| Given—1570 From the very first, upon Our elevation to the chief
Apostleship, We gladly turned our mind and energies and directed all out thoughts to those
matters which concerned the preservation of a pure liturgy, and We strove with God's help,
by every means in our power, to accomplish this purpose. For, besides other decrees of the
sacred Council of Trent, there were stipulations for Us to revise and re-edit the sacred
books: the Catechism, the Missal and the Breviary. With the Catechism published for the
instruction of the faithful, by God's help, and the Breviary thoroughly revised for the
worthy praise of God, in order that the Missal and Breviary may be in perfect harmony, as
fitting and proper—for its most becoming that there be in the Church only one
appropriate manner of reciting the Psalms and only one rite for the celebration of
Mass—We deemed it necessary to give our immediate attention to what still remained to
be done, viz, the re-editing of the Missal as soon as possible.
Hence, We decided to entrust this work to learned men of our selection. They very
carefully collated all their work with the ancient codices in Our Vatican Library and with
reliable, preserved or emended codices from elsewhere. Besides this, these men consulted
the works of ancient and approved authors concerning the same sacred rites; and thus they
have restored the Missal itself to the original form and rite of the holy Fathers. When
this work has been gone over numerous times and further emended, after serious study and
reflection, We commanded that the finished product be printed and published as soon as
possible, so that all might enjoy the fruits of this labor; and thus, priests would know
which prayers to use and which rites and ceremonies they were required to observe from now
on in the celebration of Masses.
Let all everywhere adopt and observe what has been handed down by the Holy Roman
Church, the Mother and Teacher of the other churches, and let Masses not be sung or read
according to any other formula than that of this Missal published by Us. This ordinance
applies henceforth, now, and forever, throughout all the provinces of the Christian world,
to all patriarchs, cathedral churches, collegiate and parish churches, be they secular or
religious, both of men and of women—even of military orders—and of churches or
chapels without a specific congregation in which conventual Masses are sung aloud in choir
or read privately in accord with the rites and customs of the Roman Church. This Missal is
to be used by all churches, even by those which in their authorization are made exempt,
whether by Apostolic indult, custom, or privilege, or even if by oath or official
confirmation of the Holy See, or have their rights and faculties guaranteed to them by any
other manner whatsoever.
This new rite alone is to be used unless approval of the practice of saying Mass
differently was given at the very time of the institution and confirmation of the church
by Apostolic See at least 200 years ago, or unless there has prevailed a custom of a
similar kind which has been continuously followed for a period of not less than 200 years,
in which most cases We in no wise rescind their above-mentioned prerogative or custom.
However, if this Missal, which we have seen fit to publish, be more agreeable to these
latter, We grant them permission to celebrate Mass according to its rite, provided they
have the consent of their bishop or prelate or of their whole Chapter, everything else to
the contrary notwithstanding.
All other of the churches referred to above, however, are hereby denied the use of
other missals, which are to be discontinued entirely and absolutely; whereas, by this
present Constitution, which will be valid henceforth, now, and forever, We order and
enjoin that nothing must be added to Our recently published Missal, nothing omitted from
it, nor anything whatsoever be changed within it under the penalty of Our displeasure.
We specifically command each and every patriarch, administrator, and all other persons
or whatever ecclesiastical dignity they may be, be they even cardinals of the Holy Roman
Church, or possessed of any other rank or pre-eminence, and We order them in virtue of
holy obedience to chant or to read the Mass according to the rite and manner and norm
herewith laid down by Us and, hereafter, to discontinue and completely discard all other
rubrics and rites of other missals, however ancient, which they have customarily followed;
and they must not in celebrating Mass presume to introduce any ceremonies or recite any
prayers other than those contained in this Missal.
Furthermore, by these presents [this law], in virtue of Our Apostolic authority, We
grant and concede in perpetuity that, for the chanting or reading of the Mass in any
church whatsoever, this Missal is hereafter to be followed absolutely, without any scruple
of conscience or fear of incurring any penalty, judgment, or censure, and may freely and
lawfully be used. Nor are superiors, administrators, canons, chaplains, and other secular
priests, or religious, of whatever title designated, obliged to celebrate the Mass
otherwise than as enjoined by Us. We likewise declare and ordain that no one whosoever is
forced or coerced to alter this Missal, and that this present document cannot be revoked
or modified, but remain always valid and retain its full force—notwithstanding the
previous constitutions and decrees of the Holy See, as well as any general or special
constitutions or edicts of provincial or synodal councils, and notwithstanding the
practice and custom of the aforesaid churches, established by long and immemorial
prescription—except, however, if more than two hundred years' standing.
It is Our will, therefore, and by the same authority, We decree that, after We publish
this constitution and the edition of the Missal, the priests of the Roman Curia are, after
thirty days, obliged to chant or read the Mass according to it; all others south of the
Alps, after three months; and those beyond the Alps either within six months or whenever
the Missal is available for sale. Wherefore, in order that the Missal be preserved
incorrupt throughout the whole world and kept free of flaws and errors, the penalty for
nonobservance for printers, whether mediately or immediately subject to Our dominion, and
that of the Holy Roman Church, will be the forfeiting of their books and a fine of one
hundred gold ducats, payable ipso facto to the Apostolic Treasury. Further, as for those
located in other parts of the world, the penalty is excommunication latae sententiae, and
such other penalties as may in Our judgment be imposed; and We decree by this law that
they must not dare or presume either to print or to publish or to sell, or in any way to
accept books of this nature without Our approval and consent, or without the express
consent of the Apostolic Commissaries of those places, who will be appointed by Us. Said
printer must receive a standard Missal and agree faithfully with it and in no wise vary
from the Roman Missal of the large type (secundum magnum impressionem).
Accordingly, since it would be difficult for this present pronouncement to be sent to
all parts of the Christian world and simultaneously come to light everywhere, We direct
that it be, as usual, posted and published at the doors of the Basilica of the Prince of
the Apostles, also at the Apostolic Chancery, and on the street at Campo Flora;
furthermore, We direct that printed copies of this same edict signed by a notary public
and made official by an ecclesiastical dignitary possess the same indubitable validity
everywhere and in every nation, as if Our manuscript were shown there. Therefore, no one
whosoever is permitted to alter this notice of Our permission, statute, ordinance,
command, precept, grant, indult, declaration, will, decree, and prohibition. Should know
that he will incur the wrath of Almighty God and of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul.
Given at St. Peter's in the year of the Lord's Incarnation, 1570, on the 14th of July
of the Fifth year of Our Pontificate.
H. Cumin. Ceasar Glorierius
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