BENEDICT XII |
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BENEDICTUS
DEUS |
BENEDICTUS DEUS* |
January 29, 1336 |
29 Ian. 1336 |
Pontifical dogmatic
definition [clarifying that]
the Saints enjoy the Beatific Vision before
the [Last]
Universal Judgment |
Pontificia definitio dogmatis de visione beatifica Sanctorum ante
iudicium universale in caelo fruentium |
[From] the blessed bishop,
servant of the servants of God: for perpetual memory concerning this
matter. |
Benedictus episcopus, servus servorum Dei, ad perpetuam rei memoriam. |
[1.]Blessed be God in
His gifts and holy in all His works, Who has
raised up, like a vineyard planted at His right hand, the most holy
Catholic and Apostolic Church and as his head and the crown of the head,
the Lord having said to
Peter: “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will I will build my church
“(Mt 16,18)
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[1.]
Benedictus Deus in donis suis et sanctus in omnibus
operibus suis,
qui sacrosanctam Romanam catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam, quam ut
vineam plantavit dextra sua quamque ut praecipuam in ecclesiarum omnium
caput erexit et verticem, dicente Domino ad Petrum: «Tu es Petrus et
super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam» (Mt 16,18)— |
[...]
The recent history of the controversy under
John XXII is described. Pope John had preached (but never
solemnly defined) that the saints do not enjoy the Beatific
Vision until after the Last Judgment |
[...] |
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[6.] By this Constitution
which is to remain in force for ever, we, with apostolic authority,
define the following: |
[6.]
hac imperpetuum valitura Constitutione, auctoritate apostolica
diffinimus, |
According to the
general disposition of God, the souls of all the saints who departed
from this world before the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ and also of
the holy apostles, martyrs, confessors, virgins and other faithful who
died after receiving the holy baptism of Christ- provided they were not
in need of any purification when they died, or will not be in need of
any when they die in the future, or else, if they then needed or will
need some purification, after they have been purified after death-and
again the souls of children who have been reborn by the same baptism of
Christ or will be when baptism is conferred on them, if they die before
attaining the use of free will: all these souls, immediately (mox)
after death and, in the case of those in need of purification, after the
purification mentioned above, since the ascension of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ into heaven, already before they take up their
bodies again and before the general judgment, have been, are and will be
with Christ in heaven, in the heavenly kingdom and paradise, joined to
the company of the holy angels. Since the passion and death of the Lord
Jesus Christ, these souls have seen and see the divine essence with an
intuitive vision and even face to face, without the mediation of any
creature by way of object of vision; rather the divine essence
immediately manifests itself to them, plainly, clearly and openly, and
in this vision they enjoy the divine essence . Moreover, by this vision
and enjoyment the souls of those who have already died are truly blessed
and have eternal life and rest. Also the souls of those who will die in
the future will see the same divine essence and will enjoy it before the
general judgment. |
quod secundum communem Dei ordinationem animae sanctorum hominum qui de
hoc mundo ante domini nostri Iesu Christi passionem decesserunt necnon
sanctorum Apostolorum, Martyrum, Confessorum, Virginum et aliorum
fldelium defunctorum, post sacrum ab eis Christi baptisma susceptum, in
quibus nil purgabile fuit quando decesserunt, nec erit quando decedent
etiam infuturum; vel si tunc fuit aut erit purgabile aliquid in eisdem,
cum post mortem suam fuerint purgatae; ac quod animae puerorum eodem
Christi baptismate renatorum et baptizandorum, cum fuerint baptizati
ante usum liberi arbitrii decedentium, mox post mortem suam et
purgationem praefatam in illis qui purgatione huiusmodi indigebant,
etiam ante resumptionem suorum corporum et iudicium generale, post
ascensionem Salvatoris nostri domini Iesu Christi in caelum, fuerunt
sunt et erunt in caelo, caelorum regno et paradiso caelesti cum Christo,
sanctorum Angelorum consortio aggregatae; ac post domini Iesu Christi
passionem et mortem viderunt, vident et videbunt divinam essentiam
visione intuitiva et etiam faciali, nulla mediante creatura in ratione
obiecti visi se habente, sed divina essentia immediate se nude clare et
aperte eis ostendente; quodque sic videntes eadem divina essentia
perfruuntur nec non quod ex tali visione et fruitione eorum animae qui
iam decesserunt sunt vere beatae et habent vitam et requiem aeternam et
erunt illorum, qui postea decedent, cum eandem divinam videbunt
essentiam ipsaque perfruentur ante iudicium generale; |
[7.] Such a
vision and enjoyment of the divine essence does away with the acts
of faith and hope in these souls, inasmuch as faith and hope are
properly theological virtues. And after such intuitive and face-to-face
vision and enjoyment has or will have begun for these souls, the same
vision and enjoyment has continued and will continue without any
interruption and without end until the last Judgment and from then on
forever. |
[7.]
ac quod visio huiusmodi
divinae essentiae eiusque fruitio, actus fidei et spei in eis evacuant,
prout fides et spes proprie theologicae sunt virtutes; quodque postquam
inchoata fuit vel erit talis intuitiva et facialis visio et fruitio in
eisdem, eadem visio et fruitio sine aliqua intervisione seu evacuatione
praedictae visionis et fruitionis continuata extitit et continuabitur
usque ad finale iudicium et extunc usque in sempiternum. |
(On hell and the general judgment) |
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[8.]
Moreover we define that according to the general disposition of God, the
souls of those who die in actual mortal sin go down into hell
immediately (mox) after death and there suffer the pain of hell.
Nevertheless, on the day of judgment all men will appear with their
bodies “before the judgment seat of Christ” to give an account of their
personal deeds, “so that each one may receive good or evil, according to
what he has done in the body” (2 Cor. 5.10). |
[8.]
Diffinimus insuper, quod
secundum communem Dei ordinationem animae decedentium in actuali mortali
peccato mox post mortem suam ad Inferna descendunt, ubi poenis
infernalibus cruciantur et quod nichilominus in die iudicii omnes
nomine ante tribunal Christi cum suius corporibus comparebunt (II
Cor 6,10), reddituri de factis propriis rationem, ut referat
unusquisque propria corporis prout gessit sive bonum sive malum (II
Cor 5,10), — |
We establish that our definitions and determinations
concerning the matters mentioned above are by this decree to be held by
all the faithful. |
decernentes praedictas nostras diffinitiones seu
determinationes et ipsarum singulas ab omnibus fidelibus esse tenendas. |
[...] |
[...] |
[...] Dated from Avignon, February, the Fourth Kalend in
the second year of Our pontificate [ i.e. January
29, 1336] |
[...] Datum Avinione, IV.kal. februarii, pont. nostri
anno secundo. |
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MISSING TEXT (translation remains to be
done] |
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[...] in his mercy, would not
have left him, but, through Thy blessed apostles, disciples, and
especially Peter and Paul on, and more particularly of the same of the
Church the defenders, his gracious goodness, and continually in
godliness, attend to it, in so far as, those same rulers guided, was, in
itself, remain stable, was the foundation upon a strong rock, and all of
the Christian faith, the worshipers, they obey what they are, to him,
obey him, to him, which, under his teaching it confessedly live
according to and, under his discipline and correction of the stand
together, not even in them something taught as the improvident, it is
grafted on without caution, in the faith, hazardous or to be thrown upon
so as to turn aside the men from the evil, and do good, let them walk in
the ways of the Lord (Jer. 31, 21), and for the better through holy
desires to set trust just close rewarded with eternal life, afraid of
bad hell endless tribulations are not removed because it is written, I
am coming quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to each according
to his work? (Rev. 3:11) |
[2.]
sua miseratione non deserit, sed per beatos apostolos suos, praecipue
Petrum et Paulum, singularius eiusdem Ecclesiae defensores, pia
benignitate et continua pietate custodit, quatenus, iisdem rectoribus
gubernata, in se stabilis maneat, fundata supra firmam petram omnesque
christianae fidei cultores illi oboediant, illi pareant, illi intendant,
sub illius magisterio degant, sub eiusdem disciplina et correctione
consistant, ne in illis aliquid dogmatizetur improvidum, inseratur
incautum, in fide temerarium ingeratur sicque declinent homines a malo
et faciant bonum, ambulent per vias rectas (Jerem. 31,21) et ad meliora
per sancta desideria proficiscantur, sperent iustorum propinquas
aeternae vitae retributiones, timeant malorum inferni perpetuas
calamitates non remotas, nam scriptum est: Ecce venio cito et merces
mea mecum est, reddere unicuique secundum opera sua? (Apoc. 3,11)
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If it has been
attempted by anyone, that soon his authority to additional penalties, as
expedient, totally eradicated. For that, that in itself to stop others
would restore the suffering of our Savior Jesus Christ, the Father of
deflowering is reported to have said, Simon, Satan has asked for you to
cribaret (yes!) As corn, I have prayed for thee, that thy faith , and
you have turned again, strengthen your brothers’ (Lk. 22: 31-32). |
[3.]
Quodsi secus a quoquam fuerit attemptatum, id protinus sua auctoritate,
poenis etiam adiectis, prout expedire viderit, prorsus evellat. Pro qua,
ut in se ipsa subsisteret, alios reformaret, passionis suae tempore
Salvator noster Iesus Christus Patrem exorasse perhibetur, dicens: Simon
ecce sathanas expetivit vos, ut cribaret (sic!) sicuti triticum,
ego autem pro te rogavi, ut non deficiat fides tua, et tu aliquando
conversus, confirma fratres tuos (Lc. 22, 31-32). |
Of course, a long time
predecessor, John Pope, 22, our predecessor, including some, even in
theological facilitate teachers to the vision of the souls of the just
man after his death, in which nothing was purgation in this time period,
or if it had been cleaned, it was with or divine essence before their
being reunited, and the general judgment, and some others a matter of
debate, some of them being negative, some positive, others, according to
their imagination on the vision of the divine essence of the lives of
such diverse and different ways to show all tried so far the writings of
their own, and from what is known to some people. Over the rest of the
truth of their own conflicts which it is here for the sake of brevity, I
omit it, because they are below of us, with the determinations of will
appear, between that they had also been at odds. And when our
predecessor, to which one of the aforesaid determination of the
business, on to the decision of concertationum the like to prepare
himself and in his own Consistory and the public, as well his brethren
with him, and of the holy Roman Church, to the Cardinals, of which
number I at that time we were, which he has forbidden the prelates and
masters in Theology, who are many happened to be there at that time in
this life, and making the the strictest of all, and the command, to
those to be set on the aforesaid matter of what the vision meant, when
it would be required from him, deliberately, she said, that each one
should be aware of, however, cut off by death, as to the Lord pleased,
that did not succeed to accomplish. |
[4.]
Sane, dudum, tempore felicis recordationis Johannis papae XXII,
praedecessoris nostri, inter nonnullos, etiam in theologica facilitate
magistros, super visione animarum iustorum hominum post mortem suam, in
quibus nichil erat purgabile cum de hoc saeculo decesserunt, vel si
fuerat, iam purgatum erat ex toto, an divinam essentiam videant ante
suorum corporum resumptionem, et iudicium generale, et super nonnullis
aliis orta materia quaestionis, ipsorum aliqui negativam, aliqui
affirmativam, alii vero secundum suas imaginationes de visione divinae
essentiae ab animabus huiusmodi diversa et diversimode ostendere
nitebantur, prout ex dictis et scriptis ipsorum noscitur apparere. Super
reliquis vero suis concertationibus, quas hic brevitatis causa
omittimus, quia infra ex Nostris determinationibus apparebunt, inter se
etiam dissidebant. Cumque idem praedecessor, ad quem praedictorum
determinatio pertinebat, ad decisionem concertationum huiusmodi se
pararet in suo Consistorio publico, tam Fratribus suis, sacrosanctae
Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalibus, de quorum numero tunc eramus, quam
Praelatis et magistris in Theologia, qui multi aderant tunc praesentes,
iniungendo districtius et mandando, ut super materia de visione
praedicta, quando requirerentur ab eo, deliberate unusquisque diceret
quod sentiret, tamen morte praeventus, sicut Domino placuit, perficere
id nequivit. |
After the death of the
predecessor of the above-mentioned, and to the divine condescension that
raised up to the peak of the Supreme in the apostolate of the last
assumption more carefully, paying attention to how many things from the
foregoing and their disputations have not been paid of the souls under
threat as much joy as from that time he could that offend, a gesture, so
that by their truth is not to be open, and of the truth, being so solid,
will be unknown, people is necessary before in the premises careful
examination and a careful the cardinals of the holy Roman Church, with
the deliberation of our Friars were called, of the Friars themselves of
the advice of our, |
[5.]
Defuncto itaque praedecessore praefato, Nos divina dignatione ad apicem
Summi Apostolatus assumpti, diligentius attendentes quanta ex praemissis
et eorum concertationibus non solutis animarum imminerent pericula
quantaque exinde possent scandala suboriri, ut ipsorum veritas pateat et
veritatis soliditas innotescat, habita prius super praedictis sollicita
examinatione et diligenti deliberatione cum Fratribus nostris dictae
sacrosanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalibus, de ipsorum Fratrum
nostrorum consilio, |
[...] |
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And
whoever shall be forward of the aforesaid, or of the determinations of
our of definition is contrary to the values of both knowing it and
obstinately to hold or individually, to assert, to preach, to teach, or
to defend it by word or in writing and presumed to do so, the
proceedings against him, as against the heretic in the accustomed way. -nulli
permitted to infringe this page of our decision and regulation or boldly
oppose. |
[9.] Quicunque autem deinceps
praedictarum nostrarum diffinitionum seu determinationum aut singularam
ipsarum contrarium scienter et pertinaciter tenere, asserere,
praedicare, docere aut defendere verbo vel scripto praesumpserit, contra
eum sicut contra haereticum modo debito procedatur. -Nulli ergo omnino
hominum liceat hanc paginam nostrae diffinitionis et Constitutionis
infringere vel ei ausu temerario contraire. |
But if anyone should
presume to attempt this, he will incur anew the wrath of Almighty God
and of His blessed Apostles Peter and Paul. |
Siquis autem hoc attemptare
praesumpserit, indignationem Omnipotentis Dei et beatorum Petri et Pauli
Apostolorum eius se noverit incursurum. |
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Datum Avinione, IV.kal. februarii, pont. nostri
anno secundo. |
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— De Curia. A. Fabri |
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