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Anno 1656. Breve de Alexandre VII. em que louva os Missionarios da Companhia de Jesus pelo bem que trabalhão na conversam das almas. [Dez 20]
Transcription
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Anno 1656.
[Marginalia — top right]
4/11
[Heading]
Breve de Alexandro VII. in quo laudat Missionarios Societatis IESU pro bono, quod in conversione animarum gerunt.
[Rubric]
Alexander Papa Septimus.
[Main text]
Dilecti filii, nobilissimi viri, salutem et apostolicas benedictiones. Vobis, quibus uti fideles operarii in ergo divinae Societatis IESU Religionis usui affide exercentur fructusque, quos Domino benedicente ex illis percipiunt, nobilissimis, vestris probi cognitis ac perspectis, in non dubitamus. Cædo enim uberes atque ampli sunt, ut bonum odorem longe se latique diffundant, et ad longinquas et remotasque regiones iam olim pervenerint. De quorum humilitate suprema ille Pater familias ac Dominus, qui suo domui custodes et agri sui cultores proposuit, feliciter in iis nostro dubium ac praecipuam curam eius putamus, utili adesse hunc ac hodie ad dominos talentorum argenteorum imprimis opportunos, et ubique et apud eos prorsus, pro eis quos caritate complectitur, quibus taliter ac fructuosam eorum industriam atque operam fore providemus. Non inferiores singulares eius in Dei officio providemus.
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Eadem observantias moleris ac modum ferme iam diu hic Religionis. Nobilissimis per quam dany pro- batque carere unde produnt dubio Magna ad objectum quæ Vestro universo utilitati sunt perniciosae. Ne vit prudentia, sapientiaque vitas quanti interest Ma- ximè . . incantamque addementia statem bono- rum artium, ac pietatis . . inutiles, atque adeo desertae a primis paucis institutis afuerunt cunmni- fe adeo quod habentur acquisitas aptissimi sunt adju- centium animi firmiorique deindeque sunt hacte in omni vita aperientur. In illas vero etiam gubernan- das Sanctissimique praesidii, conformandarque Nulli ij Religionis praeceptores, aut Magistri domi suo ozyk tam longo uno, atque exercitationes facilius quaeru ab utilissimas docendi, praecipendique viro quodque Maxi- me fieri debet Non Minoris cura pietate, Deique hono- rem unda vim annis sapientia, ac scientia virtutum di- citur quamo Litteras disciplinasque edocent salutiferas. Testatur primo vide illorum Indorum Religionis Propa- gando arbor, Templorum cultu, figurarum miramen- torum, ac Dei veri administratio opus denique coronam im- buendum, quod unam Divini Nominis gloriam propo- sitam habeat, pro qua urgendo, amplificanda que in omni doctrina, atque omni opere bono fideliter colla- borant. Cignem itaque prudentes veras, dignam pie- tate, dignam perpetuo in nos observantias, ac Maximo per ad divinum auxilium atque opem implorandas op- portunam non facile copiam quam primam in Nobilissi- mam istam civitatem omniumque Vestram Ditionum recipiendas. Certè si quantopere beneficiorum tuorum Me- moriam Deus requirat, quantaque sunt reputabilis, qui hoc tempore dignitas Nobis est, immensas ejus bonitas demonstrare inter ceteras hanc quoque ut gratiam supr. ne debui ex qua ingenii ejus gloria, ac laudi incrementum sum extititum purpiciet.
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O sanctissimi Viri Ignatii, qui tam conciliandam, cui devotus, non minus vos ego decet, quam vestri maiores fuerunt. Illa quidem, cum huius Societatis fundamenta iaceret, dixit in amplissimas istas verba et admonitus ac proclamavit in vos sanctitatis exempla, odit ac quem plurima monumenta reliquit. Nam quod ad nos attinet, non dubitamus id in beneficiis proponere, ex quo maximis atque uberrimis fructus, etiam praecipitur. Atque in hoc testem veluti ac signum Paternae Nostrae Charitatem dare non veremur, quam Nos magnam semper merito sibi duxit, nec minore admiratione ac vestra experti est, tum sane causam a multis annis adorandam Christianae Religionis impensissime hostes defendit, quod praecipue ac probi cultu ex Nobis fovere datur est. Verum igitur ad hoc efficacissimum charitatis nostrae in posterum pondus imponere, atque ad hanc voluntatem hoc facto is cumulat, accedit id multo earn amplius initiaturi sit ad istam rem publicam hoc praecipue tempore omni conatu atque ope, quantumcumque Domino poterimus, adiuvandum. Addo denique id Nobis gratum, iucundumque accedit, ut hoc vobis ertis sponte mutuo. Nihil a dextra in hanc sanctam Sedem observantia, reverentia, quae fieri possit, ex quo maiori stimulos addi animi nostri affectui tenari simul, et pro quo plures inviam nobis sint benevolentia nostra dignos spectantes, quibus eam rem mediocriter duram erga vos ostendemus. Ut etiam futurus exponet venerabilis Rami Carolus Episcopus Averrane, Noster apud nobilitatem vestram Nuncius, cui fidi haberi & vobis iubemus, quibus a Deo felicitatem procurare & Apostolicam benedictionem peramanter impertimur. Dabum Romae apud Sanctam Mariam Maiorem sub Annulis Pii: celebris die 20 Decembris, 1656. Pont. Nost. anno secundo.
Translation
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Year 1656.
[Marginalia — top right]
4 November
[Heading]
Brief of Pope Alexander VII, commending the Missionaries of the Society of Jesus for the spiritual good accomplished through the conversion of souls.
[Rubric]
Alexander VII, Pope.
[Main text]
To our beloved sons, most noble men, health and apostolic blessings.
We address you—faithful labourers in the divine vineyard of the Society of Jesus—who diligently devote yourselves to its sacred mission, and whose fruits, blessed by the Lord, we acknowledge with full confidence, having thoroughly examined and duly recognised your integrity and proven virtue. Indeed, these fruits are abundant and far-reaching: they diffuse a ‘good odour’—in the Pauline sense—widely and extensively; and this fragrance has long since extended even to distant and remote regions. Concerning the profound humility manifested by these missionaries, that Supreme Father and Lord—the Divine Master who has appointed overseers for His household and cultivators for His field—judges them most favourably; and we ourselves hold no doubt but that their labours merit His singular care and solicitude. We judge such service especially opportune today—indeed, indispensable—for those entrusted with the ‘silver talents’ (cf. Matthew 25:14–30), both universally and particularly among those whom He embraces with charity; for it is precisely for their sake that we foresee—and indeed providentially ordain—that the missionaries’ zeal and fruitful endeavours shall be effectual. Nor do we overlook the exceptional devotion they manifest in the worship and service of God.
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**Translation into Modern UK Academic English**
The same observances and practices have long prevailed here in this religious order. Most noble and highly esteemed individuals—whose probity is beyond question—have been conspicuously absent, thereby giving rise to serious doubt concerning those matters which are manifestly detrimental to the general welfare of your entire jurisdiction. It is therefore of the utmost importance—indeed, a matter of prudential and philosophical necessity—that life be ordered with due regard to wisdom and discernment; for without such guidance, the cultivation of the liberal arts and piety becomes ineffectual, and institutions founded upon sound principles fall into neglect and abandonment. Yet those who have acquired such learning are exceptionally well equipped to serve as assistants in governance and spiritual direction; moreover, their formation imparts firmness of character, rendering them eminently suited to discharge responsibilities throughout the whole course of life.
As for the administration of spiritual affairs—and especially the governance of sacred matters under the most holy patronage—no instructors or masters within this religious order, however long resident in their own houses, nor however diligently trained through practice, can more readily acquire the most useful methods of teaching and moral instruction than those men whose conduct is informed by profound piety and reverence for God, whose authority rests not merely upon years of experience, but upon genuine wisdom and the demonstrable cultivation of virtue—qualities no less essential to the formation of character than the instruction in salutary letters and disciplines.
First and foremost, the testimony of their own religious practice among the Indigenous peoples confirms this: the propagation of faith proceeds not by coercion, but by the planting of a living tree—the temple cult, the veneration of sacred images, and above all, the orderly administration of the true God—culminating in the crowning work of instilling a single, unifying devotion to the glory of the Divine Name. This is the central aim set before all instruction and every good work, to which faithful labourers devote themselves zealously, seeking both its advancement and its amplification.
We therefore beseech you, most prudent and truly pious patrons, to grant us—by divine aid and grace—a timely and generous opportunity to introduce these observances, worthy of your enduring respect and solemn commitment, into this most noble city and throughout all your dominions. Indeed, if God requires from us a grateful remembrance of His manifold mercies—and if the dignity conferred upon us at this time is rightly esteemed—then His boundless goodness is made evident in many ways; among these, He has also bestowed upon us this singular favour, whereby the glory and renown of our intellectual endeavours have been notably enhanced.
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To the Most Holy Father Ignatius, whose memory we hold in profound veneration: it is no less fitting that we, too, should devote ourselves to you than did our forebears. Indeed, at the very foundation of this Society, he—whose words were both expansive and exhortatory, whose admonitions were solemn and whose proclamation of sanctity was resounding—left behind abundant monuments of holiness, which he both cherished and exemplified. As for ourselves, we entertain no doubt that this matter may rightly be set forth among our benefactions, from which the greatest and most abundant spiritual fruits are already being reaped—and indeed are expressly promised. And herein we do not hesitate to offer, as both testimony and token of Our paternal charity, that which We have always justly regarded as most precious, and which you yourselves have experienced with no less admiration: namely, the steadfast defence—now for many years—of the Christian religion against its most determined adversaries; a cause to which We are especially privileged, by divine grace, to lend Our earnest support through due reverence and pious observance.
Accordingly, We now lay upon this bond of charity an even more efficacious weight for the future; and by this present act, We confirm and strengthen Our resolve to assist, with all diligence and resources at Our disposal—so far as the Lord permits—this Commonwealth, particularly at this critical juncture. Moreover, it gives Us singular pleasure and satisfaction to declare that this favour is freely and mutually offered. Nothing on Our part shall be wanting in observance or reverence towards this Holy See—nothing that can possibly be rendered—thereby both deepening the fervour of Our affection and drawing yet more individuals into Our benevolent regard: those whom We deem worthy of Our goodwill, and towards whom We shall certainly show no measure of indifference or coldness.
This will be further explained by the Venerable Charles de Rami, Bishop of Aversa, Our Nuncio to your nobility, whom We entrust fully and command you to receive as Our faithful representative. Through him, We earnestly implore divine blessings upon you and impart to you Our Apostolic Benediction with heartfelt affection.
Given at Rome, at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, under the Ring of Pope Pius, on the 20th day of December in the year of Our Pontificate 1656—the second year of Our reign.