Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF [1656]
Tunis
Petitions for faculties
CM petitions
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher, vicar apostolic in Tunis to PF. He asks for the faculties that allow him to consecrate chalices and altar stones.
Additional comments
The year is derived from PF filing system, not the petition itself.
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 248, 256r, 297v
[1656]
Addressed to PF
The minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, might be: APF ACTA 25, 12r, 16v-17r, issue 20, (database item 512). They mention also the faculty to bless priestly vestments, which is not mentioned in the petition.
Italian
Petition
439
Origin: [Tunis]
Destination: Rome
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF, [1655]
Tunis
CM petitions
Slaves (Christian & Muslim)
Civitavecchia
Slave priests
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher, vicar apostolic in Tunis to PF. He writes that the [Muslim] slaves in Civitavecchia have sent their complaints to the ruler of Tunis, stating that the land they had bought to bury their dead, has been taken from them. Le Vacher heard that the ruler of Tunis summoned all Christian priests and Christians present in the city, and told them that were the situation in Civitavecchia to remain unchanged, the Christian cemetery in Tunis would be destroyed. Jean Le Vacher therefore asks that the cardinals remedy this problem, and have the slaves in Civitavecchia write to Tunis. In their general meeting of 12 July 1655, the cardinals decide to ask the general treasurer to provide more information about the matter.
Date discussed 1655-07-12
Additional comments
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 248, 257r, 296v
[1655]
Addressed to PF
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 24, 35r, 38r-v, issue 10 (database item 527).
Italian
Latin
Petition
440
Origin: [Tunis]
Destination: Rome
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF, [1655]
Tunis
CM petitions
Slaves (Christian)
Conversion
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher, vicar apostolic in Tunis, asking that PF cardinals see to remedy the problem of many slaves in Tunis never having received the sacrament of confirmation. Without confirmation, many are in danger of renegading.
Additional comments
Date based on two letters sent by Jean Le Vacher in April 1655. See: APF SOCG 248, 299r-v, 301r (database item 449).
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 248, 263r, 290v
[1655]
Addressed to PF
Italian
Petition
443
Origin: [Tunis]
Destination: Rome
Letters from Jean Le Vacher to [Thomas Berthe], 1655-04-10 and 1655-04-17, Tunis
Tunis
Petitions for faculties
Slaves (Christian & Muslim)
Civitavecchia
Non-Catholic Christians
Two letters from Jean Le Vacher, most probably to the superior of CM house in Rome. He asks him to obtain the following from PF: a) the renewal of his faculties of vicar apostolic; b) the faculty to administer the sacrament of confirmation be included; c) all the books in Arabic that PF normally gives to those who go on missions in partibus infidelium, especially the Holy Scripture; and d) a letter from the slaves in Civitavecchia, which would testify that they had not been treated badly, in order to rectify the trouble that they had brought to the Christians in Tuni,s due to their earlier complaints to the Dey of Tunis. In the second letter he writes that the English have come with 18 warships to demand all the English slaves, but the Dey refused, so in retaliation, the English burned all Tunisian ships which were in Port Farine, and threaten to destroy more if their requests go un-answered. Le Vacher also asks for copies of the Koran, the Torah, and the Gospels in Arab and Latin (if they are available in Rome). Lastly, he asks for specific indulgences. The letters signed and dated 10 and 17 April 1655.
Date received 1655-05-15
Additional comments
Since the letter is in French it is probably not written to PF, because Le Vacher would usually use Italian for that purpose. It is also known that Le Vacher sometimes used Berthe to send letters to Rome. See also: APF SOCG 248, 298r (database item 448).
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 248, 299r-v, 301r
1655-04-10 and 1655-04-17
Addressed to [Thomas Berthe]
French
Letter
449
Origin: Tunis
Destination: Rome
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF, [1654]
Tunis
Petitions for faculties
CM petitions
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher, vicar apostolic in Tunis, to PF asking for the renewal of his faculties of apostolic missionary, granted to him by a decree of 22 June 1648.
Date discussed 1654-07-13
Additional comments
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 248, 262r, 291v
[1654]
Addressed to PF
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 23, 68r, 73r, issue 25 (database item 558).
Italian
Petition
442
Origin: [Tunis]
Destination: Rome
Report from Jean Le Vacher to PF, 1654-01-29, Tunis
Tunis
Mission reports
Slaves (Christian)
Extensive report by Jean Le Vacher, vicar apostolic in Tunis, on the situation in the city and of the slaves, the spiritual assistance of the priests, the hospitals, the chapels of the bagnos, and the problem of apostasy. The report signed and dated 29 January 1654.
Additional comments
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 248, 273r-280v 286v
Both the Italian original and an English translation have been published by A. Forrestal and F. Roşu, in: 'Slavery on the Frontier: The Report of a French Missionary on Mid-Seventeenth-Century Tunis', Reformation & Renaissance Review, vol. 14 no. 2 (2012), 170-211.
1654-01-29
Addressed to PF
See for the accompanying letter: APF SOCG 248, 298r (database item 448).
Italian
Report
447
Origin: Tunis
Destination: Rome
Letter from Jean Le Vacher to PF, 1654-01-24, Tunis
Tunis
Letter from Jean Le Vacher, vicar apostolic in Tunis to PF, accompanying an extensive report on his mission. Le Vacher stated that he wrote the report, when asked by PF (via Thomas Bérthe who is the superior of CM house in Rome). The letter signed and dated 24 January 1654.
Additional comments
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 248, 298r
1654-01-24
Addressed to PF
See for the actual report: APF SOCG 248, 273r-280v 286v (database item 447).
Latin
Letter
448
Origin: Tunis
Destination: Rome
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF, [1653]
Tunis
Petitions for faculties
CM petitions
Slaves (Christian)
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher, vicar apostolic in Tunis, to PF. He writes that there are many slaves in Tunis, but too few priests, meaning that not all slaves can easily attend mass (as they used to). Therefore he asks for the faculty that he, and one other priest appointed by him, may say mass three times a day on Sundays and on feast days.
Date discussed [1653-12-16]
Additional comments
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 248, 260r, 293v
[1653]
Addressed to PF
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 22, 136r, 143r, issue 28 (database item 551).
Italian
Petition
441
Origin: [Tunis]
Destination: Rome
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF, [1652]
Tunis
Petitions for faculties
CM petitions
Slaves (Christian)
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher, vicar apostolic in Tunis, to PF. He asks for three things: a) a new decree that clearly states that all members of religious orders (whether free or slaves), fall under his authority, and that he recieves the faculties to punish them with ecclesiastical censures if they refuse to obey; b) that all ceremonies other than the ones prescribed in the Roman liturgy be forbidden; and c) that he can grant other priest's the faculty of reading mass one hour before dawn, and one hour after midday, so that the many slaves who have to work from the break of day onwards, can attend mass. PF agrees to the first and third point, and order that nothing be changed with respect to the second.
Date discussed [1652-09-09]
Additional comments
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 248, 264r-v, 289v
[1652]
Addressed to PF
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 21, 107r, 109r-v, issue 11 (database item 543).
Italian
Latin
Petition
444
Origin: [Tunis]
Destination: Rome
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF [1652]
Tunis
Petitions for faculties
CM petitions
Slaves (Christian)
Tripoli
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher, vicar apostolic in Tunis to PF. He asks that his mission be extended to Tripoli, as had been the case for his predecessor Julien Guérin. Le Vacher wants to be able to visit Tripoli, since currently there are many Christian slaves and no missionaries there.
Date discussed [1652-12-09]
Additional comments
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 248, 235r, 252v
[1652]
Addressed to PF
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 21, 127v, 134r-v, issue 20 (database item 544).
Italian
Petition
438
Origin: [Tunis]
Destination: Rome
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF, [1651]
Tunis
Slave priests
Non-Catholic Christians
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher, vicar apostolic in Tunis to PF. He asks for advice on two matters: a) whether he may allow slave priests who cannot show their certificate of priesthood to say mass, as long as they themselves (or others) swear an oath that they are indeed priests; and b) whether he should allow the Greek Orthodox to celebrate (according to their rites) in the Latin churches and chapels, even though they do have a chapel of their own. A PF note shows that the cardinals decided to forward the two issues to the Holy Office.
Date discussed [1651-03-06]
Additional comments
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 248, 266r, 287v
[1651]
Addressed to PF
For the minutes of the general meeting of the cardinals during which this petition was discussed, see: APF ACTA 20, 21r, 24r (database item 452).
Italian
Latin
Petition
445
Origin: [Tunis]
Destination: Rome
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF, [1651]
Tunis
Bizerte
Algiers
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher, vicar apostolic in Tunis to PF. He asks for a plenary indulgence for everyone who, after having been to confession and having received communion, visits one of the five chapels in Bizerte, or one of the sixteen chapels in Algiers on their respective feast days. Moreover, he asks for the indulgence of the jubilee year for all Christians of the region.
Additional comments
Date based on a discussion in PF about indulgences, as asked by Jean Le Vacher, see: APF ACTA 20, 21r, 24r, issue 20 &21 (database item 452).
Another petition on behalf of the same SOCG is also discussed at the same time. See: APF SOCG 248, 266r, 287v (database item 445).
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 248, 267r
[1651]
Addressed to PF
The minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, might be: APF ACTA 20, 21r, 24r, issue 20 &21 (database item 452).
Italian
Petition
446
Origin: Tunis
Destination: Rome
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF [1650]
Tunis
CM petitions
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher, missionary in Tunis to PF. He writes that by a decree of 22 June 1648 he was appointed vicar general of Monsignor Costaguti, the archbishop of Carthage. Yet on that decree instead of "Giovanni," "Philippo" was written. Jean Le Vacher now asks if this mistake can be changed, and if he may be appointed not vicar general (this office does not bring much authority, the people in the region do not even acknowledge the archbishop), but vicar apostolic. The petition was discussed on 7 August 1650. The decision of the cardinals is not mentioned in this document.
Date discussed 1650-08-07
Additional comments
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 248, 195r, 200v
[1650]
Addressed to PF
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 19, 397r, 401r-v, issue 20 (database item 466).
Italian
Petition
436
Origin: [Tunis]
Destination: Rome
Letter from Jean Le Vacher to René Alméras, 1648-06-22, Tunis
Tunis
Plague
Non-Catholic Christians
Letter from Jean Le Vacher to the superior of CM in Rome (René Alméras) reporting: a) the death of Julien Guérin on 23 May 1648; b) that of Jacques Lesage [spelled Le Sagè] in Algiers approximately 20 days before; c) the slow recovery from his own brush with the plague; d) details regarding Julien Guérin's place of enterment; and e) an incident caused by the discovery of a well-preserved corpse in the Christian cemetery in Tunis, and the conflict it caused between the Roman Catholics and the Greek Orthodox; this prompted the local administration to rule that from then on the Greek would bury their dead in a different cemetery.
Additional comments
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 65, 207r-v, 208v
Cited in P. Coste, ed., Saint Vincent de Paul: Correspondence, Conferences, Documents (Brooklyn, NY: 1985-2010), vol. 3, doc. 1057, p. 349, fn. 4.
1648-06-22
Addressed to René Alméras
Original; signed, dated; Italian
Italian
Letter
138
Origin: Tunis
Destination: [Paris]