Petition on behalf of Christophe Authier to Urban VIII [1633-1648], Brignon
Christophe Authier
France (missions in)
Petition asking the pope to confirm the establishment of the Congregation of Priests and Missionaries of the Clergy (Congregatio Parochorum et Missionariorum Cleri), and the election of Christophe Authier as its director. Attached is a copy of Salvatoris Nostri (the papal bull confirming CM as a religious congregation in January 1633). The PF note on 123v refers to CM rather than to Authier's congregation and it dates its foundation incorrectly ("della qual è capo D. Vincenzo di Paul p'te secolare e fù fondata in Parigi dell anno 1632"). The other notation on f. 123v is "S. Croce."
Additional comments
a) Written sometime between 1633 and 1648 in Brignon (Dax diocese); and b) neither Vincent de Paul, nor CM are mentioned in Authier's petition, but a copy of Salvatoris Nostri (the bull confirming CM in January 1633) was attached to it (the two are written in the same hand, and on the same kind of paper).
Christophe Authier
APF SOCG 199, 111r-123v
[1633-1648]
Addressed to Urban VIII
Original; not signed; undated; Latin; PF notes in Italian
Latin
Italian
Petition
25
Origin: Brignon
Destination: Rome
Letter from Christophe Authier to the PF secretary [Francesco Ingoli] [1640]
Christophe Authier
Mission reports
Conversion
France (missions in)
Letter referring to the success of two missions ordered by the bishop of Valence in Estoile (in spring 1639) and St. Giovanni di Reyan (fall-winter 1639 to January 1640). The bishop himself donated 200 scudi for this purpose. The missionaries taught the catechism, preached, made peace among enemies, converted heretics, heard general confessions and gave communion to people from those localities and many more who came from neighbouring places; one of these places, for instance, only had 1,500 inhabitants, but 7,000 were reported to have confessed and received communion there; of all, only four or five people did not make general confession. PF notes on 346v indicate that Christophe Authier is the author of the letter and also that the Cardinal of Santa Croce requested, on behalf of Christophe Authier, the apostolic confirmation of Authier's "Congregation of the Missions" in the Aix diocese and other dioceses in France. PF notes also show that the cardinals decided to send a letter to Authier, indicating that he should not establish missions in places where there already are other missionaries sent by PF.
Date discussed 1640-08-20
Additional comments
a) Based on the content of the letter and the date of discussion in PF, the letter was written sometime between January and August 1640; and b) According to PF notes on 346v, the author of the letter is Christophe Authier.
Christophe Authier
APF SOCG 199, 345r, 346v
1640
Addressed to [Francesco Ingoli]
See for references to the same missions: APF SOCG 199, 353r-387v (database item 68).
Original; not signed; undated; Italian
Italian
Letter
67
Origin: unknown
Destination: [Rome]
Report from Christophe Authier to PF [1640 or 1641]
Christophe Authier
Mission reports
France (missions in)
'Report on the progress of Christophe Authier and his companions in France'. Detailed reports of the two missions mentioned in the previous letter (on f. 345r, 346v (database item 67), as well as six others. On f. 386r there is a testimony by the bishop of Valence in support of Authier's missions, written in Valence on 13 July 1641.
Additional comments
Written in either 1640 or 1641.
Christophe Authier
APF SOCG 199, 353r-387v
1640-1641
Addressed to PF
See for references to some of the same missions: APF SOCG 199, 345r, 346v (database item 67).
Original; sign.; Latin; summary of main ideas in margins by PF
Latin
Report
68
Origin: unknown
Destination: Rome
Letter from Joseph Marie de Suarès to PF, 1641-05-24
Christophe Authier
France (missions in)
Conversion
The bishop of Vaison informs PF about the "spiritual progress and great results" of the "secular priests associated in a congregation called of the Missionaries, which is very useful to the Church, both for the conversion of heretics, and for the propagation of piety and devotion vis-à-vis the Holy sacraments," which he hears is also the case in neighboring dioceses. One of these priests, whom he brought to Vaurias and who has been preaching, hearing confessions, and teaching catechism, has made a great impression on the people and [thanks to him], the heretics are more easily converted. The bishop is ready to serve the faith and follow the decisions of PF in all matters etc.
Additional comments
Despite the name confusion ('a congregation called of the Missionaries'), it seems that this document is in reference to the congregation of Christophe Authier, rather than that of Vincent de Paul. In support of his congregation, Authier started a rather vigorous campaign in the early 1640's: for instance, he had the bishops of Vason, Valence, Aix, and others send letters to PF recommending him and his companions. By comparison, CM had a much weaker campaign in the late 1620s.
Joseph Marie de Suarès
APF SOCG 83, 432r-v, 443v
1641-05-24
Addressed to PF
Other documents related to Authier are also in this volume (requests for the confirmation of his congregation, written by Authier himself; requests from PF to the nuncio for information on Authier's and his associates' character; edict by the bishop of Valence referring to the "Congregation of Missionary Priests" [Authier's congregation] according to which nobody can take minor or sacred orders unless they spend 20 days under the discipline of these priests; and the statutes of this congregation (f. 434v-439v and ff). Authier also requests apostolic confirmation of his congregation in a letter (treating other subjects as well) written on 1 October 1641: APF SOCG 83, 374r, 384v (not in this database).
Original; signed; Italian; the note on 443v is only a summary with no additional information from the PF
Italian
Letter
71
Origin: unknown
Destination: Rome
Letter from PF to Christophe Authier, 1641-10-05, Rome
Christophe Authier
France (missions in)
Petitions for faculties
Copy of letter from PF to Christophe Authier in Marseille, acknowledging the benefits of his activities and letting him know that PF would send him the requested faculties soon. The letter also requests further news of the progress of Authier's congregation, as well as their statutes.
Additional comments
PF
APF LETTERE 9, 147r-v
1641-10-05
Addressed to Christophe Authier
Contemp. copy; not signed; Latin
Latin
Letter
30
Origin: Rome
Destination: Marseille
Reports from Christophe Authier to PF, 1642
Christophe Authier
Mission reports
Reports from two of Authier's missions in 1642.
Date discussed 1642-11-24
Additional comments
Christophe Authier
APF SRC Francia I, 81r-86v, 87r-90v
1642
Addressed to PF
Original; signed; Latin with Italian summaries in the margins and Italian summary on the back of last page
Latin
Italian
Report
69
Origin: unknown
Destination: Rome
PF minutes, 1643-03-03, Rome
Christophe Authier
France (missions in)
Minutes of PF general meeting discussing Christophe Authier's petition requesting confirmation of his congregation. PF rejects the petition, but the cardinals are willing to consider granting faculties to individual members of Authier's congregation.
Additional comments
PF
APF ACTA 15, 285r, 288r-v, issue 15
1643-03-03
Compare with: APF ACTA 14, 21v-22r (database item 146).
Original registry entry; Latin
Latin
Minutes
150
Origin: Rome
Destination:
Letter from PF to Christophe Authier, 1644-11-12, Rome
Christophe Authier
Avignon
Copy of letter sent from PF to Christophe Authier, regarding the functioning of the college in Avignon.
Additional comments
PF
APF LETTERE 9, 232r-v
1644-11-12
Addressed to Christophe Authier
Contemp. copy; not signed; Latin.
Latin
Letter
31
Origin: Rome
Destination: Rome
Three letters from Raymond de Lisle Trye to the PF secretary [Francesco Ingoli], 1644-12-02, 1645-02-03 and 1645-09-09, Avignon
Christophe Authier
Avignon
Three letters from Raymond de Lisle (or Delisle) Try, canon in Avignon, complaining against the "Fathers of the Mission." The letters refer to Christophe Authier's administration of the college in Avignon. The complaint has to do with the lack of respect that the Fathers allegedly demonstrated to de Lisle.
Date received 1645-01-28
Additional comments
a) The letters themselves are undated; dates are only provided by PF notes; b) the former rector of the Avignon college was Nicolas Trye; and c) for the confusion created between Authier's men in Avignon and CM in Annecy, on account of the similar names of the two congregations, see P. Coste, Saint Vincent de Paul: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents (1985-2010) vol. 1, pp. 555-556.
Raymond de Lisle Trye
APF SOCG 143, 195r-196v, 208v, 209r-211v
1644-12-02, 1645-02-03 and 1645-09-09
Addressed to [Francesco Ingoli]
Other letters from Rector Trye are in: APF SOCG 89 (towards the end of the volume).
Original; signed; undated; Italian
Italian
Letter
83
Origin: Avignon
Destination: Rome
Letters from PF to Christophe Authier, 1645-01-07 and 1645-06-01, Rome
Christophe Authier
Avignon
Copies of letters from PF to Christophe Authier acknowledging the approval of his congregation's statutes and also referring to the college in Avignon, a mission in Sweden, and other matters.
Additional comments
PF
APF LETTERE 9, 234v, 253v-254r
1645-01-07 and 1645-06-01
Addressed to Christophe Authier
Contemp. copy; not signed; Latin
Latin
Letter
32
Origin: Rome
Destination: unknown
Letter from G. Isvard to the PF secretary [Francesco Ingoli], 1646-01-04, Avignon
Christophe Authier
Avignon
Another complaint regarding the "Fathers of the mission" (referring to Authier's congregation) running the college in Avignon, and the administrative changes that had hurt the academy of Avignon in favor of the "imaginary academy of Orange."
Date received 1646-02-07
Additional comments
G. Isvard
APF SOCG 144, 242r
1646-01-04
Addressed to [Francesco Ingoli]
Also in: APF SOCG 144, 280r-281v (letter from Father Pacifico, Capuchin, from Avignon, 3 May 1646)(not in this database).
Original; signed; Italian
Italian
Letter
110
Origin: Avignon
Destination: [Unkown]
Letter from PF to Nicolò Guidi di Bagno, 1646-02-27, Rome
Babylon
Christophe Authier
Copy of letter from PF to the nuncio to France, Nicolò Guidi di Bagno, asking him to discuss the position of coadjutor with the bishop of Babylon, regarding Christophe Authier who has been nominated by PF as a suitable candidate. PF asks the nuncio to see if Authier is interested, and if not, to nominate in his stead one of his congregation members from either France or Avignon.
Additional comments
PF
APF LETTERE 24, 34v-35r
1646-02-27
Addressed to Nicolò Guidi di Bagno
Contemp. copy; not signed; Italian
Italian
Letter
160
Origin: Rome
Destination: [France]
Letter from John O'Fahy to PF [1646]
Christophe Authier
Letter from John O'Fahy to PF, in support of Christophe Authier's request to extend his mission from Sweden to Denmark, and to send another priest there for this purpose. PF note on 471v indicates that O'Fahy was writing on behalf of "Christophe Authier, head of his congregation," which suggests O'Fahy was not a member of CM at that time, despite occasional involvement with CM. PF notes indicate a positive response.
Date discussed 1646-10-05
Additional comments
Date of discussion in PF could be 1646-11-05 (second digit of month is smudged).
John O'Fahy
APF SOCG 412, 458r, 471v
[1646]
Addressed to PF
Original; not dated; letter in Latin; PF note in Italian
Latin
Italian
Letter
159
Origin: unknown
Destination: Rome
PF decree concerning Authier's congregation, 1647-04-01, Rome
Christophe Authier
France (missions in)
PF decree concerning the statutes of Christophe Authier's congregation in Valence.
Additional comments
Francesco Ingoli
APF SOCG 199, 166r
1647-04-01
See for the actual statutes and follow-up notes: APF SOCG 199 167r-174v (database item 197) and APF SOCG 199 165r-v (database item 199).
Original; signed; Latin and Italian
Latin
Italian
Decree
27
Origin: Rome
Destination:
Statutes of Authier's congregation in Valence [1647]
Christophe Authier
The statutes of Christophe Authier's congregation in Valence, in two versions (as emended by PF, and as submitted initially). The name of the congregation in the amended version is "Congregatio Sanctissimi sacramenti ad Missiones et Seminariorum directionem"; in the initial version (on f. 171r-173v) it is "Congregatio Sacerdotum Cleri."
Date discussed 1647-04-01 and 1647-06-17
Additional comments
A second set of statutes (identical content; only PF notes differ) is in PF SOCG 199, f. 450r-457v (not in this database). They were discussed in PF general meetings of June and September 1647; it looks like that set was sent to Cardinal Brancatio for review, after all the other cardinals had already seen it (according to PF note on f. 454v).
APF SOCG 199, 167r-174v
[1647]
For the PF decree and follow-up notes concerning the statutes, see: APF SOCG 199, 165r-166r (database items 27 and 198).
Contemp. copies; unsigned; undated; Latin; PF notes in Italian
Latin
Italian
Statutes
197
Origin: unknown
Destination:
PF notes about Authier's congregation [1647], Rome
Christophe Authier
PF follow-up notes concerning the statutes of Christophe Authier's congregation in Valence.
Date discussed 1647-06-17
Additional comments
PF
APF SOCG 199, 165r-v
[1647]
See for the actual statutes: APF SOCG 199, 167r-174v (database item 197)
For the PF degree on this topic: APF SOCG 199, 166r (database item 27).
Original; not signed; Latin and Italian
Latin
Italian
Notes
199
Origin: Rome
Destination: