SANCTA
DEI CIVITAS
ENCYCLICAL
OF POPE LEO XIII
ON MISSION SOCIETIES
To all the Patriarchs,
Primates, Archbishops,
and Bishops of the Catholic World, in the Grace
and Communion of the Apostolic See.
Venerable
Brethren, Health and the Apostolic Benediction.
The Holy City of God,
which is the Church, not being contained within the limits of any State, has
from its Founder this infused power that every day it enlarges more and more
"the place of its tent," and "stretches out the skins of its
tabernacles."(1) But this growth of Christian nations, although it is
chiefly caused by the interior breathing and help of the Holy Spirit, is
nevertheless brought about externally by the action of men and in a human
manner; for the wisdom of God demands that all things should be ordered and
brought to their completion in that manner which is fitting to the nature of
each. But there is not one only kind of men or of office, by which is brought
about the accession of new citizens to this terrestrial Sion. For the first
place is that of those who preach the Word of God; Christ taught this by His
example and His precepts; the Apostle Paul urged this in these words:
"How shall they believe Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall
they hear without a preacher? . . . . Faith then cometh by hearing and hearing
by the word of Christ."(2) But this office belongs to those who have been
duly admitted to minister in sacred things. To them, moreover, those who are
wont either to supply help in external matters or to bring down heavenly
graces by prayers poured forth to God afford no little help and support.
Wherefore the women in the Gospel are praised, who when Christ was preaching
the kingdom of God, "ministered unto Him of their substance"(3), and
Paul testifies that to those who preach the Gospel has been granted, by the
will of God, that they should live of the Gospel.(4) In like manner we know
that Christ so commanded His followers and hearers: "Pray ye the Lord of
the harvest that he send forth labourers into His harvest,"(5) and that
His first disciples, following the Apostles, were accustomed in this manner to
address God in prayer: "Grant unto Thy servants that with all confidence
they may speak Thy word."(6)
2. These two offices
which consist in giving and in praying are both very useful in extending wider
the borders of the Kingdom of heaven, and also have this property, that they
can easily be fulfilled by men of all ranks. For who is there of such slender
fortune that he is hindered from giving at one time or other a small alms, or
occupied by so many things that he cannot pray to God for the
messengers of the Holy Gospel? Apostolic men have ever been accustomed to use
helps of this kind, particularly the Roman Pontiffs, on whom especially
devolves the care of propagating the Christian Faith; although the method of
collecting these supplies has not always been the same, but varied and
diverse, according to the variety of places and the diversity of times.
3. When, in Our time,
people desire to attempt difficult enterprises with the united counsel and
strength of several persons, we have seen societies everywhere established, of
which some have been formed for this very purpose, viz., to serve for the
propagating of religion in certain countries. Amongst others shines forth the
pious association founded about sixty years ago at Lyons, in France, which has
taken the name of the Propagation of the Faith. Its first object was to carry
assistance to certain missions in America: soon, like the grain of mustard
seed, it grew to a large tree, whose umbrageous branches spread far and wide,
so that it affords effectual help to all missions all over the earth. This
grand institution was promptly approved by the Pastors of the Church, and has
been honoured by abundant laudatory testimonials. The Roman Pontiffs Pius VII,
Leo XII, Pius VIII, Our Predecessors, both strongly commended it and enriched
it with the gifts of Indulgences. And Gregory XVI. still more warmly favoured
it and embraced it in the fullness of his paternal charity, since he, in his
Encyclical Letters dated the 15th day of August, in the 40th year of this
century, spoke of the same in these terms.: "We judge to be most worthy
of the admiration and love of all good men this truly great and most holy
work, which by modest offerings and daily prayers addressed by each associate
to God is sustained, increased and grows strong, and which is occupied in
maintaining Apostolic labourers and in exercising works of Christian charity
towards neophytes, as well as in delivering the faithful from the attack of
persecutions. Nor must we think that it is without a peculiar design of Divine
Providence that an institution of so much advantage and utility to the Church
has in these latter times been vouchsafed to her. For whilst all kinds of
machinations of the infernal enemy harrass the beloved spouse of Christ,
nothing could have happened more opportunely for her than that the faithful,
influenced by a desire of propagating Catholic truth, should with united zeal
and collected strength endeavour to gain
all men to Christ." With this preface he exhorted the Bishops to apply
themselves with diligence, each in his own diocese, so that so salutary an
institution might daily grow and increase. Nor did Pius IX., of glorious
memory, depart from the footsteps of his Predecessor, seeing that he allowed
no opportunity to pass by of assisting this most deserving society, and of
promoting its prosperity. Indeed, by his authority more ample privileges of
Pontifical Indulgence were granted to the associates, the piety of Christians
was excited to the sustaining of its work, and the most eminent among the
associates, whose special merits were manifest, were decorated with various
insignia of honour; finally certain external aids which accrued to this
institution were by the same Pontiff honoured with praise and approval.
4. At the same time
pious emulation caused the coalition of two other societies one called
"of the Holy Infancy of Jesus Christ," and the other "of the
Schools of the East." The first undertook to rescue and bring up in
Christian habits the unhappy children whom their parents, pressed by idleness
or want, exposed inhumanly, especially in China, where this barbarous custom
is most frequent. These children the charity of the Confraternity embraces
tenderly, sometimes redeems them by payment of a sum of money and takes care
that they are washed in the layer of regeneration, so that they may, with the
help of God, be brought up as the hope of the Church, or at least may, in case
of their death, be endowed with the means of acquiring everlasting happiness.
The other asssociation which we have mentioned is occupied with those who are
growing up, and strives by every means to imbue them with sound doctrine, and
at the same time is watchful to ward off from them the dangers of false
science to which they are very frequently exposed through careless eagerness
for the acquisition of knowledge.
5. But both of these
societies yield support to that older one entitled the Society of the
Propagation of the Faith, and, united with it in a friendly alliance, aim at
the same end, relying on the alms and prayers of the Christian nations: for
all have the same purpose in view, namely, by the diffusion of the Gospel
light to bring the largest possible number of those outside the Church to the
knowledge and worship of God and Jesus Christ Whom He has sent. Hence Our
predecessor Pius IX., as We have
intimated, has in Apostolic letters commended these two institutions and
liberally enriched them with sacred Indulgences.
6. These three
associations, therefore, having flourished with such marked favour of the
Sovereign Pontiffs and having never ceased to pursue each one its work without
rivalry, have produced abundant fruits of salvation, have powerfully assisted
Our Congregation of the Propaganda in discharging the onerous duties of its
missions, and have prospered to such a degree as to give for the future the
joyful hope of a richer harvest. But the numerous and violent storms which
have been let loose against the Church in the countries long illuminated by
the light of the Gospel have brought injury on the works designed to civilize
barbarous nations. Many causes, indeed, have combined to diminish the number
and generosity of the associates. And, indeed, when so many perverse opinions
are scattered abroad among the masses, sharpening their appetites for earthly
happiness and banishing the hope of heavenly goods, what can be expected of
those who use their minds to invent pleasures and their bodies to realise
them? Do men like these pour forth their prayers to God that in His mercy he
may bring to the Divine light of the Gospel by His victorious grace the people
sitting in the darkness? Do they contribute subsidies to the priests who
labour and do combat for the faith? The misfortunes of the time also have
helped to diminish the generous impulses of pious persons themselves, partly
because through the abounding of iniquity the love of many has waxed cold, and
partly because political disturbances (without counting the fear of still
worse times) have rendered the majority of them more bent on economy and less
liberal in giving of their substance.
7. On the other hand
many and grave necessities weigh upon and oppress the Apostolic missions,
since the number of sacred labourers decreases every day, nor do We find that
as many or as zealous missionaries replace those whom death has carried off,
whom age has enfeebled, or whom work has broken down. For We see Religous
communities, whence a large number of missionaries came forth, dissolved by
iniquitous laws, the clergy torn away from the altar and obliged to undergo
military service, and the goods of both orders of clergy almost everywhere put
up to sale and proscribed.
8. In the meanwhile
new routes have been opened, in consequence of more complete exploration of
places and populations, towards countries hitherto accounted impracticable;
numerous expeditions of the soldiers of Christ have been formed, and new
stations have been established; and thus many labourers are now wanted to
devote themselves to these missions, and contribute seasonable help. We pass
over in silence the difficulties and obstacles arising from contradictions.
For it often occurs that deceivers, sowing error, simulate the Apostles of
Christ, and, being abundantly furnished with human resources, interfere with
the ministry of Catholic priests, or creep in after their departure, or raise
pulpit against pulpit, thinking it sufficient to render the way of salvation
doubtful to the persons who hear the word of God interpreted in different
ways. Would that their artifices had no success! This is certainly to be
regretted, that even those who are disgusted with such teachers, or have never
met with them, and who desire the pure light of truth, should often have no
man at hand to instruct them in wholesome doctrine and to bring them into the
bosom of the Church.
9. Truly the little
ones ask for bread, and there is none to break it to them; the regions are
white for the harvest, and the harvest is plenteous, but the labourers are few
and will soon, perhaps, be fewer still.
10. This being so,
Venerable Brethren, We consider it Our duty to stimulate the pious efforts and
charity of Christians, so that they may strive, whether by prayer or by
donations, to help the sacred work of missions and to show favour to the
propagation of the faith. The good which it is proposed to secure, and the
fruits to be gathered, prove the importance of this holy enterprise. For this
work tends directly to the glory of the Divine name and to the spread of the
Kingdom of Christ upon earth. But it is incredibly beneficial to those who are
called out of the filth of vice and the shadow of death; and who, being made
partakers of eternal life, are also brought out of barbarism and a state of
savage manners into the fulness of civilised life. Moreover, it is highly
useful and advantageous to those who take any part in it, since it procures
them spiritual riches, supplies them with an occasion of merit, and renders,
as it were, God himself their debtor.
11. We exhort you,
therefore, Venerable Brethren, again and again, - you who are called to
share in Our solicitude - that with one accord you sedulously and earnestly
strive to aid the Apostolic missions, putting your trust in God, and not
allowing yourselves to be deterred by any difficulty. The salvation of souls
is at stake, for which Our Saviour laid down His life, and appointed us
bishops and priests to the work of the saints, for the perfecting of His body.
Wherefore, while each one remains at the post where God has placed him, and
guards the flock that God has entrusted to him, let us endeavour to the utmost
that the holy missions may be furnished with those supports of which We have
spoken as having been in use since the beginnings of the Church, namely, the
preaching of the Gospel and the prayers and alms of pious men.
12. If, therefore,
you know any zealous for the glory of God, and at the same time disposed and
fit to go on these holy expeditions, encourage them, so that, the will of God
being well known and clear, they may listen not to flesh and blood, but rather
hasten to correspond to the call of the Holy Spirit. But from the remaining
priests, from the Religious Orders of both sexes from all the faithful, in
short, entrusted to your care, required with all urgency, that by their
unremitting prayers they obtain the Divine assistance for those who sow the
seed of the Word of God. And let them employ as intercessors the Virgin Mother
of God, who has power to destroy all the monsters of error, and her most
chaste Spouse, whom many missions have already taken as their patron and
protector, and whom the Apostolic See has recently given as Patron to the
Universal Church. Let them invoke the Princes of the Apostles and the whole of
that company from whom the first preaching of the Gospel resounded throughout
the whole world; and in short all the others eminent for sanctity, who have
spent their strength in the same ministry and poured forth their life together
with their blood. Let almsgiving be added to prayer, for its efficacy is such
that it will render those who are widely separated in place and distracted
with other cares coadjutors of Apostolic men, and will make them their
companions both in labour and merit. The times, indeed, are such that many
persons suffer from want at home; but let no one despond on that account, for
the amount required for this purpose can scarcely be a heavy contribution for
any one, although from many small sums added together tolerably large supplies
can be raised. But when you,
Venerable Brethren, are engaged in exhortation, let every one consider that
his liberality will not be to him a loss, but a gain, because he that giveth
to the poor lendeth to the Lord, and on that account the practice of
almsgiving has been called the most profitable of all practices. Certainly if,
according to the testimony of Jesus Christ, a cup of cold water given to one
of these little ones will not lose its reward, the most ample reward will
await him who shall have spent even a small sum of money upon sacred missions,
and, adding also his prayers, exercises at the same time many and various
offices of charity, and, doing that which the holy Fathers have said is the
most divine of all divine works, becomes a helper of God Himself for the
salvation of his neighbours.
13. We feel assured,
Venerable Brethren, that all those who glory in the name of Catholic,
meditating these considerations, and inflamed by your exhortations, will not
fail in this work of piety which We have so much at heart. Nor will they allow
their care for the enlargement of the kingdom of Jesus Christ to be surpassed
by the alacrity and industry of those who strive to propagate the dominion of
the prince of darkness. In the meanwhile, praying God to be propititous to the
pious undertakings of Christian nations, We impart most lovingly in the Lord
the Apostolic benediction, as a special pledge of Our good will, to you,
Venerable Brethren, to the clergy, and the people committed to your watchful
care.
Given at Rome, at
St. Peter's, on the 3rd day of December, 1880, in the 3rd year of Our
Pontificate.
REFERENCES:
1. Is. liv., 2.
2. Rom. x., 14, 17.
3. Luke viii., 3.
4. 1 Cor. ix., 14.
5. Matt. iv., 38.
6. Act. iv., 29.
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