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Letter 2 of St. Mary
Magdalene de' Pazzi to the Supreme Pontiff and Vicar of Christ on the Earth, Pope Sixus [V] |
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Pope Sixtus V [Felice Peretti], born
1521, elected pope 1585 and died 1590, is most remembered for his
construction projects around Rome (including the construction of the
Lateran and the building where the current pope resides), the
improvement of papal finances, and reform of the Roman Curia structure. While in ecstasy, Sr. Mary Magdalen saw the pope only a few days after his election "he carried a large cross in his hand" The letter was never sent. |
The useless handmaid of the Truth, ancient and new; constrained by the loving and slain Lamb, the Word Made Flesh, you unworthy daughter and servant of the Servants of Jesus Christ. | |
| Urged on by the Holy Spirit, constrained and moved by that Word Made Flesh, and with the affection of my soul, I beseech you and force you (so to say), in virtue of the blood of that Word Made Flesh, to be willing to understand by means of me-- a creature so ignorant, and His unworthy bride and servant-- what He wishes from you, His Vicar, namely: that you renew His spouse, the Church, given to Him in care and custody. And our Head, Jesus Christ, does not want you to take up this will and His work as something begun by creatures, but as something coming from the Creator and Supreme Monarch of the universe. | |||
| You must know, moreover, that there will not be wanting helpers and coadjutors in this work of God, subjects of yours and ministers of His blood, to wit: the sweet Company of the sweet name of Jesus and the followers of the great patriarch and preacher Dominic. Other will be the poor men newly risen to influence in your Church and ours, the followers of the glorious Francis de Paula, those whom the sweet goodness and benignity of God has chosen and forechosen to bring His sheep back to Himself-- by means of you, His faithful shepherd! | |||
| (...) The Truth, ancient and new, Who I believe is always before your eyes, also said that the true shepherd is known by the works that he does. And the glorious champion, Peter the Apostle, proved this very well, namely, that he was neither hireling nor rapacious wolf; for he labored so willingly, and in the end laid down his life for the sake of his Head, Christ. Your Holiness should seek to imitate him in your every act! And though you will not indeed have to lay down your own life and blood, it must not be but that the same desire rule in you; for it will not be very much less labor, O most dear Father, (who I say, must be ready to shed your blood willingly, who must be ready to shed your blood willingly, who must be ready to shed your blood willingly,) to bring back so many lost sheep, of both one and the other sex, consecrated to Him. (That they are so lost is the cause of the most profound sorrow for me and, I believe, of not less suffering for you.) | |||
| This work is my desire; it lies within your power and will; and it is the will of the Eternal God that it should be accomplished. May He move and inspire you to put such a work into execution! Indeed, this work is not to be taken up with negligence or doubt, but as it is, in truth: the will of God. Moreover we have reached the time determined. And Truth itself knows that I do not lie! (...) | |||
| Now putting this work into execution depends upon your will, which I cannot and do not wish to believe is wanting, especially since I know that you have the power to act. For there come to my mind those words that the Supreme Truth spoke to His first Vicar, Peter, and to you, Peter's successor, namely: "He gave you so much authority that whatever you bind and loose on earth will be bound and loosed in heaven. (See Mt 16:19). This authority Your Holiness must use and show in his work, and with the greatest prudence. Still, you must not be at all wanting in pious mercy, and you must use the hook of the most sweet Word Made Flesh: I mean, of the Most Holy Sacrament and of His words. Oh, don't ever keep the fountain of pity closed, since the keys that you hold are ever ready to give to your subjects and ministers the blood of sweet Truth (though you must ever weigh to whom you give it), so that they also can dispense it with all liberality to others! (...) | |||
| Not less do I invite Your Holiness to keep and observe the way that I shall tell you, which is that you offer for consideration to those religious, both male and female, who are consecrated to God, the price of that blood and the obligation that they have taken upon themselves by their profession and by the vows that they have made. (...) | |||
| (...) I am speaking of the great and indissoluble bond that these religious made with God in their profession, which bond, especially that of holy poverty, is so little observed today in the Holy Church that is (as I believe) also your dear spouse. And what is worse (I dare to say it, even through I am the least; and I say it between God and you, His Vicar), such ignorance exists in almost all the principal members of which you are the Head. Let this secret remain within the depths of your conscience! Yet you can learn of the situation very well through the contacts that you have with your subjects and by noting in what condition they are-- with condition is a cause of deep sorrow for me, and I mention it only between God and you. | |||
| The other bond is that of holy obedience, in which regard (religious) profession and the vow have been made so solemnly in the hands of your ministers and our superiors. I do not doubt about the other vow because, if Your Holiness will assure the observance of the principal ones, this other will be most dearly embraced by anyone who finds himself in this state of life. | |||
| (...) The blood of the slain Lamb cries out loudly today to His Father, both for mercy and retribution on His consecrated christs and rebellious brides; and that Lamb invites you, His Vicar, to imitate Him and to despoil yourself completely of yourself and of all things that are under God. Take care, take care, Most Holy Father, to imitate Him; I mean, to despoil yourself completely of yourself and to clothe yourself in Him. (...) You must do as the Lamb slain on the wood of the cross has given you example, by forgetting Himself completely (so to speak) and all His most noble being, by giving His life, His blood, His honor and riches (which He never cared to possess) for His sheep-- of which sheep you are to take the greatest care. (...) | |||
| Please do not fear, please do not fear, Your Holiness! Please do not fear such a command, most sweet Father and Vicar of the slain and enamored Lamb Christ Jesus! And if you should feel yourself suffering and find yourself in want, go to the breast of your spouse, the Church, which will nourish you abundantly. (...) | |||
| I ask your pardon for anything that may have been over and above the inspiration and will of God; and if it should seem to you that this letter is not according to the will of God, I ask you for a suitable penance. Yet, since I believe that it is (the will of God), I tell you, with the apostle Paul, that I am ready to be separated from God, provided I see the work of God fulfilled (See Rom 9:3). | |||
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From Florence, from our monastery of Saint Mary of the Angels near Saint Fredian's, July 27, 1586. The humble handmaid of the
Word Made Flesh |
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| from: The Complete Works of St. Mary Magdalen de'Pazzi (Vol 1) translation by Gabriel Pausback,, O. Carm. |
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