‘Decretals’
About valid Tradition
‘Decretals’


 
	 ‘Decretals’ are letters from Popes that contain
		replies to questions of discipline referred to them. 
	  
		Translation from the Ante-Nicene Fathers. For a
		  complete electronic copy, visit the Christian Classics Ethereal Library,
		  the New Advent Library. Italics
		  in the text by John Wijngaards. 
  
	  
		On women serving at the altar 
		On abbesses 
	  
	 Pope Gelasius I, 494 AD, on women
		serving at the altar 
	  “Nevertheless we have heard with impatience that disrespect for
		sacred things have come to this level that even women are tolerated to
		administer at the sacred altars and that a sex which is not competent deals
		with all the matters which have been entrusted only to the service of
		men.”  
	  
		Letter to the bishops of Lucania, in J. D. Mansi,
		  Sacrorum consiliorum nova et amplissima collectio (Paris, 1901ff.
		  ), vol. 8.44, cap. 26. Accordingly the liturgical ministry of women is
		  considered to be disrespectful of divine, holy “things. ” 
		 
	 Pope Innocent III, 1210 AD, on
		abbesses  
	 “Recently some news has come to our ears, which has caused no small
		amazement, namely that abbesses, resident in the dioceses of Burgos and
		Palencia (in Spain), bless their own nuns, hear their confessions on crimes,
		and reading the Gospel give public sermons. Since this is both incredible and
		absurd, and not to be tolerated by us, I am sending to your discretion, through
		these apostolic writings, the order to suppress this firmly with apostolic
		authority so that it does not happen again. For although the most blessed
		Virgin Mary was so much more worthy and excellent than all the Apostles, the
		Lord did not entrust to her, but to the Apostles, the keys of the kingdom of
		heaven.”

 
    
	   
     
   
   

   
     
        
      
        
                  
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‘Decretals’

Pope Gelasius I, 494 AD, on women serving at the altar

Pope Innocent III, 1210 AD, on abbesses
