De confirmacione premissoruma et exhortacione domini pape ad fratres.
The Pope Confirms the Teutonic Brothers' Mission
Pope Gregory IX, moved by compassion for the Duke of Poland, confirms the Teutonic Order's arrangement and calls the brothers to avenge the crucified Lord and recover Christian lands.
When word of the devastation of Poland reached the Roman court through the loud outcry of the said duke, the most holy father and Lord Gregory IX, Pope, moved by compassion for him and taking precautions against future dangers, confirmed in the name of the Lord the entire arrangement made with the brothers of the Teutonic House, as having been properly and reasonably done, imposing on the said brothers, in remission of sins, that they avenge the injury of the Lord who was crucified and recover the land owed to Christians, seized by the unbelievers.
Gird Yourselves with Swords
The Pope exhorts the brothers to take up arms, invoking Maccabean courage and declaring it better to die in battle than to witness the desolation of God's people.
And urging them on to war, he said: Gird yourselves with your swords and be sons of power; be ready to fight against the nations that have gathered to destroy us and our holy places, because it is better for us to die in battle than to see the evils of our people and of the saints.
The Lord Your God Fights for You
Citing Deuteronomy and 2 Chronicles, the Pope assures the brothers that the battle belongs to God, who goes with them and will fight against their enemies.
And encouraging them to great-heartedness, he comforted them with the words of the Lord that were used to the sons of Israel, saying: If you go out to war against your enemies and see cavalry and chariots and a multitude of the adversary's forces greater than your own, you will not fear them, because the Lord your God is with you; and after certain other words, it continues: Today you will engage in battle against your enemies — let not your heart be afraid, do not be frightened, do not yield, and do not dread them, because the Lord your God is in your midst and will fight for you against your adversaries, to deliver you from danger.✦ For the battle is not yours, but God's.✦
The Maccabean Exemplar of Courage
The Pope recalls Judas Maccabeus encouraging his few men against a vast host, urging them not to fear the enemy's numbers.
This great-heartedness was especially present in Judas Maccabeus, who, when he stood with a few men against a vast multitude of nations, encouraged his troops, saying: Do not fear their multitude, and do not dread their charge.
Remember the Red Sea and Cry to Heaven
Invoking the Exodus deliverance at the Red Sea and the Maccabean battle prayer, the Pope calls the brothers to cry out to heaven so that God will remember His covenant and crush their enemies.
Remember how our fathers were saved at the Red Sea, when Pharaoh pursued them with a great army.✦ And now let us cry out to heaven, and the Lord will have mercy on us and will remember the covenant of our fathers, and he will crush this army before our face today, so that all the nations may know that there is a God who redeems and delivers.✦
The Glory of the Wicked Is Dung and Worms
Quoting Isaiah, the Pope warns the brothers not to fear the boasts of sinful men, whose glory is fleeting as grass.
Do not be afraid of the words of a sinful man, for his glory is dung and worms.✦
Editorial Notes on the Source Text
The editor provides brief textual corrections and a continuation of the Isaiah quotation on the fleeting nature of worldly glory.
Today it is extolled, ibid. 2, so f. And tomorrow it is not found.
Be Zealous for the Law and Avenge Your People
The Pope concludes with a final Maccabean and Deuteronomic exhortation: the brothers are to be zealous for the law, remember their fathers' deeds, act courageously, and avenge God's people against the nations.
Be then, O children, zealous followers of the law, and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers, and remember the deeds they accomplished in their generations, and you will receive great glory and an everlasting name. Be strong and act courageously in the law, because when you have done what is commanded you by the Lord your God, in it you will be glorified.✦ Bring then to your side all supporters of the law, and avenge the vengeance of your people, and repay the nations their due recompense.✦
Read the original Latin
Cum autem hec destructio terre Polonie per clamosam insinuacionem dicti ducis ad noticiam Romane curieb deveniret, sanctissimus pater et dominus Gregorius ix papac compaciens ei et precavens periculis in futurum, omnem ordinacionem cum fratribus domus Theutonice tanquam rite et racionabiliter factam in nomine domini confirmavit, injungens dictis fratribus in remissionem peccaminum, ut vindicarent injuriam crucifixi domini et terram Cristianis debitam recuperarent, ab infidelibus occupatam. Et exhortans eos ad bellum, ait: aci cingimini et estote filii potentes, estote parati, ut pugnetis adversus naciones, que conveniunt disperdered nos et sancta nostra, quoniam melius est nobise mori in bello, quam videre mala gentis nostre et sanctorum. Confortansque ipsos ad magnanimitatem consolatus fuit eos verbis domini, quibus usus fuit ad filios Israel, dicens: si exieris ad bellum contra hostes tuos et videris equitatus et currus et majorem, quam tu Labes, adversarii multitudinem, non timebis eos, quiaf dominus deus tuus tecum est; et interpositis quibusdam sequitur: vos hodie contra inimicos vestros pugnam committetis, non pertimescat cor vestrum, nolite metuere, nolite cedere, nec formidetis eos, quia dominus deus vester in medio vestri est et pro vobis contra adversarios dimicabit, ut eruat vos de periculo. Non enim pugna vestra est, sed dei. Hec magnanimitas maxime fuit in Juda Machabeo, qui quando cum paucis stabat contra maximam multitudinem gencium confortando suos ait: Ne timueritis multitudinem eorum et impetum eorum ne formidetis. Mementote, qualiter salvi facti sunt patres nostri in mari rubro, cum persequeretur eos Faraoh cum exercitu multo. Et nunc clamemus in celum et miserebitur nostri dominus et memor erit testamenti patrum nostrorum et conteret exercitum istum ante faciem nostram hodie, ut i sciant omnes gentes, quia est deus, qui redimat et liberet. A verbis viri peccatoris ne timueritis, quia gloria ejus stercus et vermis est.
Hodie extollitur, ibid. 2, so f. et cras non invenitur. Estote ergo, o filii, emulatores legis, et date animas vestras pro testamento patrum, et mementote operum, que fecerunt in generacioibid nibus suis, et* accipietis gloriam magnam et nomen eternum. Confortamini et viriliter agite in lege, quia, cum feceritis, que precepta vobis suntk a domino deo vestro, in ipsa gloriosi eritis. Adducite ergo ad vos omnes fautores legis, et vindicate vindictam populi vestri, et retribuite retribucionem gentibus.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Deut.20.1-Deut.20.4 — When you go out to war against your enemies, and you see horse and chariot, a people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Deut.20.2 — And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall approach and speak to the people Deut.20.3 — And he shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel, you are drawing near today to battle against your enemies. Do not let your hearts be faint; do not be afraid, do not panic, and do not tremble before them.' Deut.20.4 — For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.
- ↩2Chr.20.15 — And he said, "Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you: 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed before this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's.'"
- ↩Exod.14.23-Exod.14.31 — And the Egyptians pursued and went in after them—all the horses of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen—into the sea. Exod.14.24 — And it came to pass in the morning watch that the LORD looked down upon the camp of Egypt through the pillar of fire and the cloud, and He threw the camp of Egypt into confusion. Exod.14.25 — And he removed the wheels of their chariots and drove them with difficulty. And Egypt said, "Let us flee from before Israel, for Yahweh is fighting for them against Egypt." Exod.14.26 — Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the waters may return upon Egypt, upon its chariots and upon its horsemen." Exod.14.27 — Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned at dawn to its normal state, while the Egyptians were fleeing toward it; and the LORD shook the Egyptians off into the midst of the sea. Exod.14.28 — The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen—all the army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea. Not one of them remained. Exod.14.29 — But the sons of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. Exod.14.30 — So the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Exod.14.31 — And Israel saw the great hand that the LORD had wielded against Egypt, and the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in Moses his servant.
- ↩Exod.14.13-Exod.14.14 — Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the way you see the Egyptians today, you will never see them again. Exod.14.14 — The LORD will fight for you, and you shall keep silent.
- ↩Isa.40.6-Isa.40.8 — A voice says, "Cry out!" And I said, "What shall I cry?" All flesh is grass, and all its faithfulness is like the flower of the field. Isa.40.7 — The grass withers, the flower fades, for the breath of the LORD blows upon it; truly, the grass is the people. Isa.40.8 — The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.
- ↩Josh.1.7 — Only be strong and very courageous, to keep and do according to all the Torah that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper in all that you do.
- ↩Deut.32.35 — Vengeance is mine, and recompense, at the time when their foot slips; for the day of their calamity is near, and what is appointed for them hastens.
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