CONSTANTI
HUNGARORUM
ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII ON
THE CHURCH IN HUNGARY
To
Our Venerable Brothers, the Primate, the Archbishops, Bishops and other
Ordinaries in Hungary, in Peace and Communion with the Holy See.
Venerable
Brothers, Health and Apostolic Benediction.
The loyal
affection and profound respect of the Hungarian people towards this Apostolic
See have always evoked deep fatherly love from the Roman Pontiffs. We
ourselves have frequently confirmed our personal esteem and loving care.
Indeed, we did so seven years ago when Hungary celebrated the memory of
an auspicious event. On that occasion we wrote to you recalling the ancestral
faith of the Hungarians, their virtues, and their glorious deeds. We also
counseled you on matters concerning the well-being of your people in times
so hostile to the Catholic cause. For the same reason and for the same
purpose, we feel constrained to write you again.
2. Certainly,
because of the nature of the recent, disturbing events, Our concern demands
that We earnestly exhort you and your clergy to fidelity, unity, and zeal
in teaching and in admonishing opportunely your people. Other conditions
among you present a new cause for anxiety to Us: We refer to the dangers
that day by day are becoming a more serious threat to religion. To be
sure, just as these dangers require our utmost concern and attention,
they also urgently demand greater efforts from you. We are confident you
will recompense fully Our counsel and expectations.
Religion
has Prevailed in Hungary
3. The
general duty of Catholics to preserve the integrity of religion in their
country in all vicissitudes, and to do so in a spirit of unity, becomes
a serious obligation during times of treacherous hostilities to Christian
institutions. Indeed, not only is the interest of the highest good of
all at stake, namely the eternal salvation of mankind, but also the protection
and preservation of the very things that in civil society contribute most
importantly to true peace and happiness. This was clearly the conviction
of those eminent men, brilliant examples of moral fortitude, who were
ready to sacrifice not only all their possessions, but their very lives
for the sake of religion and the Church. Among these heroes, your Hungary
has its share down the long course of your history. The fact that you
have persevered steadfastly in the Catholic faith is the result of the
firm determination of your people. They certainly understood perfectly
that when religion is at stake, so is the glory of the name and the existence
itself of their nation.
4. Their
determination has nurtured generous
and remarkable virtues. Even in the most critical times, their power has
enabled the Hungarians to oppose the magnitude of danger with an equal
magnitude of courage and constancy. Shielded, indeed, by these virtues,
they resisted invincibly the repeated incursions of the Tartars and the
fierce attacks of the Muslims. In this perilous struggle, they deserved
all the help they received from foreign peoples, from rulers, and from
the Roman pontiffs. Not only was the faith and sovereignty of the Hungarian
people in jeopardy, but also the Catholic faith itself and the safety
of the West. By the same means, Hungary escaped the tempests of more recent
centuries that wrought such serious havoc among neighboring peoples, though
even Hungary felt their violence and suffered no slight damages. Hungary,
however, will survive if the Hungarians only remain loyal to their religion,
learn their daily obligations, and fulfill them most faithfully.
Current
Concerns
5. Now
let us turn to those matters closer to our concerns, which filled our
heart with anguish when We saw them, moreover, written in the laws of
Hungary. As We deplored on another occasion, "they are incompatible
with the rights of the Church, restrict its capacity to act, and are detrimental
to the profession of the Catholic faith."(1) There have been other
evils these past years, either decreed or carried out by public authority,
no less destructive to the Church and to the Catholic faith. Considering
the direction in which your country is going, moreover, it is greatly
to be feared that there is impending evil far more harmful to religion.
Strict
Adherence to Papal Judgments
6. Consequently,
be sure that you diligently do all that you can so that priests and laity
understand exactly what they are allowed to do and what they must beware
of lest they offend the precepts of natural and divine law. As the majority
of you who have pastoral responsibility gave orders to await the judgment
of the Holy See on these matters, it will be your urgent duty to exhort
the same ministers of the sacred mysteries to consider it their religious
duty not to depart in the least degree from the decision or regulations
of the Holy See. It goes without saying, moreover, that what is forbidden
for the clergy is by no means permitted the laity.
Mixed
Marriages
7.
In other respects, to remove the source of many evils, it is of utmost
importance that pastors never cease to admonish their flocks to refrain
as far as possible from entering into mixed marriages. Let the faithful
correctly understand and resolutely remember that it is their duty to
regard with horror such marriages, which the Church has always detested.
They are to be abhorred for the reason which we emphasized in another
letter, "They offer the opportunity for a forbidden sharing and participation
in sacred things; they create a danger to the religion of the Catholic
partner; they are an impediment to the virtuous education of children
and very often cause them to become accustomed to viewing all religions
as equal because they have lost the power of discriminating between the
true and the false."(2)
Greater Dangers
8.
There are, however, as We have warned you, still greater dangers threatening
the ancestral faith of the Hungarians. The enemies of the Catholic faith
are by no means concealing their intention to strive with all their most
harmful weapons to accomplish the daily deterioration of the Church and
the Catholic faith. We, therefore, exhort you, more urgently than ever
before, to spare neither effort nor labor to ward off such peril from
your flock and from your native land. It must be your primary care that
all your people, strengthened by your authority and example, undertake
with courage and zeal the cause of religion and always defend it firmly.
Very often it happens, indeed, and we shall speak frankly, that some Catholics
at the very time when they should be protecting and vindicating the rights
of the Church, led by a certain appearance of human prudence, either turn
away from the issue or prove themselves too timid or too submissive. It
is obvious that this procedure opens the way to grave danger especially
if it involves those in authority or those most influential in shaping
public opinion. More than the fact that they are unfaithful to the just
duty owed their office, they very often cause scandal and prevent the
harmony that results in unity of thought and action. Nothing, of course,
could be more welcome to the enemies of the Catholic faith than this apathy
or disagreement of Catholics. All too often, by avoiding bold arguments,
they allow the enemy to effect greater injustices with ease.
9.
In all matters, certainly, be prudent and moderate; the Church itself
in defense of the truth intends to follow a responsible mode of action.
Nothing, however, is so contradictory to the laws of true prudence than
to allow religion to be harassed with impunity and to endanger the moral
welfare of the people.
Annual Meetings
10.
Experience has truly proven that the annual meetings of Catholic men,
in which under episcopal leadership common directives are discussed concerning
Catholic affairs and the increase of pious activity, are wonderfully effective
in strengthening unity and in arousing the zealous ingenuity of Catholics.
We, therefore, ardently desire that these meetings be held. Nor do We
have any doubt that they will greatly contribute to the success of your
goals.
Publications
11.
It is fitting, too, that you be diligently aware that only men of religious
orthodoxy and proven virtue be elected to the legislative assemblies,
men who pursue objectives tenaciously, always ready to defend the Church
and the Catholic cause. You see, moreover, that the opponents of the Church
by means of periodicals and books are intent upon spreading their venom
and the perverse opinions of others, corrupting morality and seducing
the multitude. Therefore, your people should use every means to counteract
their writings with writings equal to the greatness of the struggle and
providing remedies appropriate to the evils.
Catholic Schools
12.
Above all, We wish you to direct your zeal and devotion towards the education
of children and adolescents. It is not Our intention to repeat now what
We have already written in the same letter that We mentioned in the beginning
of this one. We cannot, however, refrain from touching briefly upon certain
serious matters. In respect to primary schools, you must insist that pastors
and others who are in charge of souls be constantly vigilant in their
behalf and consider it their most important duty to teach sacred doctrine
to children. This special service should be undertaken by themselves and
valued as a sacred trust. It is certain that a wholesome and pious education
in childhood ensures in great measure not only the preservation of the
family, but of the state
itself. Nor should you spare any industry or ingenuity to help these schools
increase and develop successfully. It would be most appropriate to appoint
in each diocese supervisors of schools for both the diocese and the deaneries.
The bishops could confer with them annually on the condition of the schools
as well as on other matters pertaining to faith, morals, and the care
of souls. If it should be necessary to build new schools in answer to
local needs or enlarge those already established, we are fully confident
that your liberality and likewise that of all Catholics will be prompt
and generous.
13.
Regarding high schools and graduate schools, care should be taken that
the good, planted like seeds in the minds and hearts of children, be not
sadly destroyed in their adolescence. See that dangers of that kind be
removed or diminished. Most especially, your pastoral concern should avail
in selecting learned and virtuous teachers of religion and in removing
those causes that too often hinder fruitful results.
14.
For the rest, We appreciate your concerted efforts to maintain the seats
of highest studies under the authority of the Church and bishops in accord
with the will of their founders. We, nevertheless, exhort you to continue
to fulfill this obligation. It would certainly not be equitable to deny
Catholics that which is granted adversaries of the Catholic cause. It
is of common interest, moreover, that what our predecessors established
so piously and wisely should never be used to the detriment of the Church
and Catholic faith, but for the protection and defense of both and hence,
for the continuous good of the state itself.
15.
Finally, these recommendations also apply to seminarians and priests.
You should expend even greater effort on them that they may be worthy
of the priesthood and that they may manifest virtue fitting the times.
For this reason, the sacred seminaries justly claim the greater part of
your attention. Direct them in the best way possible and provide them
with all that is necessary so that through the dedication of selected
teachers, seminarians will be trained in the morals and virtues required
by their order and, moreover, in all the beauty and glory of doctrine,
both human and divine.
Advice for Clergy
16.
For your clergy, the times require a very particular unanimity in your
guidance, concern and
love in admonishing and exhorting them, and extraordinary firmness in
defending ecclesiastical discipline. In turn, all priests should have
strong faith in their bishops, accept their directives, and support their
undertakings. In their sacred duties and their pastoral work, they should
always be ready and zealous, guided by love. Because, moreover, priests
set an example, they should be living models of virtue and constancy.
They should be cautious, however, not to get too involved in civilian
or political affairs, and let them often recall this passage from St.
Paul, "No one serving as God's soldier entangles himself in worldly
affairs, that he may please him whose approval he has secured."(3)
17.
To be sure, as St. Gregory the Great admonishes, it is not right to abandon
foresight in external matters in one's anxiety for spiritual matters.
Explicitly, when it is a question of defending religion or promoting the
common good, the latter is not to be disregarded. A priest must be cautious
not to overstep his dignity and deportment lest he seem more concerned
for human than heavenly affairs. Most aptly the same Gregory the Great
says, "Therefore, worldly occupations are sometimes to be tolerated
out of compassion, never however to be pursued out of love; lest they,
by burdening the mind of the lover, overwhelm him and make him sink under
their weight from heaven into the depths."(4) We
also desire that you counsel pastors to take conscientious care of church
property and manage it most carefully. Where any negligence has crept
in, apply the most suitable remedy.
Sodalities and
Confraternities
18.
We firmly believe, moreover, that this is the opportune time for the clergy
to revive the sodalities and confraternities of the laity to their former
honor and glory. Surely, this is a work redounding no less to the well-being
of the sodalities than to the universal good of religion. Not to mention
other advantages, these sodalities can help you and your clergy not only
by carefully cultivating in the people piety and a Christian way of life,
but also of strengthening that salutary harmony of mind and heart that
we strive for so ardently.
19.
Finally, in everything pertaining to the protection and defense of our
ancestral religion and
faith, to the growth of Catholic institutions, or even to the discipline
of clergy, hold periodic conferences so that in common discernment you
will recognize those matters which are especially compelling and timely.
20.
We hope that all the Catholics in Hungary will realize the dangerous turn
of affairs in their country and will find courage and strength in our
solicitude and good will. We hope, too, that on their part they will most
conscientiously obey our counsel and admonitions.
21.
May God be graciously present to you, venerable brothers, and likewise
to the clergy and the Catholic people working with you in one accord so
untiringly for the sake of religion, and may He happily bless your initiatives.
Nor indeed, may there be lacking in a cause so holy and just the favorable
assistance of your sovereign, we mean your apostle and king who, already
from the beginning of his reign, gave your people abundant proof of his
benevolence.
22.
Direct your ardent prayers with Us to God, venerable brothers, that all
may proceed successfully according to our desires. Above all, implore
the patronage of the most blessed mother of God; then, too, beseech your
faithful apostle, St. Stephen, to look favorably upon his Hungary and
preserve holy and inviolate the benefits of a holy religion.
23.
As a token of heavenly favors and as a witness of Our paternal good will,
We lovingly impart Our Apostolic Blessing to you, venerable brothers,
to the clergy and all your people.
Given
at Rome, at St. Peter's, 2 September 1893, the sixteenth year of Our Pontificate.
REFERENCES:
1.
Encyclical letter Quod multum, 22 August 1886.
2. Encyclical
letter Arcanum, 10 February 1880.
3. 2 Tm 2.4.
4. Reg. Pastor.,
chap. 7, p. 2.
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