History of the Jesuits: Their origin, progress, doctrines, and designsNicolini, G. B. (Giovanni Battista)
History
History of the Jesuits: Their origin, progress, doctrines, and designs
Nicolini, G. B. (Giovanni Battista)
Jesuits -- History
But if the prelate was well acquainted with all the Jesuitical cunning,
he did not know the extent of their wickedness. Soon after De Tournon
had sent this letter, he was arrested by order of the emperor (we may
well suppose at whose instigation), sent to Macao, and delivered up to
the Portuguese. The Bishop of Macao, who was another creature of the
Jesuits, loaded him with chains, and threw him into prison. It is highly
instructive to read the bull of excommunication which Pope Clement XI.
fulminated against the Bishop of Macao for this deed. He complained
that a Papal legate had been arrested, “not by pagans, but by Christian
magistrates and officers, who, forgetful of his sacred character, of his
dignity, &c., had dared to lay their hands upon him, and to make him
endure such indignities and tortures that the heathen themselves were
horror-struck—_ipsis exhorrescentibus ethnicis_.”
In the same bull the Pope lets us know that De Tournon, for certain
causes, had been subjected to the ecclesiastical censures of the Church,
the College, and Seminary of the Jesuits, which leaves no doubt as to
the authors of the capture and ill treatment of the prelate, who was
used like the worst of criminals, all to gratify the revenge of the
Jesuits. To console De Tournon for all these hardships, Clemens bestowed
upon him the cardinal’s hat; but, alas! the prisoner did not rejoice
long in this high honour. His life was near a close. The ill treatment,
and, as many say, the fastings, which he endured, brought his troubles
to an end. He died in 1710, at the age of forty-two. Oh! one is almost
tempted to implore the vengeance of God upon such sacrilegious men, who,
calling themselves Christians—nay, most perfect Christians—condemned to
exquisite tortures, and to a most miserable and protracted death, this
noble-hearted man, for attempting to purify the religion of Christ from
pagan superstition. So perished De Tournon, a man certainly one of the
best prelates of the Romish Church. Clement XI. eulogised him in a public
consistory, and, as we have said, excommunicated the Bishop of Macao.
We shall not add a word of observation; the facts speak clearly for
themselves.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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