|
Title: |
Diu Satis
|
|
Descr.: |
On A Return To Gospel Principles
|
|
Pope: |
Pope Pius VII
|
|
Date: |
May 15, 1800
|
|
His
Venerable Brothers, All Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops and
Bishops in Union and Favor with the Apostolic See.
Venerable
Brothers, We Give you Greeting and Our Apostolic Blessing.
1.
Long enough have We been silent. Two months have already passed,
months of anxiety and toil, since God conferred on Us, despite Our
weakness, the burden of this high office of guiding the entire
Church. It is not so much custom as Our great love for you which
impels Us to address you by at least this letter. We could have no
sweeter nor so pleasant a task.
2.
The particular part of Our duty which is expressed in the words,
"strengthen your brethren," also urges Us to do so. For
at the present turbulent time, as much as ever, Satan "has
sought after us all in order to sift us as wheat." Still who
is so sluggish, so different-minded to Us not to understand fully
that Christ does what He said He would do: "to pray for Peter
that his faith should not fail"(1) even in the present grim
circumstances. Later ages will be amazed at the wisdom,
magnanimity, and firmness of Our predecessor Pius VI. We could
wish that We had also inherited his courage which withstood
unshaken the blows of every storm and misfortune.
3.
Indeed, the famous Martin who long ago won great praise for this
See, commends faithfulness and fortitude to Us by his
strengthening and defense of the truth and by the endurance of
labors and pains. He was driven from his See and from the City,
stripped of his rule, his rank, and his entire fortune. As soon as
he arrived in any peaceful place, he was forced to move. Despite
his advanced age and an illness which prevented his walking, he
was banished to a remote land and repeatedly threatened with an
even more painful exile. Without the assistance offered by the
pious generosity of individuals, he would not have had food for
himself and his few attendants. Although he was tempted daily in
his weakened and lonely state, he never surrendered his integrity.
No deceit could trick, no fear perturb, no promises conquer, no
difficulties or dangers break him. His enemies could extract from
him no sign which would not prove to all that Peter "until
this time and forever lives in his successors and exercises
judgment as is particularly clear in every age"(2) as an
excellent writer at the Council of Ephesus says.
4.
It is a fact of very great importance, and it should be recalled
gratefully, that God conferred death on Pius VI (this expression
is better than that He took life from him) at a time when there
was no obstacle to duly deciding on his successor. Remember Our
fear and suspense when the Cardinals were personally expelled from
their sees. Several of them were imprisoned, some sought for their
lives, and many forced to cross the sea in depths of winter,
deprived of their possessions - all of them in want and separated
from one another by great distances. Since the enemy occupied the
roads, they could not correspond with one another nor were they
allowed to go anywhere. It was clear that they could never
assemble to assist the Church if any misfortune struck down Pius
VI who was daily said to be between life and death.
5.
Who would have dared at that time, with our affairs assailed and
almost destroyed, to hope on the basis of human plans and help for
what has actually happened by the special kindness of God? Before
he died, Pius VI established the mode of holding the elections of
his successors and most of Italy was restored to peace. All
arrangements were made for the cardinals to meet in Venice to vote
under the protection of Francis, Apostolic King of Hungary,
illustrious King of Bohemia, and Emperor-elect of the Romans.
6.
From these events men should realize that all attempts to
overthrow the "House of God" are in vain. For this is
the Church founded on Peter, "Rock," not merely in name
but in truth. Against this "the gates of hell will not
prevail"(3) "for it is founded on a rock."(4) There
has never been an enemy of the Christian religion who was not
simultaneously at wicked war with the See of Peter, since while
this See remained strong the survival of the Christian religion
was assured. As St. Irenaeus proclaims openly to all, "by the
order and succession of the Roman pontiffs the tradition from the
Apostles in the Church and the proclamation of the truth has come
down to us. And this is the fullest demonstration that it is the
one and the same life-giving faith which has been preserved in the
Church until now since the time of the Apostles and has been
handed on in truth."(5)
7.
This is the direction of attack chosen by those men of today who
replace with the defiling plague of false philosophy, the
philosophy (as the Greek Fathers in particular rightly name
Christian teaching) which the Son of God, who is eternal wisdom,
brought down from heaven and imparted to men. But "it has
been written" - and these words of Paul are aimed directly at
such men - "'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the
sense of the sensible I will reject.' Where is a wise man, where a
scribe, where the examiner of this world? Has not God made foolish
the wisdom of this world?"(6)
8.
We are led to recall those words, venerable brothers, especially
since they marvellously refresh Us. They inspire Us to shun no
toil on behalf of Christ's Church which He has entrusted to Us to
rule, protect, adorn, and extend, despite Our fear of this
unexpected burden. Assuredly "He will make us fitting
ministers of the new testament as exaltation derives from the
power of God and not from Ourselves." Therefore I now urge
you to join me and devote your eager effort to this objective. May
Christ's prayer to His Father never leave our minds: "Holy
Father, keep them in your name that they may be one as We are...not
for these only do I pray, but also for those
who through their word will believe in me that they all may be one
as you, Father, in me and I in you, that they also may be one in
us."(7)
9.
"It is Our particular duty," as Cyprian says (in On the
Unity of the Church), "to uphold and defend this unity"
so that the world may see, wonder and believe "that you have
sent me," as Christ's prayer continues. Christ is with Us and
never leaves Our side; he strengthens Us with the words: "Let
not your heart be troubled, nor let it fear. You believe in God,
believe also in me."(8) Relying on His help, let us work for
the common safety with combined zeal.
10.
Consolation and cure is called for by cities, towns, countryside,
states, provinces, kingdoms, and nations, which for many years
have been attacked, defeated, destroyed, and made wretched. But
this can be sought and hoped for only from the teaching of Christ.
We can now, with greater confidence, rebuke those who think
otherwise with the words of St. Augustine: "Let them give us
an army composed of soldiers such as Christ's teaching demands,
such provincials, such veterans, such spouses, such parents, such
children, such masters, such servants, such kings, such judges,
and finally such men as repay debts to the public treasury and
such tax-officials as the Christian teaching prescribes."
Since they are not able to do so, "let them admit at once
that obedience to this teaching would be of great assistance to
the state."(9)
11.
Therefore it is Our duty to help men and nations who are in
distress, and to eliminate all present and threatening evils. For
"Christ has given pastors and teachers for the perfecting of
the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the building up of
Christ's Body, until we all come together to the unity of faith
and knowledge of God's son."(10) If ever anything deters,
prevents, or delays any one of us from performing this task, what
a disgraceful sin he will commit! Therefore, omit no watchfulness,
diligence, care, and effort, in order to "guard the
deposit" of Christ's teaching whose destruction has been
planned, as you know, by a great conspiracy.
12.
Do not admit anyone to the clergy, entrust to no one the ministry
of the mysteries of God, allow no one to hear confessions or
preach sermons, do not transfer any administration or office to
anyone, before you carefully weigh, examine and "test their
spirit to see if they are of God."
13.
Would that We had not learned by experience how many "false
apostles" the present age has spawned! These are
"deceitful workmen who transform themselves into apostles of
Christ." Unless we are on our guard "they will destroy
the understanding of the faithful as the serpent seduced Eve by
his cleverness, and they will fall away from their simplicity
which is in Christ."(11) While you must care for the whole
flock over which the Holy Spirit has placed you as bishop, the
watchfulness, eagerness, and effort of your fatherly love and
benevolence is demanded in particular by boys and young men.
Christ by example and statement has particularly entrusted these
to us(12) and the enemies of private property and states who are
striving to confound all laws, divine and human, hope to effect
their wicked plans chiefly by corrupting their young minds. For
they are aware that the young are like soft wax and can easily be
drawn in any direction, bent and moulded and that they firmly
retain a form once they have received it and it has been hardened
by advancing years; then they will reject a different form. Hence
the well-worn proverb from scripture: "A young man will not
depart from his way even when he has grown old.''(13)
14.
Do not allow "that the children of this world be wiser in
their generation than the children of light." Carefully
investigate the directors given charge of boys and young men in
seminaries and colleges, and the courses they are to follow, the
teachers chosen for secondary schools, and the schools which are
to be run. Keep out the [ravening enemies who do not spare
innocent souls], and expel them if necessary by the way they
entered. Eliminate them at once "according to the power which
the Lord gave you for edification.''(14) We must use to the full
this power to eradicate this very serious threat to our children.
This course is required for the safety of Church, state, leaders,
and all human beings; their safety should be dearer and more
important to Us than Our own life. Clement XIII treated this
subject in his Brief to you on 25th November 1766.
15.
Books which openly oppose the teaching of Christ are to be burned.
Even more importantly, the eyes and minds of all must be kept from
books, which do so more stealthily and deceitfully. To recognize
such books, as St. Cyprian says in On the Unity of the Church,
"there is not need of a long treatise and arguments: The sum
of truth is a proof easy for faith: the Lord says to Peter, 'feed
my sheep.'" So the sheep of Christ should consider safe and
eat cheerfully the food to which Peter's voice and authority
directs them; but despite any beauty and charm, they should shun
as harmful and plague-ridden, what this voice forbids them. Those
who do not comply are certainly not to be counted among the sheep
of Christ.
16.
In this case We cannot overlook, keep silent or act sluggishly.
For unless this great license of thinking, speaking, writing, and
reading is repressed, it will appear that the strategy and armies
of wise kings and generals have relieved us for but a short time
from this evil which has crushed us for so long. But so long as
its stock and seed is not removed and destroyed (I shudder to say
it but it must be said), it will spread abroad and be strengthened
to reach over the whole world. To destroy it later or to rout it,
legions, guards, watches, the armories of cities, and the defenses
of empires will not be enough.
17.
Is any one of Us not aroused by the words God speaks to Us through
the prophet Ezechiel: "Son of man, I have given you as a
guide to the house of Israel: and you shall hear a word from my
mouth, and you shall proclaim to them from me. If when I say to
the wicked, you shall die the death, you do not proclaim it to
him....the wicked man shall die in his iniquity but I shall look
for his blood from your hand.''(15) I confess this statement
startles me and prevents me from being slothful and fearful in
executing the demands of my office. I promise and swear that I
will always be not only your helper and supporter, but your chief
and leader.
18.
Still another deposit which We must firmly protect is that of the
Church's holy laws by which it establishes its own practice, and
over which it alone has power. Under these laws, virtue and piety
thrive; the spouse of Christ terrifies her enemies as an army set
in battle array. Many of these laws are like foundations laid down
to bear the weight of the faith, as Our predecessor St. Zosimus
says.(16) There is no greater benefit or boast for kings and
political leaders, as another wise and brave predecessor, St.
Felix, wrote to Emperor Zeno, than "to allow the Catholic
Church to enjoy its own laws and not to let anyone interfere with
its liberty....For it is certain that it is beneficial for their
own affairs, as God has laid down, for kings to submit their will
to the priests of Christ when God's business is in question,
rather than imposing it."
19.
Regarding the Church's property, wealth which has been vowed, holy
money, the substance of the saints - the business of God, as
Fathers, councils and scripture state - shall We give you any
instructions about this now that the Church has been wretchedly
stripped of them? Only this: to devote your efforts so that
everyone will realize the truth of the short statement of the
synod of Aachen long ago. "Whoever takes away or intends to
take away what other faithful have given from the heritage of
their possessions for the care of their souls, the honor of God,
the beauty of His Church and the use of its ministers, assuredly
turns the gifts of others into danger for his own soul."(17)
"Not from an eagerness to hold what we have or for the sake
of worldly benefit, but from reflection on the divine judgment,
are we moved to reiterate the command to be faithful and wise
stewards."(18) (Indeed, We can rightly affirm this to all, no
less strongly than Our predecessor St. Agapitus.) Christian kings
and princes who rightly hold and boast that they are
"guardians"(19) of the Church as Isaiah said, will
withdraw from no place at Our prayers, exhortations, warnings, or
actions. But certainly their faith, piety, justice, wisdom, and
religion have given Us great hope that they will ensure
immediately that God receives His own and that they will not let
their ears resound with God's complaints. "You have taken my
silver and gold and my lovely desirable things."(20)
Constantine the Great and Charlemagne were like these kings, and
their noble generosity and justice were chiefly directed to the
Church. The former asserted that he had known many kingdoms whose
kings had perished because they had despoiled the Church. Because
of this he commanded and urged his children and their successors
at the head of the state: "We forbid them to the extent of
Our power by God and all the merits of his saints to do such acts
or agree with those who desire to do them. But let them be helpers
and defenders of the churches and of the service of God insofar as
they can."(21)
20.
I cannot conceal from you at the end of this letter, venerable
brothers, "Since my sorrow is great and the pain of my heart
unceasing," my feelings for my children, the peoples of
France, and other peoples still seething with the same madness.
Nothing would be more desirable to me than to give my life for
them if their safety could be achieved by my death. We do not deny
- rather, We proclaim - that the bitterness of Our grief is much
diminished by the invincible purpose which several of you have
displayed. We remember this daily. Men of all kinds, age, and rank
have followed this example. They do so, preferring to suffer any
insults, dangers, losses, and penalties, and to face death itself.
They consider this nobler than to be defiled by the stain of an
illicit and wicked sacrament thereby committing sin and disobeying
the decrees of the Apostolic See. Indeed, the courage of ancient
times has been renewed no less than the cruelty.
21.
But every people is embraced by my fatherly love, thoughts, and
concern. We grieve and suffer greatly if any are separated from
the truth, and We desire to assist them. Join us, then, in Our
prayers that after this long-lasting disturbance, "the Church
may have peace to be built up as it walks in the fear of the Lord
and in the consolation of the Holy Spirit." May nothing
hinder all peoples from becoming one fold with one shepherd.
22.
Meanwhile We most willingly impart the Apostolic Blessing to you
in your courage and preparedness, and to the flock you govern.
Given
at Venice in the monastery of San Giorgio Maggiore on the 15th of
May 1800 in the first year of Our pontificate.
Endnotes:
1.
Lk. 22. | 2. [Wrt. Counc. Eph.] | 3. Mt. 16. | 4. Mt. 7. | 5. Adversus haereses,
bk. 3 chap. 3. | 6. 1 Cor 1:9-20. | 7. Jn. 17. | 8. Jn. 14. | 9.
Bk. 83, Question. | 10. Eph. 4:12. | 11. 2 Cor. 11. | 12. Mt. 19,
Mk. 10, Lk. 18. | 13. Prov, 22. | 14. 2 Cor. 13. | 15. Ez.
3:17-18. | 16. Epistle 7. | 17. Chap. 37, Harduin, Conc., vol. 4,
col. 1423. | 18. Epistle 4 to Caesarius, Bishop of Arles. | 19.
Is. 49:23. | 20. Un. J. 3. | 21. Ad. Balut., bk. 1, chap. 3.
The above is provided for informational purposes only and may not be comprehensive. By using this site you agree to all terms. For terms
information, see "Important Notice" above and click
here.
|
