Bibliography
Chapter 2 – The Auto de Fe
Taken from Fox’s Book of Martyrs Stories, written for children. p164.
Ibid p164.
The Great Controversy. E White. p272.
Massacre of St Bartholemew. Henry White. Chapter 14. Par 34.
A History of the Inquisition of Spain in Four Volumes. Vol 111. by Henry Charles Lea. LL.D. New York. AMS Press Inc. and ‘A History of the Inquisition of Spain in Four Volumes’ Vol 111. Henry Charles Lea LLD. New York. AMS Press Inc. p227.228.
Ibid p213-221.
‘Lectures on the Council of Trent’ James Anthony Froude. p 301.302. Froude was quoting De Thou, the greatest of the French historians, who was in the midst of the scenes which he described.
Ibid.
‘Herald Sun’ Aug 25. 1997. Victoria. Australia.
Ibid.
‘Herald Sun’ 2000.
Chapter 2
The Auto de Fe
“Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?” King David. Psalm 94:3.
It was April, 1572, and a marriage had been arranged by Catherine de Medici, between her daughter (sister of King Charles 1X) and Henry of Navarre, a staunch Huguenot, who later became King Henry 1V.
Prior to the announcement of the wedding, a treaty of peace had been made with the Huguenots and the Papal Church, and when invitations were received, a feeling of safety pervaded those proposing to attend the service. As a result, all the leading Protestant nobles came to Paris, including the Huguenot leader, Admiral Coligny.
The “marriage was solemnised upon a high stage erected outside the church walls…” Everyone was in a happy mood, joining in a spirit of festivity that accompanies a royal celebration. 1
Suddenly, after four days of celebrating, the signal was given to slaughter Admiral Coligny. “After stabbing him several times, they threw him out the window; where his head and arms were cut off by the rabble, and the body hung up by the feet on a gibbet.” The head was sent to the Pope in triumph. 2
Having murdered the Protestant leader, the soldiers ran slaughtering every Protestant they could find.
In the dead of the night, homes of innocent people were forced and thousands slain in cold blood. “Neither age nor sex was respected. Neither the innocent babe nor the man of grey hairs was spared. Noble and peasant, old and young, mother and child, were cut down together.” 3
When the news of the massacre reached Rome, the exultation knew no bounds; there was a great celebration among the clergy. “The cannon of St Angelo thundered forth a joyous salute; and the bells rang out from every steeple; bonfires turned night into day; and Gregory X1V, cardinals and other ecclesiastical dignitaries, went in long procession to the church of St Louis, where the cardinal of Lorraine chanted the Te Deum…” 4
From the royal wedding in Paris, the slaughter spread over the country and continued for two months. Various estimates have been given, from 60,000 to 100,000 Huguenots murdered.
In commemoration of the Papal triumph, Pope Gregory struck a medal signifying victory for the faith! An original can be seen in the British museum.
Why a celebration?
Although instigated as a surprise massacre on St. Bartholemew’s Day, and unlike the impressive public displays of the Inquisition, the slaughter of heretics is Rome’s “most pious celebration – the auto de fe”, one that reveals “her highest exhibition of piety’. 5
“In its full development it (the auto de fe) was an elaborate public solemnity, carefully devised to inspire awe for the mysterious authority of the Inquisition, and to impress the population with a wholesome abhorrance of heresy, by representing in so far as it could, the tremendous drama of the Day of Judgment.” 6
“When cases sufficient for an auto have accumulated, the tribunal reports them to the Suprema, which orders it to be held… some of the higher officials, with familiars, announce… the expected celebration. Then is due time mounted familiars and notaries, with drums and trumpets and clarions and the standard of the Inquisition, move in procession through the streets, and at stated places a bell-man rings a bell and the town crier proclaims “Know all dwellers in this city that the Holy Office of the Inquisition, for the glory and honor of God and the exaltation of our holy Catholic faith, will celebrate a public auto de fe at such a place on such a day…. The auto particular, or private auto, was often celebrated in the church…” 7
At Lyons there had been a massacre only second to that of Paris. The cardinal sought out the leader of the Lyons butchery, and gave his blessing and his absolution. “At Paris afterward he urged Charles to claim openly the credit of a deed achieved for the glory of God and the honor of the Holy See…” 8
The union of the Papacy and Protestantism, with its royal celebration and wedding feast had lulled the faithful into a false sense of security, and when the death decree was passed, they knew it not.
It was a forbidden union with disastrous consequences.
During April 1997, Pope John Paul 11 visited Paris as the guest speaker for the Catholic World Youth Day. On Sunday, the 24th August, he celebrated mass in the spectacular Place de la Concorde. 9
A French Catholic journal called this “an exceptional event” because it was the 425th anniversary of the massacre of St Bartholemew.
French Protestants described the timing of the papal visit as inopportune. Their own churches were holding memorial services for those who perished in the Papal celebration; a commemoration that brought to mind prophecies that would be repeated in the last days.
The Pope did not deny the auto de fe, but “in order to defuse one of the controversies surrounding his visit, lamented (the) Catholic massacre of up to 70,000 French Protestants on St Bartholomew’s Day.” 10
In 2000, Pope John Paul 11 apologised for the tortures and executions of the Inquisition, however, he did not apologise for the Catholic Church. Instead, he placed the blame on individuals who had performed an evil work in past history. He said their actions had “disfigured the face of the Church, and had to be viewed in their historical context.” 11
However, the facts of history stand in stark contrast to the fair front being presented to the world.
A history lesson for the wise…
Countdown to Eternity
Wikimenia commons