, MDCCCLIY., the sixth of the Ides of Decem- ber, in the ninth year of our Pontificate. PIUS PP. IX. SANCTISSIMI DOMINI NOSTEI PII DIVINA PROVIDEXTIA PAPJE IX. ALLOCUTIO HABITA IX COXSITORIO SECEETO DIE IX. DECEJIBKIS, ANNO 3IDCCCLIY. Yenerabiles Fratres : SINGULARI quad am perfusi laetitia ex- ultanms in Domino, Yenerabiles Fratres, cum Yos hodierno die lateri JTostro fre- quentes adstare videamus, quos Nostrum gaudium et coronam jure possumus nun- cupare. Yos enim pars estis eorum, quibus- cum communicamus labores et curas in pascendo liumilitati Nbstrae concredito do- minico grege uni verso, in tutandis juribus Catholicae religionis, eique novis adjungen- dis sectatoribus, qui justitiae et veritatis 9* 101 102 Deum in sinceritate fidei colant, et vene- rentur. Itaque quod olim Christus Domi- nus dixit Apostoloruni Principi "tu ali- quando con versus confirnia fratres tuos" id ipsum Nobis, qui in ejus locum licet ini- merentes divina benignitate suffecti sumus, hac oblata opportunitate, praestandum vide- tur, nt Vobis nimirum, Venerabiles Fratres, verba facianms, non ut Vos aut comnio- neainus officii, aut languentes excitemus, quos inflammatos studio novimus divini No- minis gloriae propagandae, sed ut tanquam voce ipsa Beatissimi Petri, qui vivit, vivetque in Successoribus suis recreati, atque erecti novo veluti robore muniamini ad quaerenclam comissarum ovium salutem, ad Ecclesiae cau- sam in tanta asperitate temporum animose ac fortiter sustinendam. Neque vero deliberandum fuit, cujus potis- simum adliibeamus patrocinium apud caeles- tem Patrem luminum, ut eo adjuvante alloqui 103 Yos fructuose possimus ; siquidem. cum ea de causa apud Nos conveneritis, ut conspiranti- bus aniinis studia, curasque conferremus amplificando honori augustae Genitricis Dei Mariae Sanctissimam ipsam Yirgineni Sa- pientiae Sedem ab Ecclesia nuncupatam iteratis precibus obsecravimus, ut impetrare Nobis radium velit sapientiae caelestis, qua collustrati ea Yobis loquamur, quae et inco- lumitati et prosperitati Ecclesiae Dei maxi- mopere sint profutura. Jam vero ex hac tamquam arce religionis intuentibus Nobis errorum monstra, quae per Catholicum orbem liae difficillima aetate grassantur, nihil op- portunius visum est quani ilia Yobis indicare, ut ad eadem debellanda vires exeratis vestras, Yenerabiles Fratres, qui custodes praepositi estis, et speculatores domui Israel. Existere etiam nunc dolendum est impium incredulorum genus, qui omnem si fieri pos- set exterminatum vellent religionis cultum, 104 eisque adnumerandi imprimis sunt clandesti- narum societatum gregales, qui nefario inter se foedere conjuncti nullas non adhibent artes, ut quibusque violatis juribus rem et sacram et publicam perturbent, evertant ; in quos profecto verba ilia cadunt divini Eepa- ratoris "vos ex patre diabolo estis, et opera patris vestri vultis facere." Hos si excipia- mus, fatendum est praesentis aetatis homines generatim abliorrere ab incredulorum pravi- tate, et inclinationem quamdam animorum ostendere erga religionem et fidem. Sive enim facinorum ob atrocitatem, quae supe- riori praesertim saeculo perpetrata incredulis tribuenda sunt, quaeque animus meminisse reforinidat, sive ob metum seditionum ac tu- multuum, qui miser andum in modum eonvel- lunt, afflictant nationes et regna, sive denique divini spiritus opera, qui spirat ubi vult, im- minutum esse patet perditorum numerum; qui incredulitate se jactent et glorientur; 105 contra vero commendari audimus interdum vitae ac morum honestatem, excitatumque praeterea novimus in animis hominum admi- rationis sensum catholicam erga religionem, quae quidem in omnium iricitrrit oculos tan- quam lux solis. Non exiguum lioc est bonum, Venerabiles Fratres, et quidam quasi ad veritatem pro- gressus, sed tamen multa adhuc sunt, quae a veritate plane assequenda absterrent ho- mines et remorantur. Sunt enimvero plerique, qui rebus publicis tractandis praepositi fautores se religionis, et adsertores dicant, illam laudibus attollant, humanaeque societati quam maxime accomo- datam atque utilem praedicent ; nihilominus ejus moderari disciplinam volunt, sacros ministros regere, sacrorum procurationem attingere, uno verbo civilis intra status li- mites coercere nituntur Ecclesiam, eique dominari, quae tamen sui juris est, divinoque 106 consilio nullius imperii terminis contineri debet, sed ad ultimas terras propagari, om- nesque complecti gentes ac nationes, ut sem- piternae illis beatitatis iter designet expediat. Et proh dolor ! Dum haec loquimur, Vene- rabiles Fratres, in Subalpina ditione propo- sita lex est, qua regularia et ecelesiastica instituta de medio tolluntur, et Ecclesiae jura plane conculcantur, atque, si fieri potest, de- lentur. Sed tamen de re tarn gravi hoc ipso in loco alias agemus. Utinam vero qui liber- tati obsistunt catholicae religionis agnoscant aliquando quantopere publicae rei bono ipsa conclucat, quae sua cuique civium observanda proponit, et inculcat officia ex caelesti quam accepit doctrina: utinam persuadere sibi tandem velint quod olim Zenoni Imperatori scribebat sanctus Felix Praedecessor Foster "nihil esse utilius Principibus, quam sinere Ecclesiam uti legibus suis, hoc enim illis esse salutare, ut cum de causis Dei agitur, 107 regiani voluntatem Sacerdotibus Christi stu- deant subdere, non praeferre." Sunt praeterea, Yenerabiles Fratres, viri quidam eruditione praestantes, qui reli- gionem munus esse fatentur longe praestan- tissimum a Deo hominibus datum, liumanani nihilominus rationem tanto liabent in pretio, tantopere extollunt, ut vel ipsi religioni aequiparandam stultissime putent. Hinc ex vana ipsorum opinione theologicae dis- ciplinae perinde ac philosophical tractandae sunt ; cum tamen illae fidei dogmatibus inni- tantur, quibus nihil firming, nihil stabilius, istae vero humana explicentur atque illus- trentur ratione, qua nihil incertius, utpote quae varia est pro ingeniorum varietate, in- numerisque fallaciis, et praestigiis obnoxia. Ita quidem rejecta Ecclesiae auctoritate difficillimis quibusque, reconditisque ques- tionibus latissimus patuit campus, ratioque humana infirmis suis confisa viribus licentius 108 excurrens turpissimos in errores lapsa est, quos hie referre nee vacat nee lubet, quippe Vobis probe cognitos atque exploratos, quique in religionis et civilis rei detrimen- tum, illudque maximum redundarunt. Qua- mobrem istis hominibus, qui plus aequo vires efferent humanae rationis ostendere oportet, plane id esse contrarium verissimae illi sententiae Doctoris gentium "si quis putet se aliquid esse, cum nihil sit, ipse se seducit." Demonstrandum illis est quantae sit arrogantiae pervestigare mysteria, quae revelare nobis dignatus est clementissimus Deus, eademque assequi, complectique au- dere humanae mentis imbecillitate et angus- tiis, cum longissime ea vires excedant nostri intellectus, qui ex Apostoli ejusdem dicto captivandus est in obsequium fidei. Atque hujusmodi humanae rationis secta- tores, seu cultores potius, qui earn sibi cer- tain veluti magistram proponunt, ejusque 109 ductu fausta sibi omnia pollicentur, obliti certe sunt quani grave et acerbum ex culpa primi parentis inflictum sit vulnus humanae naturae, quippe quod et obfusae tenebrae menti, et prona effecta ad malum voluntas. Hinc celeberrimi ex antiquissima aetate philosophi quamvis multa praeclare scripse- rint, doctrinas tamen suas gravissimis errori- bus contaminarunt ; bine assiduum illud cer- tamen quod in nobis experimur, de quo lo- quitur Apostolus "sentio in membris meis legem repugnantem legi mentis ineae." Nunc quando ex originis labe in universos Adami posteros propagata extenuatum esse constet rationis lumen, et ex pristino jus- titiae atque innocentia statu miserrime de- ciderit humanum genus, ecquis satis esse rationem ducat ad assequendam veritatem? ecquis in tantis periculis, atque in tanta virium infirmitate ne labatur, et corruat necessaria sibi neget ad salutem religionis 10 110 divinae, et gratiae caelestis auxilia? quae quidem auxilia benignissime, iis largitur Deus qui humili prece eadeni flagitent, cum scriptum sit "Deus superbis resistit, humili- bus autem dat gratiam." Idcirco conversus olini ad Patrem Christus Dominus altissinia veritatum arcana patefacta baud esse affir- mavit prudentibus et sapientibus hujus sae- culi, qui ingenio doctrinaque sua superbiunt, et praestare negant obsequium fidei, sed vero humilibus ac simplicibus hominibus, qui fidei divinae oraculo nituntur et conquiescunt. Salutare hoc docunientuni eorum animis in- culcetis oportet, qui hunianae rationis vim usque adeo exaggerant, illius ut ope mysteria ipsa scrutari audeant atque explicare, quo nihil ineptius nihil insanius. Eevocare illos contendite a tanta mentis perversitate expo- nentes nimirum nihil esse praestabilius a providentia Dei concessum hominibus, quam fidei divinae auctoritatem, hanc nobis esse Ill quasi facem in tenebris, hanc ducein quani sequamur ad vitain, banc necessariam pror- sus esse ad salutem, utpote quod "sine fide impossible est placere Deo, et qui non eredi- derit condenmabitur." Errorem alteram nee minus exitiosum ali- quas Catbolici orbis partes occupasse non sine moerore novimus, animisque insedisse plerumque Catholicorum, qui bene speran- dum de aeterna illorum omnium salute pu- tant, qui in vera Christi Ecclesia nequaquam versantur. Idcirco percontari saepenumero solent, quaenam futura post obitum sit eorum sors, et conditio, qui Catholicae fidei minime addicti sunt, vanissimisque adductis rationi- bus responsum praestolantur, quod pravae huic sententiae suffragetur. Absit, Venera- biles Fratres, ut misericordiae divinae, quae infinita est, terminos audeamus apponere; absit ut perscrutari velimus arcana consilia et judicia Dei, quae sunt abyssus multa, 112 nec hum ana queunt cogitatione penetrari. Quod vero Apostolici ^Tostri inuneris est, Episcopalem restrain et sollicitudinem et vigilantiam excitatam rolumus ut quantum potestis contendere, opinionem illam impiam aeque ac funestam ab hominum mente pro- pulsetis, nimirum quaris in religione reperiri posse aeternae salutis viam. Ea qua prae- statis solertia ac doctrina demonstretis com- missis curae vestrae populis miserationi ac justitiae diyinae dogmata Catliolicae fidei neutiquam adversari. Tenendam quippe ex fide est extra Apostolicam Eomanam Eccle- siam salvum fieri neminem posse, banc esse unicam salutis arcam, hanc qui non fuerit ingressus, diluvio periturum ; sed tamen pro certo pariter, habendum est, qui verae reli- gionis ignorantia laborent, si ea sit invinci- bilis, nulla ipsos obstringi hujusce rei culpa ante oculos Domini. JSTunc vero quis tantum sibi arroget, liujusmodi ignorantiae designare 113 limites queat juxta populorum, regionum, ingeniorum, aliarumque reruni tarn multaruni rationem et varietatem ? Enimvero cum so- luti corporeis hisce vinculis videbimus Deura sicuti est, inteHigemus profecto quam arcto pulchroque nexu miseratio ac justitia divina copulentur ; quamdiu vero in terris versa- inur mortali hac gravati mole quae liebetat animam firmissime teneamus ex catholica doctrina unum Deuni esse, unam Mem, unum baptisma; ulterius inquirendo progredi nefas est. Ceterum pront charitatis ratio postulat assiduas fundamus pieces, ut omnes quaqua- versus gentes ad Christum convertantur, communique hominum saluti pro viribus in- serviamus, neque enim abbreviate est manus Domini, gratiaeque caelestis dona nequa- quam illis defutura sunt, qui hac luce re- creari sincero animo velint et postulent. Hu- jusmodi veritates defigendae altissime sunt fidelium mentibus ne falsis corrumpi queant H 10* 114 doctrinis eo spectantibus ut religionis foveant indifferentiam, quani ad exitiuin animamm serpere latius yidemus ac roborari. Praecipuos contra errores hactenus exposi- tos, quibus maxiine hoc tempore oppugnatur Ecclesia, vestram opponite, Yenerabiles Fra- tres, et vktutem et constantiani, ad eosque profligandos, planeque delendos habeatis Ec- clesiasticos viros necesse est laboris socios et adjutores. Immortaliter quidem gaudeamus catholicum Clerum nihil praetermittere, nihil molestiaruni defugere, ut officio suo, ac mu- neri cumulate satisfaciat; atque adeo non asperitate et longitudine itineris non ullo incommodorum metu retardari quominus re- giones pertingat terrarum marisque tractu disjunctissimas, ut efferatas ibi gentes ad humanitatem, et christianae legis disciplinam salubriter instituat; gaudemus pariter Cle- rum ipsum in teterrimae luis calamitate, quae tot oppida, tot frequentissimas urbes 115 funestavit, adeo alacriter obivisse qnaelibet charitatis officia, ut vitam profundere ad sa- lutem proximomm pulchrum sibi ac decorum existiinaverit. Quo sane argumento inagis constabit, catholica in Ecclesia, quae unice vera est, inextinctum ardere pulcherrimum charitatis ignem, quern Christus venit mit- tere in terrain ut accendatur. Yidemus eniin religiosas inulieres in adjutandis aegris cum Clero certasse, neque mortis adspectu fuisse deterritas, quam pleraeque constantissime oppetiverunt ; cujus inusitatae fortitudinis exemplo illi ipsi obstupefacti admiratione sunt, qui a catholica fide dissentiunt. Est hoc Nobis jure laetandum, Yenera- biles Fratres, verumtamen illud ad animi Nostri curam grave et acerbum, quibusdam in locis non deesse ex Clero aliquos, qui non semet exhibeant in omnibus ut ministros Christi, et clispensatores mysteriorum Dei. Hinc deest Christiano populo divini verbi 116 pabulum unde nutriatur ad vitam, hinc in- frequens sacramentorum usus quibus tanta vis inest ad Dei gratiam vel conciliandam vel retinendam. Monendi hi quidem sunt, Vene- rabiles Fratres, ac veliementius excitandi, ut sacri niinisterii partes recte ac fideliter ex- plendas eurent ; docendi sunt quam gravi se culpa obstringant, qui messis multa cum sit laborare de tree tent in agro Domini. Hor- tancli sunt, ut quanta sit divinae hostiae vir- tus ad propitiandum Deum, et flagitiorum poenas avertendas frequenter exj)licent fideli- bus, ut iidem salutari Missae sacrificio reli- gioso adesse, uberesque ex illo fructus perci- pere studeant. Sane quidem promptiores alicubi fideles essent ad pietatis actus exer- cendos, si vehementiora haberent a Clero et incitamenta et praesidia. Videtis hinc Ye- nerabiles Fratres, ad comparandos idoneos ministros Christi quanta sit Seminariorum necessitas et opportunitas ; in quibus 117 moderandis non civilis potestatis, seel Epis- coporum dumtaxat versari debet cura et industria. Collectos ibi juvenes in spem religiones succrescentes ad pietatem doctri- namque sedulo inforinetis, ut duplici quasi instmcti gladio boni milites esse queant ad praelianda praelia Domini. Turn in theologi- cis, turn vero in philosophicis etiam disci- plinis probatae fidei scriptores eisdem propo- natis, ne qua imbuantur opinione catholicae doctrinae minus consentanea. Ita quidem Ecclesiae bono et incremento consultum per vos erit, Venerabiles Fratres. Quo vero susceptae pro Ecelesia curae se- cundissimos habeant exitus summa extet concordia opus est consensusque animorum, longeque dissidia quaelibet proliibeantur, quae solvunt charitatis vinculum, quaeque fovere solet vaferrimus nostri generis inimi- cus utpote sibi ad nocendum opportunissima. Eepetendum memoria est veteres illos ca- 118 tholicae fidei propugnatores de pertinacissi- niis haeresibus retulisse yictoriara, qumii scilicet una secura, et cum Apostolica Sede tamquam cum duce suo conjuncti milites firmo ammo erectoque in certamen descen- dissent. Haec sunt, quae significanda Yobis duxi- inus, Yenerabiles Fratres, in hac cura et so- licitudine satis Apostolico ministerio fa- ciendi, quod clivina dementia et bonitate impositum est infirmitati Nostrae. Erigimur primum, ac recreamur spe caelesti auxilii, deinde ab explorato vestro religionis ac pie- tatis studio non mediocre Nobis pollicemur in tantis rerum difficultatibus adjumentum. Aderit Ecclesiae suae Deus, aderit communi- bus votis Nbstris, aderit praesertim si oratrix pro nobis accedat Virgo Sanctissima Dei pa- rens Maria, cujus immunitatem ab originalis noxae macula Yobis magno cum Nostro gau- dio ad stantibus et plaudentibus divino adju- 119 vante Spiritu pronunciavimus. Eximium sane privilegium, quod Dei Matrem plane de- cebat, in communi nostri generis exitio sospi- tem at que incolumen evasisse. Atque hujus privilegii amplitudo plurimum quidem vali- tura est ad eos refellendos, qui deteriorem factam esse inficiantur ex primaeva culpa hominum naturam, viresque aniplificant ra- tionis ad negandum vel minuendum reve- latae religionis beneficiuru. Faxit tandem Yirgo Beatissima, quae interemit ac perdidit universas haereses, ut hie etiam evellatur stirpitus, ac deleatur rationalisnii error perni- ciosissimus, qui hac miserrima aetate non ci- vilem modo societatem, sed vero etiam tan- topere affligit et vexat Ecclesiam. Eeliquum nunc est, Yenerabiles Fratres, ut quanto animi Nostri solatio summa Vos alacritate ex dissitis etiam terris properasse conspeximus ad Apostolicam hanc Sedem propugnaculum fidei, magistram veritatis, 120 catholicae unitatis firmamentum, tanto pe- rinde amoris studio anteaquam sedes repe- tatis vestras omnia Vobis precemur fausta felicia ac salutaria. Arbiter ille omnium re- rum et bonorum auctor Deus det Yobis spiri- tum sapientiae et intellectus, ut prohibeatis ab oviuni pernicie ubique latentes insidias, ac quidquid ad commoditatem vestrarum Ecclesiarum vel suscepistis iam vel eritis suscepturi, id praepotenti numine suo bonus propitiusque confirmet ; permissis autem Vestrae curae fidelibus det illam mentem, ut abstrahere se nunquam velint a pastoris la- tere, sed vocem ipsius audiant, quoque ipse velit, accurrant. Adsit Yobis Yirgo Sanc- tissima ab origine Immaculata; sit ipsa Yobis in dubiis rebus fidele consilium, in au- gustiis levamen, in adversis auxilium. Ad extremum levantes manus Nostras in caelum Yobis gregique yestro ex intimo cordis affec- tu benedicimus. Sit porro Apostolicae hujus 121 benedictionis munus tamquam pignus certis- simuni charitatis erga Yos JNTostrae, sit explo- rantissimum tamquam omen beatissimae vitae ac sempiternae, quam Yobis gregique vestro et optamus et poscimus a Supremo animarum pastore Christo Jesu, cui cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu sit et honor et laus et gratia- rum actio per omnem aeternitatem. 11 ALLOCUTION Of our Most Holy Father, Pope Pius IX., pronounced in the Secret Consistory, 9t7i December, 1854. Venerable Brothers : Filled with a singular joy, We exult in the Lord, Venerable Brothers, when we behold, standing in great numbers around Us this day, you whom We can call with truth our joy and our crown. You are indeed a por- tion of those who partake of our labors and our cares, in feeding that universal flock which the Lord has confided to our weak- ness, in protecting and defending the rights of the Catholic religion, in adding to it new 122 123 followers who serve and adore, in sincerity of faith, the God of justice and of truth. What Christ our Lord said to the Prince of the Apostles, "Thou being once converted, confirm thy brethren,' 7 seems, then, on the present occasion, to invite us, who, by the Divine Grace, have been put in his place, notwithstanding our unworthiness, to speak to you, Venerable Brethren, not to remind you of your duty, or to demand more ardor from you whom we know to be already in- flamed with zeal to extend the glory of God, but that, fortified as it were by the very voice of the blessed Peter, who lives and will live in his successors, and raised up as it were, in new vigor, you may be strengthened to labor for the salvation of the flocks w T hich are confided to you, and to sustain the inte- rests of the Church with courage and firm- ness in the face of all difficulties. Nor, indeed, is it to be doubted whose 124 intercession we should especially invoke with the Heavenly Father of lights, in order that His grace may aid Us to speak to you profit- ably, since you have been assembled around Us to join your co-operation to the cares and the zeal that We used to extend the glory of the august Mother of God ; We have, there- fore, earnestly supplicated the Most Holy Virgin, her whom the Church calls the Seat of Wisdom, to be pleased to obtain for Us a ray of the Divine wisdom which might en- lighten Us in order to say to you that which might the better contribute to the preserva- tion and the prosperity of the Church of God. lSow, in beholding from the height of this See, which is, as it were, the citadel of reli- gion, the fatal errors which, in these difficult times, disseminate themselves in the Catholic world, it has seemed to Us, above all, fitting to point them out to you, Venerable Brethren, that you may employ all your strength to 125 combat them ; you who are constituted the guardians and the sentinels of the House of Israel. We have still to lament the existence of an impious race of unbelievers who would exterminate all religious worship, if that were possible for them ; and we must count amongst them, before all, the members of secret societies, who, bound together by a criminal compact, neglect no means of over- throwing and destroying the Church and the State by the violation of every law. It is against them, assuredly, that the words of the Divine Eedeemer are directed : — " Tou are children of the Devil, and you do the works of your father." If We except these, it must be admitted that men now-a-days generally abhor the wickedness of unbelievers, and that there is a certain disposition of mind shown towards religion and faith. Whether the cause of 11* 126 this may be attributed to the enormity of the crimes which the infidels committed in the last century, and which people cannot recall without trembling, or the fear of the troubles and revolutions which so unhappily disturb states, and carry misery to nations, or, rather, to the action of that divine Spirit which breathes where it will, it is evident that the number of the abandoned who vaunt and glory in their unbelief is now diminished ; people do not refuse the praise due to up- rightness of life and morals, and a feeling of admiration is raised in the souls of men for the Catholic religion, the splendor of which yet shines in all eyes like the light of the sun. That is no small good, Venerable Brethren, and is as it were a sort of progress towards the truth ; but there are still many obstacles which turn men aside from cleaving wholly to it, or which, at least, retard them. 127 Amongst those who have to direct public af- fairs, there are many who pretend to favor and profess religion, who lavish their eulogiums upon it, who proclaim it useful, and perfectly appropriate to human society; nevertheless they wish to restrain its discipline, to govern its sacred ministers, to meddle in the ad- ministration of holy things ; in a word, they endeavor to confine the Church within the limits of the State, to have the mastery of her, who is, however, independent, and who, according to the order of her Divine Founder, cannot be contained within the limits of any empire, for she is obliged to extend herself even to the extremities of the earth, and em- brace in her bosom all peoples and all na- tions, to show them the way of eternal happiness. And, alas ! whilst we speak to you, Vene- rable Brethren, a law has just been proposed in the Sardinian States, which destroys the 128 religious and Ecclesiastical institutions, which completely tramples under foot the rights of the Church, and, as far as possible, abolishes them. But We will have to recur another time to this important affair. Heaven grant that those who are opposed to the liberty of the Catholic religion, may recognise at last how much she contributes to the public weal in exacting from every citizen the observance of the duties that she makes known to them, according to the heavenly doctrine that she has received ! Heaven grant that they may come to persuade themselves of that which St. Felix, Our Predecessor, wrote in former days to the Emperor Zeno, that " nothing is more useful to princes than to leave the Church the free action of her laws ; for it is salutary to them when the question is of the things of God, to study to submit the royal will to the Priests of Christ, instead of seeking to bend them to theirs/' 129 There are also, Venerable Brethren, men distinguished for their learning, who avow that religion is the greatest of the benefits that God has granted to men, but who have nevertheless so great an idea of human rea- son, who exalt it so much, that they have the madness of equalling it to religion her- self. According to the vain opinion of these men, the theological sciences should be treated in the same manner as the philosophical sci- ences. They forget that the former science is based upon the dogmas of faith, than which nothing can be more fixed and certain, while the latter is illustrated and explained only by human reason, than which nothing can be more uncertain, for it changes according to the diversity of minds, and it is subject to numberless errors and illusions. Therefore, the authority of the Church once rejected, the field is widely opened to the most difficult and abstract questions, and i 130 human reason, too confident in the infirmity of its strength, falls into the most shameful errors, which We have neither time nor wish to recall here ; you know them too well, and you have seen how fatal they have been to the interests of religion and of society. Wherefore it is necessary to show to those men who exalt beyond measure the strength of human reason that they put themselves in direct opposition to these true words of the Doctor of the Gentiles : — "If any one believes himself to be something, whereas he is no- thing, he deceives himself." It is necessary to make them see all the arrogance there is in scrutinizing the mysteries that God in His infinite goodness has deigned to reveal to us, and in pretending to penetrate and compre- hend them by the human mind, so feeble and so broken, the strength of which they greatly overestimate, and which we should, accord- 131 ing to the word of the same Apostle, hold captive in the obedience of the Faith. These partisans, or rather worshippers of human reason, who take it, as it were, for an infallible mistress — who promise themselves to find under its auspices all kinds of happi- ness — have, no doubt, forgotten what grave and terrible injury human nature received from the fault of our first parents — an injury which has darkened its intellect, and inclined its will to evil. Owing to this cause, the most celebrated philosophers of antiquity, all of them writing admirably on many subjects, have contaminated their teaching with the gravest errors: and hence that continual combat, which We experience ourselves, and which makes the Apostle say : " I see another law in my members, fighting against the law of my mind.' 7 It is then unquestionable that, by the ori- ginal sin propagated in all the children of 132 Adam, the light of reason has decreased, and mankind is miserably fallen from the former state of justice and innocence. This being so, who can believe reason sufficient to attain the truth ? In the midst of so many perils, and in such great diminution of our strength, who can deny that he needs the aid of reli- gion and Divine grace to preserve him from stumbling and falling in the way of salva- tion? This assistance God, in His goodness, gives abundantly to those who ask it by humble prayers; for it is written: "God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble." Wherefore, turning towards His Father, Christ our Lord affirmed that the sublime mysteries of the truth are not discovered to the prudent and the wise of this world, who pride themselves upon their genius and their learning, and who refuse to render obedience to the Faith ; but that they are revealed to 133 humble and simple men who place their help and their repose in the oracles of the divine faith. It is necessary that you inculcate this salutary teaching in the souls of those who exaggerate the strength of human reason to the extent of presuming, by it, to scrutinize and explain even mysteries, an undertaking the folly of which nothing can surpass. Do you endeavor to withdraw them from such great perversity of mind, by making them understand that the authority of the divine faith is the most beautiful gift made by the Providence of God to men ; that it is like the torch in the darkness, and the guide which conducts to life ; that it is, in fine, absolutely necessary for salvation, for, "without faith it is impossible to please God, and he who will not believe will be condemned." We have learned with grief that another error, not less melancholy, is introduced into certain parts of the Catholic world, and has 12 1U taken possession of the souls of many Catho- lics. Carried away with a hope for the eter- nal salvation of those who are out of the true Church of Christ, they do not cease to in- quire with solicitude what shall be the fate and the condition after death of men who are not submissive to the Catholic faith. Se- duced by vain reasonings they make to these questions replies conformably to that per- verse doctrine. Far from Us, Venerable Brethren, to lay claim to put limits to the Divine mercy, which is infinite! Far from Us to scrutinize the counsels and mvsterious judgments of God, unfathomable depth where human thought cannot penetrate ! But it belongs to the duty of Our Aposto- lic office to excite your Episcopal solicitude and vigilance to make all possible efforts to remove from the minds of men the oxDinion, as impious as it is fatal, according to which people can find in any religion the way of eternal salvation. Employ all the resources of your minds and of your learning to demon- strate to the people committed to your care that the dogmas of the Catholic faith are in no respect contrary to the Divine mercy and justice. Faith orders Us to hold that out of the Apostolic Roman Church no person can be saved, that it is the only ark of salvation, and that whoever will not enter therein shall perish in the waters of the deluge. On the other hand it is necessary to hold for certain that ignorance of the true religion, if that ignorance be invincible, is not a fault in the eyes of God. But who will presume to arrogate to himself the right to mark the limits of such an ignorance, holding in ac- count the various conditions of peoples, of countries, of minds, and of the infinite multi- plicity of human things ? When delivered from the bonds of the body, we shall see God as He is, we will comprehend perfectly by 136 what admirable and indissoluble bond the divine mercy and the divine justice are united; but as long as we are upon the earth, bent under the weight of this mortal mass which overloads the soul, let us hold firmly that which the Catholic doctrine teaches us, that there is only one God, one Faith, one Baptism; to seek to penetrate further is not permitted. However, as charity demands, let us pour out before God incessant prayers, in order that, from all parts, all the nations may be converted to Christ; let us labor, as much as it is in us, for the common salvation of men. The arms of the Lord are not short- ened, and the gifts of the heavenly grace are never wanting to those who sincerely wish for them, and who beg for the assistance of that light. These truths should be deeply engraved on the minds of the Faithful, that they may not suffer themselves to be cor- 137 rupted by false doctrines, the object of which is to propagate indifference in matters of religion, an indifference that we see growing up, and spreading itself on all sides, to the loss of souls. Do you, Venerable Brethren, oppose with force and constancy the principal errors by w T hich the Church is attacked in our days, and which We have just explained ; in order to combat and destroy them, it is necessary to have Ecclesiastics who will aid you in this labor. Our joy is great to see the Catholic Clergy neglect nothing, shrink from no fa- tigue to accomplish its duties superabun- dantly. Neither length of voyages, nor their dangers, nor fear of the inconveniences which are inseparable from them, can hinder them from traversing continents and seas to pro- ceed to the most distant regions in order to procure for the barbarous nations which 12* 138 inhabit them the benefits of humanity and the Christian law. It is also a happiness for Us that the Clergy, in the frightful calamity which has ravaged so many places and so many great cities, have fulfilled all the duties of charity with such devotedness, and to the extent of making it an honor and a glory for one to give his life for the salvation of his neighbor. This fact will make it more and more mani- fest that in the Catholic Church, the only true one, is always found that beautiful fire of Charity which Christ came to bring down upon the earth to burn there without end. We have seen Religious women vieing in charity with the Clergy beside the sick, without any fear of death, which a great many amongst them have suffered heroic- ally. At the sight of so much courage, even those who are separated from the Catholic 139 faith have been seized with astonishment, and have not been able to refuse the tribute of their admiration. We have, then, good reason to rejoice, Venerable Brethren ; but, on the other hand, Our Soul is penetrated with sorrow when We reflect that, in certain places, We find members of the Clergy who do not conduct themselves in all things as the Ministers of Christ and the dispensers of the mysteries of God. The result of this is, that the bread of the Divine Word is wanting in those places for the Christian people, who do not receive the nourishment necessary to the true life, and who have lost the use of the Sacraments, the sources of such great effi- cacy to obtain or to preserve the grace of God. These Priests should be admonished, Vene- rable Brethren, and ardently excited to fulfil 140 with care, regularly, and faithfully, the du- ties of the Sacred Ministry. It is necessary to represent to them all the gravity of the fault of which they are guilty, who, in this time in which the harvest is so abundant, refuse to labor in the field of the Lord. We ought to exhort them to explain frequently to the Faithful what is the efficacy of the Divine Host to appease God and to turn away the chastisements which the crimes of men deserve; to remind them how im- portant it consequently is to assist at the Sacrifice of the Mass religiously, and in a manner to receive abundantly the salutary fruits that it produces. Assuredly the Faith- ful will be in certain places more eager for acts of piety, if they shall receive from the Clergy a more active direction and greater assistance. By this you see, Venerable Brethren, how 141 much we stand in need of seminaries go- verned by Bishops exclusively, and not by the civil power, in order to have worthy Ministers of Christ. Tou must have great care to form in piety and sound doctrine the young men, the hope of religion, assembled in these establishments, in order that they may thus be provided with a two-edged sword with which they may one day, as good soldiers, fight the battles of the Lord. Whether in the theological sciences, or even for the philosophical sciences, do not put into their hands any but the authors of approved faith, that they may not find themselves in any manner imbued with opinions little compatible with Catholic doctrine. Thus, Venerable Brethren, you will be able to provide for the weal and the in- crease of the Church. But, in order that 142 our efforts may have happy results, we must cultivate concord and union of hearts. Ba- nish dissensions, then ; they break the bonds of charity, and the perfidious enemy of our race does not fail to foment them, knowing well of what assistance they are to him to enable him to do evil. Let us call to mind the defenders of the Faith in former times ; they triumphed over the most obsti- nate heresies because they descended into the arena full of courage and of confidence, united, as they were, among themselves and with the Apostolic See as soldiers with their chief. Such are, Venerable Brethren, the things on which We desire to speak to you in Our care and Our solicitude to fulfil the Apos- tolic Ministry which the divine clemency and goodness have imposed upon Our weak- ness. But We feel elevated and full of 143 courage by the hope of heavenly succors; and the ardent zeal, of which you have given so many proofs, for religion and piety, is a support on which We count with con- fidence in difficulties so great and so nume- rous. God will protect His Church; He will incline favorably to our common wishes, more especially if We obtain the interces- sion and the prayers of the Most Holy Virgin, Mother of God, Mary, whom We have, with the assistance of the Holy Ghost, and to Our great joy, proclaimed exempt from the stain of original sin, in your presence and in the midst of your applause. Certainly it is a glorious privilege and one fully suited to the Mother of God, to be kept safe and secure in the universal disaster of our race. The greatness of this privilege will serve powerfully to refute those who 144 pretend that human nature has not been tainted in consequence of the first fault, and who exaggerate the force of reason to deny or diminish the benefit of revealed re- ligion. May at length the Blessed Virgin, who has vanquished and destroyed all here- sies, also efface and entirely overthrow this pernicious error of rationalism, which, in our unfortunate epoch, disturbs not only civil society, but which also afflicts the Church. Now, it remains for Us, Venerable Breth- ren, to express to you with what consolation we have seen you come with eagerness and in a great joy from far distant countries to this Apostolic See, the bulwark of the Faith, the rule of the truth, the support of Catholic unity, and to wish you, with a great zeal of love, before you return to your sees, all things happy and salutary. 145 May God, the Arbiter of all things, and Author of all good, give you the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, that you may preserve your sheep from the snares set on every side for their ruin; and may that good and propitious God confirm with His all-powerful hand what you have already undertaken, or may hereafter undertake, for the advantage of your churches; may He give to the Faithful confided to your care, such a spirit that they may never seek to remove themselves from the side of the Pastor, but that they may listen to His voice, and hasten wherever he calls. May the Most Holy Virgin, Immaculate in her Conception, assist you; may she aid you with faithful counsel in your doubts, sustain you in your anguish, and succor you in your adversities. Lastly, raising Our hands to Heaven, We bless you, with your K 13 146 flocks, from the bottom of Our heart. May this Apostolical Benediction bestowed upon you be, then, as a certain testimony of Our charity in your regard; may it be as a certain presage of the eternal and blessed life that "We wish to you all, and to your flocks ; and which we beg of the Sovereign Pastor of souls, Christ Jesus, to whom, as well as to the Father and the Holy Ghost, be honor, praise, and thanksgiving for all eternity. CARDINALES S. E. R. Patriarchae Archiepiscojpi et Episcopi in Basilica Vaticana ad- stantes Pio IX. Pont. Max. Dogmaticam Definitionem de Conceptione Immaculata Deiparae Virginis Mariae Pronuncianti inter Missarum Solemnia Die VIII. Decembris An. MDCCCLIV. EMI ET EMI DD. CARDINALES. ORDO EPISCOPORUM. Vincentius Macchi Decanus S. Collegii Episc. Ostien et Yeliternen. Marius Mattei Episc. Portuen. et S. Rufinae. Constantinus Patrizi Episc. Albanen. Aloisius Amat Episc. Praenest. Gabriel Ferretti Episc. Sabinen. Antonius Maria Cagiano de Azevedo Episc. Tusculanus. 147 148 OBDO PEESBYTEBOftCJM. Jacobus Pbilippus Fransoni Tit. S. Mariae in Aracoeli. Benedictus Barberini Tit. S. Mariae Transtiberim. Hugo Petrus Spinola Tit. Ss. Silvestri et Martini ad Montes. Adrianus Fieschi Tit. S. Mariae de Victoria. Anibrosius Bianchi Tit. Ss. Andreae et Gregorii in Monte Caelio. Gabriel Delia Genga Serniattei Tit. S. Hieronynii Illyricorum. Clarissmus Falconieri Mellini Tit. S. Marcelli Arcbiepisc. Bavennaten. Antonius Tosti Tit. S. Petri in Janiculo. Pbilippus De Angelis Tit. S. Bernardi ad Thermas Archiepisc. Firmanus. Engelbertus Sterckx Tit. S. Bartbolomaei in Insula Arcbiep. Mecblinien. Gaspar Bernardus Pianetti Tit. S. Xysti Episc. Viterbien. Aloisius Vannicelli Casoni Tit. S. Praxedis Arcbiepisc. Ferrarien. Ludovicus Altieri Tit. S. Mariae in Porticu. Ludovicus-Jacobus Mauritius De Bonald Tit. SS. Trinitat. in Monte Pincio Arcbiepisc. Lugdunen. Fridericus Josepb Scbwarzenberg Tit. S. Augustini Arcbiep. Pragen. Cosimus Corsi Tit. Ss. Joannis et Pauli Arcbiepisc. Pisanus. Fabius Maria Asquini Tit. S. Stepbani in Monte Caelio. 149 Nicolaus Clarelli Paracciani Tit. S. Petri ad Vincula. Dominicus Caraffa de Traetto Tit. S. Mariae Angelorum Archi- episc. Beneventan. Jacobus Piccolomini Tit. S. Marci. Gulielmus Henricus de Carvalho Patriarcha Lisbonen. Xystus Kiario Sforza Tit. S. Sabinae Archiepisc. Neapolitan. Cajetanus Baluffi Tit. Ss. Petri et Marcellini Episc. Imolen. Joannes-Joseph Bonnel-y-Orbe Archiepisc. Toletan. Jacobus Maria-Adrianus-Caesarius Mathieu Tit. S. Silvestri in Capite Archiepisc. Bisuntin. Thomas Gousset Tit. S. Callisti Archiepisc. Rhemen. Nicolaus "Wiseman Tit. S. Pudentianae Archiepisc. "Westmonas- terien. Joseph Cosenza Tit. S. Mariae in Transpontina Archiepisc. Capuan. Joseph Pecci Tit. S. Balbinae Episc. Eugubin. Dominicus Lucciardi Tit. S. Clementis Episc. Senogallien. Hieronymus D' Andrea Tit S. Agnetis extra muros. Carolus Aloisius Morichini Tit. S. Onuphrii Episc. Aesinus. Joannes Brunelli Tit. S. Caeciliae Transtiberim. Joannes Scitowski Tit. SSmae Crucis in Hierusalem Archiepisc. Strigonien. Justus Recanati Tit. SS. XII. Apostolorum. Joachim Pecci Tit. S. Chrysogoni Episc. Perusin. 13* 150 OBDO DIACONORUM. Thomas Eiario Sforza S. Mariae in Via-lata. Ludovicus Gazzoli S. Eustachii. Joseph Ugolini S. Adriani ad Forum Romanum. Joannes Serafini S. Mariae in Cosmedin. Petrus Marini S. Nicolai in Carcere. Joseph Bofondi S. Caesarei. Jacobus Antonelli S. Agathae ad Suburram. Robertus Roberti S. Mariae in Doninica. Dominicus Savelli S. Mariae in Aquiro. Prosper Caterini S. Marie de Scala. Vincentius Santucci S. Mariae ad Martyres. 151 COGNOMEN ET NOMEN". TITULUS. PROMOTIO. ARCHIEPISCOPI. Cardelli Aloisius Ma- Achriden. 26 Dec. 1818. ria. Minucci Ferdinandus. Florentin. 28 Jan. 1828. Fransoni Aloisius. Taurinen. 24 Feb. 1832. Yespignani Joseph Maria. Jam. Tianen. nunc Ep. Urbevetanus. 23 Jun. 1834. Machale Joannes. Tuamen. 8 Aug. 1834. Missir Stephanus. Irenopolitan. 12 Mar. 1837. Martini Ludovicus a S. Theresia. Cyrranen. 1 Jun. 1839. Pichi Franciscus. Eliopolitan. 17 Dec. 1840. Polding Joannes. Sydneyen. 15 Feb. 1842. Marongiu Emmanuel. Calaritan. 23 Ma. 1842. Cometti Franciscus. Nicomedien. 22 Jan. 1844. Antonucci Ant. Mar. Benedict. Jam. Tarsen. nunc Epis. Anconitan. 25 Jul. 1844. >. 1 152 COGNOMEN ET NOMEK TITULUS. PROMOTIO. Gentilini Franciscus. Tianen. 20 Jan. 1845. Przytuski Leo. Gnesnen. et Posna- nien. 20 Jan. 1845. Manzo Michael. Teatin. 21 Apr. 1845. Macioti Alexander. Colossien. 22 Sep. 1845. Asinari Alexander a Sanmarzano. Ephesin. 19 Jan. 1848. Ano;eloni Alexander. Urbinaten. 16 Apr. 1846. Reisach Carolus. Monacen. 2 Oct. 1846. Ronrilli Bartholomaeus. Mediolanen. 14 Jan. 1847. Salvini Felicissimus. Camerinen. 12 Apr. 1847. Darcimales Petrus Ma- ria Joseph. Aquen. 12 Apr. 1847. Hurmuz Edoardus. Siracen. 13 Sep. 1847. Charvaz Andreas. Januen. 3 Jul. 1848. 1 1 Sibour Maria Pomini- cus Augustus. Parisien. 11 Sep. 1848. s .„ 1 153 COGNOMEN ET NOSIEN. TITULUS. PROMOTIO. Debelay Joseph Maria Mathias. Avenionen. 11 Dec. 1848. Arrigoni Julius. Lucan. 5 Nov. 1849. Cullea Paulus. Dublinen. 8 Jan. 1850. Hughes Joannes. Neo-Eboracen. 19 Jul. 1850. Blanc Antonius. Neo-Aurelien. 19 Jul. 1850. Ligi-Bussi Antonius. Iconien. 17 Feb. 1851. Scerra Stephanus. Anciren. 10 Apr. 1851. Kenrick Franciscus. Baltimoren. 29 Aug. 1851. Garcia Michael. Compostellan. 5 Sep. 1851. Bedini Cajetanus. Theban. 15 Mar. 1852. Walsh Gulielmus. Halifaxien. 4 Ma, 1852. Dixon Joseph. Armacan. 4 Oct. 1852. Cuculla Franciscus. Naxien. 14 Jan. 1853. 154 COGNOMEN ET NOMEN. TITULUS. PROMOTIO. Zuiysen Joannes. Utrajecten. 4 Mar. 1853. Arnaldi Joannes Bap- tista. Spoletan. 7 Mar. 1853. Rauscher Joseph Ot- marus. Vindobonen. 27 Jun. 1853. Taglialatela Vine en tiu s . Sypontin. 23 Jun. 1854. EPISCOPI. Laudisio Nicolaus Ma- ria. Policastren. 4 Jun. 1819. Folicaldi Joannes Be- nedicts. Faventin. 2 Jul. 1832. Barzellotti Franciscus. Soanen. et Pitilianen. 2 Jul. 1832. Mazenod Eugenius. Massilien. 14 Oct. 1832. Briggs Joannes. Beverlacen. 22 Jan. 1833. Bouvier Joannes Bap- tista. Coenomanen. 20 Jan. 1834. Basetti Petrus Chry- sologus. Fidentin. 19 Nov. 1834. Aretini Sillani Guliel- mus. Jam Terracinen. 6 Apr. 1835. 155 COGNOMEN ET NOMEN. TITULUS. PROMOTIO. Labis Gaspar Joseph. Tornacen. 6 Apr. 1835. Dechessel Nicolaus Jo- seph. Namureen. 1 Feb. 1836. Bourget Ignatius. Marianopolitan. 10 Mar. 1837. Bruni Franciscus. Ugentin. 19 Mar. 1837. Benaglia Cajetanus. Lauden. 2 Oct. 1837. Castellani Joseph Ma- ria. Porfirien. 8 Jul. 1839. Raffaeli Petrus. Regien. 23 Dec. 1839. Besi Ludovicus. Canopen. 10 Jun. 1840. Yereing Guilielmus. Northantonen. 11 Mar. 1840. Brown Joseph. Neuporten. 11 Jul. 1840. Chatrousse Petrus Ma- ria. Yalentinen. 13 Jul. 1840. Stahl Georgius Anto- nius. Erbipolen. 13 Jul. 1840. Gigli Carolus. Tiburtin. 14 Dec. 1840. 156 COGNOMEN ET NOMEN. TITULTTS. PROMOTIO. Foretti Jacobus. Clodien. 24 Jan. 1841. Yibert Franciscus Ma- Maurianen. 1 Mar. 1841. ria. De Yeeias Joannis Amatus. Agennen. 21 Jul. 1842. Galligari Joseph Ma- ria. Narnien. 22 Jul. 1842. Cajani Bonifacius. Callien. et Pergulen. 22 Jul. 1842. Girardi Ferdinandus. Suessan. 22 Jul. 1842. Aronne Eleonorus. Montis Alti. 22 Jul. 1842. Eendu Aloisius. Annecien. 27 Jan. 1843. Tizzani Yincentius. Jam Interamnen. 3 Apr. 1843. Mac-Nally Carolus. Clocherien. 21 Jul. 1843. Connor Michael. Pittsburgen. 11 Aug. 1843. Landi-Vittori Aloisius. Asisien. 22 Jan. 1844. Doney Joannes. Montis Alban. 22 Jan. 1844. 157 COGNOMEN ET NOMEN. TITULUS. PROMOTIO. Rosani Joannes Bap- tista. Eritren. 22 Jan. 1844. De Preux Petrus Jo- seph. Sedunen. 25 Jan. 1844. Atanasio Bonaventura. Liparen. 22 Jul. 1844. Tirabassi Bernardus Maria. Ferentin. 20 Jan. 1845. Carle tti Cajetanus. Reatin. 21 Apr. 1845. Luquet Joannes One- Esebonen. 20 Aug. 1845. simus. Bagdanovick Urbanus. Europien. 30 Sep. 1845. Pellej Joannes Bap- tista. Aquipendien. 24 Nov. 1845. Marilley Stephanus. Lausanen. et Greneven. 19 Jan. 1846. Truccbi Petrus Paulus. Anagnin. 21 Sep. 1846. Cantimorri Felix. Parmen. 21 Dec. 1846. De Morlbon Joseph, Augustus Victorinus. Anicien. 12 Apr. 1847. Timon Joannes. Buffalen. 23 Apr. 1847. u 158 * COGNOMEN ET NOMEN. TITULUS. PROMOTIO. Novella Joseph. Pataren. 22 Ma. 1847. Yrancken Petrus Ma- ria. Colophien. 4 Jun. 1847. Bicci Aloisius. Signin. 14 Jun. 1847. Serra Joseph Maria Benedictus. Daulien. 25 Jun. 1847. Deny Joannes. Connerten. 9 Jul. 1847. Bisleti Camillus. Cornetan. et Centum- cellae. 4 Oct. 1847. Zangari Amadeus. Maceraten. 14 Apr. 1848. Agostini Franciscus. Nucerin. 14 Apr. 1848. Gandolfi Franciscus. Antipatren. 14 Apr. 1848. Malou Joannes Bap- tista. Bmgen. 11 Dec. 1848. . De Salinis Ludovicus Antonius. Ambianen. 2 Apr. 1849. Acciardi Joannes Ma- Anglonen. et Tursien. 20 Apr. 1849. ria. Singlau Joseph. Burgi S. Sepulcri. 20 Apr. 1849. 159 COGNOMEN ET NOMEK TITULUS. PROMOTIO. Murphy Timotheus. Cloynen. 3 Aug. 1849. Dupanloup Ant. Felix Philibertus. Aurelian. 28 Sep. 1849. Bertolozzi Paulus. Ilcinen. 7 Jan. 1850. Van-Genk Joannes. Adranen. 22 Mar. 1850. Bachetoni Raphael. • Nursin. 20 Ma. 1850. Ketteler Gulielmus. Maguntin 20 Ma. 1850 Yerzeri Hieronymus. Brixien. 30 Sep. 1850 Desprez Julianus Flo-' rianus. S. Dionysii. 3 Oct. 1850. Yalentini Salvator. Amerin. 17 Feb. 1851. Bocci Raphael. Alatrin. 17 Feb. 1851 Ferringno Raphael. Boven. 17 Feb. 1851. Pallu du Pare Ludovi- cus Teophilus. Blesen. 17 Feb. 1851. Grant Thomas. Suttwarcen. 27 Jun. 1851. .. 160 ■-T COGNOMEN ET NOMBN. TITULES. PROMOTIO. Mengacci Mathias Augustinus. Civit. Castellan. Hor- tan. et Gallesin. 5 Sep. 1851. Brinciotti Cajetanus. Balneoregien. 5 Sep. 1851. Newman Joannes. Philadelphien. 13 Feb. 1852. Lydnnet Joan. Bapt. Paulas Maria. S. Flori. 15 Mar. 1852. Regnault Eugenius. Carnuten. 15 Mar. 1852. Caputo Michael. Oppiden 27 Sep. 1852. De La Puenta Ferdi- nandus. Salarnantin. 27 Sep. 1852. Cardoni Joseph. Caristen. 27 Sep. 1852. Yitali Gesualdus. Agathopol. 27 Sep. 1852. Falcinelli Marianus. Forolivien. 7 Mar. 1853. Filippi Aloisius. Aquilan. 7 Mar. 1853. Ginoulhac Jacobus Maria Gratianopolitan. 7 Mar. 1853. Tirmarche Yitalis Ho- noratus. )f Adrassen. 3 Jun. 1853. 161 COGNOMEN ET NOMEN. TITULUS. PROMOTIO. Roskel Bicliardus. Nottinghamen. 29 Jul. 1853. Goss Alexander. Gerren. 29 Jul. 1853. Foschini Emygdius. Civit. Pleb. 12 Sep. 1853. Forster Henricus. Wratislavien. 12 Sep. 1853. Bedini Nicolaus. Terracinen.Privernen. et Setin 19 Dec. 1853. D'Apuzzo Franciscus Xaverius. Anastasiopolitan. 12 Jan. 1854. Riccabona Benedictus. Veronen. 7 Apr. 1854. Jona Aloisius. Montis-Falisci. 23 Jun. 1854. Zannini Aloisius. Verulan. 30 Nov. 1854. Adinolfi Michael. Nuscan. 30 Nov. 1854. Alli-Maccarani Fran- ciscus Maria. S. Miniati. 30 Nov. 1854. Barbacci Felicianus. Cortonen. 30 Nov. 1854. L 162 COGNOMEN ET NOMEN. TITULUS. PROMOTIO. ELECTI. Biazarri Joseph An- dreas. Archiep. Philippen. 30 Nov. 1854. Bufarini Fidelis. Episc. Bipan. 30 Nov. 1854. Villanova - Castellacci Petrus. Episc. Lystren. 30 Nov. 1854. fc*° ni&SX. 0F CONGRESS 022 168 "975*