flourish, if men would but ponder well the charity which Christ has shown in this Sacrament. For in it He has not only given a splendid manifestation of His power and wisdom, but "has in a manner poured out the riches of His divine love towards men," ^ Having before our eyes this noble example set us by Christ, who bestows on us all that He has, assuredly we ought to love and help one another to the utmost, being daily more closely united by the strong bond of brotherhood. Add to this that the outward and visible elements of this Sacrament supply a singularly appropriate stimulus to union. On this topic St. Cyprian writes: "In a word the Lord's sacrifice symbolizes the oneness of heart, guaranteed by a persevering and inviolable charity, which should prevail among Christians. For when Our Lord calls His body bread, a substance which is kneaded together out of many grains, He indicates that we His people, whom He sustains, are bound together in close union; and when He speaks of His blood as wine, in which the juice pressed from many clusters of grapes is mingled in one fluid. He likewise indicates that we His flock are by the commingling of a multitude of persons made one."^ In like manner the Angelic Doctor, adopting the senti- ments of St. Augustine,^ writes: "Our Lord has be- queathed to us His body and blood under the form of substances in which a multitude of things have been reduced to unity, for one of them, namely bread, consisting as it does of many grains is yet one, and the other, that is to say wine, has its unity of being from the con- fluent juice of many grapes; and therefore St. Augustine elsewhere says: *0 Sacrament of mercy, O sign of unity, O bond of charity!' "* All of which is confirmed by the declaration of the Council of Trent that Christ left the 1 Ck)nc. Trid., Sess. XIII. De Euch. c. ii. ' Ep. 96 ad Magnum n. 5 (al. 6). ^ Tract, xxvi. in Joan. nn. 13, 17. «Summ. Theol. P. III., q. Ixxix., a. 1.
THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST. 529 Eucharist in His Church "as a symbol of that unity and charity whereby He would have all Christians mutually joined and united...a symbol of that one body of which He is Himself the head, and to which He would have us, as members, attached by the closest bonds of faith, hope, and charity."^ The same idea had been expressed by St. Paul when he wrote: For we, being many, are one bread, one body, all we who partake of the one bi^ead} Very beautiful and joyful too is the spectacle of Christian brotherhood and social equality which is afforded when men of all conditions, gentle and simple, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, gather round the holy altar, all sharing ahke in this heavenly banquet. And if in the records of the Church it is deservedly reckoned to the special credit of its first ages that the multitude of the believers had but one heart and one soul,^ there can be no shadow of doubt that this immense blessing was due to their frequent meetings at the divine table; for we find it recorded of them: They were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles and in the communion of the breaking of bread} Besides all this, the grace of mutual charity among the hving, which derives from the Sacrament of the Eucharist so great an increase of strength, is further extended by virtue of the sacrifice to all those who are numbered in the communion of saints. For the communion of saints, as every one knows, is nothing but the mutual communica- tion of help, expiation, prayers, blessings, among all the faithful, who, whether they have already attained to the heavenly country, or are detained in the purgatorial fire, or are yet exiles here on earth, all enjoy the common fran- chise of that city whereof Christ is the head, and the consti- » Cone. Trid., Sess. XIII., De Euchar., c. iL M Cor. X. 17. 5 Acts iv. 32.
Acts ii, 42.
530 THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST.
tution is charity. For faith teaches us, that although the venerable Sacrifice may be lawfully offered to God alone, yet it may be celebrated in honor of the saints reigning in heaven with God who has crowned them, in order that we may gain for ourselves their patronage. And it may also be offered — in accordance with an apostolic tradition — for the purpose of expiating the sins of those of the brethren who, having died in the Lord, have not yet fully paid the penalty of their transgressions.
That genuine charity, therefore, which knows how to do and to suffer all things for the salvation and the benefit of all, leaps forth with all the heat and energy of a flame from that Most Holy Eucharist in which Christ Himself is present and lives, in which He indulges to the utmost His love towards us, and under the impulse of that divine love ceaselessly renews His Sacrifice. And thus it is not difficult to see whence the arduous labors of apostoUc men, and whence those innumerable designs of every kind for the welfare of the human race which have been set on foot among Catholics, derive their origin, their strength, their permanence, their success.
These few words on a subject so vast will. We doubt not, prove most helpful to the Christian flock, if you in your zeal, Venerable Brethren, will cause them to be ex- pounded and enforced as time and occasion may serve. But indeed a Sacrament so great and so rich in all manner of blessings can never be extolled as it deserves by human eloquence, nor adequately venerated by the worship of man. This Sacrament, whether as the theme of devout meditation, or as the object of public adoration, or best of all as a food to be received in the utmost purity of conscience, is to be regarded as the centre towards which the spiritual life of a Christian in all its ambit gravitates; for all other forms of devotion, whatsoever they may be, lead up to it, and in it find their point of rest. In this mystery more than in any other that gracious invitation and still more gracious promise of Christ is reaUzed and THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST. 531 finds its daily fulfilment: Come to Me, all ye that labor and are heavily burdened, and I will refresh you} In a word this Sacrament is, as it were, the very soul of the Church; and to it the grace of the priesthood is ordered and directed in all its fulness and in each of its successive grades. From the same source the Church draws and has all her strength, all her glory, her every supernatural endowTnent and adornment, every good thing that is hers; wherefore she makes it the chief est of all her cares to prepare the hearts of the faithful for an intimate union with Christ through the Sacrament of His body and blood, and to draw them thereto. And to this end she strives to promote the veneration of this august mystery by surrounding it with holy ceremonies. To this ceaseless and ever watchful care of the Church our mother, our attention is drawn by that exhortation which was uttered by the holy Council of Trent, and which is so much to the purpose that for the benefit of the Christian people We here reproduce it in its entirety. "The Holy Synod admonishes, exhorts, asks and implores by the tender mercy of Our God, that all and each of those who bear the name of Christian should at last unite and find peace in this sign of unity, in this bond of charity, in this symbol of concord; and that, mindful of the great majesty and singular love of Jesus Christ our Lord, who gave His precious life as the price of our salvation, and His flesh for our food, they should beheve and revere these sacred mysteries of His body and blood with such constancy of unwavering faith, with such interior devotion and worshipful piety, that they may be in condition to receive frequently that supersubstantial bread, and that it may be to them the life of their souls and keep their mind in soundness of faith; so that strengthened with its strength they may be enabled after the journey of this sorrowful pilgrimage to reach the heavenly country, there to see » Matt. xi. 28.
532 THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST.
and feed upon that bread of angels which here they eat under the sacramental veils." * History bears witness that the virtues of the Christian life have flourished best wherever and whenever the fre- quent reception of the Eucharist has most prevailed. And on the other hand it is no less certain that in days when men have ceased to care for this heavenly bread, and have lost their appetite for it, the practice of Chris- tian religion has gradually lost its force and vigor. And indeed it was as a needful measure of precaution against a complete falling away that Innocent III., in the Council of the Lateran, most strictly enjoined that no Christian should abstain from receiving the communion of the Lord's body at least in the solemn paschal season. But it is clear that this precept was imposed with regret, and only as a last resource; for it has always been the desire of the Church that at every Mass some of the faithful should be present and should communicate. "The Holy Synod would wish that in every celebration of the Mass some of the faithful should take part, not only by devoutly assisting thereat, but also by the sacramental reception of the Eucharist, in order that they might more abundantly partake of the fruits of this holy Sacrifice." ^ Most abundant, assuredly, are the salutary benefits which are stored up in this most venerable mystery, regarded as a Sacrifice; a Sacrifice which the Church is accordingly wont to offer daily "for the salvation of the whole world." And it is fitting, indeed in this age it is specially important, that by means of the united efforts of the devout, the outward honor and the inward reverence paid to this Sacrifice should be alike increased. Accord- ingly it is Our wish that its manifold excellence may be both more widely known and more attentively considered.
There are certain general principles the truth of which > Cone. Trid., Sess. XXII., c. vi.
^ Cone. Trid., Sess. XIII. de Euchar. c. viii.
THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST. 533 can be plainly perceived by the light of reason; for in- stance, that the dominion of God our Creator and Pre- server over all men, whether in their private or in their pubhc Hfe, is supreme and absolute; that our whole being and all that we possess, whether individually or as members of society, comes from the divine bounty; that we on our part are bound to show to God, as Our Lord, the highest reverence, and, as He is our greatest benefactor, the deepest gratitude. But how many are there who at the present day acknowledge and discharge these duties wdth full and exact observance? In no age has the spirit of contumacy and an attitude of defiance towards God been more prevalent than in our own; an age in which that unholy cry of the enemies of Christ: We mil not have this man to rule over iis,^ makes itself more and more loudly heard, together with the utterance of that wicked purpose: Let us make away vnth Him;^ nor is there any motive by which many are hurried on with more passionate fury, than the desire utterly to banish God not only from the civil government, but from ever}' form of human society. And although men do not everywhere proceed to this extremity of criminal madness, it is a lamentable thing that so many are sunk in obHvion of the divine Majesty and of His favors, and in particular of the salvation wTought for us by Christ. Now a remedy must be found for this wickedness on the one hand, and this sloth on the other, in a general increase among the faithful of ferv^ent devotion towards the Eucharistic Sacrifice, than which nothing can give greater honor, nothing be more pleasing, to God. For it is a divine Victim which is here immolated; and accord- ingly through this Victim we offer to the Most Blessed Trinity all that honor which the infinite dignity of the Godhead demands; infinite in value and infinitely ac- ceptable is the gift which we present to the Father in His only-begotten Son; so that for His benefits to us we Luke xix. 14. ^ Jer. xL 11.
534 THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST.
not only signify our gratitude, but actually make an adequate return.
Moreover there is another twofold fruit which we may and must derive from this great sacrifice. The heart is saddened when it consider what a flood of wickedness, the result — as We have said — of forgetfulness and con- tempt of the divine Majesty, has inundated the world. It is not too much to say that a great part of the human race seems to be calling down upon itself the anger of heaven; though indeed the crop of evils which has grown up here on earth is already ripening to a just judgment. Here then is a motive whereby the faithful may be stirred to a devout and earnest endeavor to appease God the avenger of sin, and to win from Him the help which is so needful in these calamitous times. And they should see that such blessings are to be sought principally by means of this Sacrifice. For it is only in virtue of the death which Christ suffered that man can satisfy, and that most abundantly, the demands of God's justice, and can obtain the plenteous gifts of His clemency. And Christ has willed that the whole virtue of His death, alike for expiation and impetration, should abide in the Eucharist, which is no mere empty commemoration thereof, but a true and wonderful, though bloodless and mystical, renewal of it.
To conclude, We gladly acknowledge that it has been a cause of no small joy to Us that during these last years a renewal of love and devotion towards the Sacrament of the Eucharist has, as it seems, begun to show itself in the hearts of the faithful; a fact which encourages Us to hope for better times and a more favorable state of affairs. Many and varied, as We said at the commencement, are the expedients which an inventive piety has devised; and worthy of special mention are the Confraternities instituted either with the object of carrying out the Eu- charistic ritual with greater splendor, or for the perpetual adoration of the venerable Sacrament by day and night, THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST. 535 or for the purpose of making reparation for the blas- phemies and insults of which it is the object. But neither We nor you, Venerable Brethren, can allow ourselves to rest satisfied -vsdth what has hitherto been done; for there remain many things which must be further de- veloped or begun anew, to the end that this most divine of gifts, this greatest of mysteries, may be better under- stood and more worthily honored and revered, even by those who already take their part in the religious services of the Church. WHierefore, works of this kind which have been already set on foot must be ever more zealously promoted; old undertakings must be revived wherever perchance they may have fallen into decay; for instance, Confraternities of the Holy Eucharist, intercessory prayers before the Blessed Sacrament exposed for the veneration of the faithful, solemn processions, devout visits to God's tabernacle, and other holy and salutary practices of the same kind; nothing must be omitted which a prudent piety may suggest as suitable. But the chief aim of Our efforts must be that the frequent reception of the Eucharist may be everywhere revived among Cathohc peoples. For this is the lesson which is taught us by the example, already referred to, of the primitive Church, by the de- crees of Councils, by the authority of the Fathers and of holy men in all ages. For the soul, like the body, needs frequent nourislunent; and the Holy Eucharist provides that food which is best adapted to the support of its life. Accordingly all hostile prejudices, those vain fears to which so many yield, and their specious excuses from abstaining from the Eucharist, must be resolutely put aside; for there is question here of a gift than which none other can be more serviceable to the faithful people, either for the redeeming of them from the tyranny of anxious cares concerning perishable things, or for the renewal of the Christian spirit and perseverance therein. To this end the exhortations and example of all those who occupy a prominent position will powerfully contribute, but most especially the resourceful and diligent zeal of the clergy. For priests, to whom Christ our Redeemer entrusted the office of consecrating and dispensing the mystery of His body and blood, can assuredly make no better return for the honor which has been conferred upon them, than by promoting with all their might the glory of His Eucharist, and by inviting and drawing the hearts of men to the health-giving springs of this great Sacrament and Sacrifice, seconding hereby the longings of His Most Sacred Heart.
May God grant that thus, in accordance with Our earnest desire, the excellent fruits of the Eucharist may daily manifest themselves in greater abundance, to the happy increase of faith, hope, and charity, and of all Christian virtues; and may this turn to the recovery and advantage of the whole body pohtic; and may the wisdom of God's most provident charity, who instituted this mystery for all time "for the Ufe of the world," shine forth with an ever brighter light.
Encouraged by such hopes as these, Venerable Brethren, We, as a presage of the divine liberahty and as a pledge of Our own charity, most lovingly bestow on each of you, and on the clergy and flock committed to the care of each. Our Apostolic Benediction.
THE HOLY SCRIPTURES; THE BIBLICAL COMMISSION.
Apostolical Letter Vigilantiæ, October 30, 1902.
Faithful to the tradition of watchfulness and zeal by which We, first of all, because of Our office, are bound to preserve the deposit of faith safe and inviolate. We gave to the world in the year 1893 the Encyclical Provi- dentissimus. In it We included, after due examination, a number of questions concerning the study of Holy Scrip- ture. The grandeur and extreme utility of the subject impelled Us, in effect, to determine, as far as in Us lay, the directive principle of those studies so necessary now that the increase of erudition confronts us every day with the consideration of novel questions which are some- times in danger of being treated in a manner fraught with rashness.
Wherefore, We have warned all Catholics, and espe- cially those in Holy Orders, of the work which each one should undertake in this matter in accordance with the abilities with which he is endowed, and We applied Our- selves with the greatest care to show how and in what manner these studies should be developed in conformity with the needs of our epoch. This document has not been without result, and it is with, joy that We recall the testimonies of submission which the bishops and a great number of men eminent in science hastened to give Us while proclaiming at the same time the opportuneness and the importance of what We had written; and promising to conform with the greatest diligence to Our instruc- 537 538 THE BIBLICAL COMMISSION.
tions. Another remembrance no less agreeable comes to Us in the fact that excellent beginnings were immediately made by some in the direction indicated, and an enthu- siasm awakened in various places in the prosecution of such studies. Nevertheless, We remark that the causes which prompted Us to pubhsh the previous Letter are still per- sistent and more serious. It is therefore necessary to insist more emphatically on what has already been enjoined and more than ever to express Our desire that Our Vener- able Brethren of the episcopate should v/atch with the greatest vigilance over these studies. To ensure greater facility as well as fruitful ness. We have resolved to add new strength to Our authority in this matter. As the task now before Us of explaining these divine books and main- taining them intact is too difficult for Our Cathohc inter- preters to acquit themselves well of, if left to their indi- vidual efforts, and because the work is nevertheless so necessary on account of the manifold developments of science and the appearance of such multitudinous error, it is deemed proper that a federation of energies should be made, and that assistance should be afforded under the auspices and direction of the Apostolic See. This result, it appears to Us, can be easily attained if we make use in the present instance of the means which We have al- ready employed for advancing other studies.
Wherefore, it has seemed good to Us to institute a council or, as it is termed, a commission of men of learn- ing whose duty shall be to effect that in every possible manner the divine text will find here and from every quarter the most thorough interpretation which is de- manded by our times, and be shielded not only from every breath of error, but also from every temerarious opinion. It is proper that the principal seat of this commission should be in Rome, under the very eyes of the Sovereign Pontiff. As it is the seat of the mistress and guardian of Christian knowledge, it should also be the centre from which there should flow through the whole body of the THE BIBLICAL COMMISSION. 539 Christian commonwealth the pure and incorruptible teaching of this science which is now so indispensable. The men of whom this commission shall be composed, in order to satisfy fully the serious obligation which is laid upon them and which confers on them such distinc- tion, should regard as peculiarly and especially their own the tasks which are here proposed to their zeal.
In the first place, having established exactly what is the actual intellectual trend of the present day with re- gard to this science, they should bear in mind that none of the recent discoveries which the human mind has made is foreign to the purpose of their work. On the contrary, let them make haste in any case where our times have discovered something useful in the matter of biblical exegesis to avail themselves of it forthwith and by their writings to put it at the service of all.
Wherefore they should devote themselves with the greatest care to the study of philology and kindred sci- ences and keep themselves abreast of the progress of the day. As it is generally on this point that the attacks on Holy Scripture are made, it is there that we should like- wise gather our arms of defence; so that there may be no inequality in the struggle between truth and error. Like- wise they shall take measures that the knowledge of the ancient and oriental languages, and above all the art of deciphering the ancient texts, should be assiduously culti- vated. Both of these branches are, as a matter of fact, a precious help in biblical studies.
In what concerns the integral safeguarding of the au- thority of the Scriptures, the members of the commission will employ an active vigilance and unremitting assiduity. The main point to be attained is that Catholics should not admit the malignant principle of granting more than is due to the opinion of heterodox writers, and of thinking that the true understanding of the Scriptures should be sought first of all in the researches which the erudition 540 THE BIBLICAL COMMISSION.
of unbelievers has arrived at. Indeed, no Catholic can consider as subject to doubt these truths which We have elsewhere referred to at greater length, and they must know that God has not delivered the Scriptures to the private judgment of the learned, but has confided the in- terpretation of them to the teaching of the Church. "In the matter of faith and morals which pertain to the teach- ing of Christian doctrine, the sense of Holy Scripture, which must be considered as the true sense, is that which has been adopted and is adopted by our holy mother, the Church, whose ofhce it is to judge of the real meaning and interpretation of Holy Scriptures. It is therefore not pennitted to any one to interpret the Holy Scripture in any way contrary to this sense, or even in any way contrary to the universal opinion of the Fathers."* As We were say- ing, the nature of the divine books is such that in order to dissipate the religious obscurity with which they are shrouded we must never count on the laws of hermeneu- tics, but must address ourselves to the Church which has been given by God to mankind as a guide and mistress. In brief, the legitimate sense of the divine Scriptures is not to be found outside the Church, nor can it be pronounced by those who have repudiated her teaching and authority. The men who are to compose this commission should therefore watch with great care to safeguard these prin- ciples and to keep them, as time goes on, with still greater strictness. And if certain minds profess an exaggerated admiration for heterodox writers, they must be led by per- suasion to follow and to obey more faithfully the direc- tion of the Church.
Doubtless there may arise an occasion when the Catho- lic interpreter may find some assistance in authors outside of the Church, especially in matters of criticism, but here there is need of prudence and discernment. Let our doc- tors cultivate with care the science of criticism, for it is of great utility in order to grasp in its complete sense the ' Cone. Vatic, sess. iii., cap. ii.
THE BIBLICAL COMMISSION. 541 opinion of hagiographers; and in that they will receive Our warmest approbation. Let them draw from this sci- ence new resources by availing themselves even of the as- sistance of non-CathoUc scholars. In doing so they need not fear Our disapprobation. They should, however, be careful not to draw from habitual association with such writers independence of judgment, for in point of fact the system which is known in our days as higher criticism frequently leads to such results. Its dangerous rashness We have more than once already condemned.
In the third place, it is of importance that this com- mission should consecrate its most special attention to that part of these studies which properly concerns the explanation of the Scriptures and which opens to the faithful a great source of spiritual profit. In whatever touches the texts whose sense has been fixed in an au- thentic manner, either by the sacred writers or by the Church, the commission, it is needless to say, should be convinced that only that interpretation can be adopted. Such is the rule of sound hermeneutics. But there exist numerous passages upon which the Church has not yet given any fixed or precise definition, with regard to which it is permitted to each doctor in his individual capacity to profess and to sustain the opinion which seems to him to be correct. They must know, however, that on these points they should keep as the rules of interpretation the analogy of faith and of Catholic doctrine. Moreover, we must be on our guard in this matter against transgressing, in the excessive ardor of debate, the limits of mutual char- ity. It is also of importance not to seem to discuss re- vealed truths and divine traditions. If they make light of intellectual concord, and if these principles are not safeguarded, we cannot have any right to expect that the divergent labors of such a great number of scholars will accomphsh any notable progress in this science.
Hence this commission will have as its task to regulate in a legitimate and suitable manner the principal ques 542 THE BIBLICAL COMMISSION.
tions which are pending between Catholic doctors in order to arrive at a conclusion. To settle them the assembly will lend sometimes the light of its judgment, sometimes the weight of its authority. Their investigations will also have a result of the greatest advantage, namely, that of furnishing to the Holy See an opportime occasion to de- clare what ought to be inviolably maintained by Catholics, what ought to be reserved for more profound research, and what ought to be left to the free judgment of each.
Having, therefore, in view to ensure the maintenance of Catholic authority in its integrity, and to promote the studies which relate to Holy Scripture in conformity with the rules which have been herein laid down. We, by these present Letters, establish in this illustrious city a council or a special commission. We wish it to be composed of some cardinals of the Holy Roman Church who shall be chosen in virtue of Our authority. It is Our intention to add to them with the functions and titles of consultors taking part in the same studies and the same labors, as it is customary in the sacred Roman commissions, cer- tain eminent men who belong to different nationaHties, who are recommended by their knowledge in sacred stud- ies, and above all, in whatever appertains to biblical science.
The commission will hold its fixed reunions and pub- lish its writings, which will appear periodically or as need may require. If advice is asked of it, it will reply to those who consult it. In a word, it will labor by all means in its power to maintain and to develop the studies of which We speak. We desire that a report concerning all the questions which may be treated in common should be addressed to the Sovereign Pontiff by the consultor, to whom the commission will have confided the office of secretary.
In order to furnish members of the commission with available help, which will be of service to them in any of these studies. We herewith assign to them for this purpose THE BIBLICAL COMMISSION. 543 a certain portion of Our Vatican Library. We shall take care that a numerous collection of manuscripts and vol- umes of every epoch which treat of bibhcal questions shall without delay be classified and placed at the disposi- tion of the commissioners. It is very desirable that well- to-do Catholics should come to Our assistance to establish and enlarge this library in sending to Us resources to be employed for this end, or useful books, and in so doing they will render a service in a most fitting manner to Almighty God, who is the Author of Scriptures and of the Church.
Moreover, We have confidence that divine Providence will amply bless this undertaking, which has for its direct object the safeguarding of Christian faith and the eternal salvation of souls, and that Catholics who are devoted to the Holy Books will respond with an absolute and com- plete submission to the declarations of the Holy See on this point. We wish and We ordain that all and every one of these prescriptions and decisions which it has seemed good to Us to make and to formulate on this point shall be and shall remain ratified and confirmed in the manner which We have adopted and fonnulated, any clause to the contrary notwithstanding.
THE CHURCH IN THE PHILIPPINES.
The broad stretch of islands bounded by the China Sea and the Pacific Ocean which PhiUp II., King of Spain, called the Phihppines, were scarcely opened up by Ferd- inand Magellan at the beginning of the sixteenth century when, with the image of the holy cross planted on their shores, they were consecrated to God and offered as a first-fruit offering of the Catholic religion.
From that time the Roman Pontiff's, with the aid of Charles V. and Philip his son, both remarkable for their zeal for spreading the faith, have thought nothing more urgent than to convert the islanders, who were idol-wor- shippers, to the faith of Christ. With God's help, by the strenuous efforts of the members of different religious orders, this came about very favorably and in such a short time that Gregory XIII. decided to appoint a bishop for the growing Church there, and constituted Manila an Episcopal See. With this happy beginning the growth which followed in after years corresponded in every way. Owing to the united measures of Our predecessors and of the Spanish kings, slavery was abolished, the inhabitants were trained in the ways of civilization by the study of arts and letters, so that the people and Church in the Phil- ippines were deservedly distinguished by the renown of their nation and their meritorious zeal for religion. In this way, under the direction of the kings of Spain and the patronage of the Roman Pontiffs, Catholicity was maintained with due order in the Philippine Islands. But the change which the fortunes of war have wrought in civil matters there has affected reUgion also; for when the Spanish yoke was removed the patronage of the Spanish kings ceased, and as a result the Church attained to a larger share of Uberty, ensuring for every one rights which are safe and unassailable.