SESSION THE SIXTEENTH

Being the sixth and last under the Sovereign Pontiff Julius III., celebrated on the twenty-eighth day of April, 1552.

DECREE FOR THE SUSPENSION OF THE COUNCIL

The sacred and holy, œcumenical and general Synod of Trent, lawfully assembled in the Holy Ghost,—the most reverend lords Sebastian, Archbishop of Siponto, and Aloysius, Bishop of Verona, apostolic nuncios, presiding therein, as well in their own proper names as in that of the most reverend and illustrious lord, the legate Marcellus Crescenzio, Cardinal of the holy Roman Church, of the title of Saint Marcellus, is absent by reason of a most grievous illness,—doubts not that it is well known to all Christians, that this œcumenical Council of Trent was first convoked and assembled by Paul, of happy memory, and was afterwards, at the request of the most august Emperor Charles V., restored by our most holy lord Julius III., for this cause especially, that it might bring back to its pristine state, religion, which was miserably divided into diverse opinions in many parts of the world, and especially in Germany; and might amend the abuses and the most corrupt manners of Christians; and whereas very many Fathers, paying no regard to their labours and dangers, had for this end cheerfully flocked together from different countries, and the business was being proceeded with earnestly and happily, in a great concourse of the faithful, and there was no slight hope that those Germans who had stirred up these novelties would come to the council, so disposed, as to acquiesce unanimously in the truthful reasons of the Church; when, in fine, a kind of light seemed to have dawned upon things; and the Christian commonwealth, before so beaten down and afflicted, began to life up its head; of a sudden such tumults, such wars blazed forth through the craft of the enemy of mankind, that the council was most inconveniently compelled as it were to pause, and to interrupt its course, and all hope of further progress was taken away at that time; and so far was the holy synod from finding a remedy for the evils and troubles of the Christian world, that, contrary to its own intention, it irritated rather than appeased the minds of many. Whereas, therefore, the said holy synod perceived that all places, and especially Germany, were blazing with arms and discords; that almost all the German bishops, and especially the electoral princes, had withdrawn from the council, in order to provide for their own churches; it resolved not to struggle against so great a necessity, but to be silent until better times; that so the fathers, who could not now act, might return to their own churches to take care of their own sheep, and no longer wear away their time in idleness, useless in both respects. And so, seeing that the state of the times has so required, it decrees that the progress of this œcumenical Synod of Trent shall be suspended during two years, as it doth by this present decree suspend it; under this condition, however, that if things be sooner set at peace, and the former tranquillity return, which it hopes will before long happen, through the blessing of God the best and greatest, the progress of the council shall be considered to have its full force, power, and authority. But if, which may God avert, the lawful impediments aforesaid shall not have been removed at the expiration of the two years, the said suspension shall, as soon as they shall have ceased, be thereupon understood to be removed, and the council shall be, and shall be understood to be, restored to its own force and vigour, without another fresh convocation thereof, the consent and authority of his Holiness, and of the holy Apostolic See, having been given to this decree.

Meanwhile, however, this holy synod exhorts all Christian princes, and all prelates, that they observe, and respectively cause to be observed, as far as concerns them, in their own kingdoms, dominions, and churches, all and each of the things which have been hitherto ordained and decreed by this sacred œcumenical council.