DOMINUS AC REDEMPTOR NOSTER.
True to their agreement, the emperor sought an interview with his
mother. Not enjoying, like her prime minister, the privilege of entering
the empress's presence without formal leave, Joseph was always obliged
to wait in her anteroom until the chamberlain returned with her
majesty's answer. To-day the empress was propitious, and gave word for
her son to be admitted to her private cabinet at once. That he might
enter promptly upon the object of his visit, the emperor opened the
interview by handing the letter of the King of Spain, and requesting her
majesty to read it in his presence.
The empress, surprised at the urgency of the demand, sat before her
escritoire and read the missive of her royal relative; while her son,
with folded arms, stood near a window, and scrutinized her countenance.
He saw how gradually her expression lowered, until heavy folds
corrugated her brow, and deep heavings agitated her chest.
"Those are the sea-gulls that announce the coming storm," said he, to
himself. "I must be on my guard lest I be engulfed in the foaming
waves."
As if she had guessed his thoughts, Maria Theresa raised her eyes from
the letter, and darted a look of displeasure at her son.
"Is the emperor aware of the contents of this letter?" asked she.
"I believe so, your majesty," replied he, coming forward and bowing. "It
is an urgent request on the part of the King of Spain to have the
Jesuits removed from Austria."
"Nothing less," cried the empress, indignantly. "He expects me to assume
all his enmity toward the Jesuits, and urges it in a most unseemly
manner. Doubtless, he requested your majesty to present his letter in
person, because it is well known, that in this, as in all other things,
your opinions are at variance with those of your mother. I presume this
is a new tilt against my predilections, like that in which you overthrew
me but a few weeks since, when I signed the act that ruined Poland.
Speak out. Are you not here to sustain the King of Spain?"
"I am, your majesty," cried Joseph, reddening. "I would do as the King
of Spain has done. I would importune you until the power of the Jesuits
is crushed in Austria, as it has been crushed in France and in Spain."
"You will not succeed!" cried the empress, trying to control her rising
anger. "I make no protest against the action of the kings of France,
Spain, or Portugal, for I presume that they have decided according to
their convictions; but in Austria the Jesuits deserve all praise for
their enlightened piety, and their existence is so essential to the
well-being of the people, that I shall sustain and protect them as long
as I live." [Footnote: Peter Philip Wolf, "General History of the
Jesuits," vol. iv., p. 53.]
"Then," cried Joseph, passionately, "Austria is lost. If I were capable
of hate, I should hate these Jesuits, who, propagating the senile
vagaries of an old Spanish dotard, have sought to govern the souls of
men, and have striven for nothing on earth or in heaven save the
extension of their own influence and authority."
"It appears to me that my son has no reason to lament the softness of
his own heart," replied Maria Theresa, bitterly. "If he were absolute
sovereign here, the Jesuits would be exiled to-morrow; and the King of
Prussia, for whom he entertains such unbounded admiration, would be the
first one to offer them shelter. I will answer your vituperation, my
son, by reading to you a letter written by Frederick to his agent in
Rome. It relates to the rumor now afloat that the pope is about to
disperse the holy brotherhood. I have just received a copy of it from
Italy, and it rejoices me to be able to lay it before you. Hear your
demi-god."
The empress took a paper from her escritoire, and unfolding it, read
aloud:
"Announce distinctly, but without bravado, that as regards the Jesuits,
I am resolved to uphold them for the future, as I have done hitherto.
Seek a fitting opportunity to communicate my sentiments on the subject
to the pope. I have guaranteed free exercise of religion to my subjects
in Silesia. I have never known a priesthood worthier of esteem than the
Jesuits. Add to this, that as I am an infidel, the pope cannot dispense
me from the obligation of performing my duty as an honorable man and an
upright sovereign. "FREDERICK." [Footnote: Peter Philip Wolf, "General
History of the Jesuits," vol. iv., p. 53.]
"Well," asked the empress, as she folded the letter, "shall the infidel
shame the Christian? Would you seriously ask of me to be less clement to
the priesthood than a Protestant prince? Never, never shall it be said
that Maria Theresa was ungrateful to the noble brotherhood who are the
bulwarks of order and of legitimate authority."
Joseph was about to snake an angry retort, when the door opened and a
page announced, with great formality:
"His highness Prince Kaunitz, and his eminence the papal nuncio,
Monsignore Garampi."
The two ministers followed close upon the announcement, and the nuncio
was received by the empress with a beaming smile.
"I am curious to know what has brought Prince Kaunitz and the papal
nuncio together," said she. "It is unusual to see the prime minister of
Austria in the company of churchmen. It must, therefore, be something
significant which has united church and state to-day."
"Your majesty is right," replied Kaunitz, "the visit of the nuncio is so
significant for Austria, that the visit of your majesty's minister in
his company was imperative."
"Your eminence comes to speak of state affairs?" inquired the empress,
surprised.
The nuncio drew from his robe a parchment to which was affixed a ribbon
with the papal seal.
"His holiness instructed me to read this document to your apostolic
majesty," said Monsignore Garampi, with a respectful inclination of the
head. "Will your majesty allow me?"
"Certainly," said the empress, leaning forward to listen.
The nuncio then unfolded the parchment, and amid the breathless
attention of all present, read the celebrated document, which in history
bears the name of its first words "Dominus ac Redemptor Noster." This
letter stated that in all ages the pope had claimed the right to found
religious orders or to abolish them. It cited Gregory, who had abolished
the order of the Mendicant Friars; and Clement V., who had suppressed
that of the Templars. It then referred to the Society of the Brotherhood
of Jesus. It stated that this society had hitherto been sustained and
fostered by the papal see, on acccount of its signal usefulness and the
eminent piety of its members. But of late, the brotherhood had
manifested a spirit of contentiousness amongst themselves, as well as
toward other orders, organizations, and universities; and had thereby
fallen under the displeasure of the princes from whom they had received
encouragement and protection.
When the nuncio had read thus far, he paused and raised his eyes to the
face of the empress. It was very pale and agitated, while the
countenance of the emperor, on the contrary, was flushed with triumph.
Joseph tried to meet the glance of Prince Kaunitz's eye, but it was
blank as ever; sometimes fixed vacantly upon the nuncio, and then
turning with cold indifference toward the speaking countenances of the
devoted friend and inveterate enemy of the Order of Jesus.
"Go on, your eminence," at length faltered the empress.
The nuncio bowed and continued in an audible voice: "Seeing that between
the Holy See and the kings of France, Spain, Portugal, and the Sicilies,
misunderstandings have arisen which are attributable to the influence
of the Order of Jesus; seeing that the society at this present time has
ceased to bear the rich fruits of its past usefulness; the pope, after
conscientious deliberation, has resolved, in the fulness of his
apostolic right, to suppress the brotherhood."
A loud cry burst from the lips of the empress, as overwhelmed by these
bitter tidings she covered her face with her hands. The emperor
approached as though he wished to address her, but she waved him off
impatiently.
"Away, Joseph!" said she; "I will listen neither to your condolence nor
to your exultation. Let me advise you, too, to moderate your transports,
for this is Austrian soil, and no one reigns in Austria but Maria
Theresa. The Jesuits have been a blessing to mankind; they have
instructed our youth, and have been the guardians of all knowledge; they
have encouraged the arts and sciences, and have disseminated the
Christian faith in every part of the world. They have been the true and
loyal friends of my house; and in their day of adversity, though I may
not defend them against their ecclesiastical superiors, I will protect
them against malice and insult."
Thus spoke the generous and true-hearted Maria Theresa; but her efforts
to sustain the Jesuits, as an organized brotherhood, were fruitless.
They were an ecclesiastic fraternity, and as such, their existence was
beyond the reach of civil authority. As individuals, they were her
subjects; but as a society, they were amenable to the laws of the
Church, and by that code alone, they stood or fell.
Bravely she struggled; but the earnest representations of the nuncio,
the sharp, cutting arguments of Kaunitz, and her own reluctance to come
to a rupture with the pope in a matter essentially within ecclesiastical
jurisdiction, all these things united, bore down her opposition; and
with the same reluctance as she had felt in acquiescing to the partition
of Poland, she consented to the suppression of the Society of Jesus.
"Come hither, my son," said the empress, reaching her hand to Joseph.
"Since I have seen fit to give my consent to this thing, I have nothing
wherewith to reproach you. As co-regent I hope that what I am about to
say will obtain your approbation. Monsignore, you have read to me the
order of his holiness, Clement XIV., for the suppression of the Jesuits.
For my part, nothing would ever have induced me to expel them from my
dominions. But since his holiness sees fit to do so, I feel it to be my
duty, as a true daughter of the Church, to allow the order to be put
into execution. [Footnote: The empress's own words. Gross-Horitnger,
vol. i., p. 195.] Acquaint his holiness with my decision, and remain a
few moments that you may witness the promptitude with which his
intentions shall be carried out."
She sat down to her escritoire, and tracing a few lines upon a piece of
paper, handed it to Prince Kaunitz.
"Prince," said she, "here is the order, which, in accordance to strict
form, must be in my own handwriting. Take it to Cardinal Migazzi. Let
him carry out the intentions of the pope, and himself perform the
funeral rites of the devoted Sons of Jesus."
She turned away her head, that none might see the tears which were
streaming from her eyes. Then rising from her seat, she crossed the
room. Those who had brought this grief upon her, watched her noble form,
and as they saw how her step faltered, they exchanged silent glances of
sympathy. When she reached the door, she turned, and then they saw her
pale, sad face and tearful eyes.
"When the cardinal visits the College of the Jesuits to read the papal
order, let an imperial commissarius accompany him," said Maria Theresa
in an imperative tone. "Immediately after its promulgation, he shall
promise to the Jesuits my imperial favor and protection, if they submit
to the will of the pope as becomes true servants of God and of the
Church. It shall also be exacted that the proceedings against the Order
of Jesus shall be conducted with lenity and due respect; and for the
future, I shall never suffer any member of the society to be treated
with contumely or scorn." [Footnote: The empress's words. Adam Wolf.
"Maria Theresa," p. 432.]
She bowed her lofty head, and withdrew.
Complete silence followed the disappearance of the empress. No one dared
to violate the significance of the moment by a word. The nuncio bowed
low to the emperor and retired; but as Kaunitz was about to follow,
Joseph came hastily forward and clasped him in his arms.
"I thank you," whispered he. "You have fulfilled your pledges, and
Austria is free. My obligations to you are for life!"
The two ministers then went down together to the great palace gate,
where their state-carriages awaited them.
Prince Kaunitz greeted the nuncio with another silent bow; and shrinking
from the blasts of a mild September day, [Footnote: The papal order was
promulgated in Vienna on September 10, 1773.] wrapped himself up in six
cloaks, and sealed up his mouth with a huge muff of Rahles. He then
stepped into his carriage, and drove off. Once safe and alone within his
exhausted receiver, he dropped his muff for a moment, and, wonderful to
relate--he smiled.
"Let Wings shape themselves as they will," said he, thoughtfully. "I am
absolute master of Austria. Whether the sovereign be called Maria
Theresa, or Joseph, it is all one to me. Both feel my worth, and both
have vowed to me eternal gratitude. Poland has fallen--the Jesuits are
dispersed; but Kaunitz is steadfast, for he is the pillar upon which the
imperial house leans for support!"
Four weeks after the publication of the papal order by Cardinal Migazzi,
the great doors of the Jesuit College were opened, and forth from its
portals came the brotherhood of the Order of Jesus.
Led by their superior, all in their long black cassocks, with rosaries
hanging at their blue girdles, they left the familiar home, which had
been theirs for a hundred years. Each one carried in his hands his Bible
and breviary. The faces of the brothers were pale and unspeakably sad,
and their lips were compressed as though to thrust back the misery that
was surging within their hearts.
The multitude were mute as they. Not a word, whether of sympathy or of
animosity, greeted the silent procession. On went the noiseless,
spectre-like train until it reached the market-place. There the superior
stopped, and the brothers gathered around him in one vast circle.
He uncovered his head, and all followed his example. All bowed their
heads in prayer to God who had willed that this great humiliation should
befall them. In one last petition to Heaven for resignation, they bade
adieu to their glorious past with its glorious memories; and the people,
overcome by the simple sublimity of the scene, fell upon their knees and
wept, repeating, while they wept, the prayers which they had learned
from the teachers with whom they were parting forever.
The prayer was ended, and now the superior went from brother to brother,
taking the hand of each one. And every man faltered a blessing which
their chief returned. So he went from one to another, until he had
greeted them all; then passing from the crowd, with a Jesuit on either
side, he disappeared.
So ended the dispersion of the Order of Jesus, whom the whole world
believed to be crushed forever. But they knew better; for, as crowding
around their chief, they had whispered: "Shall we ever be a brotherhood
again?" he had returned the pressure of their friendly hands, and had
replied with prophetic fervor:
"Yes; whenever it is God's will to reinstate us. Wait patiently for the
hour. It will surely come; for Loyola's order, like the soul, is
immortal!"