Bull of Pope Pius IX granting the provostship of the Lviv Metropolitan Chapter to Karol Mosing

[In the header, the letters of the name Pius are richly decorated with floral motifs:] PIUS, Bishop, Servant of the Servants of God, to Our beloved son Karol Mosing, provost of the Metropolitan Church of Lviv, appointed Our secret supernumerary chamberlain, greetings and apostolic blessing. The pleasant proofs of devotion which you have hitherto shown and continue to show with zealous care to Us and the Apostolic See, as well as the honesty of your life and morals and other praiseworthy merits of integrity and virtue, of which credible testimonies before Us [...], move Us to show ourselves generous to you in grace. Since long ago, in accordance with the concordat concluded between this Apostolic See and Our dearest son in Christ, Francis Joseph, Emperor of Austria and Apostolic King, in the year of our Lord 1855, We reserved all higher dignities after the pontifical in metropolitan and cathedral churches located in the possessions of the same emperor and king, then vacant and to be vacant in the future, for Our bestowal and disposition and that of the Apostolic See, henceforth considering as void and vain if anything to the contrary were knowingly or unknowingly attempted in these matters by anyone, by any authority. Since, therefore, the provostship of the Metropolitan Church of Lviv of the Latin rite, which is there – as we hear – the higher dignity after the pontifical, and which the late Andrzej Ostransky, provost of the same metropolitan church, once held during his lifetime, has become vacant through the death of the said Andrzej, who departed this life outside the Roman Curia, and is currently vacant, and no one except the Roman Bishop for the time being could or can dispose of it due to the aforementioned reservation and decree. We, who today [have recognized as vacant?] the deanery of the said metropolitan church, held by you – as you claimed – personally by you for the sake of resignation by way of public grace, and wishing to show you, a priest of the diocese of Lviv, for whom the testimony of Our venerable brother the Archbishop of Lviv speaks regarding your life, praiseworthy morals, and demonstrated aptitude, certifying that being in the fifty-eighth year of your life you are a prosynodal examiner and experienced in many other ecclesiastical services, in view of your aforementioned merits and devotion wishing to grant a special favor, and releasing you and considering you released by the thought of this letter from all sentences of excommunication, suspension, and interdict, and other ecclesiastical censures and penalties, if you were bound by any, only for the purpose of achieving the effects of this document, we entrust to you with apostolic authority and provide you with the said provostship, whose fruits, incomes, and profits according to common estimation do not exceed the annual value of twenty-four gold ducats of the Chamber, and we also confirm, whether in the aforementioned or in any other way, or through the person of anyone else, or through the voluntary resignation of the said Andrzej or anyone else submitted from it in the said Curia or outside it, even before a public notary and witnesses, or through the acquisition of another ecclesiastical benefice granted by any authority, vacant, even if the said provostship were reserved for apostolic disposition specifically or in another general way and even if it were customary to enter it by way of election and it bore only jurisdictional care, and even if a pending dispute were being conducted between anyone regarding it in the matter of possession or ownership, the state of which we wish to be considered as expressed in this letter, along with all its rights and appurtenances, deciding that it is void and vain if anything to the contrary has been attempted so far or could be attempted in the future by anyone, by any authority. Notwithstanding the [constitution] of holy memory Boniface VIII, Our predecessor, and other apostolic constitutions, etc., to which in the metropolitan church, even confirmed by oath, by apostolic authority or any other power, established statutes and customs contrary in any respect. Nor if any have obtained special letters regarding grants to fall to them from the said or directly dependent church benefice, or general letters of the mentioned See or its legates regarding other ecclesiastical benefices in those parts, even if by their power a prohibition, reservation, and decree have occurred or in any other way proceeded, above all of whom we wish you to be preferred in taking possession of the said provostship, but without prejudice to them in obtaining other dignities or benefices; nor if to the archbishop for the time being and to the beloved sons the Chapter of the said metropolitan church or any others jointly or severally an indult has been granted by this See that they are not bound and cannot be compelled in the slightest to accept or provide for anyone, and that regarding the dignities of the said metropolitan church or other ecclesiastical benefices belonging to their joint or separate grant, provision, presentation, or any other disposition, no one can be provided for by apostolic letters which do not make full and express and literal mention of such an indult; and even if you were not present at the taking of the usual oath regarding the observance of the statutes and customs of the said metropolitan church, provided that in your absence you take it through a suitable proxy, and personally when you arrive at it. For We, to you, so that by reason of the said provostship you are not in the slightest bound to accept it in the degree of master of theology or doctorate or licentiate in decrees, if you are not distinguished by it, notwithstanding apostolic constitutions and ordinances and, as they say, established statutes and customs and all other contrary ones, by apostolic authority by virtue of this letter from a special gift of grace we permit and grant an indult. We wish, however, that before you take possession of the said provostship, you make a profession of the Catholic faith according to the articles formerly submitted by the Apostolic See into the hands of the same Archbishop of Lviv or the beloved son his judicial vicar in spiritual matters, and so submitted, send it to the same See under the certified signature of the same archbishop or vicar as soon as possible, under the penalty that otherwise this provostship shall become vacant by law itself. Therefore, it is not permitted for any human being to violate this charter of Our release, grant, provision, decree, permission, indult, and will, or to oppose it with daring rashness. If, however, anyone should dare to do so, let him know that he will incur the wrath of Almighty God and of His blessed apostles Peter and Paul. Given in Rome, at Saint Peter's, in the Year of the Lord's Incarnation one thousand eight hundred and seventy-third, on the ninth day before the Kalends of June [May 24], in the twenty-seventh year of Our pontificate. [Below the text on the left:] C. [..] J. Gardellini C. Campodonico [In the center:] Expedited on the Ides of July of the 27th year [July 15, 1873] A. Mossi [Signatures:] P. Trombetta [...] [On the right:] J. Gallo L. C. A. L. Bellotti Cap[...] [On the fold on the left:] Caffi J. Detti Justo A. Santini, substitute secret [substitutus Arcanus] [On the right on the fold, decorative plant motif and signature:] Ponzetti, registrar [Seal:] [Lead papal bull on a yellow-red cord; obverse: heads of Sts. Peter and Paul with a cross in the middle and the inscription S• P[A]•; reverse: inscription in three lines: PIVS / PAPA / IX, surrounded by a ray motif and a wreath] [Verso:] Santarelli [and various initials and chancery notes, including a pencil / ink signature "91.8", "12"]

[W nagłówku litery imienia Pius bogato zdobione motywami florystycznymi:] PIUS Episcopus Servus Servorum Dei Dilecto Filio Carolo Mosing Praeposito Metropolitanae Ecclesiae Leopolien[sis] N[ost]ro Cubiculario secreto supranumerario nuncupato Salutem et aplicam [=apostolicam] benedictionem. Grata devotionis obsequia quae Nobis et Cedi aplice [=apostolicae] hactenus impendisti et adhuc sollicitis studiis impendere non desistis, nec non vitae ac morum honestas, aliaque laudabilia probitatis et virtutum merita super quibus apud Nos fidedignis testimonio Nos inducunt ut tibi reddamur ad gratiam liberales. Dudum siquidem juxta concordata inter eamdem aplicam [=apostolicam] Sedem et carissimum in Christo filium Nostrum Franciscum Josephum Austriae Imperatorem ac regem aplicum [=apostolicum] de anno Domini millesimo octingentesimo quinquagesimo quinto inita omnes Dignitates post Pontificalem majores in Metropolitanis et Cathedralibus ecclesiis in ditionibus ejusdem Imperatoris ac Regis existen[tibus] tunc vacantes et in posterum vacaturas Nostris dieque Sedis aplice [=apostolicae] collationi et dispositioni reservavimus decernentes extunc irritum et inane si secus super his a quoquam quavis auctoritate scienter vel ignoranter contingeret attentari. Cum itaque Praepositura Metropolitanae Ecclesiae Leopolien[sis] latini ritus quae inibi ut accepimus Dignitas post Pontificalem major existit, et quam quondam Andreas Ostransky ipsius Metropolitanae Ecclesiae Praepositus dum viveret obtinebat per obitum dicti Andreae qui extra romanam curiam diem clausit extremum vacaverit et vacet ad praesens nullusque de illa praeter Romanum Pontificem pro tempore existentem disponere potuerit sive possit reservatione et decreto obstiteis supradictis. Nos qui hodie Decanatum d[ic]tae Metropolitanae Ecclesiae per te ut asserebas obtentum personaliter per te in favorem publicae gratiae concessionem [vacare?], teque voluimus tibi presbytero Leopolien[si] dioecesis cui testimonio Venerabilis Fratris Nostri Archiepiscopi Leopolien[sis] de vita moribusque p[raeti]tiis ac etiam idoneitate ostendaria asserenti te in quinquagesimo octavo tuae aetatis anno constitutum examinatorem pro-synodalem et in pluribus aliis ecclesiis ministeriis versatum propterea praemissorum obsequiorum et meritorum tuorum intuitu specialem gratiam facere volentes teque a quibusvis excommunicationis, suspensionis et interdicti aliisque ecclesiis sententiis censuris et poenis si quibus quomodolibet innodatus existis ad effectum praesentium tantum consequendos harum serie absolven[tes] et absolutum fore censentes Praeposituram praedictam cujus fructus reditus et proventus vigintiquatuor ducatorum auri de camera secundum communem extimationem valorem annuum ut etiam asserimus non excedunt sive praemisso sive alio quovis modo aut ex alterius cujuscumque persona seu per liberam resignationem dicti Andreae vel cujusvis alterius de illa in dicta curia vel extra eam etiam coram Notario publico et testibus sponte factam aut assecutionem alterius beneficii ecclesiastici quavis auctoritate collati vacet etiamsi dicta Praepositura dispositioni aplice [=apostolicae] specialiter vel alias generaliter reservata existat et ad illam consueverit quis per electionem assumi eique cura jurisdictionalis tantum immineat et super ea quoque in illius possessorio vel petitorio inter aliquos lis cujus statum praesentibus haberi volumus pro expresso pendeat indecisa cum omnibus illius juribus et pertinentiis aplica [=apostolica] tibi auctoritate conferimus et de illa etiam providemus decernentes prout est irritum et inane si secus super his a quoquam quavis auctoritate scienter vel ignoranter attentatum forsan est hactenus vel in posterum contigerit attentari. Non obstan[tibus] pie memoriae Bonifacii Octavi Praedecessoris Nostri et aliis aplicis [=apostolicis] constitutionibus etc. quae Metropolitanae Ecclesiae etiam juramento confirmata non aplica [=apostolica] vel quavis firmitate alia roboratis statutis et consuetudinibus contrariis quibuscumque. Aut si aliqui super provisionibus sibi facien[dis] de dictis vel directis Ecclesiae dignitatibus speciales vel aliis beneficiis ecclesiasticis in illis partibus generales dictae Sedis aut Legatorum ejus litteras impetrarint etiamsi per eas ad inhibitionem reservationem et decretum aut alias quomodolibet sit processum quibus omnibus te in assecutione d[ic]tae Praepositurae volumus anteferri sed nullum per hoc eis quoad assecutionem dignitatum vel beneficiorum aliorum praejudicium generari; seu si Archiepiscopo pro tempore et dilectis filiis Capitulo d[ic]tae Metropolitanae Ecclesiae vel quibusvis aliis communiter aut divisim ab eadem sit indultum quod ad receptionem vel provisionem alicujus minime teneantur et ad id compelli non possint quodque de dignitatibus d[ic]tae Metropolitanae Ecclesiae vel aliis beneficiis ecclesiasticis ad eorum collationem provisionem praesentationem seu quamvis aliam dispositionem constitutae vel separatim spectan[tibus] nulli valeat provideri per litteras aplicas [=apostolicas] non facien[tes] plenam et expressam ac de verbo ad verbum de indulto hujusmodi mentionem et si praesens non fueris ad praestandum de observan[dis] statutis et consuetudinibus dictae Metropolitanae Ecclesiae solitum juramentum dummodo in absentia tua per procuratorem idoneum et cum ad illam accesseris personaliter illud praestes. Nos enim tibi ut en ratione dictae Praepositurae gradus magistralis in Theologia vel doctoratus aut licentiaturae in Decretis quatenus es hac sis insignitus suscipere minime tenearis constitutionibus et ordinationibus aplicis [=apostolicis] ac ut fertur roboratis statutis et consuetudinibus ceterisque contrariis non obstan[tibus] aplica [=apostolica] auctoritate praesentia earumdem tenore praesentium de speciali dono gratiae concedimus et indulgemus. Volumus autem quod tu antequam dictae Praepositurae possessionem recipiasis fidei catholicae professionem juxta articulos jampridem a Sede aplica [=apostolica] propositos in manibus ipsius Archiepiscopi Leopolien[sis] sive dilecti filii ejus Vicarii in spiritualibus aulici emittas illamque sic emissam ad eamdem Sedem sub moniti ejusdem Archiepiscopi sive Vicarii subscriptione quantocius transmittere omnino censearis alioquin Praepositura ipsa vacet eo ipso. Nulli ergo omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam Nostrae absolutionis collationis provisionis decreti concessionis indulti et voluntatis infringere vel ei ausu temerario contraire. Si quis autem hoc attentare praesumpserit indignationem Omnipotentis Dei ac beatorum Petri et Pauli apostolorum ejus se noverit incursurum. Datum Romae apud Sanctum Petrum Anno Incarnationis Dominicae Millesimo Octingentesimo Septuagesimo Tertio, Nono Calendas Junii, Pontificatus Nostri Anno Vigesimo Septimo. [Pod tekstem po lewej:] C. [..] J. Gardellini C. Campodonico [Pośrodku:] Expedita Idibus Julii A[nno] XXVII A. Mossi [Podpisy:] P. Trombetta [...] [Po prawej:] J. Gallo L. C. A. L. Bellotti Cap[...] [Na plice po lewej:] Caffi J. Detti Justo A. Santini subst[itutus] Arcan[us] [Po prawej na plice, ozdobny motyw roślinny oraz podpis:] Ponzetti Reg[istrator] [Pieczęć:] [Ołowiana bulla papieska na żółto-czerwonym sznurze; awers: głowy śś. Piotra i Pawła z krzyżem pośrodku i napisem S• P[A]•; rewers: napis w trzech wierszach: PIVS / PAPA / IX, otoczony motywem promieni i wieńcem] [Verso:] Santarelli [oraz różne parafy i noty kancelaryjne, m.in. sygnatura ołówkiem / atramentem '91.8', '12']