A declaration of the elevation of St. Alphonse de Liguori to the title doctor of the church. Having promised to guard his Church, Christ has raised up St. Alphonsus, founder of the Redemptorists and Bishop of St. Agatha of the Goths between Naples and Capua to counteract and eradicate Jansenism by his writings and teachings, that guides of Christian souls might progress along a true and safe way between the opinions of lax and rigid theologians, to reform the clergy and defend Catholic Faith against all heretics, and to assert the rights of the Apostolic See, and move souls to piety. No error of present times has not been refuted by St. Alphonsus; he defended the Immaculate Conception and papal infallibility. Pius VII and Gregory XVI praised his work; now many cardinals, nearly all bishops, and many groups of theologians and canonists have petitioned the Pope to grant to St. Alphonsus the title, Doctor of the Church. As is customary, the Pope put it before the Congregation of Rites, which having heard on March 11 the account given by Cardinal Patrizi, prefect of the congregation and patron of the cause, the considerations of the promoter of faith, Cardinal Minetti and the regjoinders of the patron and the theologians, decided unanimously in favor of granting St. Alphonsus the title, Doctor of the Church, together with all customary liturgical rights. The Pope confirmed it March 23. Nicholas Mauron, Spuerior General of the Redemptorists, asked that mention of his Doctorate be made in the martyrology and the sixth lesson of mating, and this was included April 22 by the congregation. The Pope confirmed it the 27. His Mass and office are to be celebrated by regular and secular clergy and all his books are to be used in Catholic schools, colleges, didputations, and sermons. The Pope grants inperpetuity a plenary indulgence, applicable to the poor souls, to all who, having gone to confession, receive the Holy Eucharist on the feast day of the Doctor or on anyone of the seven days following and visit any Redemptorist church and pray there for peace among Christian princes, the exterpation of heresy, and the exaltation of the Church. The decree is to be published and observed inperpetuity notwithstanding any previous councils or constitutions to the contrary. In pencil on back: Thompson W Nw 6 H Kuper CSSR to be returned to Rev. Wayrick, CSSR. In the James Alphonsus McMaster papers. :: I-1-o Printed document Latin 4pp 3 printed on 8vO.