Rome 1910: Pius X obliges clergy, pastors, religious superiors and seminary professors to swear the Oath against Modernism

With the motu proprio "Sacrorum Antistitum" of 1 September 1910 Pius X moved against Modernism. The oath was to be sworn by all clergy, pastors, confessors, preachers, religious superiors and professors at philosophical-theological seminaries. Those swearing affirm all doctrinal definitions and reject freer interpretation of the Bible. They promise to hold to this to their dying breath.

Period

since 1 Sep 1910 (116 years, ongoing)

Report published

1 September 1910

Country

Vatican City

Institutions

Holy See

Category

Censorship

Level of evidence

A Primary source · what does this mean?

Persons

Pius X (Pope)

Background

Course of events

1. The oath was to be sworn by all clergy, pastors, confessors, preachers, religious superiors and professors at philosophical-theological seminaries. The Catholic Encyclopedia calls the tone of the motu proprio "Sacrorum Antistitum" of 1 September 1910 stronger still.
   Evidence: Heiliger Stuhl; Text bei Papal Encyclicals Online, Überschrift

   „To be sworn to by all clergy, pastors, confessors, preachers, religious superiors, and professors in philosophical-theological seminaries.“

   Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Artikel Modernism

   „Still stronger is the tone of the Motu Proprio "Sacrorum Antistitum", of 1 September, 1910“

   Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Artikel Modernism

   „all are obliged to swear according to a formula which reprobates the principal modernist tenets“

Why? Justification and motives (according to the sources)

1. The person swearing affirms acceptance of every definition of the unerring teaching authority and rejects the method of interpreting Scripture that departs from tradition and follows the rationalists. He promises to hold to this to his dying breath.
   Evidence: Heiliger Stuhl; Text bei Papal Encyclicals Online, Eidesformel

   „firmly embrace and accept each and every definition that has been set forth and declared by the unerring teaching authority of the Church“

   Evidence: Heiliger Stuhl; Text bei Papal Encyclicals Online, Eidesformel

   „Likewise, I reject that method of judging and interpreting Sacred Scripture“

   Evidence: Heiliger Stuhl; Text bei Papal Encyclicals Online, Eidesformel

   „I firmly hold, then, and shall hold to my dying breath the belief of the Fathers“

See also

• since 8 Dec 1864 · 161 years, ongoing

  Rome 1864: In the Syllabus, Pius IX condemns 80 "errors", among them religious freedom, the separation of Church and State and the reconciliation of the pope with modern progress

  • Vatican City
  • Censorship
• 1893-1910 · 17 years

  Persecution of Modernism 1893 to 1910: Alfred Loisy is dismissed, placed on the Index and excommunicated; Pius X orders censors and secret Councils of Vigilance in every diocese and requires the anti-modernist oath from the clergy

  • France
  • Italy
  • Vatican City
  • Heresy trials
  • Censorship

Original documents to read

1. Church document
   Heiliger Stuhl; Text bei Papal Encyclicals Online: The Oath Against Modernism, Pius X, 1910 (englische Übersetzung), 1 September 1910. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)

Scholarly literature and reference works

1. Reference work
   Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource): Modernism, in: Catholic Encyclopedia (1911), Bd. 10, 1 January 1911. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)

Last changed on 31 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.