Vix Pervenit

Vix pervenit is the title of an encyclical, which was published by Pope Benedict XIV on November 1, 1745 in Rome. Addressees of the encyclical were the patriarchs, archbishops, bishops and religious communities in Italy. The title names the first two words of the written in Latin newsletter. Vix pervenit means freely translated: hardly came to our ears.

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The encyclical addresses the question of whether it is a Christian allows for a loan interest ( usura ) to take. The answer is no to usury, the excessive interest: The sin which is called usura and in the loan contract has its real seat and origin, based on the fact that someone from the loan back demands for even more than the other of him having received [ ... ] Any profit that exceeds the borrowed sum, therefore, is illicit and usurious. It continues: But we paid homage ... a false and very daring view when you would think ... it was always allowed to take a legitimate added value over the full and non- lorene root sum out as often as money, grain one or something else of this kind another credited. So if someone thinks he is not only in contradiction with the divine teachings and the decision of the Church on the loan interest rate, but no doubt even with the general consciousness of humanity and the natural reason.

In the implementation rules for the Italian Church is explicitly required that in any Synod, preaching or Christian teaching what may be presented by the above theories to the contrary. If this requirement disobeys, have to reckon with the penalties. By the St. Canons are imposed on the despisers and transgressors of the apostolic teachings. The leaders of the church are also instructed to brand the stigma and vices of the loan taking interest having regard to the Holy Scriptures.

The background

Up to the early 18th century was - in contrast to Calvinist Protestantism dominated - in the Roman Catholic church, the biblical prohibition of interest doctrinally undisputed. In practice, however, this verdict was circumvented by a number of special loan contracts. Even in 1740 published Peter Ballerini, Rector of the Academy of Verona a treatise in which he warned of the error of the prohibition of interest would affect only the so-called usury sin. Both the Old and the New Testament and the Church Fathers, Councils and Popes had unanimously means any loan interest as usury. A particularly explosive got this scripture the fact that the city of Verona had a public loan, the interest rate should be four per cent, imposed nearly the same time its citizens by decree. Also in other Italian cities, there were similar ordinances. These relationships led to a passionate interest out nationwide discussion.

In this controversy, the poet, archaeologist and polymath Francesco Scipio Maffei intervened by issuing three books, the Maffeis friend and former teachers were dedicated to Pope Benedict XIV. The main title of the book series was: Dell ' impiego del denaro, libri tre ( German: About the system of money, three books). In the first volume Maffei tried to prove that the Scriptures forbid a legally regulated and moderate interest rate at any point. The positions of the Church Fathers, canon law and the doctrine of the church are the focus of the second Maffei book. Here is - as the author - agreed that usury was sinful character, but not a moderate rate of four to five percent. So Maffei, etc. - In the third volume reasoning which are given, - The theory of the sterility of money, refute.

Since Maffeis books on investment of money exacerbated the controversy, Benedict XIV saw himself, which these writings were so dedicated, forced to react. The introductory rates and hence the title of the encyclical Vix pervenit continue this discussion at: On the occasion of the dispute flared up ( it revolves around whether a particular contract should be considered for final), We came to my attention that spread through Italy Views that do not seem to be consistent with sound doctrine. For such evil not by more lengthy silence grow strong even more, we thought it once for Our apostolic office duty to administer a powerful antidote and the evil to take the opportunity to continue fortzuwuchern and infect even until now still intact cities in Italy.