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OF 
 
 HIS GRACE THE ARCHBISHOP OF QUEBEC, 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 PROMULGATION OF THE DOGMATIC DECREE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 * 
 
 PETER FLAVTANUS TURGEON, 
 
 is i¥ Mm ai (^o'h anD i\t (gxm ef tfee lalij ^pMk Stt, 
 
 To the Clergy i^cular and recfvlar and to all the faithful of our Diocess, 
 greeting^ and benediction in the Lord. 
 
 LET our souls, D. B. B., rejoice in the Lord, and our hearts throb with rapturom 
 delight in God our Saviour; let us bless and praise Him for the ineffable favouraHe hw 
 lavished on His Holy Mother. For behold a new ray of light, radiating from the 
 centre of the Church has appeared to reveal, amidst the splendours of our faith.one 
 of those marvellous operations of His grace, wherewith He has adorned our Holj 
 Mother, and which claims and calls for the renewed expression of our love and 
 admiration, and urges us to exclaim that She is full of grace, blessed and hapiw 
 amongst women. 
 
 i 
 
 If' 
 

 Yes, the time-honored and pious hcllcf in the Immaculate Conception of 
 the Virgin Mar.y, has been at length solemnly sanctioned and defined an Article of 
 Faith : and it is on the great day already consecrated for the celebration of this 
 glorious and pccuhar privilege that this dogma has been publicly proclaimed 
 
 llow many generations have fervently desired to see this auspicious day, and 
 have not seen it ? This happiness was reserved for us. Yes, we bloss God that a 
 solemn decree emanating from the Apostolic See, has at length disclosed to our 
 anxious gaze this bright star shining in all its effulgence, which ever a.lorned the 
 diadem of the Queen of Heaven, but whose mild brilliancy was hitherto dimmed 
 and obscured, as it were, by a cloud. 
 
 As in times gone by, the Church of God, by virtue of her infiillible authority, 
 has declared that the Divine Maternity, the perpetual and inviolate Virginity, and 
 the impeccability of Mary were revealed truths, .o in like manner, <m this happy 
 day, She has proclaimed the truth of Her Immaculate Conception, vhich is so 
 admirably uniled and so inseparably connected, with the former. After long and 
 fervent prayer., humiliations and fastings offered up to God, after ,,iotractcd and 
 mature deliberations consultations and discussion of the question in all its bcarin.^s, 
 the Vicar of Jesus-Chnst has at last pronounced and defined, from the Chair°of 
 letcr that the doctrine which teaches the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin is 
 revealed rom God and that, consequently, all the faithful are bound to believe' it 
 firmly and constantly. '-■'t-vi. it 
 
 You are well aware, D. B. B., that, when pronouncing her infallible decision on 
 matters of .loctrinc which call for her final defiiition, the Church does odlgrre 
 !.an expose and declare her faith, and merely pronounces that such truth is con- 
 tained in the deposit of divine revelation. For, m.ity in her faith ever was and 
 ever will be, .he characteristic mark of the Church ; nnd all the truths she tea hes 
 or ever will teach until the end of the world, these she has received from the bC' 
 giiming stored up in the treasury of the Sacred Scriptures and divine traditions co^i . 
 muted to her safe keeping by the Son of God, and of which He has established her 
 alone the mconuptible guardian and the infallible interpreter. It is, therefore 
 eviden that when the august Head of the Church, in whom live, andev r W H ' 
 the authority and mimstry of Peter, pronounces a decree defining any articl of 
 doetrine. He does not introduce any doctrine novel, or different fronTthose con a ined 
 in the deposit of fu.th, but merely and simply settles and determines the true s Tse 
 
 dirt;!""''"""'*" '""^ """'^'^ '^'^'^^^^ -^ '^-•-- thatitcontr: 
 
 Wherefore the Church of Jesus Christ, ever enlightened and assisted by the 
 Holy Ghost, ever invigoratedby the life ofher divine founder, who has promilcd 
 
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8 
 
 to bo witli licr ulwaj8 even to the consummaiion of af^cs, and to never abandon her, 
 the church, thus pop^cssing the promise of infulhbility, never at any time has ad- 
 mitted or taught, nor ever will she teach or admit, as a revealed truth, any article 
 that is not really and truly such. 
 
 She may, therefore, as she has always done, and as she will always do, proclaim 
 with infallible authority and without fear of error, whatever truth is contained in 
 the treasury of divine revelation confided to her care. 
 
 Thus, D. B. B., you understand that by the definition of the Immaculate Con- 
 ception of Mary, no new doctrine has been broached, but that thereby has been con- 
 firmed and proclaimed, a truth revealed to the Apostles, and by them handed down 
 to their successors, which was also ever believed by the church. 
 
 It is true that hitherto this truth was not presented to the faithful with the cer- 
 tainty of faith ; the reason hereof is that every truth comprised in divine reve- 
 lation is only an article of faith, inasmuch as it is infallibly acknowledged to be re- 
 vealed, and it is not acknowledged, nor ever can be sc acknowledged, save when 
 expressly defined as such by the church. Up to the present time the church waa 
 pleased merely to insinuate and suggest her faith, and had not as yet definitely pro- 
 claimed the Immaculate Conception of Mary ; but eternal thanks to God, now that 
 she has spoken, — now that the decree of her august Head so ardently desired has 
 been promulgated, all the shadows which had obscured the glory and sanctity of 
 the Conception of the Blessed Virgin have been dispelled ; all doubt has disappeared, 
 the truth now shines in all its lustre: it is an article of faith that Mary has not sinned 
 in Adam : it is an article of faith that her Conception was immaculate; it is an 
 article of faith that, through the merits of Jesus-Christ her divine Son, she has been 
 preserved from original sin, and that in her Conception itself, she was sanctified by 
 God, replenished with all the gifts, graces and favours that could be conferred on a 
 privileged creature, chosen from all eternity to be the mother of God. 
 
 What a glorious triumph for all the children of God to witness the promulga- 
 tion of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, whom they own and ac- 
 knowledge for their mother ! Who could undertake to narrate the manifold graces 
 and advantages which this joyful event can not fail to diffuse throughout the church 
 on earth ? What feelings of piety, devotion and love towards the Blessed Virgin, 
 what confidence in her powerful protection is it not calculated to inspire us with ? 
 
 Who can refrain from admiring, in this instance, the marvellous dispensations 
 of Divine Providence in our regard ? It is after so many vows and ardent desires 
 offered up to heaven during so many ages, at a time when the kings of the earth 
 are conspiring against God and against his Christ, during these latter days, when 
 faith is weakening and disappearing, and charity is waxing cold, that Our 
 
 
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 Lord Jesus present, to us His Holy MoihcT gloriously triumphing over sin nnd l.ell. 
 WI.0 but must sec that by His intro.lucing II,r with all the lustre of Her dorious 
 ru.mp I, as the bright star of the sea, or the luminous sign of Ilis alliance arllst the 
 Storms that convulse the world, He intended to aff.rd to His Church, aV.tated and 
 tossed by the stormy waves, and threatened with shipwreck, a signal i.roofof His 
 promised ass.s.ance, and a peremptory pledge of salvation, giving us all ihereby to 
 understand ihat It .s through Mary that He has resolved to save us, that havMna 
 bequeathed Her to us for our Mother, and comn.itted our protection to Her 
 maternal eare. He is desirous that we should have recourse to Her in all our 
 wants and temptations ; that through Her we may be delivered from all dangers 
 and obtain aneasy victory over all the assaults of the world and of the devil and 
 tliat being placed under Her powerful protection wemay have nolhin-. to fear? 
 And our sweet and Divine Mother who to-day n-ceives frou) the Church a new 
 meed of honor, She who has always proved herself to be the help and protection of 
 the Christian people, will she, unmoved and indifferent, hear the accents of praise 
 and strains of love, which like a melodious concert, now ascend to Heaven from the 
 hearts of all Her children ? Does She not owe them, and will She not grant them 
 tresh proofs of Her tender charity and visible signs ofHer jirotection ? Oh ! little indeed 
 would we bo acquainted with the heart ci'Mary, if we could entertain the slightest 
 apprehension or hesitation in this respect I 
 
 But you especially, children of the Church of Quebec, what lively emotions of 
 holy joy, and sweet confidence ought not the definition of the Immaculate Concep- 
 tioii of Mary to excite within your breasts ! For it b indeed Mary, inasmuch as She 
 was conceived without sin, who is the Patmncssof the Cathedral of Quebec andcon- 
 Bcquently of all the faithful of the Diocese ; it is indeed under the protection of 
 Mary, inasmuch as She was conceived without sin, that you have been placerl in an 
 especial manner from the first settlement of this Colony and that you have grov/n 
 and increased and have preserved your Faith in the midst of innumerable dan-ers 
 and trials : it is indeed Mary, inasmuch as She wasconceivcd without Sin, whom vou 
 have ever honoured and invoked, when celebrating the solemn festival of theCon- 
 ception. What a triumph, xvhata holy consolation for you to hear, on this occasion 
 this magnificent title confirmed by the oracles of Heaven ! ' 
 
 Prepare yourselves then to celebrate, with the rapturous delights of holv joy 
 this happy event, which must be the fruitful source of grace and happiness to the 
 universal church, and to yourselves in particular. To a worthy celebration of 
 Mary's glory, the example of Catholics throughout the world should incite you; your 
 own sincere devotion and gratitude, towards the Blessed Virgin, should enforce it 
 w a duty, and you are also invited by the Sovereign Pon:iff himself. For bj a 
 
special Indulto, dated 22nd January last, he lias condescended to authorize us to ce- 
 lebrate, by a Triduum or three days of solemn devotion, the dogmatick decree defining 
 the Immaculate Conception of Mary, and to grant a partial indulgence of seven years 
 and as many forty days, in favour of all the faithful, for each day they shall assist at 
 and follow the prescribed devotional exercises, and moreover a plenary indulgence 
 m favour of all those, who shall receive sacramental penance and the Holy Eucharist 
 assist at the three days exercises, and, on the last, will pray according to his inten- 
 tion ; Ills Holiness allows those indulgences to be applied in behalf of the souls in 
 Purgatory ; and, in order to favour the piety of the faithful and heighten the solemn- 
 ity of the Triduum in honor of the blessed Virgin, he permits us to sing the High 
 Mass of the Immaculate Conception, on each of the three days. 
 
 We exhort you, D. B. B., to avail yourselves of these indulgences, which in 
 your regard, may be considered as the first fruits of grace and the first emana- 
 tions of blessings resulting from the belief in the Immaculate Conception of Mary. 
 
 Wherefore, we have decreed, and do by these presents decree what follows :— 
 
 1st. There will be celebrated, with all possible pomp, in all the Parishes and 
 Missions throughout the Diocese, a Tridmvt of prayers, to return thanks to the 
 A.mighty for the publication of the dogmatic decrees of our Holy Father the Pope 
 defining the Immaculate Conception. 
 
 2nd. The Tndmm will be celebrated in the Cathedral, on the three first days 
 in May next. With respect to the other churches in the city, wherein public ser- 
 vice IS held, as well as to the Rural Districts, the Parish Priests, Chaplains and Mis- 
 sionaries, are authorized to make choice of any other three days within the said 
 month which may be deemed most convenient; the religious communities shall 
 enjoy the same privilege in favor of the persons attached to their houses 
 
 3rd. During tlie Tridrmm, a solemn High Mass of the Immaculate Conception 
 will be sung on each day, unless such day should occur with the festival of the 
 Ascension, the day or Vigil of Pentecost, in which case the Mass should be the one 
 proper to the Festival. Mass will conclude with the Benediction of the Blessed 
 Sacrament, wherein should be sung the Litanies of the Blessed Virgin, of which the 
 last Mivocation R.yma sine lahe concepta, ora pro nobis, is to be repeated three times, 
 and followed by the Tautum ergo, versicle and prayer. 
 
 4th. The Bull of His Holiness, promulgating the abovementioned decree, shall 
 be read in its entierty during the Triduum. It is left to the option of the Pastors 
 either to read the Bull at full length once, or so to distribute the reading of it, as to 
 assign a part for each day. ° ' 
 
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 .1, ^' n '''"^ ""'''^'' "^ ^^^ '^'■" ^"y' «'^«" '^'^ ^'"'""1 ^"f" 'he aolcmn chant of 
 the TeDeum, 
 
 6th In tl.c Cathedral and the other churches of the city, wherein divine ser- 
 vices pubhcly celebrated, at 7 o'clock each evening, there will be a .-ermon, followed 
 by the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, at which shallho sung, as in the 
 morning office, the Litanies of the Blessed Virgin with the 'lanhm ergo, ^c. The 
 object of the evening exercises is to afford to the faithful, who are prevented bv 
 thcr pursuits and avocations from attending in the m«rn=ng, an opportunity of 
 sharing also in the benefit of the indulgences of the Tridnum 
 
 7th. During the exercises of the Triduum, the churches and chapels should be 
 decoruted as in the most solemn festivals, 
 
 This our present Pastoral Letter is to bo read at the Prmu of all churches in 
 which divine service is celebrated, and in chapter in all religious houses, the first 
 Sunday after its reception. 
 
 Given at Quebec, under the signature of our Coadjutor, the Seal of the Arch- 
 cialion of the B. V. M., one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five. 
 
 t C. F. BISHOP OF TLOA. 
 
 By His Grace's command, 
 
 EdMOND LAIfOEVIN, Pst. 
 
 Secretary, 
 
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f cttns l^pstclit 
 
 OUR MOST HOLY LORD TIUS IX, BY DIVINE PROVIDENCE POPE, 
 
 OONCEBNIMO TBI 
 
 iopatit definition cf l|t Immwulalt fi!;0n«ijti0n of Ibe l^irgin llotfetr of (goU. 
 
 PIUS, BISHOP, SKPiVANT OF TIIK SERVANTS OF GOD. 
 ihr the perpcliinl renmnlmniH of the thing. 
 
 The Ineffable God, whoso ways arc mercy and Irulh, whose will is omnipo- 
 tence, and whose wisdom reaches powerfully from end to end, and sweetly dis- 
 poses everything, when He foresaw from all eternity the most sorrowful ruin of 
 the entire human race to follow from the transgression of Adam, and in a mys- 
 tery hidden from a<^o?, determined to complete, through the incarnation of tlie 
 Word in a more hidden sacrament the first work of Ills goodness, so that man, 
 led into sin by the craft of diabolical iniquity, should not perish contrary to His 
 merciful design, and that what was about to befal in the first Adam should be re- 
 stored more happily in the second ; from the beginning and before ages chose 
 and ordained a mother for His only-begotten Son, of whom made flesl|, He should 
 be born in the blessed plenitude of lime, and followed her with so great love 
 before all creatures that in lur alone Ho pleased Himself with a most benign 
 complacency. Wherefore, far before all the angelic spirits and all the Saints, 
 He so wonderfully endowed her with the abundance of all the heavenly gifts 
 drawn from the treasure of divinity, that she might be over free from every stain 
 of sin, and all fair and perfool, would bear before her that plenitude of innocence 
 and holiness than which, under God, none greater is understood, and which, ex- 
 cept God, no one can reach even in thought. And indeed it was most becominf; 
 that she would shine always adorned with the splendour of the most perfect holi- 
 ness, and free even from the stain of original sin, would gain a most complete 
 
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 t M mph ov,.r tho nnc.ont serpent, M.o the Mother m, venernl.le, to whon, Oo.l the 
 Fa.her, < .spo.e.) to ,.ve hin only Son, vvho.n h.-Kotten an.l e„ al ,o Hi.n.-lf rorn 
 H.s heart he love.l a. Il.msejf, in such a manner that IFe w.n.kl be by natu e „^ 
 and t ,. .ame co.nnu.n Son of Go.1 the Father, a„.l of the Virgin, and whl e 
 Son H„„sel ehose to make substantially his Mother, and from whon. the Til 
 
 ni::::^':!:!:''''''' '"-' "° ^'--^ '- --^-^ '-^ ^-" ^-' ^^'"- ^' 
 
 Which original innoeenee of the uugu.t Virgin agreeing completely wilh 
 her ndnnrublo hohness, and with the most excellent dignity^,f th Mofh.Tof 
 God, the Catohe Church, which, ever taught by the Iloly'spirit. is the pi |a 
 and ground of truth, as possessing a doctrine <livinely received, md com e 
 hended m the .leposit of heavenly revelation, has never ceased to laycCo 
 
 d ilvtv";; '',' 'r"'^ 1""""-'"^'-^ ""'"--- P-ofs, and more 'and 1 
 d.ulj h yl-nd.d facts. For this doctrine, (louri.shin,. f,om the most ancient 
 
 11..; In V I ontlfs wonderfully propagated, the Church herself has most clearly 
 po.n^ed ou wlK-n she did not hesitate to propose the conception of tie Z 
 V.rgn. for the public devotion and veneration of the Faithful. By which ill^s! 
 tr.ous act she pom.ed out the conception uf the Virgin as singular, wonderfu 
 and very lar re.noyed fron. the origins of the rest of mankind, and to be ven rat J 
 asent.rcly holy smce the Church celebrates festival day.; only of the Sain s 
 And therefore, the very words in which the Sacred Scriptures speak of unerel" d 
 wsdou. and represent his eternal origins, she has been accustomed to use ot 
 only .n the ofT.ces of the Church, but also in the holy liturgy, and to trans L to 
 U.eor.gu,o( that V,rgn, which was preordained b/o„c and the same d ere 
 with the incarnation of Divine Wisdom. 
 
 But though all those things everywhere justly received amongst the Faithful 
 show w.th w at zeal the Roman Church, the motlL and mistress ff all Clm 
 ..as supported the dextrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin y!te' 
 Illustrious acts of this Church are evidently worthy thL they should bt r v'ew d 
 byname; smce so great is the dignity and authority of'tho same Churcl so - 
 much IS due to her who is the centre of Catholic truth and unity, in whom alone 
 re .g,o„ has been inviolably guarded, and from whom it is' ght tha al I e 
 Churc es should receive the tradition of Faith. Thus the same Roman CI u h 
 had no hmg more at heart than to assert, to protect, to promote, and to vind icl 
 n the most eloquent manner the Immaculate Conception of th^ Virgin, its ^ 
 ^on and doctrme, which fact so many illustrious acts of the Romai^ Pon, 1^ 
 Our predecessors, most evidently and fully testify and declare, to whomttt 
 
poMon of the Prince of the ApomIr« wa, divinely commilled by ChriM our I ord 
 thren „nd of rulmg and governing the universal Church. * 
 
 CUur^uTv'ZTr P"'''^-7'""''',/^"-""-n,ly gloried ,o institute in .he Roman 
 aurclt Ln h ? ApoBtohc authority ,he Feast of tho Conception, and to 
 
 31: "o^a ""?'""""" "''' "" ""''' P-^" '"« ''"votion thus instituted" 
 by a proper Oflice and a proper Mass, by which the prerogative of immunitJ 
 
 uTe :::tZ^^^^ ""' '-^"'^'^^"^ "^'-^'«''= .oincr'e„se it ehlrbyt: 
 
 dulgences granted or by leave g.ven to .talis, provinces, and kingdoms that the* 
 m.gla choose as their patron the Mother of God, under 'the title 'of the I cu' 
 late Conception, or by approved sodalities, congregations, and religious families 
 .nstuuted to the honour of tho Immaculate Conception ; or by 0^1! l". o 
 
 :Ether "'^'"n ""^"^^ ---«"ies,^.o,phalH,L''eh:rchefun r 
 he ftic of the Immaculate Conception, or who have bound themselves bv a re 
 
 T 1 1 . ? f ' ^""^ '^'"^ '"PPy '^ "'•^"''^ •*"»* <he Feast of the Conception 
 should be celebrated through the whole Church as that of the Nat vity and in 
 hne, t at tt should be celebrated with an Octave in the univfrs icL h a, it 
 was placed, n the rank of the festivals which are commanded to be kL holy 
 also hat a Pontifical service in Our Patriarchal Liberian Basilica shLid pc'-' 
 
 heTsh T\' "" " 'r^ '^"''^ •" '''' ^"-"^^P""" °f •*•« ^'^g'" ■' ""d desiring .0 
 ?mml.M V"°'' ""'^ T' '" '^' -'"dsof the Faithful this doctrine of the 
 Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God, and to excite their piety to wor' 
 sh.ppmg and venerating the Virgin conceived without original sin they have 
 
 o the Mass ttself the Immaculate Conception of the same Virgin should be pro- 
 claimed, and that thus the rule of faith would be established by the rule itself of 
 supplication. We ourselves, treading in the footsteps of so many predecessors 
 have not only received and approved what had been most wisely and piously e^ 
 tablished and appointed by them, but also, mindful of the institution of Sixtus I V 
 We have appointed by Our authority a proper Office for the Immaculate Concept 
 Church "'" ^"^^"' '"'"'^ ^^^° granted the use of it to the universal 
 
 But since those things which pertain to worship are evidently bound by an 
 mtimate chord to its object, and cannot remain fixed and determined, if it be 
 doubtful, and placed in uncertainty, therefore Our predecessors, the Roman Pon- 
 tiff., increasing with all their care the devotion of the Conception, studied most 
 especially to declare and inculcate its object and doctrine; for they taught 
 
 ii 
 
 ■- ■mmtrnmsm'-. 
 
10 
 
 clearly and openly that the festival was celebrated for the Conception of the 
 Virgin, and thej proscribed as false and most foreign to the intention of the Church 
 the opinion of those who considered and affirmed tl.,.t it was not of the Concep- 
 tion itself, but the sanctificution to which devotion was paid by the Church. Nor 
 did they think of treating more indulgently those who, in order to weaken the 
 doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, drawing a distinction between the first 
 and second instant and moment of the Conception, asserted that the Conception 
 was indeed celebrated, but not for the first instant and moment ; for Our predeces- 
 sors themselves thought it their duty to protect and deftMid with all zeal both the 
 Feast of the Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin, and the Conception from 
 the first instant as the true object of devotion. Hence the words, evidently de- 
 cretive, in \'hich Alexander VII. declared the true intention of the Church, say- 
 ing: " Certainly, it is the ancient piety of the Faithful of Christ towards His 
 Most Blessed Mother the Virgin Mary believing that her soul, ;n the first instant 
 of creation, and of infusion into the body, was by a special grace and privilege 
 of God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus- Christ her Son, the Redeemer of man- 
 kind, preserved free from the stain of original sin, and in this sense they keop 
 and celebrate with solemn rite the Festival of her Conception." 
 
 And to the same, Our preotcessors, this also was most especially a duly to 
 preserve from contention the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the 
 Mother of God guarded and protected with all care and zeal. For not only have 
 they never suffered that this doctrine should ever be censured or traduced in any 
 way or by any one, but they have gone much further, and in clear declarations 
 on repeated occasions they have proclaimed that the doctrine in which we con- 
 fess the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin is, and by its own merit, is held 
 evidently consistent with Ecclesiastical worship, that it is ancient and necrly 
 universal, and of the same sort as that which the Roman Church has undertake!! 
 to cherish and protect, and ab .ve all, worthy to be placed in its sacred liturgy 
 and its solemn prayers. Nor content with this, in order that the doctrine of ihe 
 Immaculate Conception of the Vi'gin should remain inviolate, they have most 
 severely prohibited the opinion adverse to this doctrine to be defended either in 
 public or in private, and they have wished to crush it as it were by repealed 
 blows. To which leileraled and most clear declaral'ons, lest they might i._ e-\i 
 empty, they added a sanction; all which things Our illustrious predecessor 
 Alexander I. embraced in these words : — 
 
 " Considering that the Holy Roman Church solemnly celebrates the festival ot 
 the Conception of the Immaeulaie and Ever-Blessed Virgin, and has appointed for 
 thisa special and propercfficeaccordingtothepious,devout,and laudable institution 
 
11 
 
 which emanated from Our oredeoesoiir sjivtiio IV „ ^ • l- 
 
 Church smce the institution of the worshio =lself- «U^i. ^ " '" '"^ ^^^^an 
 piety and devotion of venerating and 0:^!!:.::^^:^:^:^:^ ^ 
 served from ongmal sin by the preventing grace of the HoivPhnr 77^ ' ^ 
 preserve in the flock of Christ unity of spiriHr he bfnj^j ''' '"^ '^'''""^ '° 
 fences, and hravv.s. and scandai. ; 'at the'instle X^^^/^^^^^^^^^^ 
 shops, with the Chapters of their Churches and of Ki^l p. ,• ^'?,'^'^ ^'- 
 doms, We renew the constitutions and deLes issLd v ^ p^ '"*' 'i' ''"^■ 
 Our predecessors, and especially by SixtuT V Paufv^ 'r"'^'" ^"''^^ 
 favour of asserting ,he opinion th'at L ot oHhe B e sld vlrt '"' '''^•' '" 
 and infusion into the body was endowed with the gteof^^Hl Ghr^^^^^ 
 preserved from original sin ; likewise, also, in favour of the a1 1^ ? u ' "^ 
 Virgin Mother of God, celebrated according to that nious htl f v "/ '^' ''™' 
 above, and We command that it shall be Zeved under the "^ '! '''''"^ 
 
 .nents contained in the same constitutions ''"'""' ""^ P^^'^''" 
 
 " And against all and each of those who try to internret .h« nf 
 
 add, and by these presents do add, those We wm thaUhev ^ uT 1""' *" 
 ipso /ado and without other declaration of th 7 c^ "'"^ ^^ '^''f"""** 
 
 in public, or o. teaching and nto 'S^^^ and .1 h P""'-'''"^' ''^ '^=^^^'"8 
 
 or passive in elections from whi T " u '''^ ^''^"^ ^"'«^. ^vhether active 
 dispensation, un ssf ^J^^u" "0'"""' "'^?"""^ ''^ absolved, nor obtain 
 We'wish to Subject uTd W 'he eby doll'T';''^ ^"'"^'^ ^""^'^''^ ^ '''^«--' 
 tics, to be inflic/ed It Our will and at tha'' d' ' "'"' 7"" ^r^^-P--'" 
 
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 " And We prohibit, under the penalties and censures contained in the Index 
 of Prohibited Books, and we will and declare that they should be esteemed pro- 
 hibited ipsofacio, and without other declaration, books in which the aforesaid 
 belief and the festival or devotion celebrated according to it is recalled into dis- 
 pute, or ill which anything whatever is written or read against these, or lectures, 
 sermons, treatises, and disputations against the same, published after the decree 
 above eulogised of Paul V., or to be published at any future time." 
 
 AIJ are aware with how much zeal this doctrine of the Immaculate Con- 
 ception of the Mother of God has been handed down, asserted and propagated 
 by the most distinguished Religious Orders, the most celebrated theological 
 academie^, and the most eminent Doctors of the science of Divinity. All know 
 ll'.ewise how anxious have been the Bishops openly and publicly to profess, even 
 in the Ecclesiastical assemblies themselves, that the Most Holy Mother of God 
 the Virgin Mary, by virtue of the merits of Christ Our Lord, the Saviour of man- 
 kmd, never lay under original sin, but was preserved free from the stain of origin, 
 and thus was redeemed in a more sublime manner. To which, lastly, is added 
 this fact, most grave and, in an especial manner, most impmrtant of all, that the 
 Council <rf Trent itself, when it promulgated the dogmatic decree concerning 
 original sin, in which, according to the testimonies of the Sacred Scriptures, of 
 the Holy Fathers, and of the most approved councils, it determined and defined 
 that all mankind are born under original sin: solemnly declared, however, that 
 it was not iis intention to include in the decree itself, and in the amplitude of its 
 definition, the Blessed and Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Indeed, 
 by this declaration, the Tridentine Fathers have assented, according to the times 
 and the circumstances of affairs, that the Blessed Virgin Mary was free from the 
 original stain, and thus clearly signified that nothing could be justly adduced 
 from the sacred writings, nor from the authority of the Fathers, which would in 
 any way gainsay so great a prerogative of the Virgin. 
 
 And, in real truth, illustrious monuments of a venerated antiquity of the 
 Easlerii and of the Western Church most powerfully testify that this doctrine of 
 the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin, every day more and more 
 so splendidly explained and confirmed by the highest authority, leaching, zeal, 
 ecjence, and wisdom of the Church, and so wonderfully propagated amongst all 
 thf nations and peoples of the Catholic world, always existed in the Church as 
 ri't^cived from Our ancestors, and stamped with the character of a divine revela- 
 tion. For the Church of Christ, careful guardian and defender of the dogmas 
 deposited with her, changes nothing in them, diminishes nothing, adds nothing, 
 but, with all industry, by faithfully and wisely treating ancient things, if they 
 
 ' « 
 
 " i^^'' 
 
 »W ii ^»i i ^a i i i frww i j i a iiia 
 
13 
 
 are handed down from antiquity, so studies to eliminate, to clear them up, that 
 these ancient dogmas of heavenly faith may receive evidence, light, distinction, 
 but still may retain their fullness, integrity, propriety, and may increase only in 
 their own kind, that is, in the same dogma, the same sense, and the same 
 belief. 
 
 The Fathers and writers of the Church, taughtby the heavenly writings, had 
 nothing more at heart, in the books written to explain the Scriptures, to vindicate 
 the dogmas, and to. instruct the Faithful, than emulously to declare and exhibit 
 in many and wonderful ways the Virgin's most high sanctity, dignity, and freedom 
 from all stain of original sin, and her renowned victory over the most foul enemy 
 of the human race. Wherefore, repeating tha words in which, at the beginning 
 of the world, the Almighty, innouncing the remedies of His merey, prepared for 
 regenerating mankind, crushed the audacity of the lying serpent, and wonderfu'- 
 ly raised up the hope of our race, saying-" I will place enmity between thee and 
 the woman, thy seed and hers," they taught that in this Divine oracle was clear- 
 ly and openly pointed out the merciful Redeemer of the human race— the only- 
 begotten Son of God, Christ Jesus, and that his Most Blessed Mother the Vircrfn 
 Mary, was designated, and at the same time that the enmity of both against the 
 serpent was signally expressed. Wherefore, as Christ, ihe mediator of^'cod and 
 men, having assumed human nature, blotting out the handwriting of the decree 
 which stood against us, fastened it triumphantly to the cross, so the Most Holy 
 Virgin, bound by a most close and indissoluble chain with Him, exercisin- with 
 Him and througli Him eternal enmity against the malignant serpent and tri- 
 umphing most amply over the same, has crushed his head with her immaculate 
 foot. 
 
 This illustrious and singular triumph of the Virgin, and her most exalted in- 
 nocence, purity, and holiness, her freedom from all stain of sin, and ineffable 
 abundance and greatness of all heavenly graces, virtues, and privileges, the snme 
 fathers beheld in that ark of Noah which, divinely appointed, escaped, safe and 
 sound, from the common shipwreck of the whole world ;'also in that Indder which 
 Jacob beheld to reach from earth to Heaven, by whose steps the Angels of God 
 ascended and descended, on whose top leaned God himself; also in that bush 
 which, in the holy place, Moses beheld blaze on every side, and amidst the crack- 
 ling flames, neither to be consumed nor to suffer the least injury, but to grow 
 green and to blossom fairly ; also, in that tower unassailable in the face of an 
 enemy, from which depend a thousand bucklers and all the armour of the brave • 
 also, in that garden fenced round about, which cannot be violated nor corrupted 
 by any schemes of fraud ; also in that brilliant city of God, whose foundations are 
 
 "I 
 
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 III! I 
 
 M 'i 
 
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 14 
 
 in the holy mounts ; also in that most august temple of God, which, shining wilh 
 divine splendour, is filled with the glory of God ; likewise in many other thin-s 
 of this kind in which the Fathers have handed down, that the exahed dignity of 
 the Mother of God and her spotless innocence, and her holiness, obnoxious to no 
 blemish, have been signally pre-announced. 
 
 To describe the same totality, as it were, of Divine gifts, and the original in- 
 tegrity of the Virgin of whom Jesus was born, the same Fathers, using the elo- 
 quence of the Prophets, celebrate the august Virgin as the spotless dove, the holy 
 Jerusa em. the exalted throne of God, the ark and house of sanclification, which 
 Eternal Wisdom built foritself ; and aMhat Queen who, abounding in delights 
 and leaning on her beloved, came forth entirely perfect from the mouthof the Most 
 High, fair and most dear to God, and never stained with the last spot. But when 
 
 I.'.'r'J'^'nr ^"1 il" '''"'''' °^ '^^ ^'""*''' '■^*"'^^'' '" their hearts and minds 
 that the Most Blessed Virgin, in the name and by the order of God himself, was 
 proclaimed ful of grace by the Angel Gabriel, when announcing her most sub- 
 lime dignity of the Mother of God, they taught that, by this singular and solemn 
 salutation never heard on any other occasion, is shown that the Mother of God is 
 the seat of all Divine graces, and adorned with all the gifts of the Holy Ghost- 
 yea, the infinite storehouse and inexhaustible abyss of the same gifts; so that 
 never obnoxtous to an evil word, and alone with her Son partaker of perpetual 
 benediction, she deserved to hear from Elizabeth, inspired by the Holy Gho.t 
 " Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb." ' 
 
 Hence it is the clear and unanimous opinion of the same that the Most Glo- 
 rious Virgin, for whom He who is powerful has done great things, has shone 
 with such a brilliancy of all heavenly gifts, such fulness of grace, and such inno- 
 cence, that slu' has been an ineffable miracle of the Almighty, yea, the crown of 
 all miracles, and worthy Mother of God ; that she approaches as nearly to God as 
 created nature can do, and is more exalted than all human and an-elic en- 
 comiums. ° 
 
 And therefore, to vindicate the original i nocc'ice and justice of the Mother 
 of God. they not only compared her to Eve as yet virgin, as yet innocent, as yet 
 incorrupted, and not yet deceived by the most deadly snares of the most treacher- 
 ous serpent, but they have preferred her with a wonderful variety of thought and 
 expression. For Eve, miserably obeying the serpent, fell from original innocence 
 and became h.s slave, but the Most Ble.sed Virgin, ever increasing her original 
 gift, not only never leant anearto the serpent, but by a virtue divinely received, 
 utterly broke his power. 
 
 I ■ 
 
 ^1^ 
 
 gwjwtifci - II iiriHjar s BW|i i h i ' i nBM 
 
15 
 
 Wherefore tht.y have never ceased to call the Mother of God the lily amon-sl 
 the thorns, earth entirely untouched, virgin, undetiled, immaculate, ever blessed, 
 and free from all contagion of sin, from which was formed the new Adam, a re- 
 proach e.s, most sweet paradise of innocence, immortality, and delights planted 
 by God .mnscif, and fenced from all snares of the malignant serpent.Incorruptible 
 branch Ihat the worm of sin has never injured ; fountain ever clc^r, and marked 
 by .he virtue of the Holy Ghost, a most Divine temple, or treasure of immortality, 
 or the sole and only daughter not of death but of life, the seed not of enmity bui 
 of grace, which by the singular providence of God has always flourished, reviving 
 fronTi a corrupt and imperfect root, contrary to the settled and common laws But 
 as if these encomiums, though most splendid, were not sufficient, they proclai.ned 
 in proper and defined opinions that when sin should be treated of no question 
 should be entertained concerning the Holy Virgin Mary, to whom kn abundance 
 of grace was given to conquer sin completely. Thev also declared that the Moat 
 Glorious Virgin was the reparatrix of her parents, the vivifier of posterity chosen 
 from the ages, prepared for himself by the Most High, predicted by God when He 
 said 10 the serpent, " I will place enmity between thee and the woman," who un- 
 doubtedly has crushed the poisonous head of the same serpent ; and therefore 
 they affirm that the same Blessed Virgin was through grace perfectly free from 
 every stain of sin, and from all contagion of body and soul, and mind, and always 
 conversant with God and united with Him in an eternal covenant, never was in 
 darkness but alwas in light, and therefore was plainly a fit habitation for Christ 
 not on account of her bodily slate, but on accouM of her original grace. ' 
 
 To these things are added the noble words in which, speaking of the Con- " 
 ception of the Virgin, they have testified that nature yielded to grace and stood 
 trembling, not being able to proceed further; for it was to be that the Vir<rin 
 Mother of God should not be conceived by Anna before grace should bear fruit 
 For she ought thus to be conceived as the first born, from whom should be con- 
 ceived the first born of every creature. They have testified that the flesh of the 
 Virgin, taken from Adam, did not admit the stains of Adam, and on this account 
 that the Most Blessed Virgin was the tabernacle created by God himself formed 
 by the Holy Spirit, trulyenrichcd with purple which that new Beseleel made 
 adorned and woven with gold ; and that this same Virgin is, and deservedly is' 
 celebrated as she who was the first and the peculiar work of God, escaped horn 
 the fiery weapons of evil, and fair by nature, and entirely free from all stain 
 came into the vrorld all shining like the Morn in her immaculate Conception • 
 nor, truly, was it right that this vessel of election should be assailed by common 
 
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I -^ ' I 
 
 le 
 
 16 
 
 injuries, since, cliflTuring very much from others, she had community with Ihem 
 only in their nature, not in their fault. 
 
 Far more, it was riglit that, as the Only Begotten had a Father in Heaven, 
 whom the Serapliim extol three times holy, so He should have a Mother on the 
 earth, whenever should want the splendour of holiness. And this doctrine, in- 
 deed, so filled the minds and souls of our forefathers, that a marvellous and sin- 
 gular form of speech prevailed with them, in- which they very frequently called 
 the Mother of God immaculate and entirely immaculate, innocent and most inno- 
 cent, spotless, holy, and most distant from every stain of sin, all pure, all perfect, 
 the type and model of purity and innocence, more beautiful than beauty, more 
 gracious than grace, more holy than holiness, and alone holy, and m.ost pure in 
 soul and body, who has surpassed all perfectitude and all virginity, and has be- 
 come the dwelling-place of all the graces of the Most Holy Spirit, and who, God 
 alone excepted, is superior to all, and by nature fairer, more beautiful, and more 
 holy than the Cherubim and Pcraphim ; she whom all the tongues of Heaven and 
 earth do not sulfice to extol. No one is ignorant that these forms of speech have 
 passed, as it were, spontaneously into the monuments of the most holy liturgy, and 
 the Oliicesof the Church, and that they occur often in them and abound amply ; 
 since the Mother of God is invoked and named in them as a spotless dove of beau- 
 ty, as a rose ever blooming and perfectly pure, and ever spotless and ever blessed, 
 and is celebrated as innocence which was never womided, and a second Eve who 
 brought forth Emmanuel. 
 
 it is no wonder, then, if the Pastors of the Church and the faithful people 
 have daily more and more gloried to profess with so much piety and fervour this 
 doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mother of God, pointed out 
 in the Sacred Scriptures, according to the judgment of the Fathers, handed down 
 in so many mighty testimonies of the same, expressed and celebrated in so many 
 illustrious monuments of a revered antiquity, and propoped, and with great piety 
 confirmed by the greatest and highest judgment of the Church; so that nothing 
 would be more dear, more pleasing to the same than everywhere to worsliip, 
 venerate, invoke, and proclaim the Virgin Mother of God conceived without ori- 
 ginal stain. Wherefore from the ancient times the Princes of the Church, Eccle- 
 siastics, and even emperors and kings themselves, have earnestly entreated of this 
 Apostolic See that the ImmaculateConception of the Most Holy Mother of God 
 should be defined as a dogma of Catholic faith. Which entreaties were renewed 
 also in these Our times, and especially were addressed to Gregory XVI, Our pre- 
 decessor of happy memory, and to ourselves, not only by Bishops, but by the 
 Secular Clergy, Religious Orders, and the greatest princes and faithful people. 
 
 Y' 
 
17 
 
 Therefore, with singular joy of mind, well knowing all these things, and seri- 
 ously considering them, scarcely had Wo, though unworlhy, been raised by a mys- 
 terious dispensation of Divine Providence to the exalted Chair of Peter, and un- 
 dertaken the government of the whole Church, than, following the veneration, the 
 piety, and love We had entertained for the Blessed Virgin from Our tender years. 
 We had nothing at heart more than to accomplish all these things which as yet 
 w-ire amongst the ardent wishes of the Church, that the honour of the Most Bless- 
 ed Virgm should be increased, and her prerogatives should shine with a fuller 
 light. But wishing to bring to this full maturity We appoint a special congregation 
 of Our Venerable Brethren the Cardinals of the H. R. C, illustrious by their piety 
 their wisdom, and their knowledge of the sacred sciences, and we also selected Ec- 
 clesiastics, both Secular and Regular, well trainedintheologicaldiscipIine,thatthcy 
 should most carefully weigh all those things which relate to the Immaculate Con- 
 ception of the Virgin, and report to us their opinion. And, although trom the en- 
 treaties lately received by us for at length defining the Immaculate Conception of 
 the Virgm, the opinions of most of ths Bishops of the Church were understood • 
 however, We sent Encyclic Letters, dated at Gaeta, the 2nd day of February in 
 the year 1849, to all our Venerable Brethren the Bishops of all the Catholic .vc.'rld 
 in order that having offered prayers to God they would signify to Us, in writin-' 
 what was in the piety and devotion of their flocks towards the Immaculate Con- 
 ception of the Mother of God, and especially what the Bishops themselves thougiu 
 about promulgating the definition, or what they desired in order that We mi^ht 
 pronounce Our supreme judgment as solemnly as possible. ° 
 
 Certainly we were filled with no slight consolation when the replies of our 
 Venerable Brethren came to Us. For, with an incredible joyfulness, gladness, 
 and zeal, they not only confirmed their own singular piety, and that of their Clercry 
 and faithful people, towards the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed vir- 
 gin, but they even entreated of Us with a common voice that the Immaculate Con- 
 ception of the Virgin should be defined by Our supreme judgment and authority 
 Nor^ indeed, were We filled with less joy when Our Venerable Blethren the 
 Cardinals of the H. R. C, composing the Special Congregation aforesaid, and 
 the consulting theologianschosen by Us, after a diligent examination demanded 
 Irom Us with equal alacrity and zeal this definition of the Immaculate Concep- 
 tion of the Mother of God. 
 
 Afterwards walking in the illustrious footsteps of Our predecessors, and desir- 
 ing to proceed duly and properly. We proclaimed and held a Consistory, in which 
 We addressed Our Brethren, the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, and with 
 the greatest consolation of mind We heard them entreat of Us that We should 
 
 IT ii 
 
 ■S 
 
'■54: 
 
 lit'. 
 
 18 
 
 promulgale the dogmatic definition of tiie Immaculate Conception of the VirrMn 
 Mother of God. ' ' "o'" 
 
 Therefore, having full trust in the Lord that the opportune time had come for 
 defining the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary Mother of God which 
 the Divmo words, venerable tradition, the perpetual opinion of the Chu ch the 
 singular agreement of Catholic Prelates and Faithful, and the signal acts and con- 
 stilut.ons of Our predecessors, wonderfully illustrate and proclaim ; having most 
 diligently weighed all things, and poured forth to God assiduous and ferrm 
 prayers. We resolved that We should no longer delay to sanction and define by 
 Our supreme authority, the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin, and thus to satis- 
 fy the most pious desires of the Catholic world and Our own piety towards the 
 Most Holy Virgm, and, at the same time, to honour more and more the only-be- 
 gotten Son Jesus-Christ Our Lord, since whatever honour and praise is given to 
 the Mother redounds to the Son. ^ 
 
 Wherefore afterWe had unceasingly, in humility and fasting, off-.red Our 
 own prayers and the public prayers of the Church to God the Father through His 
 Son, that He would deign to direct and confirm Our mind by the power of the 
 Holy Ghost, anr having implored the aid of the entire Heavenly Host, and in- 
 voked the Paraclete with sighs, and He thus inspiring, ,o the honour of the Holy 
 and undivided 1 rmity, to the glory and ornament of the Virgin Mother of God to 
 he exaltation of the Catholic Faith and the increase of the Catholic religion 'by 
 the authority of Jesus-Christ Our Lord, of the Blessed Apostles, Peter and pLuI 
 We dedarc, pronounce, and define that the doctrine which holds that the Blessed 
 Virgin Mary at the first instant of her conception, by a singular privilege and 
 grace of the Omnipotent God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus-Christ, the Saviour 
 of mankind was preserved immaculate from all slain of original sin, has been 
 revea ed by God, and therefore should firmly and constantly be believed by all the 
 Faithful. Wherefore if any shall dare-which God avert-to think otherwise than 
 as It has been defined by Us, they should know and understand that they are con 
 demned by their own judgment, that they have suff-ered shipwreck of the faith and 
 have revolted from the unity of the Church ; and besides, by their own act they 
 subject themselves to the penalties justly established if what they think they 
 shouW dare to signify by word, writing, or any other outward means 
 
 Our mouth is filled with joy and Our tongue with exultation, and We re- 
 
 SrOufr'o rH"''"'"\''''r'''"'"'''^ ""^ the greatest thanks to Jesus- 
 Chust Our Lo d, because through His singular beneficence He has granted to U« 
 though unworthy, to offer and decree this honour, gl.,ry, and praise to His MosI 
 Holy Mother; but We rely with most certain hope and onfid nee that M 
 
 ,■ 
 
19 
 
 Blessed Virgin, who, all fair and immaculate, has bruised the poisonous head of 
 the most malignant serpent, and brought salvation to the world, who is the praise 
 of the Prophets and the Apostles, the honour of the Martyrs, and the crown and joy 
 of all the Saints,— who is the safest refuge and most faithful helper of all who are 
 in danger, and the most powerful mediatrix and conciliatrix with the only-begot- 
 ten Son of the whole world, and the most illustrious glory, and ornament, and 
 most firm guardian of the Holy Church,— who has destroyed all heresies', and 
 snatched from the greatest calamities of all kinds the faithful people and nations, 
 and delivered Us from so many threatening dangers ; will effect by her most 
 powerful patronage that, all difficulties being removed, and all errors dissipated. 
 Our Holy Mother the Catholic Church may flourish daily more and more through- 
 out all nations and countries, and may reign from sea to sea to the end of the earth 
 and may enjoy all peace, tranquillity, and liberty ; that the sinful may obtain par- 
 don, the sick healing, the weak strength of heart, the afflicted consolation, and 
 that all who are in error, their spiritual blindness being dissipated, may return to 
 the path of truth and justice, and may become one flock and one shepherd. 
 
 Let all the children of the Catholic Church most dear to Us hear these Our 
 words, and, with a more ardent zeal of piety, religion, and love, proceed to wor- 
 ship, invoke, and pray to the Most Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God, conceived 
 without original sin and let them fly with entire confidence to this most sweet 
 MotherofMercy and Grace in all dangers, difficulties, doubts, and fears. For 
 nothing is to be feared, and nothing is to be despaired of under her guidance, un- 
 der her auspices, under her favour, under her protection, who, bearing towards us 
 a maternal affection, and taking up the business of our salvation,is solicitous for the 
 whole human race, and, appointed by God the Queen of Heaven and Earth, an 1 
 exalted above all the choirs of Angels, and orders of Saints, standing at the riglit 
 hand of the only-begotten Son, Jesus-Christ Our Lord, intercedes most powerfully 
 and obtains what she asks, and cannot be frustrated. 
 
 Finally, in order that this Our definition ol the Immaculate Conception of the 
 Most Blessed Virgin Mary may be brought to the knowledge of the universal 
 Church, We will these Letters Apostolic to stand for a perpetual remembrance of 
 the tiling, commanding that to transcripts or printed copies, subscribed by the hand 
 of some notary public, and authenticated by the seal of a person of Ecclesiastical 
 rank, appointed for the purpose, the same faith shall be paid which would be 
 paid to those presents if they were exhibited or shown. 
 
 Let no man interfere with this Our declaration, pronunciation, and definition 
 or oppose and contradict it with presumptuous rashness. If any should presume 
 
 I 
 
20 
 
 to assail it let him know that he will incur the indignation of the Omnipotent 
 God and of His blessed Apostles Peter and Paul v^mmpweni 
 
 imi^ir-^'^uTu' ^\^^",' ^''''''' ^° '^'y'" °^ '^^ Incarnation of Our Lord 
 1854, the suth of the Ides of December, in the ninth year of our Pontificate. 
 
 PIUS IX., POPE. 
 
 A true copy, 
 
 Secretary of the ArcMishoprick. 
 
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 [¥ Bp 
 
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NOTA. 
 
 By virtue of an Indult from Rome, dated the 28tli January, 1855, and 
 feccivnd 8inoe the Pastoral letter has been sent to the press, we allow all the 
 indulgences granted for the triduo, to be gained by the faitliful who shall assist 
 on one day only nt the exercises, jirovidcd that on the two other days they shall 
 recite the beads, or at least the litanies in honor of the Blessed Virgin, and shall, 
 on the other hand, observe what is ])rescribed concerning confession, communion 
 aud the prayer for the Sovereign Pontif. 
 
 t C. F. BISHOP OF TLOA- 
 
 
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