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In order that these Rules may have greater force and authority, the above named Joseph, Abbot and Visitor-General, seeks for them the support of our Apostolic confirmation. For this reason he has humbly besought us to deign to grant him this favour.
We, then, desiring to grant the request of the aforesaid Joseph, Abbot and Visitor-General, do by these present letters absolve and declare him absolved from all sentence of excommunication, of suspension, and of interdict, and from all other censures and ecclesiastical penalties at any time on him inflicted "a jure vel ab homine," even if he were publicly charged for the same. We lend a favourable ear to his requests, acting on the advice of our venerable Brothers the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church entrusted with the decisions of questions relating to Bishops and Regulars, to whom we have sent the supplication presented to us; we approve and confirm by our Apostolic authority, by these present letters, the Rules inserted herein for the Third Order of Prémontré, and we impart to them the binding force of Apostolic letters, saving, however, in all things the authority of the aforesaid Congregation of Cardinals.
We decree that these present letters shall be of authority, that they are and shall be valid and binding, and that they shall have full and entire effect. They shall benefit without reserve, and under all circumstances, those whom they now and shall hereafter concern. The judges, both ordinary and specially appointed, and also the auditors of causes of the Apostolic Palace, shall judge and define according to them. We declare without value and force whatever may be done contrary to these letters, no matter by whomsoever effected, or whether knowingly or through ignorance. The Constitutions and Apostolic Ordinances, and also the Statutes, Customs, and Privileges of the said Order, even though confirmed by oath, Apostolic confirmation, or other authority, or even by Indults and Letters Apostolic already granted or received contrary to the present Constitution notwithstanding. We expressly modify all such ordinances and constitutions in this case only, others remaining in force as before.
Given at Rome, at St. Mary Major's, under the Ring of the Fisherman, the twenty-second day of May, one thousand seven hundred and fifty-one, in the eleventh year of our Pontificate.
