Papal Documents
Rome, Italy, ca. 1620s
Moses, Jesus, Jerusalem: Exquisite 17th C. Illuminated Manuscript Re: Lateran Indulgences Granted to Incurable Hospital in Toledo, Spain
Illuminated Manuscript

An illuminated manuscript in Latin drafted by church officials from the Lateran Basilica in Rome and sent to members of the Brotherhood of Saint Mary of Peace and the Body of Christ in Toledo, Spain, which operated a Hospital for Incurables. N.d., but ca. 1620s. N.p. but presumably Rome, Italy. Handwritten and hand-painted on vellum, and signed by two church officials at bottom as "Jo: Hieronymus Bonfilius Can.us et Camer.us Later.is" and "Antonius Ubertinus Canonicus et Camerarius Laternensis." With a Spanish language docket verso translated in part as, "Summary of indulgences granted to the brotherhood of Our Lady of Peace and Corpus Christi and its Hospital for Incurables, for its fraternity with the Most Holy Lateran Church?" An embossed red wax seal in a metal case, 2.375" diameter, is suspended from the original cord at bottom. Expected wear including folds, isolated fading to some areas of text, and isolated separation along creases, else near fine and in vivid color. 21.5" x 26.75." Please consult our complete Latin transcription, and English translation. From a recently discovered collection that has not seen the light of day for over 70 years!

The document features approximately 700 Latin words inscribed in beautiful clerical script, with select words or letters (usually textual references to Jesus Christ) additionally gilded. Among the lavish hand-painted elements are 1.75" wide borders on three of the four sides, decorated with floral, scroll, and foliate motifs in orange, magenta, green, blue, and gilt. There are seven roundels incorporated into the borders, five of which depict symbols and figures from Christian iconography including Jesus Christ, Saint John the Baptist, the Virgin Mary, angels, and the communion cup. The roundel on the left side depicts the papal seal, with Saint Peter's crossed keys and the papal tiara; and an unidentified heraldic seal featuring seven castle towers appears on the right.

The document was sent to Toledo by two Lateran Registrars and Chaplains named Johannes Hieronymus Bonfilius and Antonius Ubertinus, whose signatures appear at the bottom. These two officials were key in providing us with an approximate date of the document. The pair appears in ecclesiastical publications dating from the first quarter of the 17th century, and Bonfilius is listed at the Lateran Church around 1623. The Lateran Basilica is the oldest and highest ranking papal basilica. It serves as the cathedral church of the diocese of Rome and the seat of the Bishop of Rome, the pope.

This document gives us insights into the status of charitable institutions in seventeenth-century Toledo, Spain, specifically the Hospital for Incurables. Hospitals and orphanages were financed by either the monarchy or the church, with wealthy religious orders or confraternities playing a central role in the latter case. The Hospital for Incurables was previously known as the King's Hospital [Hospital del Rey], and was located just steps away from Toledo Cathedral in the historic city of Toledo. The King's Hospital was operated by members of the Brotherhood of Saint Mary of Peace and the Body of Christ [Nuestra Se?ora de la Paz y Corpus Christi], and it was administrated by Pedro Salazar de Mendoza (1549-1629). In 1611, the King's Hospital was renamed the Refuge of Poor Incurables [El Refugio de los Pobres Incurables.] Such hospitals cared for indigent patients with chronic, contagious, or "incurable" diseases such as leprosy (now completely reversible with antibiotics).

The top of the document, entitled "Summarium," provides us with a helpful synopsis of its content: the Lateran Basilica was confirming that any site associated with it (like the King's Hospital/Hospital for Incurables in Toledo) was automatically conferred with the benefits bestowed on the latter. It was considered as a "pious place" among the "churches, chapels, monasteries, oratories and other pious places built on the grounds and in the possession or added, annexed, and incorporated into the same Lateran Church." The summary stated that "the King's Hospital?di Santa Maria della Pace e del Corpo di Cristo, located next to Toledo Cathedral, and which, at the request of the Confraternita di Santa Maria della Pace e del Corpo di Cristo, was annexed and incorporated into our sacrosanct Lateran Church, and, for this reason, just like a member of the Lateran Church, participates in, enjoys, and makes use of its indulgences."

The document consists of a list of 23 points, or "items" substantiating the claim that indulgences were granted to the "Lateran Church," and by an extension, to entities associated with it. The dispensations were derived from historical and ecclesiastical precedents. Indulgences were granted, for example, if the faithful celebrated mass on a holy day, such as Palm Sunday, or if Catholics could "climb, on their knees, down the 'holy' twenty-eight-step staircase, which?our Lord Jesus Christ descended during the Passion."

Important biblical, papal, and historical figures as well as saints referred to in this document established the precedents for the granting of indulgences.

They include:

BIBLICAL
Moses
Aaron
Jesus Christ
Pontius Pilate

PAPAL
Pope Sylvester
Pope Nicholas IV
Pope Boniface IX
Pope Gregory

SAINTS
Saint Sylvester
Saint Peter
Saint Paul
Saint John the Baptist
Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist
Saint Lawrence
Saint Thomas

HISTORICAL
Emperor Constantine
Helen the Empress

The 23rd and last point of the document underscores the Lateran Church's importance. It was so holy in consequence of all of these dispensations, that pilgrims could achieve the same remission of sins there that they could by traveling to faraway places: "Pope Boniface said, 'If men were aware of how many indulgences have been granted by the supreme Roman pontiffs in the church of San Giovanni in Laterano, they would realize that it would make no sense for them to travel to the tomb in Jerusalem or San Giacomo di Compostella."

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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unfolded: 21.5" x 26.75"
Latin transcription and English translation provided