To my Venerable Brother Louis Francis, Bishop of Bayeux.

Pope Gregory XVI.

Venerable Brother, health and the Apostolic Blessing.

As soon as you brought us news of the new congregation of wicked men that had arisen in your diocese, and you sent us some texts about this sect, both printed and manuscript, we ardently desired to write you this letter. But because of the grave and manifold concerns and anxieties that constantly torment us, we were unable to immediately read and thoroughly evaluate those writings, as we had hoped, to understand the perverse nature of this society. To our great sorrow, therefore, we realized from those same pestilential writings how the wicked followers of this congregation, under false pretences of piety and with extremely specious arguments, are introducing the principles of perdition into the flock of Christ. With absolutely reckless and sacrilegious audacity, attributing to themselves the role of apostles of Christ, they arrogate to themselves this new mission that they say is willed by God, and they announce their false and deceptive merciful task of somehow resurrecting the Church of Christ. They even dare to tell the common people of arcane conversations with angels and other celestial creatures, and even with Christ; of visions and miracles; they attribute to themselves a new apostolate animated by lay people; they propose for the Church of Christ a third kingdom which they are not afraid to call the kingdom of the Holy Spirit, so that the truths contained in the Gospel, and, as they blasphemously assert, not yet correctly and adequately explained by the Church, may shine with their own light; this so that the new truths may be manifested, and finally the Church itself may rise from its current state of depravity. The impious and delusional propositions of this sect are clearly consistent with the thinking of that infamous man who hypocritically proclaims himself leader of Normandy; who has already rebelled against the Catholic Church and who, in contempt of the authority of this Apostolic See, wandering among its abominations and declaiming perversities, takes full advantage of the same errors, intentions, and judgments of this execrable sect, in various ways and languages, with which he plots dark snares and plagues for the flock of Christ. We have already acquired and thoroughly analyzed almost everything that has been written and printed by these propagandists, since it had reached Us for some time.

We are deeply afflicted, Venerable Brother, to see how the followers of this diabolical congregation so wickedly and shamelessly attack the doctrine of the true Church of Christ, how they attack this Chair of Peter, and how they despise its authority with the sole aim of more easily and freely tearing apart, annihilating, and destroying the sheep of the Lord's flock. Therefore, Venerable Brother, we unconditionally approve everything you have deemed useful to do against this sect, and we follow with deserved praise in the name of the Lord your vigilance and your wonderful solicitude. Indeed, by carrying out your ministry in an excellent manner, as soon as you learned of how this detestable congregation was insinuating itself and spreading throughout your diocese, you promptly and with great zeal rejected it. Effortlessly seeking to keep the flock entrusted to your care away from such poisonous pastures, you urged the zeal of your clergy with timely letters and pastoral warnings, so that the impiety, licentiousness, and designs of the wicked might be better repressed and thwarted. These are wolves and wild boars emerged from the forest, ready and resolute to tear apart the Lord's sheep and destroy His vineyard, worthy of every ecclesiastical execration, censure, and punishment. Continue, then, what you have undertaken, Venerable Brother, and armed with your zeal, your prudence and your outstanding virtue, fight the battles of the Lord with all your strength, leaving no stone unturned so that the faithful entrusted to you remain steadfast in the faith of the Catholic Church and avoid and reject the errors, lies and illusions of this impious association.

We, indeed, in the humility of Our hearts, entrusting Ourselves to prayer, do not cease to implore God (whose cause is being discussed) to support and strengthen your resolve and actions with His heavenly help. Meanwhile, We send you back the writings concerning these deceivers that We received from you, and as a most certain pledge of Our special benevolence toward you, We impart, from the depths of Our heart, Our affectionate Apostolic Blessing to you, Venerable Brother, and to your flock.

Given in Rome, at St. Peter's, on the 8th day of November 1843, the thirteenth year of Our Pontificate.

Translation of

https://www.vatican.va/content/gregorius-xvi/it/documents/epistola-ubi-novam-8-novembre-1843.html