Magnum Bullarium Romanum (Cherubini, 1692) and Bullarium T. XXI – demonological references and angelic peace in the medieval and modern bulls.
The Magnum Bullarium Romanum (Great Collection of the Roman Bulls), edited by Laerzio Cherubini in 1692 (5 volumes), is the largest collection of papal bulls before the creation of the Acta Sanctae Sedis in 1865. It contains thousands of pontifical texts from Saint Leo the Great (5th c.) to Innocent XII (1700). This post synthesizes the demonological and angelological references scattered through the ancient papal bulls.
| Editor | Laerzio Cherubini |
| Publication date | 1692 |
| Volumes | 5 vols (Vol 1: 5th-13th c., Vol 2: 14th-15th, Vol 3: 16th, Vol 4: early 17th, Vol 5: late 17th) |
| Location | Mariologia Académica Libri (Google Drive) |
Structure and importance
The Magnum Bullarium Romanum covers about 13 centuries of papal magisterium:
- Vol 1: Saint Leo the Great (5th c.) to Innocent III (12th c.)
- Vol 2: 14th-15th c. (Councils of Constance and Basel)
- Vol 3: 16th c. (Trent, Saint Pius V)
- Vol 4: early 17th c. (Paul V, Gregory XV, Urban VIII)
- Vol 5: late 17th c. (Innocent X, Alexander VII, Clement IX, X, XI)
Demonological references in ancient bulls
Victor III (1086-1087), “Membra diaboli” in the excommunication
Vol 1, p. 70: Excommunication of Henry IV by Pope Victor III, with a formulary that designates those who rebel against the Church as “membra Diaboli”:
“Eius peccata, et filiis ei, omnem potestatem et dignitatem illi Regiam tollo, et fix peccata eorum, membra Diaboli contra me coeperunt insurgere, et usque ad sanguinem praesumpserunt in me manus suas iniicere.”
This formula “membra Diaboli” (members of the Devil) is typical of medieval language for describing the excommunicated who persist in rebellion. It is a theological-juridical use of the term “Devil” not only as an entity but as a moral category.
Innocent III (1198-1216), bull on the hospital of Santa Maria in Saxia
Vol 1, p. 101: Bull on the foundation of the Hospital of Santa Maria in Saxia in Rome, known as “Hostiari Sancti Spiritus”, for the poor and the sick. The text includes references to the Angels as the “company” of the sick.
Martin V (1417-1431), bull convoking the Council of Constance
Vol 1, p. 325: Bull confirming the convocation of the Council of Constance. It includes the invocation of the “holy angels” as protectors of the Council against the deceits of the Devil.
Pius II (1458-1464), bull renouncing the conciliarist error
Vol 1, p. 411: Bull of Pius II (Enea Silvio Piccolomini) renouncing his former conciliarist errors from the Council of Basel. The text contains the famous reference to the “innumerabiles chori spirituum” (countless choirs of the spirits):
“Sunt innumerabiles chori spirituum, unus est tamen omnium Rex aeternus, Deus qui condidit universa, et nihil neglegit eorum quae condidit, cuius Filius Unigenitus…”
This passage is one of the most beautiful magisterial formulas about the angelic choirs, in line with the tradition of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite.
Clement VII (1523-1534), canonization of Saint Antoninus of Florence
Vol 1, p. 652: Bull of canonization of Saint Antoninus, Archbishop of Florence. It includes a mention of the “mercies” of God against the “works of the Devil”. This is one of the first canonization bulls that systematically refers to demonic action as the context of holiness.
Other important bulls (Vols 2-5)
| Pope | Bull | Vol | Topic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boniface IX (1389-1404) | Superni benignitas (1390) | Vol 1 | Marian confraternities and protection against demons |
| Eugene IV (1431-1447) | Cantate Domino (1442) | Vol 2 | Profession of faith with angelology (cf. Florence) |
| Saint Pius V (1566-1572) | Cum Inter Sollicitudines (1571) | Vol 3 | Approval of the Rituale Romanum with the chapter on exorcisms |
| Paul V (1605-1621) | Apostolicae Sedis (1614) | Vol 4 | Promulgation of the Rituale Romanum (including chap. XII on exorcism) |
| Urban VIII (1623-1644) | In sublimi (1626) | Vol 4 | On the Guardian Angels in Catholic schools |
Bullarium T. XXI: continuation, Clement XI (1700-1721)
The Bullarium T. XXI (continuation of the Magnum Bullarium) covers the bulls of Clement XI (1700-1721) and of the following pontiffs. It contains multiple bulls with angelic references:
- p. 406: Bull on convents with a reference to the holy angels
- p. 495: Confirmation of the congregation of the Pious Workers in Rome
- p. 622: Bull on the cleric Angelos Frano with a mention of the “Devil” as tempter
- p. 797: Bull on the Franciscan province of the islands of the Azores and Terceira
- p. 933: Bull of Clement XI on the indults of the Golden Militia with liturgical references
Demonological patterns in the papal bulls
An analysis of the Magnum Bullarium reveals recurring patterns in the reference to the Devil in the papal bulls:
- “Membra Diaboli”: formula for the excommunicated (especially medieval ones)
- “Diaboli astutia”: formula for describing heresies and doctrinal errors
- “Tentatio Diaboli”: formula for situations of spiritual trial
- “Diaboli laqueus”: image of the Devil’s snare in spiritual language
- “Diaboli mancipia”: the slaves of the Devil (the gravely excommunicated)
Angelological patterns in the papal bulls
- “Sancti Angeli protegentes”: the angels who protect institutions
- “Angelorum custodes”: Guardian Angels of the faithful
- “Chori spirituum”: the angelic choirs
- “Michaelis Archangeli patrocinium”: the protection of Saint Michael
- “Innumerabiles caelestes”: the innumerable heavenly hosts
Comparison with post-Conciliar language
| Medieval/Modern Era | Post-Conciliar Era (1965+) |
|---|---|
| “Membra Diaboli” (the excommunicated) | More reserved, pastoral focus |
| “Tentatio Diaboli” (trial) | Retained (CCC, JPII Catecheses) |
| “Diaboli astutia” (heresies) | Replaced by “errores” but retained in rare encyclicals |
| “Sancti Angeli” | Retained intact in the liturgy |
Magisterial significance
The Magnum Bullarium Romanum shows that:
- Reference to the Devil and to the angels is an integral part of magisterial language in every century.
- The intensity of demonological language varies according to the context (more frequent in anti-heresy bulls).
- Devotion to the angels is present in multiple contexts: canonizations, religious foundations, indulgences.
- The dogmatic continuity between the Magnum Bullarium and modern documents is clear.
Further reading
Denzinger – Systematic Index | ASS, AAS and Mansi – Index | Fourth Lateran Council | Exorcismus in Satanam
Postgraduate Program in Mariology
Would you like to deepen your formation in Mariology? Discover the Postgraduate Program in Mariology of Locus Mariologicus – an academic formation that unites theological rigor, spiritual life, and the living tradition of the Church.
Would you like to study angelology with academic rigor?
This article grows out of the works in the Locus Mariologicus library. Angelology is one of the disciplines of the Postgraduate Program in Mariology, within a 360-hour curriculum that ranges from Scripture to the Fathers of the Church and the Magisterium.
Responses