English Translation of Sections Concerning Jews
PART I – EARLY SECTIONS (PL 161, Columns 125-126)
Chapter 279 – Concerning Jews Who Have Apostatized
Source: From the same Council V, cap. 69 (Council of Toledo IV, c. 58) Reference: De consecratione, dist. 4, c. Plerique
Many who were formerly promoted from the Jews to the Christian faith are now blaspheming Christ, and are known not only to have perpetrated Jewish rites, but also to have practiced abominable circumcisions. Concerning these, at the consultation of our most pious and most religious lord King Sisenand, this holy council has decreed that such transgressors, corrected by pontifical authority, should be recalled to the worship of Christian doctrine, so that those whom their own will does not amend, priestly censure may restrain. Moreover, those whom they have circumcised, if they are their sons, shall be separated from their parents; if slaves, they shall be delivered to liberty for the injury to their bodies.
Chapter 280 – Concerning the Slaves of Jews
Source: From the same, cap. 9 Reference: Distinction 54, c. Etsi
Item: if the slaves of Jews, not yet converted, should fly to the grace of Christ, let them be given their liberty.
Chapter 281 – Concerning the Slaves of Jews Who Flee to Baptism
Source: From the Council at Auvergne, cap. 80
Although it has already been defined by prior canons that concerning pagan slaves who are with the Jews, if they flee to the church and seek baptism, even if they flee to any Christians whatsoever, after a just price has been assessed and offered by the faithful, they should be freed from their master. Therefore we establish these things so that so just a constitution may be preserved by all Catholics.
Chapter 282 – Item Concerning the Slaves of Jews Either Christian or Desiring to Come to the Christian Faith
Source: From the Council of Mâcon, cap. 16 Reference: Distinction 54, c. Praesenti
By this present council, with God as author, we sanction that no Christian slave shall henceforth serve a Jew, but with twelve solidi given for any good slave, anyone shall have the license to redeem that slave either to freedom or to service; and if [the slave] desires to become Christian and is not permitted, let him do likewise, because it is wicked for one whom Christ the Lord redeemed by the shedding of His blood to be held in chains by a blasphemer of the Christian religion. But if any Jew is unwilling to acquiesce to these things which we have established, as long as he delays in coming to the established price, let that slave be permitted to dwell with Christians wherever he wishes.
Chapter 284 – Concerning Jews If They Circumcise a Slave
Source: From the Council held at Theodonis Villa, cap. 4
If any of the Jews shall have purchased a Christian slave, or one of any other sect, and circumcised him, let him be removed from the power of that Jew and remain in liberty.
Chapter 285 – What Saint Gregory Commands Concerning Jews
Source: From the Register of Gregory to John, Bishop of Terracina (Book 1, epistle 24)
Joseph, the bearer of these presents, a Jew, has informed us concerning a certain place where the Jews residing in the castle of Terracina were accustomed to assemble to celebrate their festivals, that your fraternity expelled them, and that they migrated to another place for celebrating their festivals similarly, with your knowledge and consent, and now they complain that they have been expelled again from that same place. If this is so, we will that your fraternity desist from such complaint, and permit them to assemble in the place which, as we have said before, they obtained with your knowledge for their gathering, as was the custom. For those who are discordant from the Christian religion must necessarily be gathered to the unity of the faith by gentleness, kindness, admonition, and persuasion, lest those whom the sweetness of preaching and the terror of the future judge coming could invite to belief should be repelled by threats and terrors. It is fitting, therefore, that they should kindly assemble to hear the Word of God from you, rather than be frightened by authority that is extended beyond measure.
PART XIII – MAIN SECTIONS ON Jews (PL 161, Columns 821-826)
Chapter 94 – That Jews Are Not to Be Compelled to the Christian Faith
Source: From the Council of Toledo, cap. 58 (cap. 56) Reference: Distinction 45, c. De Judaeis
Concerning the Jews, the holy synod has commanded that henceforth no one should apply force to compel them to believe. Item, from the same council: Jews should be persuaded to convert not by force but by free will [by the faculty of free will, Gratian], rather than being compelled.
Chapter 95 – That No One Should Patronize Jews in Their Error
Source: Item (cap. 57)
Whosoever bishop, or cleric, or secular person shall furnish aid to any Jews against the Christian faith, either by gift or by favor, truly as profane and sacrilegious, having been made anathema, let him be made a stranger from the Catholic Church and the kingdom of God, because it is fitting that he be separated from the body of Christ who becomes a patron of His enemies.
Chapter 96 – Concerning Invalidating the Testimony of Jews
Source: Item (cap. 63) Reference: Question 2, q. 7, c. Non potest
It is proper that the testimony of those be invalidated who are taught to be false in faith, nor should those be believed who have cast away from themselves the faith of truth.
Chapter 97 – That Public Offices Should Not Be Entrusted to Jews
Source: Item (ibid., c. 46) Reference: Question 27, q. 4, b. Constituit sanctum
Those who are from the Jews should by no means seek public offices, because under this occasion they do injury to Christians, and therefore the judges of provinces with the priests should suspend their fraudulent deceptions, and not permit them to conduct public affairs. But if anyone shall have permitted this, let excommunication be pronounced upon him as upon one sacrilegious, and let him who has obtained office by deception be assigned to the public prisons [beatings, original].
Chapter 98 – That Jews Should Not Presume to Purchase Christian Slaves
Source: Item (cap. 65)
It is not lawful for Jews to purchase Christian slaves nor Christian slaves by any grant. For it is wicked that the members of Christ should serve the members of Antichrist. But if henceforth Jews shall have presumed to have Christian male or female slaves, those removed from their dominion shall obtain liberty from the prince.
Chapter 99 – That Christians Should Not Attend the Feasts of Jews
Source: From the 1st Council of Orléans, in the time of King Childebert, cap. 13
We forbid Christians from the feasts of Jews, in which if they are proven to have been present, they shall be subject to excommunication for a year for such contumacy.
Chapter 100 – That Jews Should Not Appear in Public from the Lord’s Supper Until Monday
Source: Item, cap. 29
From the day of the Lord’s Supper until the second day of the Sabbath at Easter, that is, during that four-day period, Jews should not presume to proceed among Christians, nor to mingle themselves in any way [place, original] or by any occasion with Catholic peoples.
Chapter 101 – That Jews Should Be Called to the Unity of Faith with All Gentleness and Kindness
Source: Gregory to Peter, Bishop of Terracina (Register 1, epistle 34)
Joseph the Jew, bearer of the presents, has intimated to us that your fraternity expelled them from a certain place where the Jews residing in the castle of Terracina were accustomed to assemble to celebrate their festivals, and that they migrated to another place for celebrating their festivals similarly, with your knowledge and consent, and now they complain that they have been expelled again from that same place. But if it is so, we will that your fraternity suspend itself from such complaint, and permit them to assemble in the place which (as we have said before) they obtained with your knowledge for their gathering, as was the custom. For those who are discordant from the Christian religion must necessarily be gathered to the unity of faith by gentleness, kindness, admonition, and persuasion, lest those whom the sweetness of preaching and the anticipated terror of the future judge could invite to belief should be repelled by threats and terrors.
Chapter 102 – Concerning Slaves of Jews Fleeing to the Church
Source: Gregory, Register Book III, to John, Bishop of Cagliari (epistle 9)
It has come to us that male and female slaves of Jews fleeing to the church for the sake of faith are either restored to their infidel masters, or their price is given lest they be restored. We exhort, therefore, that you by no means permit such a depraved custom to remain, but whatever slave of the Jews should flee to venerable places for the sake of faith, you should not permit him to suffer any prejudice, but whether he was formerly a Christian or has now been baptized, without any damage to Christian poor people, let him be defended in liberty by all means by the religious patronage of ecclesiastical piety.
Chapter 103 – Concerning Felix the Christian, Whom a Certain Samaritan Wished to Subject to Servitude
Source: Item, to John, Bishop of Syracuse (14th indiction, epistle 22)
Felix, the bearer of the presents, has complained to us that, although he was born of Christian parents, he was given by a certain Christian to a Samaritan (which is an unspeakable crime). And while neither the reason of law nor the reverence of religion admits that men of such superstition should possess Christian slaves in any way, nevertheless he asserts that he remained in his service for nineteen years. But when your predecessor of holy memory Maximian learned of this, he says he was freed from the wicked service of the Samaritan by him, moved (as was fitting) by priestly zeal. But because the son of that same Samaritan is said to have become a Christian after five years, and certain ones (as he says) are striving to reduce the aforesaid Felix into his servitude, let your holiness diligently inquire into these things which we have been taught, and if it is established that they are so, let him strive to protect him and permit him to be burdened by no one under any occasion, because the laws openly prohibit that slaves of a superstitious sect who precede their masters to the faith should be reduced to their servitude—how much more should this man, born of Christian parents and made a Christian from childhood, not sustain this question in any way.
Chapter 104 – That Jews Should Retain Their Old Synagogues
Source: Item, Gregory to Januarius, Bishop of Cagliari (2nd indiction, epistle 5)
Jews from your city, coming here, have complained to us that their Synagogue which is situated at Cagliari, Peter, who was led from their superstition to the worship of the Christian faith, God willing, with certain undisciplined persons added to himself, on the day following his baptism, that is, on the Lord’s Day in that paschal festival, occupied it with grave scandal and without your will, and placed there the image of the Mother of God and of our Lord, and the venerable cross and white vestment with which he was clothed rising from the font. A little later: We exhort with these words that, with the image and cross removed from there with the veneration which is fitting, you ought to restore what has been violently taken away, because, just as legal definition does not permit Jews to erect new Synagogues, so also it permits them to have old ones without disturbance.
Chapter 105 – That Jews Should Not Be Kept from Their Solemnities by Force
Source: Item, to Paschasius, Bishop of Naples (Register 11, epistle 15) Reference: Distinction 45, c. Qui sincera
The Jews dwelling in Naples have complained to us, asserting that certain ones irrationally strive to keep them from certain solemnities of their festivals, so that it might not be lawful for them to celebrate the solemnities of their festivities, just as it has been permitted to them until now and to their parents in long past times to observe or celebrate. But if the truth is thus, they seem to apply superfluous effort to the matter.
Chapter 106 – Concerning What Should Be Done If Slaves of Jews Wish to Become Christians
Source: Gregory to Fortunatus, Bishop of Naples (Register Book 5, chapter 431, or epistle 31) Reference: Distinction 54, c. Fraternitatem
It behooves your fraternity to be solicitous, if from the servitude of Jews not only a Jew but also anyone of the pagans wishes to become a Christian, after his will has been made known, there should be no faculty for selling him to any of the Jews under any device or argument, but he who desires to convert to the Christian faith should be vindicated in liberty by all means by your defense. But those who ought to lose such slaves, lest perhaps they think their interests are unreasonably impeded, it befits you to observe this with solicitous consideration: that if they have purchased pagans for the sake of trade from external territories within three months while the buyer to whom they were sold is not found, if they happen to flee to the Church and say they wish to become Christians, or even outside the Church they have revealed such will, let them receive the price from the Christian, namely the buyer. But if after the prescribed three months any of such Jewish slaves says [they wish to become Christian] and wishes to become a Christian, and no one has purchased him afterward, nor should the master dare to sell him under any pretense of occasion, but without doubt let him be led to the rewards of liberty, because he is said to have been acquired not for selling but for serving himself.
Chapter 107 – Concerning the Zeal of Christian Priests Against Jews
Source: Ambrose in the Epistle to the Vercellans (epistle 29 to Emperor Theodosius)
It has been reported by the Count of the East of the military parts that a Synagogue has been burned, and that this was done at the instigation of a bishop. I do not assert that the assertion of the bishop should have been awaited; for priests are moderators of crowds and studious of peace, unless they themselves are moved by injury to God or insult to the Church. Item: Why do you command judgment on one absent? You have one present, you have a confessing defendant. I proclaim that I burned the Synagogue, that I commanded them, lest there should be a place in which Christ is denied. Item: Do you not see, Emperor, that God forbids Himself to be entreated for those whom you think should be avenged? Item: Who will vindicate the Synagogue? Christ, whom they killed, whom they denied? Or will God the Father vindicate those who do not even receive the Father? Item: If concerning pecuniary causes you consult your counts, how much more is it fair that in causes of religion you should consult the priests of the Lord? Item: All things are yet intact for you; in this I bind myself to our God for you, and do not fear the sacrament. Can it possibly displease God that what is done is amended for His honor? Item: What could be done more honorably, I did, so that you might hear me more in the palace, lest if it were necessary you should hear in the Church.
Chapter 108 – That Judea Lost the Power of War
Source: Jerome on Isaiah, Book 2 (on chapter 3)
It is not surprising that among the Jews all dignity of warriors has perished, since they do not have the power of fighting under the sword and bearing arms.
Chapter 109 – Concerning the Condemnation of Jews If They Circumcise Christians
Source: Code, Book 1 Reference: Law Judaei, Code concerning Jews and Caelicolae
Jews will be condemned both by proscription of goods and by perpetual exile if it is established that they have circumcised a man of our faith, or have commanded him to be circumcised.
Chapter 110 – Concerning Slaves of Jews If They Flee to the Church
Source: From the Life of Blessed Gregory, Book 4, cap. 43
Just as Gregory refused that Jews should be baptized violently, so he by no means permitted Christians to be subjected to them in any way. Item, from the same place, chapter 45: He never permitted slaves of Jews, once they had fled to the church, to be returned by any persuasions. Item, from the same place, chapter 46: Gregory not only legally recalled Christian slaves to their pristine liberty, but he by no means permitted pagans wishing to come to the faith to be sold.
ADDITIONAL SECTION (PL 161, Column 739-740)
Chapter 162 – Concerning One Who Killed a Jew Out of Greed
Source: From the Council of Mainz, cap. 6 (93) Reference: Distinction 50, c. Qui vero
One who kills a Jew or pagan by meditation of hatred or because of greed, because he has extinguished the image of God and the hope of future conversion, let him do penance for forty days on bread and water.
LATER SECTIONS (PL 161, Columns ~821-826, continued)
Chapter 111 – That No Infamous Person Can Accuse
Source: Stephen to all bishops, cap. 1
Let no slave or freedman be an accuser of you, nor any person guilty of hanging or any infamous person. Let also those dwelling with enemies be repelled, and all laymen whom affection of friendship is accustomed to incite to harass with blasphemies.
Chapter 112 – That Converted Jews Should Be Honored
Source: Gelasius to Bishop Quinigesius
The most distinguished man Telesinus, although he appears to be of Jewish credulity, strives to prove himself to us such that we ought deservedly to call him ours [yours], who specially petitioned for his parent Anthony [Antio], that we should commend him to your affection. And therefore, brother [brother], it befits you to regard the aforementioned in respect of our will and commands in such a way that not only should he not be oppressed in anything at all, but also in that in which he has need, let him rejoice to be aided by the solace of your affection.
Chapter 113 – With What Diligence Examination Should Be Made Concerning Slaves of Jews
Source: Gelasius to Siracusius, Constantius and Laurentius, bishops
Judas, who is of Jewish profession, has suggested that a slave of his right which he asserts he acquired a few years ago has now fled to the Church of Venafrum, as the tenor of the petition annexed shows, because he says that the sign of circumcision was recently inflicted on him by the aforesaid master, although [the slave says he was] a Christian from infancy. Wherefore let your diligent solicitude faithfully examine the truth of the matter between both parties, so that neither should religion appear to have been violated, nor should the slave, lying through this objection, strive to decline the rights of his competent master.
Chapter 114 – That Jews Should Be Preserved, Not Killed
Source: Pope Alexander II to all bishops of Spain
[Note: This chapter heading appears but the text is cut off in the viewed section]
Summary of Key Themes
The Decretum of Ivo of Chartres presents several consistent positions regarding Jews:
- Against Forced Conversion: Jews should not be compelled by force to accept Christianity, but rather persuaded through gentleness and preaching (Chapters 94, 101, 110)
- Restrictions on Jewish Authority: Jews should not hold public office over Christians (Chapter 97) and their testimony is invalidated (Chapter 96)
- Prohibition on Christian Slaves: Jews are forbidden from owning Christian slaves or slaves who wish to convert to Christianity. Such slaves who flee to the Church should be freed (Chapters 98, 102, 103, 106, 110, 280, 281, 282, 284)
- Social Restrictions: Christians are forbidden from attending Jewish feasts (Chapter 99), and Jews must not appear in public during certain Christian holy days (Chapter 100)
- Protection of Synagogues: While new Synagogues should not be built, existing Synagogues should be protected and Jews should be allowed to worship (Chapters 104, 105)
- Condemnation of Violence Against Jews: Those who kill Jews out of greed must do penance, as Jews bear the image of God and represent hope of future conversion (Chapter 162)
- Severe Penalties for Circumcising Christians: Jews who circumcise Christians or Christian slaves face exile and loss of property (Chapter 109)
- Treatment of Jewish Converts: Those who convert from Judaism should be honored and supported, while apostates from Christianity back to Judaism should be disciplined (Chapters 112, 279)
These canons show the complex and often contradictory medieval Christian approach to Jews: protecting them from violence and forced conversion while simultaneously restricting their rights, economic activities, and social interactions with Christians.
Source. Patrologiae Latina – Patrologiae Cursus Completus, Series Latina, ed. J.-P. Migne, Tomus 161 (Paris: Garnier Fratres, 1855).