Apontamentos sobre as controvérsias acerca dos Ritos Chineses, pelos anos de 1704 a 1716. Letra de Fr. Vicente Salgado.

Resource type
Author/contributor
Title
Apontamentos sobre as controvérsias acerca dos Ritos Chineses, pelos anos de 1704 a 1716. Letra de Fr. Vicente Salgado.
Abstract
This archival document, dated 1716 and originating from the Roman Catholic missionary context in Qing China, comprises a formal ecclesiastical record concerning the enforcement of the Apostolic Mandate condemning the Chinese Rites—issued by Rome in March 1715 and delivered to Canton in August 1716. It details the reception and implementation of the Mandate in Beijing and Canton, identifying key figures including Father José Coria (Procurator for Propaganda Fide in China), Teodoro Pedrini (missionary of the Sacred Congregation), José Soares and Francisco Cardozo (Jesuits suspended *ad cautelam* in Beijing), Bishop Bernardino da Aguiar (successor as Vicar Apostolic of Beijing), and Franciscan Vicar General Carlo Orazio de Castorano. The text records the issuance of a *velatio* against the Jesuits by the Franciscan Vicar General *sede vacante*, references papal dispensations (*vacatio*) procured by the King of Portugal prior to 1715, and notes imperial endorsement of the Vicar General’s role in implementing ecclesiastical measures. Marginal annotations (QXVI, 2–11, No. 33, 0) and two seals—one circular bearing “ARCHIVIO. ROMA”, the other oval with partially legible inscription—attest to its provenance in Roman ecclesiastical archives. The document provides critical primary evidence on intra-missionary conflict, papal authority, imperial intervention, and canonical procedure during the Chinese Rites Controversy.
Date
1704
# of Pages
1 folio. Good conditions
Archive
Portugal. Biblioteca Pública de Évora
Loc. in Archive
Cód. CXVI/2-11, peça 33 (numeração carimbada - 306).
Language
pt-PT
License
Public Domain - Free Access
Link
Notes

Transcription

Page 1

[Page 1] [Texto Principal] Em 1716 no Mês de Agosto chegou a Cantão o Mandato Apostólico contra os Ritos Chineses, emanado em Março de 1715 por Roma, entregue em Cantão conforme a instrucção Romana ao Padre José Coria do Clérigo Menorino, Procurador das Missões da Propaganda Fide na China. = Em 1716, o Imperador chamou ao Missionário da Sagrada Congregação Teodoro Pedrini, e ao May Europeu que não consentiria outros ritos se não os que estabelecera o P. Mateus Ricci, e que o Cardeal de Tournon e Bispo de Coreia, por se lhe oporem, se perderam. O P. José Soares era Confidente do Imperador. Há decreto de 1714 e 1715 contra os mesmos ritos. = Estavam em Pequim pela parte contrária, entre outros, os Jesuítas José Soares e Francisco Cardozo, os quais se retiraram quando o Vigário Geral de Pequim lhes disse estarem suspensos pela vexação, e deviam ser substituídos. José Soares divulgava a causa; substituído foi Bispo de Pequim Bernardino da Aguiar. Viz. Pm. = Fr. Carlos Horácio de Castorano, Vig. Geral Franciscano. = O Jesuíta Kiliano Stumpf, Visitador dos Jesuítas. = O P. António de Castrocaro foi Vigário Apostólico Franciscano. = Dito Vigário Geral fez a Velatio contra os Jesuítas. = Da Velatio do Vig. Geral S.V. consta que El-Rei de Portugal tinha feito nova vacatio do Papa; naturalmente haveria sido decretos antes do ano de 1715, e aprovara que viessem os Domínios; requereu a El-Rei de Portugal. = O Imperador encarregou este Vigário Geral. [Anotações marginais] [No topo, à esquerda] Q X V I [No topo, à esquerda, abaixo da anterior] 2 - 11 [No topo, ao centro] Nº 33 [No topo, à direita] 0 [Carimbos] [No topo, ao centro] (Selo circular com coroa e brasão; texto parcialmente legível: "ARCHIVIO. ROMA") [Na base, à direita] (Selo oval, texto ilegível, possivelmente “BIBLIOTECA. ESCOLA.

Translation

Page 1

— PAGE 1 —
[Main Text]

In August 1716, the Apostolic Mandate condemning the Chinese Rites—issued by Rome in March 1715—arrived in Canton. It was formally delivered there, in accordance with Roman instructions, to Father José Coria of the Clerics Regular Minor (Clerici Regulares Minores), who served as Procurator for the Missions of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith (Propaganda Fide) in China.

Also in 1716, the Emperor summoned the missionary of the Sacred Congregation, Teodoro Pedrini, and declared that he would permit no rites other than those established by Father Matteo Ricci; furthermore, he stated that Cardinal Charles-Thomas de Tournon—then Apostolic Legate and Bishop of Corea (i.e., titular bishopric of Corea)—and others who opposed this position had thereby forfeited imperial favour. Father José Soares enjoyed the Emperor’s special confidence. Decrees against the Chinese Rites had already been promulgated in 1714 and 1715.

In Beijing, among those opposing the Mandate were, inter alia, the Jesuits José Soares and Francisco Cardozo. Both withdrew from their posts upon being informed by the Vicar General of Beijing that they had been suspended *ad cautelam* (as a precautionary measure) and were to be replaced. Father Soares actively disseminated his position in defence of the Rites; his successor as Vicar Apostolic of Beijing was Bishop Bernardino da Aguiar.

Vicar General (Vig. Gen.) = Friar Carlo Orazio de Castorano, Franciscan Vicar General in China.
Vicar General (Vig. Gen.) = Kilian Stumpf, S.J., Jesuit Visitor for China.
Vicar Apostolic (Vig. Ap.) = Father António de Castrocaro, Franciscan Vicar Apostolic.

The aforementioned Franciscan Vicar General instituted a *velatio* (a formal ecclesiastical censure or canonical admonition) against the Jesuits. The *velatio* issued by the Vicar General *sede vacante* (i.e., acting during a vacancy in the Apostolic See) records that the King of Portugal had recently procured a new *vacatio* (i.e., a papal dispensation suspending certain canonical provisions) from the Holy See; such dispensations would naturally have been granted prior to 1715, and the Portuguese Crown had approved the dispatch of its missionaries to the region. The King of Portugal formally requested this dispensation.

The Emperor entrusted this Vicar General with official responsibilities relating to the implementation of these measures.

[Marginal Annotations]
[Top left] QXVI
[Top left, beneath the above] 2–11
[Top centre] No. 33
[Top right] 0

[Seals]
[Top centre] (Circular seal bearing a crown and coat of arms; partially legible inscription: “ARCHIVIO. ROMA”)
[Bottom right] (Oval seal; inscription illegible, possibly reading “BIBLIOTECA. ESCOLA.”)

Citation
Salgado, V., Pe. (1704). Apontamentos sobre as controvérsias acerca dos Ritos Chineses, pelos anos de 1704 a 1716. Letra de Fr. Vicente Salgado. Portugal. Biblioteca Pública de Évora (Cód. CXVI/2-11, peça 33 (numeração carimbada - 306).). http://43.156.68.124/docs/7XAPKGXH/viewer_7XAPKGXH.html
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