Sorry - although I’ve read most of the encyclicals here I can’t recall their dates from memory without a little help from “find”.

But if you are looking for a really, really cool old encyclical, check out my next post!

Macte, Iacobe! Sub-praeses noster, laboribus suis depositis et scholasticis omnibus debitis solvitis, scribere incipiet cotidie! Volvant tempora bona!

That should be “sub-praeses”; “praesides” is a plural form.

Mea culpa, sub-praesides, how could I forget! Not only was it the eve of the anniversary of that celebrated document, but it was also the memorial of St. Ubaldo, scourge of evil and miracle worker of happy memory.

Do you not realize that this is the very eve of the 171st anniversary of Commissum Divinitus - that great Encyclical of Gregory XVI to the Clergy of Switzerland?

In Our sorrow We must not neglect to mention that what you did in guarding the Catholic cause and caring for the salvation of the flock entrusted to your care brought Us great solace. Therefore, We give thanks to the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation who comforted Us with you while We were oppressed by such tribulation. We must arouse your devotion. We exhort you to fight for the cause of God and the Church with greater zeal as the attacks of the enemy become more severe. It is your duty to stand as a wall so that no other foundation can be placed other than the one which has already been laid. It is also your duty to keep the faith undefiled. There is another sacred trust which you should firmly defend, namely, the holy laws by which the Church establishes its discipline, and the rights of this Apostolic See. Therefore, act according to the position which you hold, according to the dignity with which you are vested, according to the authority which you received, according to the sacrament by which you bound yourselves in solemn consecration. Unsheathe the sword of the spirit which is the word of God.