Storia do Mogor 338.11.8

338.11.8

Next day, Sunday, the 24th of the same month [August, 1704], there was read in the church of San Domingo and in that of Mae de Deus in San Thome a proclamation whereby the president, the officers of the board, the outside procurator, and all the other brothers were declared to have incurred the major excommunication, and were therefore to be shunned. Their crime was the non-delivery of the plate. On the excommunication having been read, some students came out at once to eject publicly the brothers of Madras from the church of Mae de Deus, they having gone there to attend the service. This project was forthwith put into execution to the causing of great scandal. Upon the news reaching Madras there arose such great tribulation among the Catholics that none consented to speak to another, most of them being brothers [of the confraternity]. These men went in troops for three whole days to get themselves absolved. There was such a concourse of people that the Vicar-General grew worried about giving absolution, and to deliver himself from so many troubles declared those only to be affected who had signed the certificate. By this means the people were pacified, and those only who had signed applied for absolution.