BALSAM OF PERU. 295 



Translation. 



1861. 



A faculty granted to the Bishops of the Indies for the 

 preparation of the Holy Chrism with a certain liquor or juice in 

 the place of Balsam. 



Pius V., Pope, for the perpetual commemoration of this matter. 



We are rendered most anxious to admit to the favour of a 

 careful hearing these prayers, worthy of attention, by which a 

 case of necessity occurs in the preparation of sacred things, and 

 how the same may be provided for. 



1. Forasmuch as it hath lately been explained to us, that in 

 those parts of the Indies where our prelates sojourn, there is 

 not found, nor can be found, the balsam-tree or oil therefrom, 

 necessary for the preparation of the Holy Chrism ; but there 

 is found a certain liquor or juice, of wonderfully fragrant odour 

 and exceedingly efficacious for the cleansing of wounds, which 

 liquor is commonly used instead of the true balsam, for it pro- 

 duces all the effects which the balsam brought from Alexandria 

 is accounted to have produced. 



2. Wherefore these same prelates of the parts of the Indies 

 have caused us to be humbly supplicated, that under these 

 premises we would, of our apostolic bounty, vouchsafe to provide 

 some convenient remedy. 



3. We, therefore, willing to provide against necessities of this 

 kind, and moved by these prayers, do, of our apostolic authority, 

 concede by the tenor of these presents, full licence and permis- 

 sion, as well to the archbishops as to the bishops of those parts, 

 and, for the time being, to those prelates who may in future 

 sojourn in those parts, that they may, in the preparation of the 

 Holy Chrism freely and lawfully use the said liquor or juice 

 in the place of balsam. And by a further indulgence we decree 

 that the same efficacy shall be attributed to the said Holy 

 Chrism if prepared aright with the said juice, as if balsam were 

 an ingredient in it. 



4. Any previous constitutions or ordinances whatever, whether 



