Folio 209

Gregory IX, 1227-1241

printed p. 177 · pdf p. 209

by a commingling of honey to cause the sacrifice of doctrine to ferment which is to be presented "with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" [I Cor. 5:8]. But content with the terminology established by the Fathers, you should feed the minds of your listeners with the fruit of heavenly words, so that after the leaves of the words have been removed, "they may draw from the fountains of the Savior" [Isa. 12:3]; the clear and limpid waters which tend principally to this, that they may build up faith or fashion morals, and refreshed by these they may be delighted with internal richness.1

Condemnation of Various Heretics2

[From the form of anathema published Aug. 20, 1229 (?)]

444. "We excommunicate and anathematize . . . all heretics": the Cathari, the Patareni, the Pauperes of Lyons, the Passagini, the Josephini, the Arnoldistae, the Speronistae, and others, "by whatever names they may be known; having different faces indeed, but "tails coupled to each other" [Judg. 15:4], because from vanity they come together at the same point."3

The Matter and Form of Ordination4

[From the letter to Olaus, Bishop of Lyons, Dec. 9, 1232]

445. When a priest and deacon are ordained, they receive the imposition of a hand by corporal touch, by the rite introduced by the Apostles; and if this shall be omitted, it must not be partially repeated, but at an established time for conferring orders of this kind, what through error was omitted must be carefully supplied. Moreover, the suspension of hands over the head must be made, when the prayer of ordination is uttered over the head.

The Invalidity of Marriage Subject to Conditions5

[From fragments of the Decrees n. 104, about the years 1227-1234]

446. If conditions contrary to the nature of marriage are inserted, for example, if one says to the other: "I contract marriage with you, if you

  1. Cf. Greg. IX and John XXII in Bar(Th) ad 1231 n. 48 (21, 46a), and ad 1317 n. 15 (24, 49 b f.). ↩

  2. CIC Decr. Greg. V, 7, 15: Frdbg II 789; Rcht II 760; Pth 9675 (cf. 8445); cf. Bar(Th) ad 1229 n. 37 ff. (21, 11 a ff.). ↩

  3. From the Fourth Lateran Council, 1215, chapter 3, on heretics [Msi XXII 986]. ↩

  4. CIC Decr. Greg. I, 16, 3: Frdbg II 135; Rcht II 1305; Pth 9056. ↩

  5. CIC Decr. Greg. IV, 5, 7: Frdbg II 684; Rcht II 650 f.; Pth 9664; Msi XXIII 141 A.  ↩