The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-18

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Considering thss the holy Roman church solemnly
celebrstes the festival OF the conception Of the
immaculate and evcr.bleaed Virgin, and has ap-
pointed for this special aad proper Office accord
ing @ the pious, devout, and audable institution
which cmanated from our predecessor Sixtus w.,
and wishing, after the example Of the Roman
pontins, our predecessors, to favor this lsudable
piety, devotion and festival, and the reverence
Church since the institution Of the worship itself;
also In order to protect the piety and devotion Of
venersting and celebrating the Most Blessed Virgin
preserved from original sin by the preventing grace
OF the holy Ghost, and desiring to preserve In the
flock Of Christ unity Of spirit in the bond of peace
removing offences, and brawls, and scandals, ct the
instance and prayers Of the said bishops, with the
his kngdoms. We renew the constitutions and
DEGREES Issued by the Roman pontiffs our predeces
sors, and especially BY Sixtus w., Paul ", and
the soul ofrte Blessed Virgin, in its creation and
lnfuhon into the body, was endowed with the grace
OF the Holy Ghost and preserved from original sin;
likewise also, Ia favor Of the festival of the same
pioHs belief which is rected above; and we com.
maDd that it shall be observed, under the censures
and punishments contained In the same constitu.
tions. ff.
terpret the aforesaid constitutions or DEGREES SO
that they may frus.rate the favor shown through
these to the said belief and to the festival or wSr.
snip celebrated according to it, or who try to recall
into dispute the same belief festival worship, or
against these in any manner either directly or in
directly, and on any pretext, even that Of examin-
ing the grounds Of defining it, or Of explaining or
interpreting the sacred Scriptures or the holy
fathers or doctors-in fine, who sh ,uld dare under
any pretext or on any occasion Whatsoever, to say
either in writing or In speech to preach to treat
dispute by determining asserting anything against
these, or by bringing arguments against them and
leaving these nj nv AZ
ing dissent in any other possible manner; besides
the punlshments and censures contained In the con-
situations OF Sxtus w., TO which we desire to add,
and by these presents do add, those:-We will that
they snoud be deprived pso fact0 and without other
declaration, Of the faculty of preaching Of reading
IN public, or Of teaching and Interpreting, and also
from which censures they cannot be absolved, nor
obtain dspeusation, unless from US or our sue cess
ors, the Roman Ponrins likewise we wish TO sub
Jsct, and we hereby do subject the same persons to
that Of the same Roman Pontiffs successors, re-
Iewing the constitutions DEGREES of Paul ~. and
Gregory XIV, above referred to.
And we prohibit, under the penalties aud censures
contained IN the Iudex OF Prohibited Books, and We
will and declare that they should be esteemed pro
hlbited 1850 tacto, and without other declaration,
books in which the aforesaid belief and the festival
or devotion celebrated according to it Is recalled
into dispute or in which anything whatever Is writ
ten or read against these, or lectures, sermons,
treatlses and dsputations against the same. pub
lshed after the decree above eulogised Of Paul w.,
CT 70 be published a. any future time.
All are aware with how much zeal this doctrine
of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother Of God
has been har dsd down. asserted and propag tied oy
the most dist,ngushed religious orders, the most
celebrated theological academies, and the most emf
nent doctors Of the science OF divinity. All know,
likewise, how anxious have been the Bishops openly
and publicly to Profess even IN tse ecclesiastical
assf mbies themselves, that the Most Hoy NJ other
OF Cod the Virgin Mary, by virtue OF the merits of
SayiOur
under original SIN, but Was preserved free from the
stain OF origin and thus was redeemed In more
sublime manner. To which, lastly, is added this
fact, most grave and, in On especial manner, most
important Of au, that the Council OF Trent itself,
wber it promulgated the dogma;ic decree concern
ing original sin, 10 which, according to the tssti-
monies OF the Saa ed scriptures, of the Holy Fs-
fhers, ard OF the most approved councils, it de-
termined aud defined that all mankind are born
pnaer original sin; soemnly declared, how
ever, thas il was not its intention to include in
the decree itself, and in the amplitude Of les dshui.
ton, the Blessed and Immaculate Virgin May,
Mother OF God. Indeed, by this declaration, the
TridentiIe Fathers have asseD,ed, according TO the
times and the cir cumstsnces OF affairs, that the
Blessed Virgin Mary was free from the original STAIN
| and thus Clearly sigpifee that nothing could be
justly adtuSed from the sacred writ Lgs, nor from
the authority Of the fathers, which would in any
way eainsiy SO great prerogaiye OF the Vi-gio.
! And, in rea! truth, illustrious monuments of q
venerated antiquity Of the eastern and OF the west
ern church most powerfully testify ttas this doctrine
i
Virgin, every day more and more 80 splendidly
explained and confirmed OF the highest an
thoriiy, teaching, zea science, and wisdom Of the
church, ard 80 wonderfully propagssd amongst ali
| the nations and peoples OF the Catholic world,
alwsys existed in the church az re ,eived by our
ancestors, and stamped With the chsrs;tsr of q
divine revelation. For the Church Of Carist, care
ful guardian and defender Of the dogmas deposited
with her, changes nothing in them, dimiaishes
nothing, adds nothing, but, with oil industry, by
faithfully and wisely treating ancient thugs, II
they are hsnded down from antiquity, studies to
eliminate, to clear them up that these ancient dog
mas OF heavenly faith may receive evidence, light,
distinction, but still may retain their fulneis integ
rity, propriety and may increase only in their own
kind.tbat is. in the same dogma, the same sense,
| and the same belief.
The fathers and writer's Of the church, taught by
the heavenly writings, had nothing more at heart,
in the books written to explaia the Scriptures, to
vindi ate the dogmas and to instruct the faithful,
than emulousy to declare and exhibit in many and
wonderful ways the Virgins mos. high sanctity,
dignity, and freedom from all stain OF original sin,
and her renowned victory over the most foul enemy
OF the human race. Vine efore, repea tng the words
in which, at the beginning Of the world, the AL.
mighty, announcing the RENE lies of his mercy pre-
| pared 'or regenerating MANKIND, crushed the an.
dacity OF the lying serpent, ard wonderfully raised
up the hope of our race saying: :" win plscs en-.
| NIFTY between thee and the woman, thy seed aud
hers" they taught that In this divine oracle was
clearly and openly pointed out the mercfu redeemer
| Of toe human race-the only begotten son OF G d,
Cbrist Jesus and that his most blessed mother the
Virgin Mary, was designated, and at the same time
that the enmity Of both against the serpent was sig
nslly expressed. Wherefore as Christ, the mediator
OF God and men having assumed human nature blot
ting cut the handwriting of the decree which stood
against us, fastened 1t trumphahty TO the cross
the most holy Virgin, bound by most close aud in
dssoluble chain with him. exercising with him, aud
through him eternal eDmity against the malignant
| serpent, and iumphing most amply over the same,
has crushed his head VITA her imma ,ulate foot.
This llustrious and singular triumph OF the Vrgia,
and her most exalted innoceoce, purity, and holi-
nees fer freedom from all stain OF sin, and ne abe
abundance snd greatness Of oil heavenly graces,
virtues and privileges, the same Fathers behed In
that ark Of Noah which, divnely ap oointsd ESCAPED
safe and sound from toe common saipwreok OF the