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| | Bull of Pope Gregory IX and Pope Leo XIII |
 | | The Bull of Pope Gregory IX on the Canonization of St. Francis of Assisi |
 | | More than this, Our Predecessor, Gregory IX., publicly praised their faith and courage; nor did he hesitate to shelter them with his authority, and to call them, as a mark of honor, "Soldiers of Christ, new Maccabees;" and deservedly so. |
 | | Amongst others, King Louis IX., of France, and St. Elizabeth of Hungary, sought this honor; and, in the course of centuries, several Sovereign Pontiffs, Cardinals, Bishops, Kings, and Princes have not deemed the Franciscan badges derogatory to their dignity. |
| www.franciscan-sfo.org /bulls.htm (3884 words) |
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