they may be, clerics or laymen, Seculars or Regulars, or with whatsoever dignity invested, who shall, in any way whatsoever, force any virgin, or widow, or any other woman whatsoever except in the cases provided for by law to enter a convent against her will, or to take the habit of any religious order, or to make her profession ; as also all those w r ho lend their counsel, aid, or countenance thereunto ; and those also who, knowing that she does not enter into the convenjb THE IMMURING OF NUNS 55 We declare, pronounce and de- fine, that the doctrine which holds that the most blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instant of her conception, was, by a singular grace and privilege of the Omnipotent God, by reason of the fore- seen merits of Jesus Christ the Saviour of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin, is revealed by God and is there- fore to be firmly and con- stantly believed by all the faithful. 1