... and have a nice day!

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Apr 02, 2004

The Roman Pontifical of Benedict XIV (Malines [Belgium], 1862, p. 231) includes a liturgy for the consecration of virgins that features the following Anathema:

By the authority of Almighty God and his apostles Peter and Paul, we firmly forbid, under threat of anathema, anyone to lead these virgins and consecrated nuns away from the divine service to which they have bound themselves under the banner of chastity. Let no one despoil them of their goods, but rather let them keep their property in peace. And should anyone dare such a thing, let him be cursed in and out of his home, cursed in town and in country, cursed waking and sleeping, cursed eating and drinking, cursed walking and sitting; cursed be his flesh and his bones, from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head may there be no soundness in him. May the curse of men visit him, as the Lord suffered it to come through Moses in the Law upon the sons of iniquity. May his name be struck from the book of the living, and may he no longer be numbered among the just. Let him have his portion and inheritance with Cain the fratricide, with Dathan and Abiram, with Ananias and Sapphira, with Simon Magus and the traitor Judas, and with those who said to God, Away from us, we would not walk in thy paths. Let him perish on the Day of Judgment. May the eternal fire consume him along with the devil and his angels, unless he make restitution and do penance. So be it!

"Our post-Anathema hymn will be found on page 232 of the Glory & Praise songbook: 'I the Lord of Sea and Sky.'"