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From
the very first, upon Our elevation to the chief Apostleship, We
gladly turned our mind and energies and directed all our thoughts
to those matters which concerned the preservation of a pure
liturgy, and We strove with God's help, by every means in our
power, to accomplish this purpose. For, besides other decrees of
the sacred Council of Trent, there were stipulations for Us to
revise and re-edit the sacred books: the Catechism, the Missal and
the Breviary. With the Catechism published for the instruction of
the faithful, by God's help, and the Breviary thoroughly revised
for the worthy praise of God, in order that the Missal and
Breviary may be in perfect harmony, as fitting and proper - for it
is most becoming that there be in the Church only one appropriate
manner of reciting the Psalms and only one rite for the
celebration of Mass - We deemed it necessary to give our immediate
attention to what still remained to be done, viz, the re-editing
of the Missal as soon as possible.
Hence,
We decided to entrust this work to learned men of our selection.
They very carefully collated all their work with the ancient
codices in Our Vatican Library and with reliable, preserved or
emended codices from elsewhere. Besides this, these men consulted
the works of ancient and approved authors concerning the same
sacred rites; and thus they have restored the Missal itself to the
original form and rite of the holy Fathers. When this work has
been gone over numerous times and further emended, after serious
study and reflection, We commanded that the finished product be
printed and published as soon as possible, so that all might enjoy
the fruits of this labor; and thus, priests would know which
prayers to use and which rites and ceremonies they were required
to observe from now on in the celebration of Masses.
Let
all everywhere adopt and observe what has been handed down by the
Holy Roman Church, the Mother and Teacher of the other churches,
and let Masses not be sung or read according to any other formula
than that of this Missal published by Us. This ordinance applies
henceforth, now, and forever, throughout all the provinces of the
Christian world, to all patriarchs, cathedral churches, collegiate
and parish churches, be they secular or religious, both of men and
of women - even of military orders - and of churches or chapels
without a specific congregation in which conventual Masses are
sung aloud in choir or read privately in accord with the rites and
customs of the Roman Church. This Missal is to be used by all
churches, even by those which in their authorization are made
exempt, whether by Apostolic indult, custom, or privilege, or even
if by oath or official confirmation of the Holy See, or have their
rights and faculties guaranteed to them by any other manner
whatsoever.
This
new rite alone is to be used unless approval of the practice of
saying Mass differently was given at the very time of the
institution and confirmation of the church by Apostolic See at
least 200 years ago, or unless there has prevailed a custom of a
similar kind which has been continuously followed for a period of
not less than 200 years, in which most cases We in no wise rescind
their above-mentioned prerogative or custom. However, if this
Missal, which we have seen fit to publish, be more agreeable to
these latter, We grant them permission to celebrate Mass according
to its rite, provided they have the consent of their bishop or
prelate or of their whole Chapter, everything else to the contrary
notwithstanding.
All
other of the churches referred to above, however, are hereby
denied the use of other missals, which are to be discontinued
entirely and absolutely; whereas, by this present Constitution,
which will be valid henceforth, now, and forever, We order and
enjoin that nothing must be added to Our recently published
Missal, nothing omitted from it, nor anything whatsoever be
changed within it under the penalty of Our displeasure.
We
specifically command each and every patriarch, administrator, and
all other persons or whatever ecclesiastical dignity they may be,
be they even cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, or possessed of
any other rank or pre-eminence, and We order them in virtue of
holy obedience to chant or to read the Mass according to the rite
and manner and norm herewith laid down by Us and, hereafter, to
discontinue and completely discard all other rubrics and rites of
other missals, however ancient, which they have customarily
followed; and they must not in celebrating Mass presume to
introduce any ceremonies or recite any prayers other than those
contained in this Missal.
Furthermore,
by these presents [this law], in virtue of Our Apostolic
authority, We grant and concede in perpetuity that, for the
chanting or reading of the Mass in any church whatsoever, this
Missal is hereafter to be followed absolutely, without any scruple
of conscience or fear of incurring any penalty, judgment, or
censure, and may freely and lawfully be used. Nor are superiors,
administrators, canons, chaplains, and other secular priests, or
religious, of whatever title designated, obliged to celebrate the
Mass otherwise than as enjoined by Us. We likewise declare and
ordain that no one whosoever is forced or coerced to alter this
Missal, and that this present document cannot be revoked or
modified, but remain always valid and retain its full force
notwithstanding the previous constitutions and decrees of the Holy
See, as well as any general or special constitutions or edicts of
provincial or synodal councils, and notwithstanding the practice
and custom of the aforesaid churches, established by long and
immemorial prescription - except, however, if more than two
hundred years' standing.
It
is Our will, therefore, and by the same authority, We decree that,
after We publish this constitution and the edition of the Missal,
the priests of the Roman Curia are, after thirty days, obliged to
chant or read the Mass according to it; all others south of the
Alps, after three months; and those beyond the Alps either within
six months or whenever the Missal is available for sale.
Wherefore, in order that the Missal be preserved incorrupt
throughout the whole world and kept free of flaws and errors, the
penalty for nonobservance for printers, whether mediately or
immediately subject to Our dominion, and that of the Holy Roman
Church, will be the forfeiting of their books and a fine of one
hundred gold ducats, payable ipso facto to the Apostolic Treasury.
Further, as for those located in other parts of the world, the
penalty is excommunication latae sententiae, and such other
penalties as may in Our judgment be imposed; and We decree by this
law that they must not dare or presume either to print or to
publish or to sell, or in any way to accept books of this nature
without Our approval and consent, or without the express consent
of the Apostolic Commissaries of those places, who will be
appointed by Us. Said printer must receive a standard Missal and
agree faithfully with it and in no wise vary from the Roman Missal
[of the first impression].
Accordingly,
since it would be difficult for this present pronouncement to be
sent to all parts of the Christian world and simultaneously come
to light everywhere, We direct that it be, as usual, posted and
published at the doors of the Basilica of the Prince of the
Apostles, also at the Apostolic Chancery, and on the street at
Campo Flora; furthermore, We direct that printed copies of this
same edict signed by a notary public and made official by an
ecclesiastical dignitary possess the same indubitable validity
everywhere and in every nation, as if Our manuscript were shown
there. Therefore, no one whosoever is permitted to alter this
notice of Our permission, statute, ordinance, command, precept,
grant, indult, declaration, will, decree, and prohibition. Should
any person venture to do so, let him understand that he will incur
the wrath of Almighty God and of the Blessed Apostles Peter and
Paul.
Given
at St. Peter's in the year of the Lord's Incarnation, 1570, on the
14th of July of the Fifth year of Our Pontificate. |
