Domina Birgitta rogata in regno Cypri a domina Elionor, regina dicti regni, quod ipsa rogaret Deum pro filio suo rege et pro illo regno, transiuit tunc in Iherusalem et ibi quadam die illa existente in oracione Christus apparuit ei et dixit ei ista consilia, que deberet scribere dicto regi et patruo suo, principi Antiochie. Et precepit ei, quod scriberet ea illis quasi a se et non ex parte Christi.
A Royal Call to Repentance and Charity
The rulers are urged to seek personal holiness through confession and to extend mercy to those involved in the death of the former king.
The bride writes to the King of Cyprus and the Prince of Antioch: "My first piece of advice is that each of you should make a pure and full confession to your confessor of everything you've committed against God's will, and in this way receive the blessed Body of our Lord Jesus Christ with fear and the love of God." The second piece of advice is that you both be united in true love, so that you are of one heart toward God and His honor, governing the kingdom for the honor of God and the benefit of your subjects. The third piece of advice is that you both be united in true love with your subjects, showing indulgence and mercy—solely out of reverence for the passion and death of Jesus Christ—to everyone who, by counsel, deed, or favor, played a part in the death of your father, King Peter. Welcome them into your charity with your whole heart, so that God may deign to receive you into His mercy, and so that He may be willing to strengthen you to rule the kingdom for His honor.
Reforming the Church and the People
The rulers are instructed to guide the clergy back to their original standards and to encourage all subjects to live lives of faith and repentance.
The fourth piece of advice is this: since divine providence has made you rulers of the kingdom, you should do everything you can to speak with and effectively counsel all the prelates of both the churches and the religious orders, with a heart full of charity. They must all correct themselves, along with those under their authority, in every way they’ve strayed—spiritually or temporally—from the holy standard of the holy fathers who came before them, and they must quickly return to living purely according to that original standard of their predecessors. so that their state may be completely reformed, and so that they and their subjects, having been truly corrected, may gain the friendship of God and be made worthy to ask Him to mercifully deign to renew the state of the universal Church in the holiness of virtues. The fifth piece of advice is that, because of the great love with which God has loved your souls, you should be willing to love the souls of those under your care. Advise your soldiers that anyone who has offended God in any way should quickly and humbly correct themselves; and that all who are under the obedience of the Roman Church and have reached the age of discretion should humbly practice confession, reconcile with the neighbors they have offended, make peace, and, once amended, receive the reverend Body of Christ. After this, let them lead a catholic life, living faithfully in marriage, in widowhood, or even in a state of praiseworthy virginity, while also observing everything the Holy Church commands. They should lead their family, household, subordinates, and everyone else they can reach to do the same, by setting a good example and using words and deeds of charity to draw them in, while strengthening them in these good ways of life through their own good counsel. And know for certain that anyone who refuses to obey in these matters will suffer loss in both body and soul.
The Duty of Pastoral Oversight
The rulers are called to support the clergy in correcting public sin and to use their authority to ensure the spiritual discipline of their subjects.
The sixth piece of advice is that you speak with all the prelates so they can effectively and frequently warn their clergy—the rectors of churches—that each of them should diligently inquire in their own parish if any parishioners persist in living wickedly in public sins, to the offense of God and the contempt of Holy Mother Church. As for those they find living shamelessly in public sin, they should effectively warn them of the danger to their souls and teach them the methods and spiritual remedies by which they are able and obligated to humble themselves and make amends. If, however, anyone living in public sin refuses to obey with humility, those leaders shouldn't hesitate to report them to their superiors and bishops, so that the stubbornness of such obstinate people can be legally corrected by the prelates through ecclesiastical censure. But if those bishops and prelates can't correct and punish them because of their stubbornness and pride, or because of their worldly power, Then it is advised to you, my lords, that with your powerful hand you should be coworkers with the prelates, so that through your help those sinners may be led to be corrected, and once mended, may obtain the mercy of God.
Read the original Latin
Sponsa scribit regi Cypri et principi Antiochie: "Primum consilium est, quod quilibet vestrum cum confessore suo puram et plenariam confessionem faciat de omnibus, que commisit contra Dei voluntatem, et sic recipiatis benedictum corpus Domini nostri Ihesu Christi cum timore et caritate Dei.
Secundum consilium est, quod ambo sitis vniti in vero amore, ita quod sitis cor vnum ad Deum et honorem eius, regendo regnum ad Dei honorem et subditorum vtilitatem.
Tercium consilium est, quod ambo sitis vniti in vera caritate cum subditis vestris, indulgendo et parcendo solummodo propter reuerenciam passionis et mortis Ihesu Christi omnibus, qui consilio, facto vel fauore dederunt operam in morte patris vestri, regis Petri,
accipiendo illos toto corde in vestram caritatem ad hoc, vt Deus in suam misericordiam recipere vos dignetur ac eciam vt ipse ad regendum regnum velit vos roborare ad sui honorem.
Quartum consilium est, quod, ex quo diuina prouidencia vos constituit gubernatores regni, adhibeatis omnem diligenciam, quam poteritis, in colloquendo et efficaciter caritatiuo animo consulendo omnibus prelatis, tam ecclesiarum quam religionum,
quod omnes ipsi et eorum subditi se corrigant in omnibus, in quibus a sancto statu priorum sanctorum patrum, suorum predecessorum, quomodolibet deuiauerunt spiritualiter vel temporaliter, et ad viuendum pure in pristinum statum suorum predecessorum celeriter se reducant,
vt status ipsorum totaliter reformetur, vt sic ipsi et eorum subditi veraciter emendati optineant amiciciam Dei et digni efficiantur ad rogandum Deum, quod ipse dignetur statum vniuersalis Ecclesie in sanctitate virtutum misericorditer renouare.
Quintum consilium est, quod propter illam caritatem magnam, qua Deus dilexit animas vestras, vos velitis diligere animas subditorum vestrorum,
consulendo vestro populo militari, quod omnes, qui in aliquo Deum offenderant, celeriter et humiliter se corrigant, et omnes, qui sunt sub obediencia Romane ecclesie, qui ad annos discrecionis peruenerunt, humiliter confessiones exerceant; cum proximis, quos offenderant, se reconcilient et concordiam faciant reuerendumque corpus Christi emendati accipiant;
post hec autem catholicam vitam ducant, viuendo scilicet fideliter in matrimonio aut in viduitate aut eciam in statu laudabilis virginitatis, omnia quoque illa, que Sancta Ecclesia precipit, obseruando,
familiares et domesticos et subditos et omnes alios, quos poterint, ad sic faciendum suo bono exemplo ac verbo et opere caritatis visceribus inducendo ac eos in talibus statibus suis bonis ammonicionibus roborando.
Et sciatis certissime, quod omnes, qui in hiis noluerint obedire, in corpore et anima dispendium pacientur.
Sextum consilium est, quod loquamini cum omnibus prelatis, quod ipsi efficaciter et frequenter ammoneant omnes clericos suos, scilicet rectores ecclesiarum, quod quilibet eorum in parrochia sua inquirat diligenter, si aliqui parrochianorum sint, qui in aliquibus peccatis publicis male viuendo persistant, et in Dei offensionem et Sancte Matris Ecclesie contemptum;
et quos taliter inuenerint in suis peccatis publicis impudenter viuendo, eos efficaciter ammonendo precaueant de periculo animarum suarum et doceant eos tales modos et spiritualia remedia, per que se valeant et debeant humiliter emendare.
Si autem aliqui in publicis peccatis viuencium obedire humiliter noluerint, tunc iidem rectores non differant nunciare suis superioribus et episcopis, vt talium obstinatorum proteruitas per prelatos censura ecclesiastica iuridice corrigatur.
Si vero predicti episcopi et prelati propter eorum pertinaciam et superbiam aut propter eorum temporalem potenciam illos corrigere nequiuerint et punire,
tunc vobis, domini mei, consulitur, quod vestra potenti manu sitis cooperatores dominorum prelatorum, vt auxilio vestro dicti peccatores inducti corrigantur et emendati misericordiam Dei consequantur."
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