PART ONE SECTION ONE
PONTIFICAL DOCUMENTS
Translation and notes by
RENATO GASTALDI
and
COSTANZO CARGNONI
I FRATI CAPPUCCINI. Documenti e Testimonianze del Primo Secolo. A cura di COSTANZO CARGNONI. Roma 1982, 94-97.
6. BULL “PASTORALIS OFFICII CURA” OF PIUS IV
Rome, 2 April 1560. – The bull of Paul III is republished and confirmed (cf. doc. 4), and the prohibition is added to the so-called “Hermits of St. Francis” of the Sicilian Girolamo Lanza from wearing the Capuchin habit, or a similar one, under pain of excommunication «latae sententiae». The derogatory clauses and the executive mandate follow.
Source: AGO, QA 225, n. 278, original and two transpositions dated 28 June 1560. Cf. AC I, 567-574; AM XIX, 615-620 (525-530); BC I, 25-28.
41 Bishop Pius, servant of the servants of God, in everlasting remembrance.
1. The responsibility of the pastoral office entrusted to us from on high, in spite of the inadequacy of our merits, moves us and leads us to carry out our mission with great care, for the benefit of every pious institute and of the people who work in them, in order to guide them happily, to keep them alive successfully, to protect them under our vigilance, and to make those whose vitality we are aware of share in the help of the apostolic protection.
42 2. Thus, as soon as it was made known to our predecessor Paul III, of happy memory, by the then vicar and the friars of the Order of Friars Minor, known as Capuchins, what had also been made known to Clement VII, also our predecessor, by some friars of the Order of Friars Minor, who wished to lead an eremitical life for the salvation of their souls and the glory of God, observing the Rule of St Francis as far as human frailty permitted, and to the Provincial Master of the Order, we, the undersigned; and the Provincial Master of the Order of Friars Minor, known as the Conventuals, of the March of Ancona, had granted them access to the Roman Curia, and to ask and implore from our Predecessor Clement VII himself and from the Apostolic See any concession for the salvation of their souls and the glory of God; further, the Cardinal-Priest Andrea of happy memory, of titular of Saint Prisca in his lifetime, and protector of the said Order, had consented to their making such a petition, on condition, however that they should be obliged to present every year, in the name of all, one of their community, as a sign of submission, to the Master Provincial or to the Chapter of the Province of the said Conventual Friars in which they lived, and that the said Master, if he saw fit, could visit them once a year, and no more, to admonish them if he found them not observing the Rule, and to compel them in the proper way to observe it more perfectly.
He could not, however, transfer them from one place to another, or impose or demand anything else, but rather endeavoured to protect them and defend them, so that they might serve the Most High in peace, as is said to be more fully contained in the patent letters of the cardinal protector and the provincial master mentioned above.
43 The same Clement VII therefore, our predecessor, considering both the above-mentioned letters and their contents to be in conformity with what was expressed, and accepting favourably the entreaties of these brothers, granted them[1] to lead an eremitical life according to the above-mentioned Rule, to wear a habit with a square hood, to admit into their community anyone, both clerics and secular priests and laymen, to wear beards both their own and those who would be admitted, to retire to hermitages or other places, with the consent of the relative lords, to live in them and lead an austere and eremitical life, to beg in any place and to use, possess and enjoy aeque principaliter, freely and lawfully, all and every privilege, indult and grace granted up to that time, or granted in the future, both in general and in species, to the aforesaid Order of Friars Minor, to the hermitage of the Camaldolese of blessed Romualdo and to the hermits of it; by means of his letters, either with a lead seal or in the form of a “brief”, he granted the faculty, as is said very explicitly in them.
And it is repeated in the exposition presented to Paul III our predecessor, that by virtue of the aforesaid letters some secular clerics, regulars and laymen, received by the same named friars, or by one of them on the commission of the others, had constituted the congregation of the friars of the Order of Friars Minor called Capuchins, and these friars desired that the aforesaid letters, about what was listed therein, should be confirmed and made lasting; they had therefore made humble supplication to Paul III, that he might deign to accede, by apostolic benignity, to such desires of theirs.
44 Our predecessor, considering the precious fruits that the said Order of Friars Minor had produced in the Church militant up to that time, and those that he, with firm conviction, hoped it would continue to produce in the future, considered it worthy to bestow benevolent favours on the development of the said Order.
Inclined therefore to these petitions, he approved and confirmed,[2] by apostolic authority and certain knowledge, the aforementioned letters of Clement, our predecessor, the contents of which he wished to consider as expressed anew, and he decreed that the same, and their contents, as a whole and in their individual parts, should support the vicar general, of that time and of all times, of the Capuchin congregation and the brothers of the same, as if they were addressed directly to the same congregation and to the member brothers.
45 With the same authority and knowledge he also established and ordered, by his lead-sealed letters, that from that time onwards the vicar general of the same Capuchin brothers, at the end of the three-year term for which he had been elected, or even before or afterwards, according to the tenor of the aforementioned Rule and the praiseworthy constitutions of the same brothers, could convoke to chapter, in the place chosen by himself, the vicars, discretes and custodes of each province and custody subject to him, who have active voice in the congregation; with the possibility of making up for those prevented from attending the chapter by means of nuncios chosen by those concerned or by substituting for their votes according to custom. And that these friars, assembled in this form, enjoy the faculty of acting, ordering, and disposing of each and every matter that is permitted to the other friars of the Order by law, custom, or privilege; and especially of electing a religious of their own Order and congregation as vicar general and, if the majority of the electors concur, of submitting the election to the master general of the said Conventual friars as soon as possible, as has been done until now, until the Apostolic See should determine otherwise.
46 And the said master general is to confirm the elected vicar within three days of the presentation received by him, granting and entrusting to him in full his own stead, i.e., conferring on him full and free power and every kind of his faculties over all and every friar of the same Order, known as Capuchins, even if they are called by another name, both over superiors and subjects; to visit them publicly or privately; to celebrate, or to see that they are celebrated, assemblies (capitulars) in all the provinces and custodies subject to them, both for the election of vicars, custodians and guardians, and for transacting other useful business; to accept new places, friaries and hermitages; to correct and punish, excommunicate and absolve, imprison and release friars subject to them to repress opponents and rebels by means of ecclesiastical censures and other remedies, both of universal law and of the law proper to the said Order, having recourse, if necessary, to the secular or ecclesiastical arm and, in general and in particular, to carry out, perform and dispose, order, administer and establish all those things pertaining to the friars, friaries, houses, places and hermitages of the said Order, as the Master General of the said Order would do if he personally visited the friars, friaries, houses, places and hermitages of the Conventual friars, or was present or intervened in person at such a visitation and likewise to delegate the same powers, authorities, benefits and faculties, in whole or in part, granted by the master general to the vicar general himself; and to provide that these faculties be in turn delegated and conferred by the commissioners of the aforesaid vicar.
That when three days have elapsed, and confirmation has not been received by the elected, he is to be considered confirmed by authority of the Apostolic See, with full powers, until the election of a successor; and that during this time he may not resign his office without the knowledge of the provincial vicars and discretes or the majority of them; he may, however, convene all the vicars and discretes subject to him, during the time of his mandate, at the place determined by him, whenever it seems opportune.
47 If the death of the vicar general should occur during the period of his office, or if he should be removed from office, the vicar, in whose province the death or removal has occurred, is to give notice of this as soon as possible, to all the definitors of the immediately preceding general chapter, and to all the vicars provincial, and he should determine, with the advice and consent of the two nearest vicars provincial, the place and time, if they had not already been indicated by the general chapter or by the vicar general himself before he died or was removed, summoning all those who were to be summoned, to proceed to the election of a successor vicar. That during the vacancy, the office of such vicar should be exercised, by the authority of the aforesaid Apostolic See, by the first of the mentioned definitors and, when these ceased, by the second, and so, in succession, by the others with the fullness of such power.
And that the same should apply to the provincial vicars, should they die or be removed from office; that the provinces should be governed and governed by the first and, subsequently, by the other definitors of the chapter immediately preceding, as has been said above of the vicar general; subject always and reserved, as stated above, to the aforesaid power of the vicar general.
48 And that both the aforesaid master general, as well as the minister general of the Order of Minors, or any other among the ministers or provincial masters of that Order, whether Conventual or of the “family”, i.e. Observant, did not adhere or presume to procure any harassment or impediment, until the Apostolic See had disposed otherwise, both to the aforesaid Vicar General and to the other vicars, as well as to any friar of the same congregation, known as Capuchins, under penalty of excommunication latae sententiae, of deprivation of office and (of the capacity to perform) all lawful acts; this only excepted, that the aforesaid master general, until such time as the Holy See should be otherwise disposed, could and would personally visit and correct the said vicar general, as well as the friars, the house, the place, the hermitage of these Capuchin friars, fully recalling, with affability and charity, to a greater goodness. And if he found anyone guilty, he could correct, punish, impose penances and corrections, taking into account the gravity of the crime, within these mild limits: with regard to the vicar general, upon the advice and consent of the majority of the aforesaid vicars; with regard, however, to the other brothers, upon the advice and consent of the majority and stablist part of the brothers of the house, hermitage, and place of the friary visited, and within them, not outside them; in addition to this, he was not to interfere in the regime and government of the aforesaid brothers, called Capuchins.
49 Strictly forbidding any person of any condition, under penalty of excommunication latae sententiae to be incurred on the spot, to wear the habit usually worn by such friars, if he were not subject to the obedience and government of the aforesaid vicar general pro tempore.
Paul III, our predecessor, also followed the manner of Pope Pius II of venerable memory, also our predecessor, who in his time had expounded and declared by apostolic authority and certain knowledge, in favour of the Observant family,[3] that when the Apostolic See had decided and decreed, for determinate and holy reasons a general minister of the whole Order of Friars Minor and provincial vicars in place of ministers, these vicars who commanded them and whom they obeyed by virtue of their religious profession were to be their true and authentic ministers, having received them as such from Blessed Francis, the founder of the Order, until such time as the aforesaid See, whose right it is to order according to circumstances, had determined and decreed and they would remain such in perpetuity, differing from the said ministers only in name; and those who obeyed the said vicars, according to the determination of the said See, would fully and perfectly comply with their Rule, and especially with that part in which it is said “I firmly command all the brothers to obey their ministers”. He declared and prescribed, with the aforesaid authority and knowledge, that until such time as the aforesaid See decreed otherwise, the Capuchin brothers, by obeying their aforesaid vicars, would fully and perfectly fulfil the Rule, in the same way as was established (as is stated) by our predecessor Pius II with regard to the vicars of the “families”, according to what is exhaustively stated in the letters of the aforesaid Paul our predecessor.
50 3. On the part of the Capuchin Friars themselves we were addressed the humble request that we deign to approve and confirm, out of apostolic benevolence, the aforesaid letters of Paul III, our predecessor, in all their contents, and to make suitable provision for the above. Therefore we, who willingly meet as much as we can for the progress and happy success of every ecclesiastical person, especially of those who lead an eremitical life, hereby deem the contents of the aforesaid pontifical documents and any other writings which may have been drawn up on the occasion of the aforesaid to be again expressed; we revoke the letters issued in the form of “briefs” by Julius III of happy memory,[4] likewise our predecessor, and any other letter concerning the beloved sons, the Sicilian Girolamo Lanza and his companions, who claimed to be Capuchins and wore a habit similar to the one now described, not without considerable scandal and deformation of the aforesaid Order and congregation; we revoke any other letter, even in the form of a “brief”, which grants to any person, in any part of the world or locality, to dress and wear the said habit, or a similar one, outside the obedience of the superiors of the same congregation, without a licence. Inclined to such pleas, we confirm and approve, by apostolic authority in virtue of the present, these letters of Paul III our predecessor and their contents in every part, so that no one, whatever his condition, under pain of excommunication latae sententiae not only presume to wear their habit, as contained in the above-mentioned letters of Paul III, our predecessor, but not even one so similar that he may be thought to be a friar of the above-mentioned Capuchin congregation, if he does not remain under the obedience of the aforementioned Vicar General pro tempore.
51 4. Therefore by these apostolic writings we command each and every one of our venerable brothers patriarchs, archbishops and bishops, and to their beloved sons abbots, priors and other persons constituted in an ecclesiastical dignity, that they, or two or one of them, personally or through others, where and when it shall be necessary and whenever they may be requested to do so by the aforesaid vicars and Capuchin friars, or any of them, solemnly publish the present letters and their contents, and assist the same, as is premised above, and firmly see to it, by our authority, that the same letters, and their contents, are observed, and that the individuals, to whom they are addressed, may peaceably avail themselves of them.
Let them not, moreover, be harassed, disquieted, or disturbed by anyone against the contents of the same letters. Let them repress opponents of any kind, and rebels, by means of ecclesiastical censures and other opportune remedies of law, without the faculty of appeal; aggravating the censures and punishments on several occasions, and even having recourse to the secular arm if necessary. Neither the apostolic constitution of Boniface VIII, our predecessor, issued in one diet and, in the general council in two diets, but not in three diets; the other apostolic constitutions, privileges of every kind, apostolic indulgences of any tenor and form and with any clause or decree which we do not wish to support in any way whatsoever against what is premised; notwithstanding anything to the contrary; or whether Jerome (Lanza) and his other companions, or others of any condition whatsoever, either jointly or personally, have been granted by the same See (Apostolic) that they may not be interdicted, suspended, excommunicated by apostolic letters, which do not make full and express mention, word for word, of such an indult.
52 5. We further desire that the transcripts of the present letters, signed by the hand of a public notary and bearing the seal of a person of ecclesiastical dignity, be given the same faith, both in court and out of court, as would be given to the present letters if they were exhibited or produced.
6. 6. Moreover, let it not be lawful among men to break this page of our confirmation, approval, concession, and commandment, or to oppose it with reckless daring.
Should anyone dare to attempt this, let him know that he will incur the indignation of Almighty God and the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul.
Given in Rome, at St. Peter’s, in the year of the incarnation of the Lord 1560, on the fifth day of April, the first year of our pontificate.
PIUS EPISCOPUS
SERVUS SERVORUM DEI
Ad perpetuam rei memoriam.
1. Pastoralis offici cura (meritis licet imparibus) nobis ex alto commissa, nos excitat et inducit, ut circa piorum locorum quorumlibet ac personarum, in eis divinis obsequiis vacantium statum, prospere dirigendum et feliciter conservandum, et manutenendum nostrae vigilantiae partes, solertius impendamus, ac is, quae propterea processisse comperimus, ut illibata persistant, apostolici muniminis praesidium impartiamur.
2. Dudum siquidem felicis recordationis Paulo papae III praedecessori nostro,
pro parte tunc vicari et dilectorum filiorum fratrum Ordinis minorum capuccinorum núncupatorum exposito, quod, postquam piae memoriae Clementi papae VII etiam predecessori nostro, pro parte nonnullorum, tunc expressorum fratrum Ordinis minorum expositum fuerat, se desiderare pro animarum salute ac Dei gloria eremiticam vitam ducere et quantum humana patiebatur fragilitas, Regulam beati Francisci observare, et tunc magister provincialis provinciae Marchiae Anconitanae Ordinis minorum conventualium nuncupatorum, ad romanam curiam accedendi et ab ipso Clemente praedecessore, ac Sede Apostolica, quaecumque ad animarum suarum salutem ac Dei gloriam petendi et impetrandi licentiam eis concesserat; ac bonae memoriae Andreas tituli Sanctae Priscae dum viveret, presbyter cardinalis et dicti Ordinis protector, tunc in humanis agens, eis,
ut similem impetrationem facerent: ita tamen quod unum ex eorum consortio, omnium ipsorum nomine, magistro provinciali, seu capitulo provinciae dictorum fratrum conventualium nuncupatorum, in qua habitarent, singulis annis in signum subiectionis praesentare tenerentur; et ipse magister, si sibi videretur, semel in anno, et non ultra, eos visitare, et si ipsos inveniret Regulam praedictam non observare, ad eam plenius observandam eos monere ac debitis modis compellere posset.
Praeter id autem, nec eos de loco ad locum transferre, nec aliquid aliud eis iniungere, aut ab eis exigere valeret, sed potius eos tueri et defendere conaretur, ut in pace possent Altissimo famulari, prout in protectoris et magistri provincialis praedictorum patentibus litteris desuper confectis, plenius dicebatur contineri.
Idem Clemens predecessor litteras praedictas et in eis contenta quaecum-que, pro expressis habens, ipsorum fratrum in ea parte supplicationibus inclinatus, eis, ut secundum Regulam praedictam, vitam eremiticam ducere, et habitum cum caputio quadrato gestare, necnon omnes tam clericos saeculares et presbyteros quam laicos ad eorum consortium recipere, ac tam ipsi, quam alii sic recipiendi, barbam deferre, et ad eremitoria seu loca alia quaecumque cum consensu dominarum eorundem locorum se conferre et in eis habitare, vitamque austeram et eremiticam inibi agere, et in quibuscumque locis mendicare, necnon omnibus et singulis privilegiis, indultis et gratis Ordini fratrum minorum prae-dictorum, ac eremo camaldulensi beati Romualdi illiusque eremitis, in genere vel in specie, eatenus concessis et in posterum concedendis, aeque principaliter uti, potiri et gaudere libere et licite valerent, per suas tam sub plumbo quam in forma «brevis» litteras facultatem concesserat, prout in illis plenius continetur.
Et in eadem expositione, eidem Paulo predecessori facta, subiuncto quod litterarum praedictarum vigore, nonnulli clerici saeculares, regulares et laici, ab ipsis fratribus, ut prefertur, nominatis, vel uno ex eis ac ab alis de ipsorum commissione recepti, congregationem fratrum Ordinis minorum capuccinorum nuncupatorum constituerant, ipsique fratres cupiebant litteras praedictas, quoad infrascripta, confirmari et extendi; et propterea eidem Paulo praedecessori hu-militer supplicari fecerant, ut huismodi eorum votis annuere, de benignitate apo-stolica dignaretur.
Idem predecessor attendens uberes fructus, quos Ordo ipse minorum in agro militantis Ecclesiae eatenus produxerat et in posterum producturum, spe firma sperabat ac dignum censens ut circa ea, quae ipsius Ordinis incrementum concernebant, benignos favores impenderet, huiusmodi supplicationibus inclinatus, litteras Clementis predecessors huiusmodi, quarum tenores haberi vo luit pro expressis, auctoritate apostolica, ex certa sua scientia approbans et confirmans, illas tunc et pro tempore exsistenti vicario generali congregationis capuccinorum huiusmodi ac ipsius congregationis fratribus, perinde ac si illae eisdem congregationi et fratribus directae fuissent, quoad omnia et singula in ipsis litteris contenta suffragari debere decrevit.
Et nihilominus autoritate et scientia similibus, per suas sub plumbo confectas litteras statuit et ordinavit, quod ex tunc deinceps vicarius generalis ipsorum fratrum capuccinorum circa finem trienni, ex quo ad officium vicariatus huiusmodi electus foret, vel etiam prius aut posterius, iuta praefatae Regulae tenorem ac ipsorum fratrum laudabiles constitutiones, vicarios, discretos ac custodes vocem congregationis habentes, quarumlibet provinciarum et custodiarum sibi subiectarum, in loco per ipsum vicarium generalem deputando, ad capitulum convocare posset: quorum si qui legitimo impedimento detenti, ipsi capitulo interesse non possent, per nuntios ab eis deputatos, vel suppletis votis eorum, iuxta ipsorum consuetudinem, presentia suppleretur.
Qui sic congregati omnia et singula, quae alii fratres dicti Ordinis in eorum generali capitulo de iure vel consuetudine et ex privilegis possent, faciendi, ordinandi, disponendi et potissime eligendi unum religiosum eiusdem Ordinis ac congregationis in eorum similem vicarium generalem facultatem haberent, et ip-sius vicari electionem, si a maiori parte eligentium celebraretur, quamprimum commode fieri posset, generali magistro dictorum fratrum conventualium nuncupatorum, sicut eatenus servatum fuerat, donec aliud desuper ordinatum a Sede Apostolica fuisset, presentarent seu praesentari facerent.
Ipseque generalis magister intra triduum a praesentatione sibi facta, ipsum electum vicarium confirmare teneretur, concedendo e et committendo plenarie vices suas, tribuendo videlicet liberam potestaetm et auctoritatem, ac omnimodam facultatem suam super omnes ac singulos fratres eiusmodi Ordinis capucci-nos nuncupatos, etiam si alio quovis nomine nuncuparentur, tam in capitibus quam in membris publice et privatim visitandi, congregationes in provinciis et custodiis omnibus eis subiectis, sive pro electione vicariorum, discretorum, custodum et guardianorum, sive pro alis utilibus negotiis faciendi seu fieri faciendi, nova loca, conventus seu eremitoria recipiendi, fratres subditos corrigendi
et puniendi, excommunicandi et absolvendi, incarcerandi et a carceribus liberandi: contradictores et rebelles per censuras ecclesiasticas et alia iuris et dicti Ordinis remedia, etiam per invocationem brachii saecularis vel ecclesiastici, si opus foret, compescendi; ac generaliter specialiterque omnia et singula circa fratres, conventus, domos, loca et eremitoria huiusmodi faciendi, exercendi et disponendi, ordinandi, administrandi et statuendi, que generalis magister dicti Ordinis circa fratres, conventus, domus, loca et eremitoria fratrum conventualium nuncupatorum facere posset, si personaliter adesset vel interesset. Ac easdem auctoritatem, potestatem, gratias et facultates per ipsum magistrum generalem eidem vicario generali concessas, vel earum partem, alis fratribus, quos
ad haec iudicaret idoneos, committendi et concedendi; necnon per ipsos praedicti vicarii commissarios committi et concedi faciendi.
Et triduo elapso et electo non confirmato, idem electus pro confirmato Sedis Apostolicae autoritate cum plenaria potestate huiusmodi, usque ad successoris electionem haberetur, et intra hoc tempus officio suo sine scitu omnium vicariorum et discretorum provincialium, aut maioris partis eorundem, renuntiare nequiret. Posset tamen convocare omnes vicarios et discretos sibi subiectos infra tempus officii sui in loco per ipsum deputando, quoties sibi opus visum foret.
Si vero generalis vicarius infra offici sui tempus ex hac luce migraret, seu alias ab officio amotus foret, vicarius, in cuius provincia mori vel amover contingeret, nuntiaret, quam citius posset, omnibus definitoribus capituli generalis immediate praecedentis et omnibus vicariis provincialibus, et de consilio atque consensu duorum vicariorum proximorum determinaret locum et tempus, nisi fuissent per generale capitulum vel per praefatum vicarium ante obitum ipsius et amotionem deputata, et convocaret qui forent evocandi pro successoris vicarii electione celebranda. Quo vacationis tempore, auctoritate Sedis praedictae exerceret officium vicariatus huiusmodi primus definitorum praedictorum, vel, ipso deficiente, secundus, et sic de alis successive cum plenaria potestate praemissa.
Et hoc idem censeretur de vicariis provincialibus, cum eos mori vel amoveri contigeret, ac provincias regi et gubernari per primum et alios definitores suc cessive capituli provincialis immediate precedentis, prout supra de vicario generali statutum exsisteret, salva semper et reservata praedicti vicarii generalis, ut praemittitur, potestate.
Generalis vero tam magister praedictus, quam minister Ordinis minorum huiusmodi, aut quisquam ministrorum seu magistrorum provincialium seu aliorum fratrum dicti Ordinis, tam conventualium quam de « familia » sive de Observantia nuncupatorum, donec aliter per Sedem praedictam ordinatum foret, praedicto vicario generali, seu ceteris vicariis, vel cuipiam fratri eiusdem congregationis de capuccinis nuncupatae molestiam seu impedimentum aliquod inferre non auderet, nec praesumeret, sub poena excommunicationis latae sententiae, privationis officii omniumque actuum legitimorum. Nisi quod praefatus magister generalis, donec aliter per ipsam Sedem ordinatum foret, per se dumtaxat personaliter visitare et corrigere posset et valeret praedictum vicarium generalem seu fratres, domum, locum et eremitorium eorumdem fratrum capuccinorum nuncupatorum, pie, benigne et caritative ad meliorem frugem provocando. Et si quemquam reperiret criminosum, ipsum vicarium de consilio et assensu maioris partis vicariorum praemissorum, ceteros vero de consilio et assensu maioris et sanioris partis fratrum domus, eremitorii, loci vel conventus visitatorum, in eodem loco et non extra, corrigere valeret et punire, penitentiare et emendare, secundum quod delicti qualitas exigeret faciendum. De regimine vero et cura praedictorum fratrum capuccinorum nuncupatorum se aliter non intromitteretmi , Districtius inhibens quibuscumque personis, cuiuscumque conditionis exsi-
sterent, sub excommunicationis latae sententiae poena, eo ipso incurrenda, ne habitum per eos deferri solitum, nisi sub praefati vicarii generalis, pro tempore exsistentis, oboedientia et cura permanerent, gestare quoquo modo presumerent.
Insuper idem Paulus praedecessor vestigiis recolendae memoriae Pii Pp. II similiter predecessoris nostri in ea parte inhaerendo, qui alias ex certis causis, auctoritate apostolica, ex certa scientia in favorem familiae de Obser. vantia interpretatus erat et declaraverat quod, cum Apostolica Sedes genera-lem totius Ordinis minorum, ministrum generalem et provinciales vicarios ministrorum loco, certis, piis et sanctis respectibus esse voluisset et decrevisset, vicarii ipsi, qui illis pracessent et quibus ipsi ex debito eorum professionis
oboedirent, veri et indubitati ipsorum ministri, cum tales beatus Franciscus, dicti Ordinis institutor, es esse intendisset, quoadusque praefata Sedes, in cuius arbitrio consistebat, aliud alio respectu ordinare statuisset, essent et perpetuo forent, differentes a praedictis ministris solo nomine, esque, qui dictis vicaris oboedirent, secundum dictae Sedis determinationem, corum Regulae et praecipue in ea parte ubi erat: «Praecipio firmiter fratribus universis, ut oboedirent suis ministris», plene et integre satisfacere, auctoritate et scientia praedictis declaraverat et decreverat quod, donec aliter super praemissis per praefatam Sedem ordinatum foret, fratres capuccini predicti eorum vicaris, prout de vicariis familiae per dictum Pium praedecessorem, ut praefertur, statutum fuerat, obediendo, plene et integre praefatae Regula satisfacerent, prout in litteris dicti Pauli predecessoris praedictis plenius continetur.
3. Pro parte eorumdem fratrum capuccinorum nuncupatorum nobis fuit humiliter supplicatum, ut litteras Pauli predecessoris huiusmodi, et in eis Contenta quaecumque approbare et confirmare, ac alias in praemissis opportu-he providere, de benignitate apostolica dignaremur. Nos igitur, qui personarum ecclesiasticarum quarúmlibet, praesertim vitam eremiticam degentium profectui et felici successui, prout possumus, libenter consulimus, singularum litterarum pradictarum ac quarumcumque aliarum scripturarum, occasione praemissorum forsan confectarum tenores, presentibus pro expressis habentes;
necnon per felicis memoriae Iulium papam III pariter predecessorem nostrum dilectis filiis fratribus Hieronymo Lancae siculo et eius sociis asserentibus se capucinos exsistere consimilemque modo praemisso habitum deferre, in non modicum scandalum et deformitatem Ordinis et congregationis huiusmodi, etiam in forma brevis et quascumque alias litteras, quibusvis alis in quibuscumque mundi partibus et locis commorantibus, dictum habitum, vel praefato modo consimilem extra oboedientiam superiorum eiusdem congregationis, et nulla habita licentia, earumdem litterarum vigore gestantibus et deferentibus concessas, revocantes, huiusmodi supplicationibus inclinati, litteras Pauli predecessoris huiusmodi ac omnia et singula in eis contenta, ita quod nullus, cuiuscumque conditionis exsistat, non solum eorum habitum iuxta litterarum Pauli predecessoris huiusmodi tenorem, verum etiam, nec ita consimilem, quod propter eum possit credi frater eorum congregationis, nisi sub praefati vicari generalis pro tempore exsistentis oboedientia e cura permaneat, sub simili poena excommunicationis latae sententiae quoquo modo gestare praesumat, Apostolica auctoritate praedicta, tenore presentium, confirmamus et
approbamus, ac omnia et singula in eisdem litteris dicti Pauli predecessoris contenta praedicta de novo concedimus.
4. Quocirca universis et singulis venerabilibus fratribus nostris patriarchis, archiepiscopis et episcopis, necnon dilectis filis abbatibus, prioribus, et aliis personis in dignitate ecclesiastica constitutis, per apostolica scripta mandamus, quatenus ipsi vel duo aut unus eorum per se, vel alium seu alios, praesentes litteras et in eis contenta quaecumque, ubi, et quando opus fuerit ac quoties pro parte capuccinorum fratrum praedictorum, sive alicuius eorum
fuerint desuper requisiti, solemniter publicantes, eisque in praemissis efficacis defensionis praesidio assistentes, faciant auctoritate nostra praesentes litteras et in eis contenta huiusmodi, firmiter observari ac singulos, quos illa concernunt, eis pacifice gaudere;
non permittentes eos desuper per quoscumque contra presentium tenorem, quomodolibet indebite inquietari seu perturbari. Contradictores quoslibet ac rebelles per censuras ecclesiasticas, ac alia opportuna iuris remedia, appellatione postposita, compescendo, ac censuras et poenas ipsas iteratis vicibus aggravando, invocato etiam ad hoc, si opus fuerit, auxilio brachii saecularis. Non obstantibus praemissis ac piae memoriae Bonifaci papae VIII etiam predecessoris nostri de una et duabus, non tamen tribus dietis, ac alis apostolicis constitutionibus, necnon quibusvis privilegiis et indultis apostolicis sub quibuscumque tenoribus et formis, ac cum quibusvis clausulis et decretis, quae adversus praemissa nullatenus suffragari volumus; ceterisque contrariis quibuscumque. Aut si Hieronymo et alis eius sociis praefatis, vel quibusvis alis communiter vel divisim, ab eadem sit Sede indultum, quod interdici, suspendi vel excommunicari non possint, per litteras apostolicas non facientes plenam et expressam, ac de verbo ad verbum de indulto huiusmodi mentionem.
5. Volumus autem quod praesentium transumptis, manu pubblici notarii subscriptis et sigillo alicuius personae in dignitate ecclesiastica constitute munitis, eadem fides in iudicio et extra adhibeatur, quae presentibus adhiberetur, si essent exhibitae vel ostensae.
6. Nulli ergo omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostrae confirmationis, approbationis, concessions et voluntatis infringere, vel ei ausu temerario contraire.
Si quis autem hoc attentare praesumpserit, indignationem omnipotentis Dei ac beatorum Petri et Pauli apostolorum eius se noverit incursurum.
Datum Romae apud S. Petrum, anno Incarnationis Dominica millesimo quingentesimo sexagesimo, Quarto Nonas aprilis, pontificatus nostri anno primo.
- Cf. sopra, doc. 1. ↑
- Cf. sopra, doc. 4. ↑
- Cf. doc. 4, nota 6. ↑
- That is, the brief Exponi nobis of 14 March 1550, edited by Flaviano da Polizzi, Gli eremiti di San Francesco, in IF 44 (1969) 402f, 396-406. – Girolamo Lanza died after 1587. ↑