THE EPISTLE OF POPE TELESPHORUS
TO ALL THE FAITHFUL OF CHRIST UNIVERSALLY
Concerning the seven-week fast before Easter: concerning the celebration of masses on the night of the Lord's Nativity: at what time on other days masses should be celebrated, and concerning the defense of bishops.
To our most beloved brethren and most dear fellow-bishops, Telesphorus, Archbishop of the city of Rome, sends greeting in the Lord.
We believe your holy faith to be founded upon the teaching of the apostles, and we trust that both you hold this faith and that you teach it to all peoples, for it is clear that it differs in no way from the institutions of the apostles and their successors, through whom it is right that others should be instructed.
I.
That clerics should fast from meat for seven weeks before Easter, and should not admit laymen into their accusations.
Wherefore, be it known to you, established by us and by all the bishops gathered in this holy and apostolic see, that all clerics are to fast from meat for seven full weeks before holy Easter; B for just as the life of clerics ought to be separate from the conversation of laymen, so also in fasting a distinction ought to be made. And just as laymen and secular men do not wish to admit them into their accusations and defamations, so neither ought clerics to admit them into their charges; since in all things the life and conversation of clerics and of secular laymen must always be distinct and separate. And just as these [clerics] are more fully applied to divine worship, and are called the intimates of the Lord Savior, so in morals and conversation and holiness they ought to be distinct. Let all clerics, therefore, fast from meat and delicacies during these seven weeks, and let them strive to adhere to the Lord day and night with hymns, vigils, and prayers.
II.
Concerning the celebration of masses, and the singing of the angelic hymn.
C On the holy night of the Lord’s Nativity, let them celebrate masses, and let the angelic hymn be sung in them solemnly, since and likewise it is the privilege of that night that the darkness of night is expelled by the light of the Savior. D For in the sacrifice of the mass, Christ is offered, who is the radiance of eternal light, according to that which He says of Himself in John, chapter 9: "I must work the works of Him who sent me, while it is day." This is the sacrifice of the law of grace, in which divine clarity is more illustriously communicated. Ordinarily, it is permitted to celebrate this most holy sacrifice of the mass from dawn until midday; to initiate it before dawn or after mid-day is rejected by the consensus of almost all theologians and master-collectors as illicit. Nevertheless, on account of this decree and constitution of Telesphorus, throughout the whole world, the most holy night in which our Lord Jesus Christ was born a man into this world is worthily excepted by a singular and mystical privilege, for the Church considers it to be a day rather than a night because of the brilliance and brightness of Christ. That this same privilege was once granted to the night of Christ’s resurrection, is rightly testified to by Walfrid Strabo, *De officiis eccles.*, ch. 23, ch. *Solent*, *De consecr.* dist. 1, and ch. *Quod a patribus*, dist. 75. For on this night, around the evening twilight, the prophecies were read, the fire and the candle were consecrated, and the other customary ceremonies were performed; finally, after midnight, the mass began. But now that custom has ceased, since that mass is now celebrated on Holy Saturday shortly before noon. Regarding what was once established concerning the evening of the Lord’s Supper, and the night of individual vigils, see Walfrid in the aformentioned place, Baronius, year of Christ 154, n. 2, Bellarmine, book II *De missa*, ch. 14. Item: it is permitted to no priest to sacrifice more than once in a day, as is clear from ch. *Suffic.*, *De consecrat.* dist. 1, where Pope Alexander II says: "It suffices for a priest to celebrate one mass in one day, because Christ once suffered and redeemed the whole world. It is no small thing to perform one mass, and he is very blessed who can celebrate one worthily." And below: "Whoever, for the sake of money or the flatteries of secular men, presumes to perform more masses in one day, I do not think he will escape damnation." From which latter words it is apparent that Alexander did not merely advise this, but even commanded it under pain of damnation. This ecclesiastical law was confirmed by Innocent III, ch. *Consuluisti*, and by Honorius III, ch. *De referente*, *De celebratione missarum*. As, therefore, it is permitted by a singular privilege on the Lord’s Nativity, that at night
A with them (21) they should sing solemnly, since on that same night it was announced by the angel to the shepherds, as Truth B itself testifies, saying: *There were shepherds in the same region watching and keeping the night watches over their flock. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and they feared with a great fear, and the angel said to them: Fear not; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people, for this day is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign to you: you shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will.* For on the remaining days, the celebrations of the masses are by no means to be celebrated before the third hour of the day (22), because at that same hour the Lord is read to have been crucified and the Holy Spirit to have descended upon the apostles.
III. Concerning bishops to be honored and not disparaged.
C But by the bishops the same angelic hymn (23) is to be celebrated and solemnly recited for the time and place of the solemnities of the masses. For those who with their own mouth consecrate the body of the Lord (24) are to be heard, obeyed, and feared by all, and not...
D ...are by no means to be celebrated before the third hour of the day. This entire decree exists in ch. *Nocte sancta*, *De consecrat.*, dist. 1. Now these words of the decree are to be explained either thus: that they are understood only concerning the solemn masses of the day, or conventual masses; or if you wish to understand them generally, it must be said that this decree now, as is openly evident from those things which we have annotated word for word above on this epistle at the word *Nocte*, has been revoked by contrary custom. Formerly perhaps masses were begun later, because the number of priests was smaller, and the devotion of the faithful greater, so that, even if they were begun later, they would nevertheless come to hear mass, setting aside private labors. Now, however, both the number of priests is greater, and other circumstances have been for the most part changed, and therefore it is no wonder that the time for saying mass has been anticipated. See Suarez, tom. III, disp. 80, sect. 4. *Idem.*
In this place it is commanded not only to bishops but also to priests that, to be about to celebrate a solemn sacrum, they should recite the angelic hymn in the sacrifice even outside the day of the Lord’s Nativity. But the bishop alone is named here, because it pertains especially to him to celebrate masses. See Suarez, tom. III, disp. 83, sect. 1. *Idem.*
A to be torn apart or disparaged; for those by whom the Lord’s people desire to be blessed, saved, and instructed, ought in no way to be reproved by them, nor should the common people be received in accusing them. For the people are to be taught and corrected by them, not they by the people, because “the disciple is not above his master.” In no way, therefore, can the Lord’s pontiffs and the remaining priests, to whom the Lord’s flock has been entrusted, properly correct the people if they know themselves to be ensnared by the lattice of deception. Hence it is just that all doctors of the law throughout the universe should be wise in those things which are of the law, and not besmirch the Lord’s priests with their lips or by any machinations whatsoever. For while they are disposed or desire to besmirch them, they rather besmirch and wound themselves. Therefore, he who accuses the priests who are constituted by Him accuses God’s own ordination, or desires them to be condemned. All the faithful must beware of such people, for not only they who do these things, but also they who consent to those who do them, are guilty. For Christ, the Son of God, our Lord, granting full salvation to the human race, says of us: “He who receives you receives me; and he who despises you despises me.” If, therefore, the Lord is received and rejected in them, without doubt those who are rejected or received in them are His. “And who are you, that judge another man’s servant?” You are without a doubt a transgressor of the law of God and of the apostles and prophets: and not only of these, but also of human laws. For all laws, both divine and human, prohibit the judging of another man’s servant. What do you think will become of you when the transgressors and tramplers of God’s law are condemned? You will surely be condemned as well, because you have put aside the commandment of God and have fulfilled your own will. Since, just as those who fulfill and keep the command of God are worthy of life, so are they also guilty and most worthy of death who postpone these things and treat them as vanity. For it is written in the apostolic institutes: “Let no one tear apart another’s life, and let no one defile his mouth with another’s evil.” We also remove [from consideration] the accusers and the accusations which the laws of the world do not admit.
IV. On not receiving accusers.
CWe decree that no credence at all is to be given to an accuser who, in the absence of an adversary, suggests a case before a just discussion of either party has taken place. Nor should those who are unqualified be received for an accusation, and we judge all those who are armed against the fathers to be infamous. For all fathers are to be venerated, not spurned or plotted against. Those, however, who dwell with enemies, or who are held in suspicion, are not at all received; for their emulation tears apart even the innocent. Our fathers, and we with them, have established this most firm wall against our persecutors, so that by this remedy their machinations may be repelled, and you, being more secure and holy, may deserve to serve your Savior. Moreover, “the wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to kill him. But the Lord will not leave him in his hands, nor condemn him when he is judged. Wait for the Lord and keep His way: and He will exalt you so that you may possess the land: when the wicked perish, you will see it. I have seen the wicked man robust and very strong, like a flourishing native. And I passed by, and behold, he was not; and I sought him, and he was not found. Keep innocence and see the upright, because there will be peace for such a man at the end. But the transgressors will perish together, and the posterity of the wicked will be destroyed. But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord, and He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord will help them and will deliver them from the wicked, and will save them, because they have hoped in Him.” And elsewhere: “Why do you glory in malice, you who are powerful? The mercy of God is all the day. Your tongue has devised wickedness as a razor, making deceit. You have loved malice more than goodness, and lying more than to speak righteousness. You have loved all words of ruin, O deceitful tongue. Therefore will God destroy you forever, He will terrify you, and pluck you out of your tabernacle, and root you out of the land of the living. The righteous shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him. Behold the man who did not set God as his strength, but trusted in the multitude of his riches, and was comforted in his malice. But I, as a flourishing olive tree in the house of God, have hoped in the mercy of God forever and ever. I will praise You forever, because You have done it, and I will wait for Your name, because it is good in the sight of Your saints.” For the Lord speaks of such ensnarers and accusers of His servants through the Prophet, saying: “You have let your mouth speak evil, and your tongue framed deceit. You sat and spoke against your brother, and against your mother’s son you laid a snare. These things you have done, and I kept silent. Did you think that I should be like you? I will reprove you, and set them before your eyes. Understand these things, you who forget God, lest He snatch you away, and there be none to deliver.” Those languishing in this endeavor are to be marked and repelled by such people. For such are members of the devil, who, flying up and down, seeks whom he may kill, whom he may separate, whom he may devour. On account of which matter