Papal documents relating to Franciscan poverty
See also
translations by Jonathan
Robinson of texts relating to Franciscan poverty by
Bonaventure, Michael de Cesena and William of St-Amour.
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POPE JOHN XXII, CUM INTER NONNULLOS
Translated by John Kilcullen
Copyright (c) 1996,
R.J. Kilcullen.
(See Lambert, pp. 235-6).
Since among some of those in the Schools
it happens often to be called into doubt whether it
must be regarded as heretical to affirm pertinaciously
that our Redeemer and Lord Jesus Christ and his
Apostles did not have any things individually, and not
even in common, and they think different and opposite
things concerning this matter: we, wishing to end this
controversy, declare by this perpetual edict, made
with the advice of our Brothers [the cardinals --
Gloss: see De re jud., c. ad Apostolicae, and decretal
Execrabilis], that such pertinacious assertion must
hence forth [see Gloss, col. 148] be regarded as
erroneous and heretical, since it expressly
contradicts sacred scripture, which in many places
asserts [see Gloss, col. 146, q] that they did have
some things, and openly supposes that sacred scripture
itself, through which especially the articles of
orthodox faith are proved, contains, in relation to
the foregoing [the possessions of Christ and the
Apostles], a leaven of falsehood -- and consequently,
destroying as far as it can all its credit [i.e. the
credit of sacred scripture], renders the Catholic
faith doubtful and uncertain, taking away its proof.
Further, for the future, to affirm
pertinaciously that there did not at all belong to our
Redeemer aforesaid and [om. Friedberg] his Apostles a
right to use the things sacred scripture testifies
they had, and that they did not have the right to sell
or give them, or to exchange them for other things --
which, however, sacred scripture testifies concerning
the foregoing that they did do, or expressly supposes
they were able to do: since such an assertion
evidently implies [that] their use and deeds in
relation to those things [were] not just -- and to
think this of the use, deeds or actions of our
Redeemer the Son of God is indeed wicked, contrary to
sacred scripture and inimical to Catholic teaching --
we declare, with the advice of our Brothers, that
henceforth that pertinacious assertion must rightly be
regarded as erroneous and heretical.
Therefore let it be lawful to no man
at all to violate this page of our declarations, or
venture to go rashly against it. If, however, anyone
etc. Given at Avignon, 14th November, in the seventh
year [of our pontificate, 1322].
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