47th
Document
SOLEMN ECCLESIASTICAL LAW ABOLISHING THE ANCIENT LAW OF MASS STIPENDS
We, Supreme Pontiff, Vicar of Christ, Successor of Saint Peter, Servant of the Servants of God, Patriarch of EL Palmar de Troya.
We, as Universal Doctor of the Church, continue pledging ourself resolutely to guide the Bark of Peter amidst abundant waters,- waters which are no less than a timely doctrine, in such wise that the faithful can have confidence in the infinite mercy of God, and in the protection of the Most Holy Virgin Mary. At the same time, these abundant waters vividly reflect the powerful action of the Holy Ghost on the Bark of Peter. These mystical waters perfectly reflect even the early morning dew, which the Church receives through the Divine Mary, since the exalted Mother of God is the sublime Morning Star,- Star most powerful and beacon most brilliant in the midst of darkness, so that all her children journey without fear. With this brilliant beacon, the Bark of Peter never goes off course.
We, since the beginning of our pontificate, have placed this Pontificate of Ours in the powerful hands of the Most Holy Virgin Mary. By this fact can be understood the fruitfulness of our pontifical documents. Each one of the faithful of the Church who places his problems and anxieties in the hands of the Virgin, must have complete confidence that there will result whatever is for the greater glory of God, for that of the Church, for the salvation of one's own soul and the conversion of many sinners. Each one who approaches the Virgin Mary with confidence is, if he co-operates with grace, on the way to sanctity, a sanctity even of the highest mansions.
We, as Universal Doctor of the Church, remind all the faithful how sweet it is to meditate on the exalted dignities and prerogatives that the Most Holy Virgin Mary has received gratuitously from the Most Holy Trinity. Of all her dignities and prerogatives, the most sublime is her Divine Maternity, and through this most exalted dignity, the other dignities and prerogatives come to her. Other exalted dignities of Mary are those of Co-reparatrix, Co-redemptrix, Mediatrix, Treasuress and Dispensatrix. The Gospel itself gives testimony of these dignities, precisely at the marriage of Cana. The Holy Ghost inspired the Evangelist to put in writing the intervention of Mary at the Marriage of Cana,- from which the Church would find great light in order to understand the most important role of the Most Holy Virgin in the Work of Reparation and in the Salvific Work of Redemption. The passage about the Marriage of Cana is of the greatest profundity, a veritable ocean of deep Mariological mysteries,- since she who was able to advance the hour of Christ for the sake of something material will, without any doubt obtain from Christ ever so many more graces in the spiritual order.
We remind all the faithful to read and re-read our previous Pontifical Documents. There you will learn to meditate on the most important role of the Most Holy Virgin in the economy of grace. The exalted Mother of God exercises real power to rule,- power not merely real, but also efficacious, since She has received the sceptre from Christ in order to command. With her power to command, She co-operates with Christ in the Reparation and in the Redemption. The Immaculate Virgin Mary, as Treasuress of all Graces, is able to accumulate an inexhaustible spiritual treasure. Since, besides being Treasuress, She is Universal Dispensatrix of all graces. She is authorized and able to distribute the graces with lavish hand. This sublime truth is confirmed by the Blessed Apparition of the Most Holy Virgin Mary as the Immaculate, under the title of the Miraculous Medal, to Saint Catherine Laboure during the previous century. In this sublime apparition of great Mariological depth, the Most Holy Virgin Mary appears with arms extended downwards, while from her fingers issue many rays, some luminous, others extinguished. These rays represent the Dispensation of grace through Mary, since as Treasuress of inexhaustible riches, she is full of grace overflowing in such wise that She is able to distribute these treasures of grace. In the luminous rays are symbolized those who go to her imploring grace. The rays that are extinguished symbolize those who do not implore grace of Mary. They do not implore because they do not care to,- since it is sure doctrine that Mary is able to distribute all the grace one needs.
We, as Universal Doctor of the Church, and with our apostolic authority, undertake to light all those extinguished rays of the most Blessed Apparition of the Miraculous Medal.
We, in the person of the Blessed Peter, have received from Christ the power of binding and loosing at the highest possible level. Through this supreme power, we are authorized to change ecclesiastical laws, if with such a change we seek the greater glory of God, the splendour of the Church and the salvation of souls.
We feel the impulse of the Holy Ghost to change certain laws, if in this change, We have the purpose mentioned above.
We, as Teacher and Universal Guide of the Church, teach infallibly that Christ has placed the keys in our hands,- among other meanings,- in order that those keys, as though they were electrical, to make light shine in the extinguished rays of the Miraculous Medal. It would be blameworthy on our part if, knowing we had the master key to light the extinguished rays of the Miraculous Medal, we nevertheless neglected to use this supreme power.
We, as Universal Doctor of the Church, teach that those luminous rays also represent the efficacious action of the Wisdom of the Sacraments, since the Most Holy Virgin Mary is Mother of the Eternal High Priest.
We, as Universal Doctor of the Church, assisted by powerful rays of the Holy Ghost, have made the firm decision to abolish Mass stipends. Through this abolition, we seek the greater glory of God inasmuch as we priests renounce the legitimate right to the stipend. We most ardently seek also to bring the fruits of the Mass to those most in need of them. We also seek most ardently that, with this abolition, the priests approach the altar, ignoring completely what they are to eat, how they are to live, since our Heavenly Father cares for priests as the apple of his eye, and since the priests represent what is greatest on earth. Through them is perpetuated on our altars the Sacrifice of Calvary, by which we make reparation to God for the innumerable sins of humanity, since the Victim we offer is the very Son of God. We seek ardently in all of this that the faithful have greater respect for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, since the Mass is the most important prayer that the Church has. So important is the Mass that, without it, mankind would perish.
We, as Universal Teacher and Guide of the Church, teach that, until the present moment, the stipend has been a legitimate right of the priest and of the faithful. But, sad to say, there have been, on many occasions, abuses in this matter, on the part of both priests and people.
We most ardently desire to remove from priests every possible danger of abuse. With this measure, we help the priests in their priestly ministry to see the spiritual over and above the material.
We are firmly pledged to help our most dearly beloved priests to find the path to holiness, the sure and safe path found by fleeing from material interests, by seeking first and foremost spiritual interests, and only afterwards the material, insofar as these do not impede the spiritual.
We, as Common Father of the Church are, in this matter, defending those most in need,- since, with this abolition, the Masses will benefit both the rich and the poor, all being children of the Church.
We, with the authority of Our Lord Jesus Christ, that of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and of our own, solemnly declare, proclaim and promulgate:
The mass stipend is totally abolished. With our apostolic authority, we deliver the fruit of the Mass called 'special', or of 'free application' of the priest, to the spiritual Treasury of the Church, commending this Treasury to the care and custody of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, for Her to use with full freedom in applying each Mass for the person or intention that the Most Holy Virgin herself chooses. With our apostolic authority, we exempt all our very beloved priests from all the discipline of law,- which has weighed heavily on the practice of the stipend,- in regard to all the stipends we have received, and which now remain without effect through this law which we have established.
With our apostolic authority, we remove all effect from the contracts pending,- and this without any scruples whatsoever, taking upon Ourself the responsibility before God and the Church. With our apostolic authority, we declare null any possible claim any of the faithful might present. Let such a one know that, in so doing, he opposes God, since God, by our means, has established these norms as ecclesiastical law.
We, with the authority of Our Lord Jesus Christ, with that of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and of our own, solemnly declare, proclaim and teach the following:
If anyone dare to deny that the Pope has these powers, let him be anathema.
We, as Universal Doctor of the Church, teach infallibly that this new ecclesiastical law does not lessen the sublime importance of the various prayers that the priest in the Mass recites for the living and the dead. Not only does it not lessen their value, but rather it confirms the grandeur of the prayers that the priest recites at the altar.
We, as Universal Doctor of the Church, feel in the depths of our soul at this very moment, joy and jubilation for having abolished the Mass stipend. Now we contemplate the priest celebrating at the Altar with much more devotion and with much more confidence. Now the priest knows that, by handing over to the Most Holy Virgin As Treasuress of all grace, that ancient legitimate right of the priest,- the whole Church is going to benefit ever so much more, since the Most Holy Virgin Mary is going to give to each Mass the intention most needed, above all, that of most spiritual benefit. Now, with this new ecclesiastical law, the priest will have a most ardent desire to go to the Altar and celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. When he cerebrates, he automatically will hand over this most ancient legitimate right to the Most Holy Virgin Mary. Through this act, the priest, in each Mass, will ratify and confirm his profession as slave of Mary. With this new ecclesiastical law, the priest,- it is profoundly true to say,- does not lose any right; because while celebrating Holy Mass, he uses his power freely to give to Mary his ancient right. Thus it is made more clear that the Most Holy Virgin Mary is Most Pure Spouse of Priests. Let us say, in order to confirm this truth, that in this sublime handing over of that right, is seen an indescribable seal of the spiritual espousal of the Virgin with the priest. This espousal differs from the ordinary in that, in normal marriages, the man is the head. However, in the spiritual marriage with the Blessed Virgin, the headship, by Divine Right, belongs to the Bride because of her exalted dignity,- while the priest has, as is logical, the power to implore of his Spiritual Bride, all the graces he needs. Since this Spouse is Wisdom, the priest has no problem what to implore. The priest knows that his Spouse, Mary Most Holy, will, in the name of her spouse the priest, implore everything necessary of the Most Holy Trinity. Thus the priest will approach the Altar with fervent desire to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, allowing full freedom to the most Holy Virgin Mary as Head and Lady, and of course, as Advocate of the priest. The priest knows, that if Mary asks something for the priest, Christ will not refuse,- since She who was Advocate at the Marriage of Cana, is also Advocate at the Espousals of the Altar, where there is a mysterious espousal between the soul of the priest with the Lamb whom the priest himself immolates in his most Holy Communion. It is most clear and obvious that, with this new ecclesiastical law, the priest actually loses nothing. On the contrary, he gains much.
We, as Universal Doctor of the Church, teach infallibly that, with this new ecclesiastical law, the faithful actually lose nothing,- on the contrary, they gain ever so much more. The faithful, like little children, have full confidence that their Heavenly Mother will be their Advocate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The faithful will grow in devotion to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Their love and veneration for the priests of the Lord will increase,- since, thanks to them, the Most Holy Virgin now is Advocate in supreme degree in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. This is so true that, without priests at the Altar, ever so many rays of the Miraculous Medal would remain extinguished. With this new and sublime ecclesiastical law, all priests receive from the Pope the power to light the extinguished rays of the Miraculous Medal. Here is seen - among other reasons - the sublime importance of the priest at the Altar. Bearing in mind that the priest is another Christ,- and with this sublime truth, that at the Altar the priest is another Christ,- the priest then finds himself like Christ at the Marriage of Cana. Thus the priest will feel the need to go to the Altar in order also to collaborate with Christ, and dispose himself to distribute the graces that flow superabundantly from the Divine Heart of Jesus, through the luminous rays of the Miraculous Medal. As you can see by this infallible doctrine, it is perfectly clear that the priest loses nothing through this new ecclesiastical law. Rather he gains very much more, and his priestly dignity is enhanced in the eyes of the faithful. Through this doctrine you can see more clearly, that the priest at the Altar is a great mediator,- since, thanks to the Sacrifice he celebrates, there is effected the powerful illumination of the extinguished rays of the Miraculous Medal. With this infallible doctrine, you understand better in what sublime manner the priest at the Altar is treasurer and dispenser of graces,- since with his Masses, he presents the Virgin Mary as a live coal luminously aglow. Now the faithful will understand better the need for priests, since, without priests, the world would be without light. It is most clear that the priests, by delegation of the Pope, possess flames that can set the world afire with the luminous rays of the Miraculous Medal,- rays that come from Christ, the Sun of Justice.
We hope that, with this new ecclesiastical law, the faithful will respond with abundant alms in order to help the priests, their mediators at the Altar. Now that everything rests in the hands of Mary, there is no doubt that the priests will receive all necessary economic help,- since Mary, the sublime Spouse, knows perfectly well that Pauline principle that the priest lives by the altar. The Most Holy Virgin Mary will take care that the priest live by the altar with all the dignity that belongs to him by Divine Right. The Most Holy Virgin Mary will move the hearts of the faithful to be generous towards the priests,- and, at the moment She presents their intentions to the Most Holy Trinity, the Most Holy Virgin will very much bear in mind the generosity of the faithful towards the priests. Of course, here again, there is the widow's mite of the Gospel to consider, since all will be measured according to the real economic capacity of each. It is a most sacred duty of the faithful to give to Holy Mother Church tithes and first fruits, through which, with all certainty, they find the opportune occasion for washing, themselves of their sins and iniquities. The heart that is generous towards the priest receives a hundredfold from God, since the priests are the apple of the eye of the Eternal Father. It is perfectly clear, that, for the Lord, the tiny mite of one who is poor, comes from a generous heart. Those who are very wealthy must take care that they be ever so generous towards Holy Mother Church. The rich must know that they are administrators of their riches,- and, in order not to become food for moths, themselves and their finery, they have to give considerable sums to the Great Banker, who is Christ, through his Church. It is clear that the abundance of the rich can be of great service to Holy Mother Church,- since, with this collaboration, the Church can maintain more priests, raise up temples for the divine cult, build convents for those consecrated to God, propagate the faith, and spread her sound doctrine through the work of diffusion, a most costly work. The faithful who are wealthy have the most grave responsibility for this sound doctrine to be spread everywhere, and therefore they ought to help economically with all liberality. It is perfectly clear that the rich, by placing their great capital at the service of the Church, can very well fashion their imperishable crown of glory,- as also can the poor with their tiny help. The Kingdom of Heaven is within reach of rich and poor. God will require of each according to his possibilities. It is sure and infallible doctrine, that one who is rich can be perfectly poor in spirit,- just as it is true that one who is poor can be counted for rich because of his avarice and greed, and his envy of the rich. Once again it is necessary to remind all that first we must seek the Kingdom of God and his justice, and the rest will then be added to us.
We remind you, most dearly beloved children of our soul:
Read again our Pontifical Document 45, the infallible doctrine of which leads to the infallible doctrine of the present document. In the previous document mentioned, we presented to you the Most Holy Virgin Mary in her presence, spiritual and real, in kneeling position in the Most Holy Eucharist. The presence of Mary in this position manifests her supplication before Our Eucharistic Lord Jesus Christ. She who, at the Marriage of Cana said: "They have no wine", will without doubt, in each Mass repeat the same, in reference to the various intentions which She freely presents. This most sweet Mary, who obtained from Christ that first public miracle, will in each Mass obtain all the miracles necessary.
We, as Universal Doctor of the Church, teach infallibly that now all the Church will pray the Holy Rosary with very much more devotion. During the Rosary we will all perseveringly implore the Most Holy Virgin Mary for everything we need, with full confidence that She, after hearing our prayers in the Rosary, will be magnanimous when she presents intentions in the Masses. It is seen through this infallible doctrine that all the Church will increase in devotion to the Holy Mass and to the Holy Rosary. In this way is perfectly understood that sublime vision of Saint John Bosco, who saw the Bark of Peter between two gigantic pillars,- the Most Holy Eucharist atop the higher, and on the other, the Most Blessed Image of Mary Help of Christians. Without any doubt, there is, in this vision of Saint John Bosco, a most vivid doctrine on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Most Holy Virgin Mary in her role of Advocate and Help of Christians, through the slavery of the priest at the Altar, Who has handed over to Mary Help of Christians his ancient right of applying the intention. It would be interminable to speak in the present document about this most important vision of Saint John Bosco,- since without doubt, there is discerned in this vision of Saint John Bosco, the most important role of the Virgin Mary in the Holy Sacrifice of the Altar. There is no doubt that She, who on Calvary was Co-reparatrix and Co-redemptrix, continues in each Mass to be Co-reparatrix and Co-redemptrix.
We are beside ourself in rapture when we contemplate this vision of Saint John Bosco,- since, in this vision, between these pillars,- on one of which the Eucharist, on the other Mary Help of Christians,- rests the Bark of Peter, on which has just occurred the sudden death of one Pope, and the sudden election of another Pope. This Pope, as you know, is Gregory XVII, ‘of the Glory of the Olive'.
This apocalyptic vision of Saint John Bosco is of great importance for the Church, since in this vision there is presented with all clarity the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic and Palmarian Church, with the Pope 'de Gloria Olivae’, as Visible Head, who, as you know, speaks to you continually of the Holy Sacraments and of the Most Holy Virgin Mary.
We urge all the priests and all the faithful in general not to lose sight of the spiritual presence of Mary kneeling in the Most Holy Eucharist, in order that thus all you priests may approach the Altar with angelic devotion,- also, in order that the faithful go to hear Holy Mass with much more devotion, and come to venerate and respect much more than previously the exalted dignity of the priest.
We direct our paternal word to the faithful:
Most dearly beloved children of our heart:
Have full confidence. When We, with our apostolic power to bind and to loose, have established this new ecclesiastical law, we have presented to the Most Holy Virgin Mary all your stipends that are pending. Have fullest confidence that the Most Holy Virgin Mary will know how most wisely to apply and designate intentions and purposes.
We, with our apostolic authority, solemnly declare:
Through the present Document we ordain irrevocably that the Cardinal Archpatriarch in charge of stipends, gather all the intentions and commit them to the flames. With this our disposition and apostolic authority, the matter is terminated.
We, as Universal Doctor of the Church, teach infallibly that, although a priest celebrating Holy Mass omit to hand over to the Most Holy Virgin Mary that ancient and legitimate right, nevertheless, through our apostolic authority, automatically in each Mass, the Most Holy Virgin Mary receives full right and full freedom to apply the intention. However, in order to increase the devotion of the priest, it were well for him in each Mass to recall the legitimate right that, as true slave of Mary, he hands over to the Most Holy Virgin Mary. But it is to be borne in mind that such an omission would not cause any fault in the priest, even though we insist on how sublimely fitting it is for the priest to do so in order to increase his devotion to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
We, at these precise moments, while we are producing the present Document, are being favoured with a sublime vision in our intelligence, which, in the measure possible, we will try to express with utmost brevity. To wit:
Here, at these moments, we are contemplating all the altars, and all our priests celebrating each one the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Suddenly, in an inexpressible way, the vault of heaven opens. It is precisely here that we feel the inability to relate exactly what we are beholding. Nevertheless, we will search for some words to try to give at least the slightest idea of the reality we are contemplating. Between the altar of each Mass and the open vault of heaven, we behold a most singular flight of stairs, most beautifully adorned, representing the glories of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. In amazement we behold how, at the moment each priest pronounces the words of consecration: "Hoc est enim Corpus meum", the Most Holy Virgin Mary is really and spiritually present in the Eucharist, kneeling and uniting herself as Co-reparatrix with the work of Reparation,- and with the salvific work of Redemption as Co-redemptrix. The first thing the Most Holy Virgin Mary does at that moment is to adore the Eucharistic Christ, being Herself head of all adorers. Meanwhile, the Most Holy Virgin Mary says to Our Lord Jesus Christ: "My Son, I desire to apply this intention for such a person and for such a necessity." Then, without awaiting her Son's reply, she raises her eyes to the Eternal Father, and says: "Father, behold your Son, and Mine also, presents my intention." Then the Heavenly Father, with smiling countenance, full of goodness, beholds his Daughter Mary and says to her: "My most beloved Daughter, since you have tied my hands, use your royal power and the sceptre that my Only Begotten Son has given you." Recalling her action at the Marriage of Cana, the Most Holy Virgin turns to the Holy Ghost and says: "My Spouse, let us go and send the dew over the Church." Behold this sublime moment when the two exalted Doves gracefully hover over the Bark of Peter. While they are in flight, the choirs of Angels and all the Blessed of Heaven dispose themselves to act powerfully together. Meanwhile is seen a glorious exit of innumerable blessed souls from Purgatory, in graceful flight towards the Church Triumphant. While contemplating all this in our intelligence, we also see the conversion of innumerable sinners, as well as the very high degrees of holiness that the priests, monks and nuns are acquiring. In this sublime intellectual vision, we see innumerable Angels with trumpets, announcing in the heavens this joy of God and of all the Blessed, joy that is caused by the new ecclesiastical law, which, with our apostolic authority, we, assisted by the Holy Ghost, have established through the present Document.
We would wish to find words to express what we are contemplating. However, seeing that this is altogether impossible, we can only repeat those words, 'eye has not seen, nor ear has heard, nor has it entered the heart of man ... '
We interpret that, using these Pauline words, we express all more clearly,- since, if we added more words, we would only impoverish the majestic vision which we behold in our intelligence.
We are full of inexpressible joy and jubilation establishing this new ecclesiastical law, through which the Church will benefit superabundantly.
We, as Universal Doctor of the Church, teach infallibly that the Holy Ghost has reserved this new ecclesiastical law for these last times. The Holy Ghost, who is the Soul of the Church, and who dwells in our souls, inspires each question at the proper moment, neither before nor after.
We interpret as well that the Holy Ghost has reserved this new law as most precious antechamber to the Great and Holy Palmarian Council. Thus the Bishops, venerable Fathers of the Holy Council, can enter the Conciliar Aula with full confidence, since without doubt the Most Holy Virgin, using the freedom we hand over to her to use that legitimate right, will, in most special manner, be the Advocate of the triumph of the Great and Holy Palmarian Council, for the good of the Church of God.
We direct our word of authority to the Venerable Fathers of the Holy Palmarian Council:
Very beloved Bishops, most dear sons of our heart:
Enter with all confidence into the holy conciliar aula. Through this right we give to her, the Most Holy Virgin Mary will move the Holy Ghost to breathe impetuously upon you. The exalted Mary, Most Pure Spouse of the Holy Ghost, is also your Spouse through your priesthood. Do not fear,- enter the Conciliar Aula as the exalted luminaries which you are of the Church, through the efficacious rays that, with our keys, we light in the Miraculous Medal.
We teach that the Most Holy Virgin Mary, under the most sweet title of Our Crowned Mother of El Palmar, most worthily represents the action of the Miraculous Medal, and the action of Mary Help of Christians, since, in these last times, Our Crowned Mother of El Palmar is a pillar of might.
We exhort all the faithful:
Most dearly beloved children of our soul:
Do not forget ever that all the marvelous doctrine of our Pontifical Documents has come to you since the Cathedra and See of Peter has, by divine decree, been translated to El Palmar de Troya, where cult is rendered to the Most Blessed Image of Our Crowned Mother of El Palmar. Under this sweetest Marian title, there is unfolding a most profound Mariology, for the good of all the Church of God.
We had intended to speak in the present Document of other questions. But in order to give it greater emphasis, we have decided to terminate here. We leave the other important questions for other pontifical documents, which with the help of God and of his Most Holy Mother, we shall produce. Without further ado, we terminate the present Document, in order for you to understand it better.
Given in Seville, at the Apostolic See, the 23rd January, first day of the Most Solemn Novena of the Holy Face, and Feast of the Espousals of the Most Holy Virgin Mary and Joseph Most Holy, of the year of Our Lord Jesus Christ MCMLXXX, the second of our pontificate.
