which could injure the rite of the Ruthenians.[1] Most of all, the great Pope Benedict XIV (1740-1758) stands out as the champion of the Eastern rites. A great part of his legislation is concerned with their defence. We shall often have to refer to it. Meanwhile we may note his laws that the Byzantine monks in Italy are to know the Greek language and observe their rite exactly, that no Latin is to attack this.[2] His three chief Bulls on the subject are Etsi pastoralis, Demandatam cælitus, and especially Allatæ sunt.
All these contain much Canon Law for Uniates of various rites. As specimens of the attitude of the Holy See towards Catholics of other rites, these quotations will serve here.
In Etsi pastoralis[3] the Pope says that many Christians of the Byzantine rite have come to live in Italy; that "they and their children are to keep studiously and carefully the habits, institutions, rites, and customs which they have received from their Greek fathers, only to show to the Roman Church due obedience and reverence."[4] He says that before God there is neither Greek nor Jew, nor Barbarian nor Scythian, for all are one in Christ; so the Pope, too, wishes rather to grant special favours and graces to these strangers, as his predecessors have always done. He renews all privileges, immunities, exemptions, indults, and so on, which the Greeks have ever enjoyed.[5] Then he lays down careful rules for the Byzantine rite in Italy, to which we shall return, always with the greatest care not to modify or latinize any of its ancient principles. "Our predecessors, the Roman Pontiffs, considered it more proper to approve and permit these rites, which in no way are opposed to the Catholic faith, nor cause danger to souls, nor diminish the honour of the Church, rather than to bring them to the standard of the Roman ceremonies."[6] "Nor do we allow any Latin Ordinary to molest or to disturb these or any of them. And we inhibit all and any prelates or persons from blaspheming, reproving, or blaming the rites of the Greeks, which were approved in the Council of Florence or elsewhere."[7]
- ↑ For all these see Benedict XIV, Allatæ sunt, §§ 13-16 (Bullarium Benedicti XIV, ed. Venet., 1778, t. iv, pp. 12-1363, No. xlvii).
- ↑ Constit. Etsi persuasum, April 20, 1751 (op. cit., t. iii, p. 163, No. xliv).
- ↑ May 26, 1742, for the Italo-Greeks (op. cit., t. i, p p. 75-83, No. lvii).
- ↑ In the introduction.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ § ix, n. 1.
- ↑ Ibid.
