No. I.
Sanctissimi in Christo Patris et Domini nostri Domini Clementis Divina Providentia Papæ XIII, Constitutio qua institutum Societatis Jesu denuo approbatur.
Clemens Episcopus Servus Servorum Dei, ad perpetuam rei memoriam.
Apostolicum pascendi Dominici Gregis munus beatissimo apostolo Petro, ejusque successori Romano pontifici delatum à Christo Domino, nulla locorum, nulla temporum conditio, nullus humanarum rerum respectus, nulla denique ratio circumscribere, aut suspendere potest, quominus idem Romanus pontifex ad omnes ejusdem officii partes, nullâ ex iis prætermissâ, nullâ neglectâ, curas suas dirigere debeat, atque omnibus incurrentibus in ecclesia necessitatibus providere. Harum partium inter præcipuas, postrema non est regularium ordinum approbatorum ab apostolica sede tutelam genere, ac fortibus piisque viris, qui eisdem regularibus ordinibus sese solemni sacramento addixerunt, suamque pro tuenda, atque
amplificanda catholica religione, agroque dominico excolendo, strenuam operam impendunt, alacritatem addere et animum, languidos et infirmos excitare, et corroborare, jacentibus afflictisque consolationem afferre, præcipue verò ab ecclesia fidei suæ et custodiæ concreditâ, omnia, quæ in animarum ruinam in dies suboriuntur, scandala summovere.
Institutum societatis Jesu ab homine conditum, cui ab universali ecclesia idem, qui sanctis viris cultus et honor tribuitur, à fel. record. prædecessoribus nostris Paulo III et Julio itidem III, Paulo IV, Gregorio XIII, et Gregorio XIV, Paulo V, diligenti examine perpensum, approbatum, sæpius confirmatum, et ab iisdem pluribusque aliis ad novemdecim prædecessoribus nostris ornatum peculiaribus favoribus et gratiis; episcoporum, non modò hujus, sed superiorum etiam ætatum præconio commendatum, ut maxime frugiferum, et fructuosum, et ad promovendum Dei cultum, honorem, et gloriam, æternamque animarum salutem procurandam aptissimum; potentissimorum, piissimorumque regum, et clarissimorum in Christiana republica principum præsidio, et tutela usque munitum; cujus ex disciplina novum prodiêre viri in sanctorum, vel beatorum numerum relati, quorum tres martyrii gloriam sunt consequuti; à pluribus sanctitate claris viris, quos beatos in cœlo novimus sempiternâ perfrui gloriâ, collaudatum; quod ecclesia universa longo duorum sæculorum spatio in suo sinu aluit et fovit, ejusque professoribus præcipuam sacri ministerii partem semper commisit magno cum emolumento animarum; quod ipsa denique catholica ecclesia in Tridentina synodo declaravit ut pium; hoc idem institutum novissimè fuerunt, qui per pravas interpretationes, tum privatis
sermonibus, tum scriptis etiam typis in lucem editis irreligiosum, et impium appellare, contumeliis lacerare, probo et ignominiâ afficere non sunt veriti, atque eò devenerunt, ut privatâ suâ non contenti opinione, hujusmodi virus de regione in regionem, nullis non adhibitis artibus, derivare, atque undequaque diffundere sint aggressi, neque adhuc cessant, incautis, si quos inveniant, Christi fidelibus, ut in proprios pertrahant sensus, subdolè propinare: quo in ecclesiam Dei nihil injurium magis, nihil contumeliosius, quasi adeo erraverit turpiter, ut, quod impium, et irreligiosum est, solemniter existimaverit Deo carum et pium, eòque decepta sit flagitiosiùs, quo diuturnius, ad annos scilicet amplius ducentos, cum maximo animarum detrimento, sinui suo tantam hærere labem, et maculam sustinuerit. Huic tanto malo, quod eo longiùs dissimulatum, tanto altiùs radices agit, viresque acquirit in dies, diutius differre remedium, justitia, quæ sua cuique asserere et fortiter tueri jubet, et pastoralis nostra erga ecclesiam sollicitudo non sinit.
Ut igitur tam gravem injuriam à sponsa ecclesia divinitus nobis concredita, atque etiam ab hac apostolica sede propulsemus, et hujusmodi injustas, irreligiosasque voces in animarum perniciem, et seductionem, et contra omnes æqui, bonique rationes longe lateque diffusas, nostrâ authoritate apostolicâ compescamus; ut clericis regularibus societatis Jesu, id a nobis pro justitia exigentibus, suus maneat status, eâdem nostrâ authoritate firmiùs constabilitus; eorumque nunc temporis summè afflictis rebus aliquod afferamus levamen: ut demum venerabilium fratrum nostrorum episcoporum, qui ex omnibus regionibus catholicis eandem societatem nobis per litteras
magnopere commendârunt, et ex ea maximas utilitates in suis quisque diœcesibus se capere profitentur, justis desideriis obsecundemus; motu proprio, et ex certa scientia, deque apostolicæ potestatis plenitudine, omnium prædecessorum nostrorum inhærendo vestigiis, hâc nostrâ perpetuò valiturâ constitutione, eodem modo, ratione et formâ, quibus ipsi edixerunt, et declarârunt, nos quoque edicimus, et declaramus; institutum societatis Jesu summopere redolere pietatem et sanctitatem, tum ob præcipuum finem, quo maxime spectat, defensionem scilicet, propagationemque catholicæ religionis, tum ob media, quæ adhibet ad ejusmodi finem consequendum, quod vel ipsa nos hactenus docuit experientia; cum ex eadem disciplina tam multos ad hanc usque ætatem prodiisse novimus orthodoxæ fidei propugnatores, sacrosque præcones, qui invicto animi robore terrâ marique subiêre pericula, ut ad gentes inmanitate barbaras evangelicæ doctrinæ lumen afferrent, et quotquot idem profitentur laudabile institutum, partim intentos juventuti religione et bonis artibus erudiendæ, partim operam dare spiritualibus exercitiis tradendis, partim assiduè versari in sacramentis præcipuè pœnitentiæ et eucharistiæ administrandis et ad eorum frequentiorem usum fidelibus excitandis; tum homines in agris degentes divini verbi pabulo recreare; ac propterea idem institutum societatis Jesu ad hæc eximia perpetranda, divinâ providentiâ, excitatum, ipsi quoque approbamus, et prædecessorum nostrorum approbationes ejusdem instituti apostolicâ auctoritate nostrâ confirmamus: vota, quibus iidem clerici regulares societatis Jesu juxta idem eorum institutum se devovent Deo, grata illi et accepta esse declaramus: spiritualia exercitia,
quæ ab iisdem clericis regularibus traduntur fidelibus à mundi strepitu semotis per dies aliquot, ut de æternâ fui ipsorum salute seriò et unicè cogitent, ut maxime conducibilia ad reformandos mores, et ad Christianam pietatem hauriendam nutriendamque, magnopere probamus, et laudamus: congregationes præterea, seu sodalitia, non modo adolescentium, qui ad scholas ventitant societatis Jesu, sed quævis alia, sive scholarium tantum, sive aliorum Christi fidelium tantum, sive utrorumque simul sub invocatione beatæ Mariæ, seu quovis alio titulo erecta, et quæ in iis pia opera ferventi studio exercentur, probamus, præcipuamque erga beatam Dei Genitricem semper Virginem Mariam devotionem, quæ in iis sodalitiis alitur, et promovetur, magnopere commendamus, nostrorumque fel. record. prædecessorum Gregorii XIII, Sixti V, Gregorii XV, et Benedicti XIV constitutiones, quibus ea sodalitia approbârunt, nos apostolicâ auctoritate nostrâ confirmamus, cæterasque omnes constitutiones à Romanis pontificibus prædecessoribus nostris in ejusdem instituti societatis Jesu functionum approbationem, et laudem conditas, quarum singulas hic haberi volumus pro insertis, auctoritate itidem nobis à Deo traditâ, apostolicæ confirmationis nostræ robore, per hanc nostram constitutionem, munitas volumus, et si opus sit, velut à nobis ex integro conditas, editasque censeri præcipimus, et mandamus.
Nulli ergo omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostræ approbationis, et confirmationis infringere, vel ei ausu temerario contraire: si quis autem hoc attentare præsumpserit, indignationem Omnipotentis Dei et beatorum Petri et Pauli apostolorum ejus se noverit incursurum.
Datum Romæ apud Sanctam Mariam Majorem*, anno incarnationis Dominicæ millesimo septingentesimo sexagesimo quarto, septimo idus Januarii, pontificatûs nostri anno septimo.
C. Card. Pro-Datarius. N. Card. Antonellus.
Visa, De Curia J. Manassei.
L. Eugenius.
(Loco Plumbi.)
Registrata in Secretaria Brevium.
* Curia Romana annum inchoat à Feste Annuntiationis B. Mariæ, quod incidit in diem 25 Martii, adeoque septimus idus Januarii 1764, coincidit cum 7 Januarii hujus anni 1765, secundùm nostram computandi rationem.
Translation.
Clement, Bishop, Servant of the Servants of God, for a perpetual record.
The apostolic office of feeding the Lord's flock, conferred by the Lord Christ on the most blessed apostle Peter and his successor the Roman pontiff, no state of time or place, no regard of human affairs, in short, no consideration whatever, can so circumscribe or suspend as that the same Roman pontiff may not direct his care to all the duties of the said office, without exception or omission, and provide for all the wants which may occur in the church. Among those duties it is not the least to
give protection to the regular orders approved by the apostolic see, and to those worthy and pious men, who have, by a solemn vow, devoted themselves to the regular orders, strenuously labouring for the defence and increase of the catholic religion, and in cultivating the Lord's vineyard, to invigorate and encourage, to animate and confirm the languid and weak, to console the downcast and afflicted, but chiefly to remove from the church, entrusted to his faith and custody, all scandals, which from time to time spring up to the destruction of souls.
The institute of the society of Jesus, composed by a man held in honour by the universal church, which sanctifies holy men, has, by our predecessors of happy memory Paul III and Julius III, Paul IV, Gregory XIII and Gregory XIV, and Paul V, been diligently examined, approved, and often confirmed, and by them and nineteen others of our predecessors honoured with peculiar favours; has been publicly extolled by bishops, not only of this age but former ones, as extremely efficient in promoting the worship, honour, and glory of God, and eminently adapted to the salvation of souls; and has been patronised by the most powerful and pious kings, and most celebrated princes in the Christian republic: from its discipline nine persons have been numbered among the saints, three of whom obtained the glory of martyrdom; it has received the united praises of many men renowned for sanctity, now enjoying eternal glory in heaven; the church has cherished it in her bosom for the long space of two centuries, and has ever committed the chief part of the sacred ministry to its professors, with great gain of souls; finally, it was pronounced pious by the catholic church herself in the council of Trent: yet there have lately
appeared some, who, by wicked interpretations, have dared, not only in conversation but in writings and publications, to call this very institute irreligious and impious, to revile it, and represent it as wicked and shameful; and have gone such lengths, that, not content with their own private thoughts, they have endeavoured, using every art, to convey the like poison from country to country, and to pour it out everywhere; nor have they yet ceased, where-ever they can find any of the faithful off their guard, to instil craftily their own notions into their minds; than which there can be nothing more injurious, nothing more offensive to the church of God, as if she had so shamefully erred, as solemnly to deem what is impious and irreligious devout and acceptable to God, and had been the more scandalously imposed upon for having so long, namely, for more than two hundred years, with the greatest loss of souls, suffered such a stain to remain in her bosom. Neither justice, which commands that all should receive what belongs to them and be protected in their rights, nor my pastoral solicitude for the church, can suffer any farther delay in putting a stop to this so great evil, which shoots its roots the deeper the longer it remains unnoticed.
In order, therefore, that we may remove so serious an injury from the espoused church divinely committed to our charge, and also from this apostolic see; and that, by our apostolic authority, we may check such unjust and impious assertions, spread far and wide to the seduction and ruin of souls, and entirely regardless of equity and reason; that the constitution of the regular clerks of the society of Jesus may remain undisturbed, according to their appeal to us for justice, and be more firmly established by the same our authority, and that we may afford
them consolation in the present grievous state of their affairs; and, lastly, that we may comply with the just desires of our venerable brothers the bishops, who, from every part of the catholic world, have written to us letters greatly extolling the said society, all declaring that they were of the greatest use to them in their respective dioceses; of our own accord and certain knowledge, and by the plenitude of the apostolic power, following the footsteps of all our predecessors, in this our constitution to be in perpetual force, in the same mode and form in which they have proclaimed and declared we also proclaim and declare, that the institute of the society of Jesus is replete with piety and holiness, as well on account of the chief end it has in view, namely, the defence and propagation of the catholic religion, as on account of the means which it directs to be used for that end, hitherto confirmed to us by experience itself; for we know that, even down to these times, its discipline has produced many defenders of the orthodox faith, and pious preachers, who, with unshaken constancy of mind, have encountered dangers by sea and by land to bear the light of the gospel to barbarous nations; and, indeed, those who profess the said laudable institute are always earnestly employed, some in educating youth in the practice of religion and the learned sciences, others in the direction of spiritual exercises, others again in the assiduous administration of the sacraments, especially those of penance and the eucharist, in exciting the faithful to a frequent use of them; likewise in refreshing the inhabitants of country places with the divine food of the word of God: and as it evidently appears, that the said institute of the society of Jesus has been established by the Divine Providence
for these great ends, we also approve it, and, in virtue of our apostolical authority, we confirm the approbation of our predecessors bestowed on the said institute: we declare, that the vows by which the said regular clerks of the society of Jesus devote themselves, according to the said institute, to God, are acceptable and pleasing to him: we approve in the highest degree of the spiritual exercises, which the regulars of this society recommend to the use of the faithful, who occasionally retire from the noise of the world to meditate in serious solitude on the means of obtaining eternal salvation, as being highly conducive to the reformation of manners, and to the establishing and nourishing of Christian piety: we likewise approve of their congregations or associations; and not only of those for the use of youth, who attend the schools of the society of Jesus, but also of all other congregations, whether established for scholars only, or for others of the faithful in Christ, of either or both at once, dedicated to the blessed Mary, under whatever title they are formed, in which pious works are fervently practised, especially that particular devotion towards the blessed Virgin, which these institutions nourish and promote; and we, in virtue of our apostolical authority, confirm the constitutions of our predecessors of happy memory, Gregory XIII, Sextus V, Gregory XV, and Benedict XIV, by which they approved of these associations, together with all other constitutions enacted by our predecessors the Roman pontiffs, in approbation of the offices of the said institute, each one of which we wish to be considered as here inserted and confirmed by the strength of our apostolic authority transmitted to us by God, as well as effectually protected by this our constitution; and, if it be necessary,
we desire and order, that they may be considered as fresh constitutions, enacted and promulged by us in due form.
It is not, therefore, allowable for any person to infringe, upon any account, this decree of our approbation and confirmation, or rashly to attempt to oppose its authority: and, if any one should be so presumptuous as to attempt it, be it known to him, that he will incur the indignation of Almighty God, and of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul.
Given at Rome, at St. Mary the Greater, &c. &c.