PAPAL
BULL OF POPE
ANASTASIUS IV
A PROCLAMATION OF THE VICAR OF CHRIST CONFIRMING AND
EXTENDING THE SACRED RIGHTS, UNIQUE GRANTS AND SPECIAL IMMUNITIES
BESTOWED, IN PERPETUITY, ON THE HOSPITALLER ORDER OF SAINT JOHN
OF JERUSALEM BY THE HOLY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Anastasius,
Bishop, and servant of such as are servants of God, to his beloved
son Raymond, Master of the Hospital in the city of Jerusalem,
and to his brethren, both present and to come, professed forever
in the religious life, health and the apostolic blessing. The
religion of the Christian Faith piously believes and truly confesses
that while Jesus Christ, Our Lord, was rich in all things, He
became a poor man for our sake. Wherefore He promises those
who would imitate Him rewards of timely consolation: "Blessed
are the poor, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." Likewise
the Father of orphans and Refuge of the poor exhorting us to
be hospitable and generous says in the Gospel: "What you have
done for one of my least brethren, you have done for Me." And
to prove further the excellence of such goodness, He assures
us that He will give a reward even for a cup of cold water.
We, therefore, whose express duty it is to provide with paternal
care for those near and far, embrace you in your devotion and
bestow Our favors according as they are asked. And following
the example of Our predecessors of happy memory, Innocent, Celestine,
Lucius, Eugene, all Roman Pontiffs, We take under the protection
of Saint Peter the Hospital and the home at the Holy City of
Jerusalem, and We protect with the privilege of the Holy See
all persons and property pertaining to it.
We
decree that whatever possessions or goods that have been acquired
by the hospital to sustain the needs of pilgrims and the poor
in the parishes of the Church at Jerusalem or of other churches,
whether they have been acquired by purchase through the watchful
care of those in charge, or bestowed by certain individuals,
either through a future grant from kings or princes because
of the largess of God, or acquired by some other just means;
whatever has been lawfully granted to the parish priests by
the venerable brethren of the See of Jerusalem, whether for
themselves or for your successors, and to the brethren who care
for the pilgrims, We command these (possessions) be preserved
peacefully and in their entirety.
If
any real estate is given to the same venerable House through
someone's devotion, you may build houses there, and erect churches
and make cemeteries according to the need of those who live
there, as long as there do not exist neighboring abbeys that
might be disturbed by this. Moreover, when lands which have
been given to you are conferred with a legal title, you may
have the faculty and the license to found oratories there and
to make cemeteries in accordance with the needs of pilgrims
and of those brethren only, who dine at your table. We decree,
therefore, that the receptors of your brotherhoods (x) or collections
without detriment to their masters shall stand under the protection
of Saint Peter and of Us, and wherever they shall travel through
the world, they shall have peace.
We
decree likewise that whoever has been received in your brotherhood,
if by chance the church to which he belongs has been prohibited
from holding divine services, and he should happen to die, he
shall not be denied a church burial, unless he has been excommunicated
or under interdict by name.
Besides,
if any of your brothers who have been sent by you to receive
these same brotherhoods and collections shall arrive at any
city, town, or village, if by chance that place is under interdict
from divine services, out of reverence for Almighty God the
church shall be opened once in the year at their joyful coming,
and when the excommunicated have been turned out, divine services
shall there be celebrated.
And
since all of your goods are to be expended for the sustenance
of the pilgrims and the poor, and they are not to be given to
any other use, We decree that no cleric or layman may in any
way presume to exact tithes from you for the gain you reap from
your labors. We decree that no bishop will be permitted to pronounce
a sentence of interdiction, suspension, or excommunication upon
the churches under your care. Nevertheless, if a general interdict
has been pronounced upon these places, divine services may be
celebrated simply, as long as the excommunicated are turned
out along with those under interdict by name, the doors are
closed, and no bells are rung.
Moreover,
so that nothing will be lacking to you for the fullness of salvation
and the care of your souls, and that the sacraments of the church
and divine services may be conveniently arranged for you and
for Christ's poor, We decree that you may take to yourselves
clerics and priests no matter whence their origin as long as
you have proof of their integrity and their ordination, to the
best of your knowledge through letters and consistent testimony
of witnesses; and you may keep them with you either at your
principal establishment or in those subject to you; provided
that they are not under obligation to some locality or diocese,
and that they are not considered harmful to the profession and
the Order.
And
if the bishops by chance are unwilling to yield these men to
you, you nevertheless will have the right to take them in and
retain them through the authority of the Holy Roman Church.
These same clerics shall be subject to no person outside your
chapter with the exception of the Roman Pontiff.
We
in no way impart the power to you of taking free laymen into
your community for service with the poor without objection from
someone.
We
refuse permission to return to the world to your brethren who
once in, and having been received into your community, have
made their profession and taken the religious habit. Nor would
it be right for anyone of them after making his profession and
assuming the cross of the Lord and taking the habit of your
Order, to cast it off.
Nor
should anyone move to another place, whether it be a major or
a minor monastery, without consulting the brethren or the master
of the place, and if the brethren should be unwilling, he should
not move there even though a license has been obtained. And
no license shall be given to any ecclesiastic or secular authority
to take them in or keep them.
Consecrations
of altars or basilicas, ordinations of clerics who have been
promoted to Holy Orders, and other church sacraments are in
the hands of the bishop of the diocese; if indeed he is a Catholic
and has favor and communion with the Apostolic See, he shall
freely and willingly give you these services with no irregularity
towards you; otherwise you are permitted to approach a Catholic
bishop of your choice who is indisputably supported by Our authority
to grant the requests you make.
And
at your death, since you are the provider and prefect of the
place, no one will be put in charge through deception, craft,
or violence, but only he whom the brethren elect according to
the will of God.
Furthermore,
the legacies or possessions here or beyond the sea, in Asia
or Europe, which the hospital now rightly possesses or will
be able to obtain through reasonable means, we confirm for you
in behalf of your efforts in the hospital work, and through
you for the said hospital. Let no one have the rashness to disturb
the aforementioned hospital, or take away its possessions, or
retain anything that has been stolen from it, to weaken it,
or to harass it with any violence; but let everything be preserved
whole and entire, which has been given for direction and sustenance
and shall be provided for in the future for any purpose with
due respect to the authority of the Apostolic See and the canonical
justice of the bishop of the diocese.
And
if in the future any ecclesiastic or secular person knowing
this Our constitution attempts the rashness of going against
it after the third warning unless he has made sufficient amends
for the defection, he shall be relieved of the dignity of his
power and office, and he shall learn that he is liable to divine
justice for perpetrating the offense, and he shall be deprived
of the most sacred Body and Blood of Our Lord and Our God and
Redeemer Jesus Christ, and at the last judgment he shall be
subject to the severest vengeance. But to all who preserve the
rights of this place may the peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ
come in so far as they here are receiving the fruit of their
good actions, and when they meet the strict Judge may the reward
of eternal peace be theirs. Amen, amen, amen.
Given
at the Lateran through the hand of Roland, cardinal priest of
the Holy Roman Church and chancellor, on the 21st day of October,
in the third indiction, the year of the Incarnation of Our Lord
1154, during the second year of the pontificate of Pope Anastasius
IV.
Note:
This and other Papal Bulls pertaining to the Sovereign Order
of Saint John of Jerusalem are found in a reference by Delacroix
de Roulx, which is a fairly common reference in university libraries.
They may also be seen in the Order's archives in the Palace
of the Grand Masters in Valletta, Malta.