Page:Withgodbookofpra00las.djvu/574

 above all  names,  the  only  Name  in  which  we  claim  salvation —  the  Name  of  Jesus  Christ."  Pope  Gregory  X  in effecting  this  reformation  of  giving  more  honor  to  the  Adorable Name  and  of  making  reparation  for  the  blasphemies  of the  Albigensians  and  other  heretics  of  that  period  deemed it  practical  to  entrust  this  special  commission  to  the  newly founded  Order  of  St.  Dominic.  His  apostolic  letter  was directed  20  September,  1274,  to  Blessed  John  Vercelli,  the sixth  Master  General  of  the  Dominicans.  The  brief  letter we  give  in  full:

Gregory, Bishop,  Servant  of  the  Servants  of  God,  to  our very dear  son,  the  Master  of  the  Order  of  Preachers,  salutation and  apostolic  benediction.

" Recently,  during  the  Council  held  at  Lyons,  we  deemed it  a  useful  commendation  to  exhort  the  faithful  to  enter  the house  of  God  with  humility  and  devotion,  and  to  conduct themselves  while  there  in  a  becoming  manner,  so  as  to merit  the  divine  favor  and  at  the  same  time  give  edification. We  have  also  judged  it  proper  to  persuade  the  faithful  to demonstrate  more  reverence  for  that  Name  above  all names,  the  only  Name  in  which  we  claim  salvation  —  the Name  of  Jesus  Christ,  who  has  redeemed  us  from  the  bondage of  sin.  Consequently,  in  obedience  to  that  apostolic precept,  'In  the  Name  of  Jesus  let  every  knee  be  bent,' we  wish  that  at  the  pronouncing  of  that  Name,  chiefly  at the  Holy  Sacrifice,  every  one  would  bow  his  head  in  token that  interiorly  he  bends  the  knee  of  his  heart.

" Wherefore,  very  dear  son,  we,  by  our  apostolic  authority, exhort  and  enjoin  upon  you  and  the  brothers  of  your  Order to  use  solid  reasons  in  preaching  to  the  people,  that  they may  be  led  to  comply  with  our  desires.  Thus  you  will  win the  crown  of  justice  in  the  day  of  recompense.

" Given  at  Lyons,  XIII  Kalends  of  October,  third  year  of our  Pontificate."

The Master  General  lost  no  time  in  addressing  the  Provincials of  his  Order. On 4  November,  1274,  he  wrote  instructing each  Provincial  "that  the  preachers  subject  to your  jurisdiction  carry  out  the  ordination  of  His  Holiness