{
  "bookName": "History of Christianity in India: Source Materials",
  "authorName": "M. K. Kuriakose",
  "publisherName": "Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge",
  "publicationYear": 2011,
  "chapterNumber": 45,
  "chapterName": "1623. Decision in Favour of de Nobili on the Adaptation Question",
  "pageFrom": 52,
  "pageTo": 52,
  "pages": [
    {
      "pageNumber": 52,
      "ocrText": "52\nHISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA\nthought he must consult Your Holiness by letters. The answer\nfrom Rome came to India two years ago, and when last year, 1618,\na new Brief arrived urging a speedy settlement of this affair, I set\nout immediately with the Archbishop of Cranganore for Goa,\nwhere we arrived after a difficult journey which lasted one month...\n45. DECISION IN FAVOUR OF DE NOBILI ON THE\nADAPTATION QUESTION (1623 A.D.)\nPope Gregory XV appointed Peter Lombard, the Archbishop of\nArmagh, and the Lisbon Inquisition to study de Nobili's missionary\nmethods for the purpose of officially putting to rest what had become\na heated controversy. On 31 January 1623 the decision was made in\nfavour of de Nobili in the Brief, Romanaee Sedis Antistites. Cited in\nFerroli, The Jesuits in Malabar, Vol. II, pp. 400-401..\nHumanae infirmitati consulendo, taking into consideration\nhuman weakness quantum sine Dei offensione et populorum scandalo\nlicet, in as much as it is permissible without sin and without scandal,\ndesirous to favour the conversion of these peoples, who do not wish\nto give up the tuft of hair, the cord, the baths, the sandal, by which\nare indicated their nobility, caste and office, after diligent study\nand discussion, after having heard the opinion of various Cardinals,\ntill we decide otherwise, by our apostolic authority, we allow to\nBrahmins and others to be converted, the use of the cord, and the\ntuft of hair, which serve to distinguish the various castes, and are\na sign of nobility and social standing and office. Further the sandal,\nwhich is an ornament of the body, is permitted, and so are the baths,\nfor health and cleanliness. In order, however, that the least\nsemblance of superstition be removed:\nThe cord should not be received in the temple, or from one\nof their priests, but from a Catholic priest, who, upon conferring\nit, should recite the prescribed prayers.\nThe pagan prayers and mantrams which used to be learnt\nupon receiving the cord, should not be learnt, but rather should\nbe confined to perpetual oblivion.\nSimilarly the prayers and sacrifices which used to be offered\nupon conferring the cord, should not be performed.\nThe cord made up of three strands, should not be made so\nin honour of the idols, but in honour of the Blessed Trinity.\nThe converts, who have already received the cord, should\nburn the old one, and receive a new one from the Catholic priest.",
      "status": "completed"
    }
  ]
}