43. Everyone
knows the provisions of Popes St. Pius and St. Victor and of the Council of
Nicea concerning the proper celebration of Easter. All likewise are aware
that the Council of Trent reserved to the Pope the question of revising the
calendar, and that finally the matter was resolved in all its details in the
time of Pope Gregory XIII. For this reason Bucherius writes in the preface to
his Commentario de doctrina temporum: "At the bidding of Pope
Gregory XIII, Clavius has fully seen to the definite reckoning of Easter in
future years." Clavius was a Jesuit priest with scientific talents who
contributed greatly to the correction of the calendar. The Pope also studied
the calculations of Aloysius Lilius, which had taken years to complete.
Finally, after weighing all aspects of the difficulty during many meetings
and after consulting with many experts, he published in 1582 his constitution
Inter gravissimas which established the regular calendar (in
veteri Bullario, vol. 1, cons. 74).
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