Fulgens sicut stella matutina explained

Fulgens sicut stella matutina ('Shining like the morning star'; Song of Songs 6:10) is a papal bull issued by Pope Benedict XII in Sorgues on July 12, 1335, to initiate a reform of the Cistercian Order, which had been founded in 1119.[1] The bull prescribed four measures: economic consolidation of the indebted convents, compulsory attendance of the general chapter with the payment of corresponding annual contributions, tightening of discipline within the monastery, and the reorganization of theological studies for monks.

Pope Benedict had himself been a Cistercian monk and abbot before becoming a bishop. The bull is also called Benedictina in reference to the pope.[2]

Literature

References

  1. Louis Lekai: The Cistercians. Ideals and reality, Kent State UP, 1977, p. 72.
  2. Book: Bueno, Irene . Defining heresy: inquisition, theology, and papal policy in the time of Jacques Fournier . 2015 . BrIll . 978-90-04-30425-3 . Studies in medieval and reformation traditions . Leiden ; Boston . 1.