BULL FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE COUNCIL OF TRENT, UNDER THE SOVEREIGN PONTIFF PIUS IV

Paul, bishop, servant of the servants of God, unto the perpetual memory hereof.

On being called, by the condescension alone of God, to the government of the Church, although unequal to so great a burthen, forthwith casting the eyes of our mind around, over every part of the Christian commonwealth, and beholding, not without great horror, how far and wide the pestilence of heresies and schism had penetrated, and how much correction the morals of the Christian people lacked,—we began, according to the duty of our office received, to apply our care and thoughts to the means of extirpating the said heresies, and of doing away with so great and so pernicious a schism, and of amending morals so much corrupted and depraved. But whereas we understood that, for the healing of these evils, that remedy was the most suitable which this Holy See had been accustomed to apply, we formed the resolution of convoking, and, with God’s help, celebrating, an œcumenical and general council. That council had indeed been already indicted by our predecessors, Paul III., of happy memory, and by Julius, his successor; but, having been often hindered and interrupted from various causes, it could not be brought to a conclusion. For Paul indeed, after having indicted it first for the city of Mantua, then for Vicenza, he, for reasons expressed in his letters, first of all suspended, and afterwards transferred it to Trent. Then, after the time of its celebration had been, for certain reasons, then also postponed, at length, the suspension having been removed, it was begun in the said city of Trent. But, after a few sessions had been held, and certain decrees made, the said council afterwards, for certain reasons, the Apostolic, See also consenting, transferred itself to Bologna. But Julius, who succeeded him, recalled it to the same city of Trent, at which time certain other decrees were made. But whereas fresh tumults were raised in the neighbouring parts of Germany, and a most fierce war was kindled up in Italy and France, the council was again suspended and postponed; the enemy of mankind, to wit, striving, and throwing difficulties upon difficulties and hindrances in the way, to retard, at least as long as possible, although unable utterly to prevent, a thing so advantageous to the Church. But how greatly, meanwhile, the heresies were increased and multiplied, and propagated, how widely schism spread, we can neither think of, nor tell, without the greatest sorrow of mind. But at length the Lord, kind and merciful, who is never so angry that he remember not mercy, vouchsafed to bestow peace and unanimity upon Christian kings and princes. Which opportunity being offered, we, relying on His mercy, have come to the strongest hope that, by the said means of a council, an end may be put to these so great evils of the Church. We therefore have judged that the celebration thereof is no longer to be deferred; to the end that schism and heresies may be taken away; that morals may be corrected and reformed; that peace may be preserved amongst Christian princes. Wherefore, mature deliberation having been had with our venerable brethren the cardinals of the holy Roman Church, and having also acquainted with this our purpose our most dearly beloved sons in Christ, Ferdinand, emperor elect of the Romans, and other kings and princes, whom, even as we had promised ourselves from their great piety and wisdom, we found most ready to aid in the celebration of the said council: We, to the praise, honour, and glory of Almighty God, and for the advantage of the universal Church, with the advice and assent of our said venerable brethren, and relying and resting on the authority of God Himself, and of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul, which we also exercise on earth; indict a sacred, œcumenical, and general council in the city of Trent for the next ensuing most holy day of the Lord’s resurrection; and we ordain and decree, that, all suspension soever removed, it be there celebrated. Wherefore, we do earnestly in the Lord exhort and admonish, and we do also by strictly charging, command, by virtue of holy obedience, and by the obligation of the oath which they have taken, and under the penalties which they know to be appointed by the sacred canons against those who neglect to assemble at general councils; our venerable brethren from all nations, patriarchs, archbishops, bishops, and our beloved sons the abbots, and others who, by common law, or by privilege, or by ancient custom, are permitted to sit, and give their opinion in a general council, that they meet, by the aforesaid day, there to celebrate a council; unless they happen to be hindered by a lawful impediment, which impediment nevertheless they shall be bound to prove to the synod by lawful proctors. We furthermore admonish all and each, whom it doth and may concern, that they fail not to be present at the council. And we exhort and entreat our most dearly beloved sons in Christ, the emperor elect of the Romans, and the other kings and princes, who it were earnestly to be wished could be present at the council, that, if they should not be able to be themselves present thereat, they would at least send prudent, grave, and pious men as their representatives, to be present thereat in their name; and that they take diligent care, befitting their piety, that the prelates of their kingdoms and dominions perform, without refusal or delay, then duty to God and the Church at this so urgent a season: doubting not they will also take care that through their kingdoms and dominions a safe and free passage be kept for the prelates and their domestics, attendants, and all others who are proceeding to or returning from the council, and that they be received and treated in all places kindly and courteously; as we also, as far as we are concerned, will similarly provide, who have determined not to omit anything that can by us, who have been placed in this position, be done towards completing so pious and salutary a work; seeking, as God knows, nothing else, proposing nothing else, in celebrating this council, but the honour of God himself, the recovery and salvation of the scattered sheep, and the perpetual tranquillity and quiet of the Christian commonweal. But, to the end that these our letter, and the contents thereof, may come to the knowledge of all whom it behoveth, and that none may plead as an excuse that he knew not thereof, especially as there may not, perhaps, be safe access open to all who ought to be made acquainted with these our letters: We will and ordain that, in the Vatican Basilica of the prince of the apostles, and in the Lateran Church, at the time when the people is wont to be assembled there, in order to be present at the solemnities of the mass, they be read publicly in a clear voice by ushers of our court, or by certain public notaries; and that they be, after being read, affixed to the doors of the said churches, also to the gates of the apostolic Chancery, and to the usual place in the Campo di Fiore, and that they shall there be left for some time to be read by and made known to all. But when they shall be moved thence, copies thereof shall remain affixed in those same places. For we will that, by such reading, publishing, and affixing after and interval of two months from the day of being published and affixed, all and each of those whom they include, even as if these letters had been communicated and read to them in person, shall be bound and obliged by them. And we ordain and decree, that, without any doubt, faith be given to copies thereof, which have been written or subscribed by the hand of a public notary, and guaranteed by the seal of some person constituted in ecclesiastical dignity. Wherefore, let no one of men infringe this our letter of indiction, statute, decree, procept, admonition, and exhortation, or with rash daring go contrary thereunto. But if any one shall presume to attempt this, let him know that he will incur the indignation of Almighty God, and of His blessed apostles Peter and Paul. Given at Rome, at Saint Peter’s, in the year MDLX of the Lord’s incarnation, on the third of the calends of December, in the first year of our pontificate.

ANTONIUS FLORIBELLUS LAVELLINUS.

BARENGUS.