Translation of the Bull "Against Bible Societies",
issued from Rome, June 29, 1816,
by Pope Pius VII to the Achbishop of Gnezn, Primate of PolandVenerable Brother,
Health and apostolic benediction.
In our last letter to you we promised, very soon, to return an answer to yours, in which you have appealed to this holy see, in the name also of the other bishops of Poland, respecting what are called
Bible Society, and have earnestly inquired of us what you ought to do in this affair. We long since, indeed, whished to comply with your request;but an incredible variety of accumulationg concerns have so pressed upon us on every side, that till this day we could not yield to your solicitation.
We have been truly shocked at this most crafty device, by which the very foundations of religion are undermined; and having, because of great importance of the subject, convened for consultation our venerable brethren, the cardinals of the holy Roman church, we have, with the utmost care and attention, deliberated upon the measures proper to be adopted by our pontifical authority, in order to remedy and abolish this pestilence as far as possible.
In the mean time, we heartily congratulate you, venerable brother; and we commend you again and again in the Lord, as it is fit we should, upon the singular zeal you have displayed under circumstances so hazardous to Christianity, in having denounced to the apostolic see, this defilement of the faith, most imminently dangerous to souls. And although we perceive that it is not at all necessary to excite him to activity who is making haste, since of your own accord you have already shewn an ardent desire to detect and oppose the impious machinations of these innovators; yet, in conformity with our office, we again and again exhort you, that whatever you can achieve by power, provide for by counsel, or effect by authority, you will daily execute with the utmost earnestness, placing yourself as a wall for the house of Israel.
For this end we issue the present letter, viz. that we may convey to you a signal testimony of our approbation of your laudable exertions, and also may endeavour therein still more and more to excite your pastoral solicitude and vigilance. For the general good imperiously requires us to combine all our means and energies to frustrate the plans which are prepared by its enemies for the destruction of our most holy religion; whence it becomes an episcopal duty, that you first of all expose the wickedness of this nefarious scheme, as you already are doing so admirably, to the view of the faithful, and openly publish the same, according to the rules prescribed by the Church, with all that erudition and wisdom in which you excell; namely, "that Bibles printed by heretics are numbered among prohibited books, by the rules of the Index (No. II & III); for it is evident from experience, that the Holy Scriptures, when circulated in the vulgar tongue, have, through the temerity of men, produced more harm than benefit:" (Rule IV). And this is the more to be dreaded in times so depraved, when our holy religion is assailed from every quarter with great cunning and effort, and the most grievous wounds are inflicted on the Church. It is therefore necessary to adhere to the salutary decree of the Congretation of the Index (June 13th, 1757), that no versions of the Bible in the vulgar tongue to be premitted,
except such as are approved by the apostolic see, or published with annotation extracted from the writings of the holy fathers of the Church.
We confidently hope that, even in these turbulent circumstances, the conduct of the Poles will afford the clearest evidences in support of the religion of their ancestors; and this especially by your care as well as that of the other prelates of this kingdom, whom, on account of the stand they are so wonderfully making for the faith commited to them, we congratulate in the Lord, trusting that they all will very abundantly justify the opinion which we have entertained of them.
It is moreover necessary that you should transmit to us, as soon as possible, the Bible which Jacob Wuiek published in the Polish language with commentary, as well as a copy of the edition of it lately put foth without those annotations, taken from the writings of the holy fathers or our church, or other learned Catholics, which your opinion upon it; that thus, from collationg them together, it may be ascertained, after mature investigation, what errors may lie insidiously concealed therein, and that we may pronounce our judgment on this affair, for the preservation of the true faith.
Proceed, therefore, venerable brother, to pursue the truly pious course upon which you have entered; viz. diligently to fight the battles of the Lord in sound doctrine, and warn the people entrusted to your care, that they fall not into the snares which are prepared for them, to their everlasting ruin. The Church waits for this from you, as well as the other bishops, whom our epistle equally concerns; and we most anxiously expect it, that the deep sorrow we feel on account of this new species of tares which an enemy is sowing so abundantly, may, by this cheering hope, be somewhat alleviated; and, together with the apostolic benediction which we bestow on you and your fellow bishops, we heartily invoke on yourself and them a continual increase of spiritual gifts, for the good of the Lord's flock.
Given at Rome, at St. Mary the Greater, June 29, 1816, the 17th year of our Pontificate.
Pope Pius VII.
Diambil dari:
"A dissertation on the Seals and Trumpets of the Apocalypse, and the Prophetical Period of Twelve Hundred and Sixty Years", by Willian Cuninghame, ESq. London, 1817.
(http://books.google.no/books?id=c8kWAAAAIAAJ&pg=PR17&lpg=PR17&dq=pius+vii+1816+Archbishop+of+Gnezn&source=bl&ots=9B7msvVeNv&sig=XP8rIJ3-mcwZWK743V4zgcM6H1E&hl=no&sa=X&ei=w4cJVJb7NIzaaPPBgfAI&ved=0CCQQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=pius%20vii%201816%20Archbishop%20of%20Gnezn&f=false)
