Issued by Pope Gregory XIII, February 24, 1581/2
| Latin
transcription by Rodolphe Audette |
Fran�ais
translation by Rodolphe Audette |
English
translation from the French and Latin by Bill Spencer, November 1999; revised March 2002 | |
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| Inter gravissimas pastoralis officii nostri curas, ea postrema non est, ut qu� a sacro Tridentino concilio Sedi Apostolic� reservata sunt, illa ad finem optatum, Deo adiutore, perducantur. | Parmi les tr�s nobles t�ches de notre minist�re pastoral, celle de mener � bonne fin, avec l'aide de Dieu, ce qui a �t� r�serv� au Saint-Si�ge par le saint concile de Trente n'est pas la moindre. | Among our serious pastoral duties, not the last is that we care to complete those sacred rites reserved by the Council of Trent [1545-1563], with the guiding assistance of God. | |
| 1. | Sane eiusdem concilii patres, cum ad reliquas cogitationes breviarii quoque curam adiungerent, tempore tamen exclusi, rem totam ex ipsius concilii decreto ad auctoritatem et iudicium Romani Pontificis retulerunt. | Comme les p�res conciliaires appliquaient aussi leur attention � d'ultimes r�flexions sur le br�viaire mais qu'ils furent arr�t�s par le manque de temps, ils d�cid�rent sagement de se rapporter de toute cette question � l'autorit� et au jugement du pontife romain. | As the council fathers also applied their attention and ultimate reflections to the breviary , but were stopped by the lack of time, they wisely decided to refer this entire question to the authority and the judgment of the Roman pontiff. |
| 2. | Duo autem breviario pr�cipue continentur, quorum unum preces laudesque divinas festis profestisque diebus persolvendas complectitur, alterum pertinet ad annuos Pasch� festorumque ex eo pendentium recursus, solis et lun� motu metiendos. | Or il y a deux parties principales dans le br�viaire: la premi�re comprend les pri�res et les hymnes religieuses � r�citer les jours f�ri�s et les jours ouvrables, et la seconde porte sur cycle annuel de P�ques et des autres f�tes mobiles, r�gl� sur le cours du soleil et de la lune. | However there are two principal parts in the breviary: the one comprises the prayers and the religious anthems to recite on the public holidays and the working days; the other concerns the annual cycle of Easter and other festivals whose return depends on measuring the movement of the sun and the moon. |
| 3. | Atque illud quidem felicis recordationis Pius V, pr�decessor noster, absolvendum curavit atque edidit. | La r�forme de la premi�re partie, Pie V, notre pr�d�cesseur d'heureuse m�moire, s'en est acquitt� et l'a mise en vigueur. | The reform of the first part, Pius V [1566-1572], our predecessor of happy memory, discharged and put it into force [with the Bull "Quod a nobis", July 9, 1568] . |
| 4. | Hoc vero, quod nimirum exigit legitimam kalendarii restitutionem, iamdiu a Romanis Pontificibus pr�decessoribus nostris et s�pius tentatum est; verum absolvi et ad exitum perduci ad hoc usque tempus non potuit, quod rationes emendandi kalendarii, qu� a c�lestium motuum peritis proponebantur, propter magnas et fere inextricabiles difficultates, quas huiusmodi emendatio semper habuit, neque perennes erant, neque antiquos ecclesiasticos ritus incolumes (quod in primis hac in re curandum erat) servabant. | Celle de la seconde partie, qui exige au pr�alable la restauration du calendrier, a souvent et depuis longtemps �t� tent�e par les pontifes romains nos pr�d�cesseurs; mais elle n'a pu jusqu'� ce jour �tre men�e � terme parce que les divers projets de r�forme du calendrier propos�s par de savants astronomes, en plus de pr�senter les difficult�s immenses et presque inextricables qui ont toujours accompagn� une telle r�forme, n'�taient pas durables ni surtout ne maintenaient intacts les rites antiques de l'�glise, et c'�tait l� notre premi�re pr�occupation en cette affaire. | The reform of the second part, which first requires the restoration of the calendar, was tried often, over a long time, by our predecessor Roman pontiffs. However, it could not be carried out, thus far, because the various calendar reform projects proposed by astronomers, in addition to presenting the immense and almost inextricable difficulties which always accompanied such a reform, were not durable, and especially they did not maintain intact the ancient rites of the Church, and that was our first concern in this business. |
| 5. | Dum itaque nos quoque, credita nobis, licet indignis, a Deo dispensatione freti, in hac cogitatione curaque versaremur, allatus est nobis liber a dilecto filio Antonio Lilio, artium et medicin� doctore, quem quondam Aloysius eius germanus frater conscripserat, in quo per novum quemdam epactarum cyclum ab eo excogitatum, et ad certam ipsius aurei numeri normam directum, atque ad quamcumque anni solaris magnitudinem accommodatum, omnia qu� in calendario collapsa sunt, constanti ratione et s�culis omnibus duratura, sic restitui posse ostendit ut calendarium ipsum nulli umquam mutationi in posterum expositum esse videatur. Novam hanc restituendi calendarii rationem, exiguo volumine comprehensam, ad christianos principes celebrioresque universitates paucos ante annos misimus, ut res qu� omnium communis est, communi etiam omnium consilio perficeretur; illi cum, quod maxime optabamus, concordes respondissent, eorum nos omnium consensione adducti, viros ad calendarii emendationem adhibuimus in alma Urbe harum rerum peritissimos, quos longe ante ex primariis christiani orbis nationibus delegeramus. Ii cum multum temporis et diligenti� ad eam lucubrationem adhibuissent, et cyclos tam veterum quam recentiorum undique conquisitos ac diligentissime perpensos inter se contulissent, suo et doctorum hominum, qui de ea re scripserunt, iudicio, hunc, pr� ceteris, elegerunt epactarum cyclum, cui nonnulla etiam adiecerunt, qu� ex accurata circumspectione visa sunt ad calendarii perfectionem maxime pertinere. | Alors que nous aussi par cons�quent, fort de l'autorit� que Dieu nous a confi�e tout indigne que nous en fussions, nous nous adonnions � ces r�flexions, notre cher fils Antonio Lilio, professeur de sciences et de m�decine, nous apporta un livre �crit nagu�re par son fr�re Luigi dans lequel celui-ci d�montrait qu'au moyen d'un tout nouveau cycle d'�pactes qu'il avait invent� et qui d'une part utilisait ses propres r�gles tr�s pr�cises pour le nombre d'or et d'autre part s'adaptait � toute dur�e de l'ann�e solaire, tous les d�fauts du calendrier pouvaient �tre corrig�s d'une mani�re coh�rente et qui durerait jusqu'� la fin des si�cles, de telle sorte qu'il ne paraisse plus susceptible de varier � l'avenir. Ce nouveau projet de restauration du calendrier, r�sum� dans un petit livre, nous l'avons fait parvenir il y a quelques ann�es aux princes chr�tiens et aux grandes universit�s afin que cette �uvre, qui est l'affaire de tous, soit r�alis�e apr�s consultation de tous; ceux-ci nous ayant manifest� leur accord, comme nous le souhaitions vivement, nous avons, fort de ce consensus, fait venir dans la ville sainte pour r�former le calendrier des hommes tr�s comp�tents en la mati�re et que longtemps auparavant nous avions choisis dans les principaux pays du monde chr�tien. Ceux-ci, apr�s avoir consacr� beaucoup de temps et d'attention � ce travail nocturne et avoir discut� entre eux de cycles qu'ils avaient recueillis de partout, tant chez les anciens que chez les modernes, et qu'ils avaient soigneusement �tudi�s, ont, � la r�flexion et de l'avis d'hommes savants qui ont �crit � ce sujet, choisi de pr�f�rence � tout autre ce cycle d'�pactes, y ajoutant m�me des �l�ments qui, apr�s m�r examen, ont paru indispensables � la r�alisation d'un calendrier parfait. | While, therefore, this has been entrusted to us, an undeserved dispensation from God has been allowed. Our dear son Antonio Lilio, professor of science and medicine, brought to us a book, written at one time by his brother Aloysius [Luigi], in which this one showed that, by means of a new cycle of epacts which he had devised, and who directed his own particular Golden Number pattern and accomodated the entirety of any solar year, every [defect of] the calendar collapsed, and the constant calculations would endure for every generation. He was, thus, able to restore and explain how the calendar itself will never need published any further change. This new project of the restoration of the calendar, summarized in a small book, we forwarded a few years ago to the Christian princes and to the large universities so that this work, which is the business of all, is carried out with the consultation of all. Those having expressed their agreement to us, as we had sincerely hoped, we have, with this consensus, arranged a gathering in the Holy City, to reform the calendar, of the very qualified men on the matter whom we had chosen from the principal countries of the Christian world a long time before. Those, after having devoted much time and attention to this night work and having discussed between them cycles which they had collected from everywhere, old ones as well as modern ones, and as they had carefully studied the reflections and the opinions of erudite men who wrote on this subject, chose and prefered this cycle of epacts, adding to it elements which, after thorough examination, appeared essential to the realization of a perfect calendar. |
| 6. | Considerantes igitur nos, ad rectam paschalis festi celebrationem iuxta sanctorum patrum ac veterum Romanorum pontificum, pr�sertim Pii et Victoris primorum, necnon magni illius �cumenici concilii Nic�ni et aliorum sanctiones, tria necessaria coniungenda et statuenda esse: primum, certam verni �quinoctii sedem; deinde rectam positionem XIV lun� primi mensis, qu� vel in ipsum �quinoctii diem incidit, vel ei proxime succedit; postremo primum quemque diem dominicum, qui eamdem XIV lunam sequitur; curavimus non solum �quinoctium vernum in pristinam sedem, a qua iam a concilio Nic�no decem circiter diebus recessit, restituendum, et XIV paschalem suo in loco, a quo quatuor et eo amplius dies hoc tempore distat, reponendam, sed viam quoque tradendam et rationem, qua cavetur, ut in posterum �quinoctium et XIV luna a propriis sedibus numquam dimoveantur. | On constate � l'examen qu'il est n�cessaire de statuer en m�me temps sur trois points pour r�tablir la c�l�bration de P�ques selon les r�gles fix�es par les pontifes romains d'autrefois, particuli�rement Pie premier et Victor premier, et par les p�res des conciles, notamment ceux du grand concile �cum�nique de Nic�e, � savoir: d'abord la date pr�cise de l'�quinoxe vernal, puis la date exacte du quatorzi�me jour de la lune qui atteint cet �ge le jour m�me de l'�quinoxe ou imm�diatement apr�s, enfin le premier dimanche qui suit ce m�me quatorzi�me jour de la lune. Aussi avons-nous veill� non seulement � ce que l'�quinoxe vernal revienne � sa date d'autrefois, dont il s'est d�j� �cart� d'environ dix jours depuis le concile de Nic�e, et � ce que le quatorzi�me jour de la lune pascale soit remis � sa juste place dont il est maintenant �loign� de quatre jours et plus, mais aussi � ce que soit instaur� un syst�me m�thodique et rationnel qui emp�che qu'� l'avenir l'�quinoxe et le quatorzi�me jour de la lune ne se d�placent encore de leurs positions appropri�es. | One notes in examining this that it is necessary to rule at the same time on three points to restore the celebration of Easter according to rules fixed by the previous Roman pontiffs, particularly Pius I [ca. 140 - 154] and Victor I [ca. 189 - 198, who established Easter's celebration on Sunday, rather than 14 Nisan favored by the "Quartodeciman" bishops of Asia], and by the fathers of the councils, in particular those of the [first] great ecumenical council of Nic�a [May 20 - August 25, AD 325, deciding the following rules]. Namely: First, the precise date of the vernal equinox, then the exact date of the fourteenth day of the moon which reaches this age the very same day as the equinox or immediately afterwards, finally the first Sunday which follows this same fourteenth day of the moon. Therefore we took care not only that the vernal equinox returns on its former date, of which it has already deviated approximately ten days since the Nicene Council, and so that the fourteenth day of the Paschal moon is given its rightful place, from which it is now distant four days and more, but also that there is founded a methodical and rational system which ensures, in the future, that the equinox and the fourteenth day of the moon do not move from their appropriate positions. |
| 7. | Quo igitur vernum �quinoctium, quod a patribus concilii Nic�ni ad XII Kalendas Aprilis fuit constitutum, ad eamdem sedem restituatur, pr�cipimus et mandamus ut de mense Octobri anni MDLXXXII decem dies inclusive a tertia Nonarum usque ad pridie Idus eximantur, et dies, qui festum S. Francisci IV Nonas celebrari solitum sequitur, dicatur Idus Octobris, atque in eo celebretur festum Ss. Dionysii, Rustici et Eleutherii martyrum, cum commemoratione S. Marci pap� et confessoris, et Ss. Sergii, Bacchi, Marcelli et Apuleii martyrum; septimodecimo vero Kalendas Novembris, qui dies proxime sequitur, celebretur festum S. Callisti pap� et martyris; deinde XVI Kalendas Novembris fiat officium et missa de dominica XVIII post Pentecostem, mutata litera dominicali G in C; quintodecimo denique Kalendas Novembris dies festus agatur S. Luc� evangelist�, a quo reliqui deinceps agantur festi dies, prout sunt in calendario descripti. | Afin donc que l'�quinoxe vernal, qui a �t� fix� par les p�res du concile de Nic�e au douzi�me des calendes d'avril, soit replac� � cette date, nous prescrivons et ordonnons que soient supprim�s du mois d'octobre de l'an 1582 les dix jours qui vont du troisi�me des nones � la veille des ides inclusivement, et que le jour qui suivra le quatri�me des nones, o� l'on f�te traditionellement saint Fran�ois, soit appel� ides d'octobre et que soient c�l�br�es en ce jour la f�te des saints martyrs Denis, Rustique et �leuth�re, ainsi que la m�moire de saint Marc, pape et confesseur, et des saints martyrs Serge, Bacchus, Marcel et Apul�e; que soit c�l�br�e le lendemain, dix-septi�me des calendes de novembre, la f�te de saint Callixte, pape et martyr; que soient ensuite r�cit�s, le seizi�me des calendes de novembre, l'office et la messe du dix-huiti�me dimanche apr�s la Pentec�te, la lettre dominicale passant de G � C; qu'ait enfin lieu, le quinzi�me des calendes de novembre, la f�te de saint Luc, �vang�liste, apr�s quoi se succ�deront les autres jours de f�te, de la fa�on dont ils sont d�crits dans le calendrier. | So thus that the vernal equinox, which was fixed by the fathers of the [first] Nicene Council at XII calends April [March 21], is replaced on this date, we prescribe and order that there is removed, from October of the year the 1582, the ten days which go from the third before Nones [the 5th] through the day before the Ides [the 14th] inclusively. The day which will follow IV Nones [the 4th], where one traditionally celebrates Saint Francis [of Assisi] , shall be the Ides of October [the 15th], and there shall be celebrated this day the festival of the martyred Saints Denis [Bishop of Paris, previously confused with Dionysius the Areopagite], Rusticus [a priest of Denis'], and Eleutherius [a deacon of Denis, feast day October 9 for all three], as well as the memory of Saint Mark, [feast day October 7] pope and confessor, and of the martyred Saints Sergius, Bacchus, Marcellus and Apuleius [feast day October 7]. There shall be celebrated the following day, seventeenth calends November [October 16th], the festival of Saint Callistus [I], pope and martyr [feast day October 14] ; and then shall come XVI calends November [October 17th], the office and the mass of the 18th Sunday after Pentecost; the Sunday letter shall pass from G to C. Finally shall come the place of the fifteenth calends November [October 18th], the festival of Saint Luke the evangelist [feast day October 18] , after which will follow one another the other feastdays, in the way they are described in the calendar. |
| 8. | Ne vero ex hac nostra decem dierum subtractione, alicui, quod ad annuas vel menstruas pr�stationes pertinet, pr�iudicium fiat, partes iudicum erunt in controversis, qu� super hoc exort� fuerint, dict� subtractionis rationem habere, addendo alios X dies in fine cuiuslibet pr�stationis. | Mais afin que cette suppression de dix jours ne cause aucun pr�judice � quiconque doit effectuer des paiements mensuels ou annuels, il incombera aux juges, dans tout litige qui pourrait en r�sulter, de tenir compte de ladite suppression en reportant de dix jours l'�ch�ance de n'importe quel paiement. | But so that this ten days removal does not cause any injury with whomever must carry out monthly or annual payments, it will fall to the judges, in any litigation which could result from it, to take account of the aforementioned removal by deferring ten days the expiration of any payment. |
| 9. | Deinde, ne in posterum a XII Kalendas Aprilis �quinoctium recedat, statuimus bissextum quarto quoque anno (uti mos est) continuari debere, pr�terquam in centesimis annis; qui, quamvis bissextiles antea semper fuerint, qualem etiam esse volumus annum MDC, post eum tamen qui deinceps consequentur centesimi non omnes bissextiles sint, sed in quadringentis quibusque annis primi quique tres centesimi sine bissexto transigantur, quartus vero quisque centesimus bissextilis sit, ita ut annus MDCC, MDCCC, MDCCCC bissextiles non sint. Anno vero MM, more consueto dies bissextus intercaletur, Februario dies XXIX continente, idemque ordo intermittendi intercalandique bissextum diem in quadringentis quibusque annis perpetuo conservetur. | Ensuite, afin que l'�quinoxe ne s'�loigne plus � l'avenir du douzi�me des calendes d'avril, nous d�cr�tons qu'un bissexte devra �tre intercal� tous les quatre ans selon la coutume, sauf durant les ann�es s�culaires; mais que celles-ci, bien qu'elles aient toujours �t� bissextiles jusqu'� pr�sent, et bien que nous voulions que l'an 1600 le soit encore, ne le seront plus toutes par la suite; mais que pour toute p�riode de quatre cents ans, chacune des trois premi�res ann�es s�culaires s'�coulera sans bissexte, et que la quatri�me sera bissextile, de telle sorte que les ann�es 1700, 1800 et 1900 ne seront pas bissextiles; mais qu'en l'an 2000 un bissexte sera intercal� selon la coutume, f�vrier comptant 29 jours, et que le m�me ordre d'omissions et d'intercalations de bissextes durant chaque p�riode de quatre cents ans sera respect� � jamais. | Then, lest the equinox recede from XII calends April [March 21st] in the future, we establish every fourth year to be bissextile (as the custom is), except in centennial years ; which always were bissextile until now; we wish that year 1600 is still bissextile; after that, however, those centennial years that follow are not all bissextile, but in each four hundred years, the first three centennial years are not bissextile, and the fourth centennial year, however, is bissextile, so the years 1700, 1800 and 1900 will not be bissextile. Assuredly, the year 2000, as with our custom, will have a bissextile intercalation, February will contain 29 days, and the same rule of intermittent bissextile intercalations in each four hundred year period will be preserved in perpetuity. |
| 10. | Quo item XIV paschalis recte inveniatur, itemque dies lun�, iuxta antiquum Ecclesi� morem ex martyrologio singulis diebus ediscendi, fideli populo vere proponantur, statuimus ut, amoto aureo numero de calendario, in eius locum substituatur cyclus epactarum, qui ad certam (uti diximus) aurei numeri normam directus, efficit ut novilunium et XIV paschalis vera loca semper retineant. Idque manifeste apparet ex nostri explicatione calendarii, in quo descript� sunt etiam tabul� paschales secundum priscum Ecclesi� ritum, quo certius et facilius sacrosanctum Pascha inveniri possit. | De plus, afin que le quatorzi�me jour de la lune pascale soit d�termin� avec pr�cision et que l'�ge de la lune soit pr�sent� avec exactitude aux fid�les conform�ment � l'antique usage de l'�glise d'en prendre connaissance chaque jour � la lecture du martyrologe, nous ordonnons qu'une fois le nombre d'or retir� du calendrier, on lui substitue le cycle des �pactes qui, gr�ce � ses r�gles tr�s pr�cises ci-dessus mentionn�es pour le nombre d'or, fait en sorte que la nouvelle lune et le quatorzi�me jour de la lune pascale soient toujours parfaitement localis�s. Et ceci se voit clairement dans l'explication de notre calendrier, o� sont aussi pr�sent�es des tables pascales conformes aux coutumes antiques de l'�glise et qui permettent de trouver plus s�rement et plus facilement la date du tr�s saint jour de P�ques. | Moreover, so that the fourteenth day of the Paschal moon is given with precision and that the age of the moon is presented with precision to the faithful in accordance with the antique use of the Church, to take note of it each day with the reading of martyrology , we order that once the Golden Number is withdrawn from the calendar, one substitutes the cycle of the epacts for it which, thanks to its very precise rules mentioned above for the Golden Number, makes so that the new moon and the fourteenth day of the Paschal moon always hold their place. And this is seen clearly in the explanation of our calendar, where are also presented Paschal tables in conformity with the ancient habits of the Church and which make it possible to find more surely and more easily the sacred date of the Easter. |
| 11. | Postremo, quoniam partim ob decem dies de mense Octobri anni MDLXXXII (qui correctionis annus recte dici debet) exemptos, partim ob ternos etiam dies quolibet quadringentorum annorum spatio minime intercalandos, interrumpatur necesse est cyclus literarum dominicalium XXVIII annorum ad hanc usque diem usitatus in Ecclesia Romana, volumus in eius locum substitui eumdem cyclum XXVIII annorum, ab eodem Lilio, tum ad dictam intercalandi bissexti in centesimis annis rationem, tum ad quamcumque anni solaris magnitudinem, accommodatum; ex quo litera dominicalis beneficio cycli solaris, �que facile ac prius, ut in proprio canone explicatur, reperiri possit in perpetuum. | Enfin, puisque d'une part � cause des dix jours retranch�s du mois d'octobre de l'an 1582 (qu'on doit maintenant appeler ann�e de la r�forme) et d'autre part � cause de chacun des trois jours qui ne devront plus �tre intercal�s durant chaque p�riode de quatre cents ans, il sera n�cessaire d'interrompre le cycle de 28 ans des lettres dominicales en usage jusqu'� ce jour dans l'�glise romaine, nous voulons que lui soit substitu� le m�me cycle de 28 ans tel qu'adapt� par ce m�me Lilio � la r�gle d'intercalation de bissextes pour les ann�es s�culaires ainsi qu'� toute dur�e de l'ann�e solaire, de sorte que la lettre dominicale puisse pour toujours �tre d�termin�e aussi facilement qu'avant � l'aide du cycle solaire, comme cela est expliqu� dans le canon qui s'y rapporte. | Lastly, partly because of the ten days cut off from October from year 1582 (that one must now call the year of the reform) and partly because of the three days which will not have to be inserted any more during each four hundred year period, it will be necessary to stop the 28 year cycle of the Sunday letters used so far in the Roman Church. We wish to substitute for it the same 28 year cycle, as adapted by this same Lilio to the rule of bissextile intercalation for the last years of the century as well as to the whole solar year, so that the Sunday letter can always be given as easily as before using the solar cycle, as that is explained in the canon which is referred to it. |
| 12. | Nos igitur, ut quod proprium pontificis maximi esse solet exequamur, calendarium immensa Dei erga Ecclesiam suam benignitate iam correctum atque absolutum hoc nostro decreto probamus, et Rom� una cum martyrologio imprimi, impressumque divulgari iussimus. | Conform�ment donc � ce qui est traditionnellement l'attribut du souverain pontife, nous approuvons par ces pr�sentes le calendrier maintenant r�form� et rendu parfait gr�ce � l'infinie bienveillance de Dieu envers son �glise, et nous avons ordonn� qu'il soit imprim� � Rome en m�me temps que le martyrologe, puis publi�. | We, therefore, with what is traditionally the attribute of sovereign pontiff, we approve this calendar, now reformed and made perfect thanks to the infinite benevolence of God towards his Church, and we order that it is printed in Rome with the martyrology. |
| 13. | Ut vero utrumque ubique terrarum incorruptum ac mendis et erroribus purgatum servetur, omnibus in nostro et sanct� Roman� Ecclesi� dominio mediate vel immediate subiecto commorantibus impressoribus, sub amissionis librorum ac centum ducatorum auri Camer� Apostolic� ipso facto applicandorum; aliis vero, in quacumque orbis parte consistentibus, sub excommunicationis lat� sententi� ac aliis arbitrii nostri p�nis, ne sine nostra licentia calendarium aut martyrologium, simul vel separatim, imprimere vel proponere, aut recipere ullo modo audeant vel pr�sumant, prohibemus. | Mais afin que l'un et l'autre soient maintenus intacts et exempts de fautes et d'erreurs partout sur la terre, nous interdisons � tous les imprimeurs �tablis sur le territoire soumis avec ou sans interm�diaire � notre juridiction et � celle de la sainte �glise romaine d'avoir l'audace ou la pr�somption d'imprimer ou de publier sans notre autorisation le calendrier ou le martyrologe, ensemble ou s�par�ment, ou d'en tirer b�n�fice en aucune mani�re, sous peine de la perte de contrats et d'une amende de cent ducats d'or � payer ipso facto � la Chambre apostolique; quant aux autres, o� qu'ils demeurent sur terre, nous leur faisons la m�me interdiction, sous peine d'excommunication lat� sententi� et sous d'autres peines � notre discr�tion. | But so that these orders are maintained intact and clear everywhere of faults and errors, we prohibit all the printers established on the territory subject, with or without intermediary, to our jurisdiction and that of holy Roman Church, to have the audacity or the presumption to print or publish, without our authorization, the calendar or martyrology, together or separately, or to draw benefit in any manner from it, under penalty of the loss of contracts and of a fine of one hundred gold ducats to pay to the Apostolic See. As for others, where that they remain similarly subject, we give them the same prohibition, under penalty of excommunication lat� sententi� and under other sorrows within our discretion. |
| 14. | Tollimus autem et abolemus omnino vetus calendarium, volumus que ut omnes patriarch�, primates, archiepiscopi, episcopi, abbates et ceteri ecclesiarum pr�sides novum calendarium (ad quod etiam accomodata est ratio martyrologii), pro divinis officiis recitandis et festis celebrandis, in suas quisque ecclesias, monasteria, conventus, ordines, militias et di�ceses introducant, et eo solo utantur, tam ipsi quam ceteri omnes presbyteri et clerici s�culares et regulares utriusque sexus, necnon milites et omnes christifideles, cuius usus incipiet post decem illos dies ex mense Octobri anni MDLXXXII exemptos. Iis vero, qui adeo longinquas incolunt regiones, ut ante pr�scriptum a nobis tempus harum literarum notitiam habere non possint, liceat, eodem tamen Octobri mense insequentis anni MDLXXXIII vel alterius, cum primum scilicet ad eos h� nostr� liter� pervenerint, modo a nobis paulo ante tradito, eiusmodi mutationem facere, ut copiosius in nostro calendario anni correctionis explicabitur. | Nous supprimons donc et abolissons absolument l'ancien calendrier et nous voulons que tous les patriarches, primats, archev�ques, �v�ques, abb�s et autres dirigeants d'�glises mettent en vigueur pour la lecture de l'office divin et la c�l�bration des f�tes, chacun dans son �glise, monast�re, couvent, ordre, arm�e ou dioc�se, le nouveau calendrier, auquel a �t� adapt� le martyrologe, et ne fassent usage que de celui-ci, tant eux-m�mes que tous les autres pr�tres et clercs, s�culiers et r�guliers, de l'un et l'autre sexes, ainsi que les militaires et tous les chr�tiens, calendrier dont l'utilisation commencera apr�s la suppression de dix jours du mois d'octobre 1582. Quant � ceux cependant qui habitent des r�gions trop �loign�es pour prendre � temps connaissance de cette lettre, qu'il leur soit permis de faire un tel changement au mois d'octobre de l'ann�e qui suivra imm�diatement, � savoir 1583, ou de la suivante de celle-ci, aussit�t bien s�r que cette lettre leur sera parvenue, de la mani�re que nous avons indiqu�e ci-dessus et comme cela sera plus abondamment expliqu� dans le calendrier de l'ann�e de la r�forme. | We thus remove and absolutely abolish the old calendar and we wish that all the patriarchs, primacies, archbishops, bishops, abbots and other leaders of Churches put into force for the reading of the divine office and the celebration of the festivals, each one in his Church, monastery, convent, command, army or diocese, the new calendar, to which was adapted the martyrology, and make use only of this one, as well as all the other priests and clerks, secular and regular, of the both genders, as well as soldiers and all Christians, this calendar whose use will start after the ten days removal of October 1582. As for those however which live in areas too distant to take knowledge of this letter in time, they are allowed to make such a change in October of the year which will follow immediately, namely 1583, or the next one, as soon, of course, as this letter will have come to them, in the manner that we indicated above and as that will be more abundantly explained in the calendar of the year of the reform. |
| 15. | Pro data autem nobis a Domino auctoritate hortamur et rogamus carissimum in Christo filium nostrum Rodulphum Romanorum regem illustrem in imperatorem electum, ceterosque reges, principes ac respublicas, iisdemque mandamus ut quo studio illi a nobis contenderunt, ut hoc tam pr�clarum opus perficeremus, eodem, immo etiam maiore, ad conservandam in celebrandis festivitatibus inter christianas nationes concordiam, nostrum hoc calendarium et ipsi suscipiant, et a cunctis sibi subiectis populis religiose suscipiendum inviolateque observandum curent. | D'autre part, en vertu de l'autorit� dont nous avons �t� investi par Dieu, nous exhortons et prions notre tr�s cher fils en J�sus-Christ Rodolphe, l'illustre roi des Romains devenu empereur, ainsi que les autres rois et princes, de m�me que les r�publiques, et nous leur recommandons, �tant donn� qu'ils nous ont vivement press� d'accomplir cette �uvre si admirable, mais aussi, et m�me surtout, afin de maintenir entre les nations chr�tiennes l'harmonie dans la c�l�bration des f�tes, d'adopter eux-m�mes notre calendrier et de veiller � ce que tous leurs sujets l'adoptent respectueusement et s'y conforment scrupuleusement. | In addition, under the terms of the authority with which we were invested by God, we exhort and request our very dear sons in Christ, our illustrious Rudolph [II], King of the Romans become emperor, as well as the other kings and princes, just as the republics. We recommend to them, both since they sought us to achieve this very admirable work, but also, and even especially, in order to maintain harmony between the Christian nations in the celebration of the festivals, to adopt for themselves our calendar and to take care that all their subjects adopt it respectfully and conform to it scrupulously. |
| 16. | Verum, quia difficile foret pr�sentes literas ad universa christiani orbis loca deferri, illas ad basilic� Principis Apostolorum et Cancellari� Apostolic� valvas, et in acie Campi Flor� publicari et affigi; et earumdem literarum exemplis, etiam impressis, et voluminibus calendarii et martyrologii insertis et pr�positis, sive manu tabellionis publici subscriptis, necnon sigillo person� in dignitate ecclesiastica constitut� obsignatis, eamdem prorsus indubitatam fidem ubique gentium et locorum haberi pr�cipimus, qu� originalibus literis exhibitis omnino haberetur. | Comme il serait difficile toutefois de faire parvenir cette lettre � tous les pays du monde chr�tien, nous ordonnons qu'elle soit rendue publique et affich�e aux portes de la basilique du prince des ap�tres et � celles de la Chancellerie apostolique, ainsi qu'� l'entr�e du Campo dei Fiori; et que, chez tous les peuples et dans tous les pays, on accorde le m�me cr�dit absolu � des copies de cette lettre, m�me imprim�es, accompagn�es d'exemplaires du calendrier et du martyrologe mentionn�s pr�c�demment, � la fois sign�es de la main d'un notaire public et authentifi�es du sceau d'un dignitaire de l'�glise, que celui qui serait accord� par tous � la lettre originale affich�e. | As it would be difficult however to forward this letter to all the countries of the Christian world, we order that it is made public and displayed on the gates of the basilica of the Apostolic Prince and on those of the Apostolic Chancellery, as well as at the entry of Campo di Fiori. Also, among all people and in all the countries, one shall grant the same absolute credit to copies of this letter, even printed, accompanied by specimens by the calendar and martyrology mentioned previously, at the same time with the signed hand and notary seal of a public and authenticated dignitary of the Church, that that which would be granted by all to the displayed original letter. |
| 17. | Nulli ergo omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostrorum pr�ceptorum, mandatorum, statutorum, voluntatis, probationis, prohibitionis, sublationis, abolitionis, hortationis et rogationis infringere, vel ei ausu temerario contraire. Si quis autem hoc attentare pr�sumpserit, indignationem omnipotentis Dei ac beatorum Petri et Pauli apostolorum eius se noverit incursurum. | Qu'il soit donc interdit � tous sans exception d'enfreindre cet acte de nos prescription, ordonnance, d�cret, volont�, approbation, interdiction, suppression, abolition, exhortation et pri�re, ou de s'y opposer avec une audace t�m�raire. Si toutefois quelqu'un avait cette pr�somption, qu'il sache qu'il encourrait la col�re du Tout-Puissant et de ses bienheureux ap�tres Pierre et Paul. |
No one among men, therefore, is permitted to infringe on this page, our [7] prescription, mandate, [9,10,11] establishment, [9,11, 14, 16] wish,[12] approval, [13] prohibition, [14] suppression, abolition, [15] exhortation and request, nor dare reckless opposition. But if you tamper with this, Almighty God will take you up with indignation, and you will be making an incursion against His happy apostles Peter and Paul. |
| Datum Tusculi, anno Incarnationis dominic� MDLXXXI, sexto Kalendas Martii, pontificatus nostri anno X. | Donn� � Tusculum le sixi�me des calendes de mars de l'an 1581 de l'Incarnation, dixi�me de notre pontificat. |
Given at Tusculum [now part of
Frascati], in the year of the
Incarnation of the Lord 1581, sixth calends
March [February 24th]; of our pontificate, year
10. [This was signed in 1582 (New Style); it was dated 1581 using the Easter Year style of Florence, which starts a new year on March 25th.] Cae. Glorierius
A. de Alexijs [chancellors to the Pope] |
Bill
Spencer , November 24-28, AD 1999, according to the
Gregorian Calendar.
Updated on the equinox, March 20,
AD 2002, reflecting comments received and additional study.
Second-hand reference, through R. H. van Gent, has been made
to the Dutch translation of the Inter Gravissimas and commentary, published on
the bull's 350th anniversary in:
W.E. van
Wijk, De Gregoriaansche Kalender: Een Technisch-Tijdrekenkundige Studie (A.A.M.
Stols, Maastricht, 1932), pp. 43-48.
The original Latin text of the Inter Gravissimas was
transcribed by Rodolphe Audette from three sources:
1 - in a 19th century
collection of papal bulls in the library of Universit�
Laval, Qu�bec
2 - in volume 5 of Clavius' Opera
Mathematica
3 - in Fran�ois
Vi�te's Opera Mathematica
1. The "Leap Day" of Gregory XIII seems to have been C�sar's intercallation of the 24th of February. He used the Roman dating approach throughout, and described his intercalation as the "bissextus" -- a "double 6th day" before March, counting backwards from March 1, inclusive. I have heard that the Saint's Days for the 25th through 28th were delayed one day to accomodate the intercalation. In our modern notation, February of a leap year would have been something like " ... 23rd, 24th, 24th repeated, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, March 1st".
2. Much controversy was generated around the year 2000, over the exact end of the second millennium and start of the third. The century, and presumably the millenium, of Gregory XIII clearly ends with a year ending in 00. E.g., the 400-year period in his example starts after MDCC and ends on the year MM. Then the next period starts, presumably with 2001.