An Indulgence Issued in 1335 with William of Adam, Archbishop of Antivari and Author of How to Defeat the Saracens
Transcription and Translation by
Michael Sanders and David Howes
Michael Sanders and David Howes
Detail, New York, Fordham University Library, MS 29
Dialogue in Illustration:
Ave Maria gratia plena dominus te cum. Main Text: Universis Sancte Matris Ecclessia filiis adquos presentes littere pervenerint, nos miseratione divina Guilelmus Antibarensis, Raymundus Caphensis, Matheus Balneoregensis, Bernardus Diagorganensis, Johannes Terralbensis, Almanus Suanensis, Bartholomeus Clofensis. Philippus Salonensis, Nicholaus Scarpatensis, Andreas Coronensis, Paulus Fulginensis, Matheus Balconensis, Bonifacius Corbaviensis episcopus, Galganus Laveriensis episcopus, Gorgia Feltrensis episcopus, et Johannes Clonensis episcopus salutem in domino sempiternam. Splendor paterne glorie, qui sua mundum in effabili caritate illuminat, pia vota fidelium, de clementissima eius maiestate sperantium, tunc precipue beningo favore prosequitur, cum devota ipsorum humilitas sanctorum meritis et precibus adiuvatur. Cupientes igitur ut capella beate marie virginis et sancti blasii, qui in villa festi tarentasiensis diocesis, congruis honoribus frequentur, et a christi fidelibus iugiter venerentur; omnibus vere penitentibus et confessis; qui ad dictam capellam in singulis eius patroni festivitatibus et in omnibus aliis infrascriptis, videlicet Natalis domini, Circumsiosionis, Epiphanie, Parasceues, Pasche, Ascentionis, Penthecoste, Trinitatis, Corporis christi, Inventionis et exaltionis sancte crucis, Nativitatis et decollationis sancti Johannis baptiste, Beatorum petri et pauli apostolorum, et omnium aliorum apostolorum et evangelistarum; In commemoratione omnium sanctorum et animarum; et in singulis festis beate marie virginis sanctorumque stephani, laurentii, martini, Nicholai, blasii, marie magdolini, katerine; et per octavas omnium predictarum festivitatum octavas habencium, et in dedicatione cuisdem, et in singulis diebus dominiciis causa devotionis orationis aut peregrinationis accesserint. Seu qui missis predictationibus matutinis vesperiis aut aliis quibuscumque divinis officiis ibidem interfuerint; vel inserotina pulsatione campane, secundum modum curie romanae, flexis genibus, ter ave maria dixerint; Nec non qui ad fabricam luminaria ornamenta aut quevis alia dicte capelle necessaria manus porrexerint adiutrices; vel aliquid suarum donaverint aut legaverint facultatum; aut qui in eorum testamentis, vel extra, aurum, argentum vestimentum, libros, calices, aut quevis alia dicte capelle necessaria donaverint. Quocienscumque, quandocumque, et ubicumque premissa, vel aliquid premissorum, devote fecerint, de omnipotentis dei misericordia et beatorum petri et pauli apostolorum cuis auctoritate confisi singuli nostrum, quadraginta dies indulgentiarum de iniunctis eis penitenciis misericorditer in domino relaxamus, Dum modo diocesani voluntas ad id accesserit et consensus. In cuius rei testimonium sigillorum nostrorum presentes litteras iussimus appensione muniri. Datum avinione x dies maii anno domini mcccxxxv, et pontificatus domini Benedicti pape XII anno primo. Response from the Bishop of Tarentaise: Nos vero Jacobus dei et apostolica sedis gratia tarentasiensis archiepiscopus visis et lectis coram nobis indulgenciis suprascriptis confisi meritis beate marie et omnium sanctorum easdem indulgences. In quantum de jure possumus approbamus et confirmamus ac etiam omnibus et singulis dicte capelle benefactoribus visitantibus et aliaque et ut suprascripta sunt in dicta capella facientibus, xl dies de iniunctis sibi penitenciis misericorditer relaxamus. Datum muster cum appositione sigilli mei, xx die mensis Januarii, anno domini mcccxxxvii. |
Dialogue in Illustration:
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord be with you. Main Text To all the sons of Holy Mother Church to whom the present letters have reached, we, by divine mercy, William of Antibaren,[1] Ramon of Caffa ,[2] Mathew of Balneoregio,[3] Bernard of Dehikerkan[4] John of Terraealba,[5] Almannus of Soana,[6] Bartholomew of Clofen,[7] Philip of Salona,[8] Nicholas of Karpatho,[9] Andrew of Coron,[10] Paul of Foligno,[11] Mathew of Balcon,[12] Bishop Boniface of Krbava,[13] Bishop Galganus of Aleria,[14] Bishop Gorzias of Belluno-Feltre,[15] and Bishop John of Cloyne,[16] wish salvation in the Lord forever and ever. The brightness of the Father’s glory, which illuminates the world in his indescribable love, accompanies with benign favor in particular those pious vows of the faithful hoping for his most clement majesty, at that time when their devout humility is aided by the merits and prayers of the saints. We, bishops, desire that the chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Blaise, which is in a village of the sacred diocese of Tarentaise ,[1] will be venerated frequently with fitting honors and perpetually by the faithful of Christ; by all who are truly sorry and have confessed; by all who go to the said chapel for the sake of devotion, prayer, or pilgrimage on each of its patrons’ feasts[2] and on all of the other feasts mentioned below, namely the feasts of Christmas,[3] the Circumcision,[4] Epiphany,[5] Good Friday, Easter, the Ascension, Pentecost, Trinity, Corpus Christi, the Finding[6] and Exaltation of the Holy Cross,[7] the Birth[8] and Beheading[9] of John the Baptist, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul,[10] and all of the other Apostles and Evangelists; by all who go to the said chapel in commemoration of all the saints and all souls; by all who go to the said chapel on each of the feast days of the Blessed Virgin Mary,[11] of the saints Stephen,[12] Lawrence,[13] Martin,[14] Nicholas,[15] Blaise,[16] Mary Magdalene,[17] Catherine;[18] and by all who go to the said chapel through the octaves of the of all the aforementioned feasts, on the consecration day of the said church, and on every Sunday. We also desire the faithful to take part in Masses, sermons, Matins, Vespers, or whatever other divine office at that same chapel; to say three Hail Marys, according to the manner of the papal curia, with knees bent at the ringing of the evening bell; to extend helpful hands for the cloth, lights, decorations, or any other necessities of the said chapel; to donate or bequeath something of their own wealth; or to offer in, or apart from, their wills gold, silver, vestments, books, chalices, or any other necessities of the said chapel. As often as, whenever, and wherever the faithful have devoutly fulfilled all these premises, or any of them, we, by the mercy of the omnipotent God and the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul whose authority has been entrusted to each of us, each mercifully grant 40 days of indulgences from penances imposed upon them, provided that the will of the bishop of Tarentaise approves and consents to it. In witness of these things, we have ordered that the present letters be fortified with the affixing of our seals. Given at Avignon on the 10th day of May in the Year of our Lord 1335, and in the first year of the pontificate of the Lord Pope Benedict.[1] Response from the Bishop of Tarentaise: After the aforementioned indulgences before us have been seen and read, we, James, Archbishop of Tarentaise,[1] have entrusted these indulgences to the merits of the Blessed Mary and all of the saints. As much as we can by right, we approve and confirm as well as mercifully grant to each and every benefactor of the said chapel who visits and also fulfills the other conditions, as it was written, 40 days from penances imposed on them. Given at Moûtiers, with the affixing of my seal, on the 20th day of January in the Year of our Lord 1337. |