VI
E BEN NOTO
ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII ON THE
ROSARY AND PUBLIC LIFE
To
the Bishops of Italy. Venerable Brethren,
You
know how We place amid present dangers Our confidence in the Glorious
Virgin of the Holy Rosary, for the safety and prosperity of Christendom
and the peace and tranquillity of the Church. Mindful that in moments
of great trial, pastors and people have ever had recourse with entire
confidence to the august Mother of God, in whose hands are all graces,
certain too, that devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary is most opportune
for the needs of these times, We have desired to revive everywhere this
devotion, and to spread it far and wide among the faithful of the world.
Oftentimes already We, in recommending the pious practice of devoting
October to honouring Our Lady, have pointed out Our reasons and hope for
so doing, and the forms to be observed; and the entire Church, docile
to Our desires, has ever replied by special manifestations of devotion;
and now is making ready to pay to Mary, during a whole month, a daily
tribute of the devotion so dear to it. In such pious rivalry Italy has
not been behind-hand, for devotion to Our Lady is deeply and widely rooted
in this land; and We doubt not that this year too, Italy will set a glorious
example of love for the august Mother of God, and will give
Us fresh reasons for consolation and hope. Nevertheless We cannot do less
than address to you, Venerable Brethren, a few words of exhortation, so
that with particular and renewed zeal the month dedicated to the Most
Holy Virgin of the Rosary may be sanctified in every diocese of Italy.
2.
It is easy to imagine what reasons We have for doing this. Since God called
Us to govern His Church on earth, We have sought to use every possible
means that We deemed suitable, for the sanctification of souls and the
extension of the reign of Jesus Christ. We have excepted from Our daily
solicitude no nation and no people, mindful that Our Redeemer shed His
precious blood on the Cross and opened the reign of grace and of glory
for a11. None, however, can be surprised that We showed special care for
the Italian people, for Our Divine Master Jesus Christ chose, from out
all the world, Italy to be the seat of His Vicar on earth, and in His
providential designs appointed Rome to be the capital of the Catholic
world. On this account the Italian people is called upon to live close
to the Father of the whole Christian family, and to share in a special
way in his sorrows and his glory. Unfortunately We find in Italy much
to sadden Our souls. Faith and Christian morals, the precious inheritance
bequeathed by Our ancestors, and in all past rimes
the glory of Our country and of Italy's great ones, are being attacked
artfully and in covert ways, or even openly, with cynicism that is revolting,
by a handful of men who seek to rob others of that faith and morality
they have themselves lost. In this more especially is seen the work of
the sects, and of those who are more or less their willing tools. Above
all, in this city of Rome, where Christ's Vicar has his See are their
efforts concentrated and their diabolical designs displayed with ferocious
obstinacy.
3.
We need not tell you, Venerable Brethren, with what bitterness Our soul
is filled at seeing the danger there is for the salvation of so many of
Our beloved children. And Our sorrow is greater because We find it impossible
to oppose such great evil with that salutary efficacity We would desire
and that We have the right to use, for you know, Venerable Brethren, and
all the world knows, the state to which we are reduced. On this account
We feel a still greater desire to call upon the Mother of God and to ask
her help. Let all good Italians pray for their misguided brethren, for
their common Father the Roman Pontiff, that God, in His infinite mercy,
may hear and answer the prayers of a father and his sons. And Our most
lively and sure hope is placed in the Queen of the Rosary, who has shown
herself, since she has been invoked by that title, so ready to help the
Church and Christian peoples in their necessities. Already have We recorded
these glories and the great triumphs won over the Albigenses and other
powerful enemies, glories and triumphs which have not only profited the
Church, afflicted and persecuted, but also the temporal welfare of peoples
and nations. Why in this hour of need should We not behold again such
marvels of the power and goodness of the august Virgin, for the good of
the Church and its Head, and of the whole Christian world, if the faithful
only revive, on their part, the magnificent examples of piety given by
their forefathers, under similar circumstances? And to make this most
powerful Queen more and more propitious, We would honour her more and
more in the invocation of the Rosary, and increase this devotion. And
to this end We have made a double of the second class for all the Church
of the Feast of the Rosary. And for the same purpose We ardently desire
the Catholics of Italy, with lively faith, especially during this month
of October, to invoke this august Virgin and to do loving violence to
her mother's heart, and to pray to her
for the triumph of the Church and the Apostolic See, for the liberty of
the Vicar of Jesus Christ on earth, and for peace and public prosperity.
And since the effects of such prayers will be proportionate to the dispositions
of those offering them, We ardently exhort you, venerable brethren, to
devote all your care and zeal to kindle among those committed to your
charge a strong, living, and active faith, and to call on all to return
by penance to grace and to the faithful fulfilment of all their duties.
Among such duties, considering the state of the times, must be reckoned
as paramount an open and sincere profession of the faith and teaching
of Jesus Christ, casting aside all human respect, and considering before
all things the interest of religion and the salvation of souls. It cannot
be concealed that, although thanks to the mercy of God religious feeling
is strong and widely spread among Italians, nevertheless by the evil influence
of men and the times religious indifference is on the increase, and hence
there is a lessening of that respect and filial love for the Church which
was the glory of our ancestors and in which they placed their highest
ambition. Let it be your work, venerable brethren, to revive this Christian
feeling among your people, an interest in the Catholic cause, a confidence
in Our Lady's help, and a spirit of prayer. It is certain that the august
Queen, invoked thus well by her many sons, would deign to hear their prayer,
console Us in Our sorrow, and crown Our efforts for the Church and for
Italy, by granting better times to both. With these desires, We bestow
on you, venerable brethren, and the clergy and people committed to your
care, the Apostolic Benediction as a promise of graces and favours of
the highest kind from heaven.
Given at the Vatican this 20th day of September 1887.
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