POPE PIUS

SERVANT OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD,

In accordance with the requirements of our pastoral duty, we apply our care to ensuring that everyone, so far as may be done with God's help, carries out the decrees of the holy Council of Trent. The Council of Trent (1545–1563) was a major turning point in Church history, aiming to reform and standardize Catholic practice in response to the Protestant Reformation. We understand that this must be done with even greater earnestness when the matters to be introduced into our customs concern, above all, the glory of God and the duty owed by ecclesiastical persons. In this category, we believe that the sacred prayers, praises, and thanksgivings to be offered to God, which are contained in the Roman Breviary, should be ranked first. The Breviary is the official book containing the daily psalms, hymns, and lessons—known as the Divine Office—that clergy are required to pray. This formula for the Divine Office was piously and wisely established in ancient times by the Supreme Pontiffs, especially Gelasius I and Gregory I; Gelasius (late 5th century) and Gregory the Great (late 6th century) were instrumental in shaping the early Roman liturgy. it was later reformed by Gregory VII. However, as it had drifted from its ancient institution over the long passage of time, it seemed necessary to restore it to its original rule of prayer.

Some had disfigured the excellent structure of the old Breviary by mutilating it in many places, while others changed it by introducing uncertain and foreign elements. Many others, attracted by the appearance of a more convenient Office, fled to the brevity of a new Breviary composed by Francisco Quiñones, original: "Francisco Quignonio." Cardinal Quiñones had published a "Simplified Breviary" in 1535 which was very popular because it was shorter and easier to read, but it was criticized for removing many traditional communal elements like antiphons. Cardinal Priest of the Title of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. Furthermore, a corrupt custom had gradually crept into the provinces where Bishops—in Churches that had originally been accustomed to say and sing the Canonical Hours The set times of prayer throughout the day, such as Matins, Lauds, and Vespers. according to the old Roman custom—each created a private Breviary for themselves. This tore apart that communion of offering prayers and praises to the one God in one and the same formula, resulting in Offices that were vastly different from one another and almost unique to each diocese.

This caused a disturbance of divine worship in many places and led to a profound ignorance among the clergy regarding ecclesiastical ceremonies and rites; as a result, countless ministers of the Churches performed their duties in an unseemly manner, causing great offense to the pious. Deeply distressed by this variety in the manner of praying, Pope Paul IV of happy memory had decided to correct it. Therefore, having made provision for...