Volume 1
Pope Leo XIII
Leo P. P. XIII. Dilecte fili, salutem et apostolicam benedictionem. Quod Opera B. Alberti Magni instituisti de integro edere, susceptus tibi quidem labor est non exiguus, sed fructuosus, opinamur, futurus. Quamquam enim post Alberti ætatem incrementa cuivis scientiarum generi complura attulit dies, ejus tamen vis et copia doctrinæ, quæ Thomam aluit Aquinatem, et æqualibus eorum temporum miraculo fuit, non potest vetustate ulla consenescere. Utique videntur hodie nimis multi ponere ingenii laudem in fastidio antiquitatis: sed omnino illa est philosophandi ratio optima, exquirere meditando nova, unaque simul sapientiam veterum non relinquere. Igitur laboriosa maximi viri volumina, quæ fient jam industria tua notiora, spargere multo latius magnitudinem luminis sui posse confidimus, eorum nominatim commodo, qui in divinarum rerum humanarumve scientia diligentius elaborent. Cum vero tua ista editio auspicio satis bono in lucem tibi proditura videatur, si Nostro inscribatur nomine, Nobisque dedicetur, id quidem fieri non modo non recusamus, sed etiam gratum habemus: maxime quia Noster in Doctorem Angelicum amor vetus, ab amore magistri ejus non est disjunctus. Tibi interim, dilecte fili, cœlestium munerum auspicem Apostolicam benedictionem peramanter in Domino impertimus. Datum Romæ, apud S. Petrum, die X Decembris An. MDCCCLXXXIX, Pontificatus Nostri duodecimo. Leo P. P. XIII. Dilecto Filio Ludovico Vivès Lutetiam Parisiorum.
Pope Leo XIII. Beloved son, greeting and apostolic blessing. Since you have undertaken to publish anew the works of Blessed Albert the Great, the labor you have taken up is indeed not small, but, we judge, will be fruitful. For although time has brought very many increases to every kind of sciences after the age of Albert, nevertheless that force and abundance of his doctrine, which nourished Thomas Aquinas and was a miracle to the equals of those times, cannot grow old by any antiquity. Certainly today too many seem to place the praise of talent in disdain for antiquity: but altogether that is the best method of philosophizing, to search out new things by meditating, and at one and the same time not to abandon the wisdom of the ancients. Therefore we trust that the laborious volumes of the greatest man, which now by your industry will become better known, can spread much more widely the greatness of their light, especially for the advantage of those who labor more diligently in knowledge of divine or human things. But since that edition of yours seems likely to come forth into the light for you under a sufficiently good auspice, if it is inscribed with Our name and dedicated to Us, indeed we not only do not refuse that this be done, but even regard it as pleasing: especially because Our old love for the Angelic Doctor has not been separated from love for his teacher. To you meanwhile, beloved son, as pledge of heavenly gifts, we most lovingly impart in the Lord the Apostolic blessing. Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, on the tenth day of December in the year 1889, in the twelfth year of Our Pontificate. Pope Leo XIII. To the beloved son Louis Vivès, Paris.
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