Tag Archives: Saint Hildebrand

Church History, Papal Documents

Pope Nicholas II’s Bull, “In Nomine Domini” (Papal Version)

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Latin Original,

with an English Translation by Br. Alexis Bugnolo

FRENCH — ITALIAN — SPANISH (see below)

More than 5 years ago I published an English translation of Pope Nicholas II’s bull, In nomine Domini, which he wrote with the counsel of Saints Hildebrand, the future Pope Gregory VII, and Peter Damian, the future Doctor of the Church against the homo-heresy. — Indeed, in the final paragraph which contains the censures against those who would dare violate this papal law, we can see the influence of the fiery zeal of Saint Hildebrand, where it combines a variety of curses found in the Psalms, against both clerics and laymen.

Recently with the help of a medieval scholar who has spent his life studying this Bull, I have come in the possession of a copy of this bull in its original version (see below). My previous translation was based on a copy of the Bull, in Latin, from a version which had been interpolated — that is, compiled by several existing versions, by a Scholar who attempted to interpret which precise wording was the original. While such a practice is widely accepted in the world of academics, it is always a very good thing to go back to the actual existing manuscripts and read them. The Latin text from the version published by the Church at Rome is that which I now publish, here below. — This papal version differs in nearly nothing from the interpolated version which I previously published and translated, but in the choice of words in a few passages, and in a few extra sentences at the end. — However, the paragraphs in the papal version are not numbered, so I have inserted numbers and joined some paragraphs together so that paragraph n. 3 in both versions regards what is to be done if a legitimate, honest and upright election cannot be held in the City of Rome.

This Bull of Pope Nicholas II is no obscure document, since it is the first Papal Bull which restricted the election of the Roman Pontiff to the Cardinals, two centuries before the first Conclave was ever held. It is even mentioned by name in the Apostolic Constitution of Pope Paul VI, Romano Pontifici eligendo, promulgated October 1, 1975, in its third paragraph, where it is called a “celebrated” constitution, that is, frequently used. It’s importance for today is that it explains, what other Papal Laws currently in force today do not, namely, “What is to be done if all the Cardinals forfeit their right and competence to elect the Roman Pontiff by reason of grave malfeasance, in conducting an illegal election or one which is declared invalid by papal prescriptions?”  It is implicitly referred to also in the current Papal Law of Pope John Paul II, Universi Dominici Gregis, promulgated Feb. 22, 1996, where it says in its preface, that “the institution of the Conclave is not necessary for the valid election of the Roman Pontiff”, and again, wherein in n. 76 it declares any election violating its norms null and void, without however expressing what is to be done if the Cardinals fail to return into conclave because they maliciously will to hold as pope a man who is illegally elected.

Now follows my English translation of that.

Pope Nicholas II’s Bull “In nomine Domini”

April 13, 1059 A. D. — In the Constantinian Patriarchal Basilica of the Lateran, at Rome

Translated from the Papal Version of the text, published by Das Papstwahldekret von 1059. Echte Fassung, in: Jasper, Detlef. Das Pastwahldekret von 1059: Überlieferung unf Textgestalt. Sigmaringen: Thorbecke, 1986, pp. 98-109.

IN THE NAME OF THE LORD God, our Savior Jesus Christ.  From the year of His Incarnation, 1058, in the month of April, in the Twelfth Indiction, with the Sacrosanct Gospels laid open, also with the Most Reverend and Blessed Nicholas, presiding as the Apostolic Pope, in the Lateran Basilica of the Patriarch, which is named the Constantinian, also with the most reverend Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots or venerable Priests and Deacons accompanying, seated, the Same venerable Pontiff, decreeing with Apostolic Authority, concerning the Election of the Highest Pontiff, said:

Most beloved Brothers and co-Bishops, and also inferior members (of the clergy), your Beatitude knows and it does not lie hidden, that with the passing of Our predecessor, the lord Stephen, of pious memory, how many adverse (troubles) this Apostolic See, which I zealously serve with God’s urging, has suffered through, and then how many repeated hammers and frequent blows She has been subjected to through the brokers of simonaical heresy, so much that the Column of the Living God almost seemed to totter and the net of the Highest Fisherman, with the storms swelling, would be driven into the depths of shipwreck to be submerged.

§ 1. Wherefore, if it please thy Brotherhood, We ought, with God assisting, take care prudently for future cases and this by Ecclesiastical statute, provide in the hereafter that (these) evils, revived, not prevail.  On which account, having been instructed by Our predecessor and by the authority of the other Holy Fathers, We decree, and establish, that with the passing of the Pontiff of this universal Roman Church, first of all, the Cardinal Bishops, treating (the election) together with the most diligent consideration, summon immediately the Cardinal Clerics to themselves; and in this manner let the rest of the Clergy, and the People, approach to consent to the new election, so that, lest the deadly disease of venality insinuate itself by occasion, the most religious men be the chief leaders in the election of the Pontiff to be promoted, but the rest be their followers.

§ 2. And certainly the right and legitimate order of the election is here considered carefully, if it be gathered from having examined the diverse rules of the Fathers or their deeds, (and) even that sentence of Blessed Leo, (Our) predecessor, (who) said: “No reason permits, that there be had among Bishops, those who have neither been elected from the Clerics, nor requested by the common people, nor consecrated by the co-provincial Bishops with the judgement of the Metropolitans” (Pope Leo I, Letter to Rusticus of Narbonne, Migne PL 54, p. 1203 A/B). But because the Apostolic See takes precedence to all other Churches throughout the earth, and for that reason, too, She can have over Her no Metropolitan, the Cardinal Bishops with out doubt serve instead as Metropolitans, who namely promote the one elected as High Priest (antistitem) to the apex of the Apostolic Summit.  Moreover, let them elect (him) from the very womb of the Church, if one is found suitable, and/or if he not be found in Her, let him be taken from another; with due honor being served, and reverence for Our beloved son, Henry, who is held as King at the present and with God conceding hoped (to be) the future Emperor, as We have already conceded to him and to his successors, who personally begged this right from this Apostolic See.

§ 3. Wherefore, if the perversity of depraved and iniquitous men, so prevail, that a pure, sincere and free election cannot be held in the City, let the Cardinal Bishops with the religious Clerics, and the Catholic laity, though few, obtain the right of power (ius potestatis) to elect the Pontiff of the Apostolic See, where they might judge it to be more fitting. Plainly, after the election has been completed, if there be a bellicose conflict, and/or if the struggle of any kind of men resists by the earnestness of wickedness, such that he, who has been elected, cannot prevail to be enthroned in the Apostolic See according to the custom, nevertheless, let the elect obtain as Pope the authority to rule the Roman Church and to dispose of all Her faculties, which Blessed Gregory, We know, did, before his own consecration.

§4. On which account, if anyone has been elected, or even ordained, or enthroned, against this Decree of Ours promulgated by Synodal sentence, whether through sedition, and/or presumption, or any guile, let him be cast down by the Divine Authority and that of the Holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, by a perpetual anathema with his promoters and supporters and followers as one separated from the thresholds of the Holy Church, just as the Anti-Christ, both invader and destroyer of the whole of Christendom, and let no audience be given him over this, but let him be deposed from every ecclesiastical grade unto whatever was before his, without any objection made, to whom if anyone whatsoever adheres, and/or exhibits any kind of reverence as to the Pontiff, or presumes to defend him in anything, let him be abandoned by equal sentence, which if anyone shows himself to be a violator of this sentence of Our Holy Decree, and has tried to confound the Roman Church by his presumption, and to raise disturbance against this Statute, let him be damned by perpetual anathema and excommunication, and let him be reputed among “the impious“, who “shall not rise again in judgement” (Psalm 1:5), let him know the wrath of the Omnipotent One against him, and that of the Holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, whose Church he has presumed to fool, let him know a ravaging madness in this life and in the future; “Let his dwelling become deserted, and let there be no one who dwells in his tents” (cf. Psalm 69:26): “Let his sons be orphans, and his wife a widow” (Psalm 108:9), “Let him be shaken completely” (cf. Psalm 108:10) to madness, and “may his sons go about begging, and be cast out of their dwellings” (Psalm 108:10). “May the money-lender ravage all his substance, and may the foreigner lay waste all his labors” (Psalm 108:11); “Let the whole world fight against” (cf. Wisdom 5:21) him, and let all the other elements be against him, and may the merits of all the Saints, at rest, confound him and in this life may they show open vengeance upon him.

§5. Moreover, may the grace of the Omnipotent God protect the observers of this Our decree, and by the authority of the Blessed Apostles, Peter and Paul may it absolve them from all bonds of sins.

I, Nicholas, Bishop of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Roman Church,
have signed this Decree promulgated by Us, here above, as it reads.

Transcription

Source

Here follows a Spanish translation using the Spanish of the New World (Latin America). Many thanks to the Mexican-American reader of FromRome.Info for this!

Papa Nicolás II

EN EL NOMBRE DEL SEÑOR DIOS, nuestro Senor Jesucristo, del año de Su Encarnación, 1058, en el mes de abril, en la Duodécima Indicción, con los Evangelios Sacrosantos expuestos, también con el Reverendísimo y Bendito Nicolás, presidiendo como el Papa Apostólico, en la Basílica de Letrán del Patriarca, quien es llamado el Constantiniano, también con los Arzobispos, Obispos, Abades o venerables sacerdotes y diaconos acompañando, sentado, el mismo Venerable Pontifíce, decretando con Autoridad Apostólica, lo relacionado con la elección del Sumo Pontifíce dijo:

Muy amados Hermanos y co-Obispos y también miembros inferiores del clero, su Bienaventuranza, sabe y no se oculta, que con el deceso de Nuestro predecessor, el señor Esteban de grata memoria, cuantos problemas ha sufrido esta Sede Apostólica a la cual sirvo celosamente con el impulso de Dios y luego a cuantos martillazos repetidos y golpes frecuentes ella ha sido sometida a través de los agentes de la herejía simoniaca, tanto así que la Columna de Dios Viviente casi parecía tambalearse y la red del Pescador Supremo, con las tempestades incrementándose sería impulsada hacia las profundidades del naufragio para ser sumergido.

§ 1. Por lo tanto, si place a Su Hermandad, Nosotros debemos, con la asistencia de Dios, cuidar prudentemente para casos futuros y esto por estatuto Eclesiástico, proveer en el futuro que estos males, revividos, no prevalezcan. Por lo cual, habiendo sido instruidos por nuestro predecesor y por la autoridad de los otros Santos Padres, decretamos, y establecemos, que con el fallecimiento del Pontífice de esta Iglesia Romana universal, en primer lugar, los Cardenales Obispos, tratando la elección junto con la más diligente consideración, convoquen inmediatamente a los Cardenales Clérigos en persona, y de esta manera que el resto del clero y el pueblo, se acerquen a consentir a la nueva elección, de modo que, para que no se insinue la mortal enfermedad de la venalidad, los hombres más religiosos sean los principales líderes en la elección del Pontífice a ser promovido, pero el resto sean sus seguidores.

§ 2. Y ciertamente el orden justo y legítimo de la elección se considera aquí cuidadosamente, si se deduce de haber examinado las diversas reglas de los Padres o sus hechos, e incluso aquella sentencia del Beato León, Nuestro predecesor, quien dijo: “Ninguna razón permite que entre los Obispos haya quienes no hayan sido elegidos entre los Clérigos, ni solicitados por el pueblo común, ni consagrados por los Obispos coprovinciales con el juicio de los Metropolitas” (Papa León I, Carta a Rústico de Narbona, Migne PL54, p. 1203 A/B). Pero debido a que la Sede Apostólica tiene precedencia sobre todas las demás Iglesias en toda la tierra, y por esa razón, también, Ella no puede tener sobre Ella ningún Metropolitano, los Obispos Cardenales sin duda sirven en cambio con Metropolitanos, quienes concretamente promueven al elegido como Sumo Sacerdote (antistitem) a la cúspide de la Cumbre Apostólica. Además, que lo elijan del mismo seno de la Iglesia, si se encuentra uno adecuado, y/o si no se encuentra en ella, que se le tome de otra, con el debido honor servido, y reverencia para nuestro amado hijo, Enrique, quien es tenido como Rey en el presente y con Dios concediendo se espera que sea el futuro Emperador, como ya le hemos concedido a él y a sus sucesores, quienes personalmente rogar este derecho de esta Sede Apostólica.

§ 3 Por lo tanto, si la perversidad de hombres depravados e inicuos prevaleciera hasta tal punto que no se pudiera celebrar una elección pura, sincera y libre en la Ciudad, que los Cardenales Obispos con los Clérigos religiosos y los laicos católicos, aunque pocos, obtengan el derecho de poder (ius potestatis) para elegir al Pontífice de la Sede Apostólica donde juzguen que es más apropiado. Claramente, después de que la elección se haya completado, si hay un conflicto belicoso, y/o si la lucha de algunos hombres se resiste por la seriedad de la maldad, de tal manera que aquel, quien ha sido elegido, no puede prevalecer para ser entronizado en la Sede Apostólica según la costumbre, sin embargo, que el electo obtenga como Papa la autoridad para gobernar la Iglesia Romana y para obtener de todas sus facultades, lo cual sabemos hizo el Beato Gregorio, antes de su propia consagración.

§ 4. En cuenta de aquel, si alguien ha sido elegido, o incluso ordenado, o entronizado, en contra de este Nuestro Decreto promulgado por sentencia Sinodal, ya sea por sedición, y/o presunción, o cualquier engaño, que sea derribado por la Autoridad Divina y la de los Santos Apóstoles, Pedro y Pablo, mediante un anatema perpetuo con sus promotores, seguidores y partidarios como uno separado de los umbrales de la Santa Iglesia, así como el Anticristo, tanto invasor como destructor de toda la cristiandad, y que no se le conceda audiencia sobre esto, sin que se haga ninguna objeción; a quien si alguien se adhiere o exhibe cualquier tipo de reverencia hacia él como al Pontífice, o se presume defenderlo en algo, sea igualmente abandonado por sentencia igual, quienquiera que se muestre violador de esta sentencia de Nuestro Decreto, y haya tratado de confundir a la Iglesia Romana por su presunción, y de levantar disturbios contra este Estatuto, sea condenado por anatema perpetuo y excomunión, y sea reputado entre los “impíos que no se levantarán en el juicio” (Salmo 1:5), que conozca la ira del Omnipotente contra él, y la de los Santos Apóstoles, Pedro y Pablo, cuya Iglesia ha presumido engañar; que conozca una locura devastadora en esta vida y en la futura, “Quede desolada su morada y no haya quien habite en sus tiendas” (cf. Salmo 69:26): Sean sus hijos huérfanos, y su mujer viuda” (Salmo 108:9), “Sea sacudido por completo” (cf. Salmo 108:10) hasta la locura y “vaguen sus hijos mendigando, y sean echados de sus moradas” (Salmo 108:10). “Que el acreedor se apodere de todo lo que tiene, y los extraños saqueen el fruto de su trabajo” (Salmo 108:11); que todo el mundo luche contra (cf. Sabiduría 5,21) él, y que todos los demás elementos estén contra él, y que los méritos de todos los Santos, en reposo, lo confundan y que en esta vida muestren venganza manifiesta sobre él.

§ 5. Además, que la gracia del Dios Omnipotente proteja a los observadores de este Nuestro Decreto, y por la autoridad de los Bienaventurados Apóstoles, Pedro y Pablo, que los absuelva de todas las ataduras de pecados.

Yo, Nicolás, Obispo de la Santa Iglesia Católica y Apostólica Romana, he firmado este Decreto promulgado por Nosotros, aquí arriba, tal como se lee.

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News

The Church of Rome must now return to Sutri!

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by Br. Alexis Bugnolo

Traduction Française

In the days before Christmas in the year of Our Lord One Thousand and Forty-Six, the King of the Germans, Henry III came to Sutri, Italy, in the environs of Viterbo to put in order the Roman Church.

As he descended with his armed knights into Italy, he sent emissaries to Pope Gregory VI to summon a provincial council there, to settle once and for all who was the real pope.

For in the year 1046, there were 3 claimants to the Papacy. One whom had been juridically elected, but sold the papacy and resigned, but then returned to claim it again. This was Pope Benedict IX, a teenager known for debauching himself with both sexes. Then, there was an errant Bishop who came to Rome and paid the clergy to acclaim him, so that they would have a decent man rather than this young perp. That was Pope Sylvester III. And then there was the Cardinal John Gratian, a wealthy man, who disgusted at the immoral depravity of the teenager Pope, offered to buy the papacy from him, so that he could be free to run off and marry his girlfriend. He accepted. This third claimant was Pope Gregory VI.

I have spoken about the facts before here, in my article The Doors to Sutri are opening, back in 2020, where I cited the Polish ecclesiastical historian, Prof. Grzegorz Kucharczyk, who pointed out the historical importance of Sutri for the Church of today. See all my articles on the Synod of Sutri, here.

Actually there were two Synods of Sutri, one in 1046, which I have just described, and another in 1061, for the reformation of the discipline of the clergy of the Roman Church. So obscure is this history, that even at Sutri, the first Council has been forgotten. It just runs contrary to too many theologians ideals of an exaggerated papal authority: the thought that the Church can depose Popes.

Sutri today is still in the ecclesiastical province of Rome. But it belongs to the Diocese of Civita Castellana. Sutri is also important in the story of the Papal States, on account of the fact that it was the first city put under the jurisdiction of the Roman Pontiff in 728 A. D., by the King of the Lombards, Luitprand, in the Donation of Sutri.

Because of the important historical value of this Synod, held 977 years ago, I made a long pilgrimage to Sutri this evening to attend mass in the Church of Saint Sylvester, where in 1046 3 popes were deposed in the presence of the the German King, Henry, at whose consent only one was canonically elected.

Sanctuary of the Cathedral of Sutri, Italy, as seen at 5:40 PM, Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

The Synod was not held in the Cathedral of the City (shown in the feature image above and here to the right), whose large dimensions inspired the imagination to conceive of rows and rows of nobles, knights, Cardinals, Bishops, clergy, monks, faithful, all gathered in the most solemn array, to witness the most unique event in all Church history, the deposition of 3 popes on the same day.

No, it was held in the Church of Saint Sylvester, which is no bigger than a chapel in a Seminary. (This was probably done so that the combined body warmth of all those attending would heat the building on those cold December days of 1046.) And in that room from December 23-24, there stood not only Henry III, who would be crowned Emperor of the Romans on Christmas Day at Rome, but also Saint Hildebrand (the future great Pope Gregory VII, savior of the medieval Papacy), who was at that time still the acolyte of Pope Gregory VI, and Bl. Daufer, who would ascend the Apostolic Throne as Pope Victor III only twenty years later.

The events of 1046 show us that despite the scandals and tribulations of history, Our Lord remains in charge of His Church. After Mass He showed this by inspiring the priest to expose Him in the Most Blessed Sacrament at the center of the Altar, to receive the praise, love and above all adoration of the Faithful.

In the image above, Saint Anne teaches Our Lady to read from Sacred Scripture, while Saint Peter prays for Pope Saint Sylvester, Martyr. Our Lord remains with us, and His Saints are at His back! This is where we should be: upholding His unchanging will for Holy Mother Church.

And this is why we must all now insist, as I have recently urged, that a provincial council be called. Read that article to see what can do, to make it happen!

Church History, Ecclesiology

The Dictatus of Pope St. Gregory VII

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by Br. Alexis Bugnolo

In the present hour of darkness and confusion, it behooves all to turn their gaze back to the sound and eternal judgement of the saintly popes of old, of which one of the greatest was Pope Saint Gregory VIII, in life called Hildebrand, who single-handedly saved the Catholic Church from the filthy and avaricious hands of godless men who usurped the right to name Bishops, Abbots and distribute the benefices of the Church to their friends and political allies.

During his papacy, there was entered into the official register of papal laws, the Dictatus papae, a collection of solemn truths which regard the Catholic Faith on the Papal Primacy and the Roman Church. See here for the Latin text and a copy of one of the most ancient manuscripts containing it.

Due to the relative obscurity of this magisterial text, I share with you now the text in both Latin and my English translation. (The Video above includes the Latin text) I pray that it might be for your enlightenment and for the confirmation of your faith in these troubled times, when true doctrine is being so obscured.

Dictatus Papae

Number Latin English translation
I Quod Romana ecclesia a solo Domino sit fundata. That the Roman Church has been founded by the Lord alone.
II Quod solus Romanus pontifex iure dicatur universalis. That the Roman Pontiff alone is called “universal” by right.
III Quod ille solus possit deponere episcopos vel reconciliare. That He alone can depose and/or reconcile Bishops.
IV Quod legatus eius omnibus episcopis presit in concilio etiam inferioris gradus et adversus eos sententiam depositionis possit dare. That His legate takes precedence in council to all bishops even when he is of inferior grade and can give a sentence of deposition against them.
V Quod absentes papa possit deponere. That the Pope can depose those absent.
VI Quod cum excommunicatis ab illo inter cetera nec in eadem domo debemus manere. That among other things we neither ought to remain in the same house of the one excommunicated by him.
VII Quod illi soli licet pro temporis necessitate novas leges condere, novas plebes congregare, de canonica abatiam facere et e contra, divitem episcopatum dividere et inopes unire. That for him alone is it licit, according to the necessity of time to establish new laws, to welcome new peoples, to make new abbacies of canonical right and, contrariwise, to divide rich bishoprics and unite needy ones.
VIII Quod solus possit uti imperialibus insigniis. That he alone can use the imperial insignia.
IX Quod solius pape pedes omnes principes deosculentur. That all princes are to kiss the feet of the pope alone.
X Quod illius solius nomen in ecclesiis recitetur. That the name of him alone is to be recited in the churches (in the Canon of the Mass).
XI Quod hoc unicum est nomen in mundo. That this (his name as Pope) is the only one in the world.
XII Quod illi liceat imperatores deponere. That for him it is licit to depose emperors.
XIII Quod illi liceat de sede ad sedem necessitate cogente episcopos transmutare. That for him it is licit when driven by necessity to transfer bishops from see to see.
XIV Quod de omni ecclesia quocunque voluerit clericum valeat ordinare. That he validly ordains any cleric from every church wheresoever.
XV Quod ab illo ordinatus alii eclesie preesse potest, sed non militare; et quod ab aliquo episcopo non debet superiorem gradum accipere. That the one ordained by him can take charge of any church, but not serve as a soldier; and that he ought not accept a superior grade from any bishop.
XVI Quod nulla synodus absque precepto eius debet generalis vocari. That no synod without his precept ought to be called “general”.
XVII Quod nullum capitulum nullusque liber canonicus habeatur absque illius auctoritate. That no chapter be held and no canonical book be recognized without his authority.
XVIII Quod sententia illius a nullo debeat retractari et ipse omnium solus retractare possit. That his sentence ought to be retracted by no one and that he alone can retract that of all.
XIX Quod a nemine ipse iudicare debeat. That he himself be judged by no one.
XX Quo nullus audeat condemnare apostolicam sedem apellantem. That no one dare condemn the one appealing to the Apostolic See.
XXI Quod maiores cause cuiscunque ecclesie ad eam referri debeant. That the greater cases of every church whatsoever ought to be referred to Her.
XXII Quod Romana ecclesia nunquam erravit nec imperpetuum scriptura testante errabit. That the Roman Church has never erred nor shall ever err in perpetuity, as Scripture testifies.
XXIII Quod Romanus pontifex, si canonice fuerit ordinatus, meritis beati Petri indubitanter efficitur sanctus testante sancto Ennodio Papiensi episcopo ei multis sanctis patribus faventibus, sicut in decretis beati Symachi pape continetur. That the Roman Pontiff, if he has been canonically ordained, is undoubtedly made holy by the merits of Blessed Peter, according to the testimony of Saint Ennodius, Bishop of Pavia, with many holy Fathers favoring him, just as is contained in the decrees of Blessed Pope Symachus.
XXIV Quod illius precepto et licentia subiectis liceat accusare. That by his precept and license it is licit for his subjects to bring accusations.
XXV Quod absque synodali conventu possit episcopus deponere et reconciliare. That he can depose and reconcile bishops without the convening of a synod.
XXVI Quod catholicus non habeatur, qui non concordat Romane ecclesie. That one is not to be held to be Catholic, who is not in agreement with the Roman Church.
XXVII Quod a fidelitate iniquorum subiectos potest absolvere. That he can absolve the subjects of the iniquitous from fealty.