LITTERAS
A VOBIS
ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII ON
CLERGY IN BRAZIL
To
the Archbishops and Bishops of Brazil.
Last
year We received your letter joyfully announcing the addition of a new
ecclesiastical province and the founding of four new bishoprics. - This
new indication of apostolic solicitude in your nation was certainly cause
for rejoicing. For among the many causes of the decline of Catholicism
among you, is that the number of bishops is too small for the inordinate
size of the region and the unequal distribution of its inhabitants. As
a result the bishops could not exercise the vigilance they desired over
the clergy and the flocks entrusted to them. They were unable either to
ward off the unsuitable or to promote the strength and dignity of the
Catholic name. Therefore you proved your pastoral zeal when, gathered
at Sao Paolo, you petitioned the Roman Pontiff to enlarge the episcopal
hierarchy. We gladly agreed to grant your request. - Now there is hope
of a fruitful increase of the Christian estate, since you have more bishops;
however, each one of you must apply opportune remedies to the spreading
evils increasing everywhere. In this regard, We wish to recommend some
useful ideas to you for increasing faith and Christian piety.
Responsibilities
of Priests
2. In
the first place, let men preparing for sacred orders be taught the best
things, those for which there is the greatest need and which will enable
them to teach Catholic truths and to defend them strenuously against all
assaults. All too often daily experience makes it plain that where the
ministers lack appropriate doctrinal knowledge, their people generally
suffer from ignorance of the faith and religion. For it is from the mouth
of the priest that the faithful ought to learn the law: He is the angel
of the Lord. For this reason we read the proclamation: the lips of the
priest shall keep knowledge.(1) The Apostle too mentions knowledge among
other reasons for proving himself your servant in ]esus.(2) And where
this knowledge is wanting, this evil also follows for the priests: they
are condemned by the people, with God also exacting a penalty for their
neglect of duty. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base
before all people.(3) - But the embellishment of learning and its defense
never leads to their goal if they are separated from sanctity of life
and morals. Indeed, knowledge without love does not build up but inflates.(4)
This is the usual practice of man. Though Christ taught that learning
is to be accepted
from the sacred ministers without regard for any deeds of theirs which
do not conform to the doctrine; nevertheless men are more influenced by
what they see than by what they hear. For this reason we read the clear
testimony concerning God the Saviour, who was not only the teacher of
shepherds but also became their model, that he began to do and to teach.
Hence the priest's actions must confirm the doctrine which he preaches
and commends. Before all else he who is appointed to rule a parish must
not be impatient with the labor. Called to the vineyard of the Lord, let
him diligently cultivate it, aware that he must render a serious account
sometime for the souls entrusted to him. Nor does he labor in vain if
at all times and in all matters he holds fast to learning. We must indeed
fight strenuously for Christ, but only at the will and authorization of
those whom Christ has chosen as leaders.
Seminaries
and Teachers
3. To
form such helpers for yourselves, Venerable Brothers, is your task. Indeed
experience teaches that future priests will be the kind you have taken
care to form. You have the place, the sacred seminaries, where you can
train ministers to your and the Church's desires as approved by God, workmen
auho have no need to be ashamed.(5) The very name seminary tells for what
great purpose they have been erected. Therefore encourage the growth and
prosperity of the ecclesiastical seminaries which you already have, both
in the study of sacred learning and also in the training of souls. To
ensure that this training proceeds properly, the best teachers are needed;
they must not only be endowed with sound learning, but they must also
teach that doctrine agreeably and faithfully according to Our precepts.
In order that the young clergy become imbued with the true spirit of the
Church and that they cultivate virtue, spiritual guides are to be chosen
carefully. Moreover their work is to be aided and perfected with all the
solicitude of your labors. But in dioceses where there are as yet no seminaries,
let the bishops use every means to establish excellent ones as soon as
possible. The Council of Trent has overseen this, and We have also considered
it in Our apostolic letter of April 27, 1892. The freedom of education
which now prevails in your country gives you greater facility to do what
We have recommended with regard to the arrangement of studies. - For this
purpose you
also have a great aid in the college for clerics which Pius IX labored
to established for the convenience of South America and which We too have
promoted and favored. Its outcome happily fulfills Our expectations. We
joyfully recall that many of you have been graduated from this college.
We encourage you to send young men of special promise to Rome for their
studies, and you should use them appropriately afterwards as teachers
or for any other purpose.
Religious
Orders Subject to Authority of the Bishops
4. It
is difficult to put into words the advantages for your sacred ministry
that the community of religious orders will bring you. By Our Apostolic
providence We have determined to restore the original observance of their
institutes from the losses of past times. To this end, We decreed on September
3, 1890, that native religious communities be subject to the authority
of the bishops. - In a matter so useful and important We trust that your
cooperation will not be wanting. Pleasing results have been obtained,
transacted for this purpose under the direction of Venerable Brother Jerome
[Gotti], Archbishop of Petra, Internuncio of the Apostolic See to your
government. In order that these beginnings may make greater progress and
be brought to the desired end, We exhort you to labor diligently in this
matter for religion and especially for your flocks. Meanwhile religious
communities both of men and of women are to be congratulated for receiving
Our commands with good will and for showing themselves ready for the restitution
of each one's original institute.
Needs
of the Faithful
5. These
matters concern the proper upbringing and application of the clergy to
the sacred ministry. But the needs of the faithful demand your efforts
no less. In their regard, what has precedence is that children and ignorant
people are properly to be taught the elements of our most holy religion;
this calls for the unremitting diligence of the pastors. Then, where it
is publicly permitted, instruction is to be organized for youth so that
they will not be compelled to frequent the athletic facilities of heretics
or attend schools where Catholic discipline is not mentioned unless to
be calumniously derided, and this to the great detriment of faith and
good morals. - Besides, since
minds are strengthened and stimulated by counsel and reciprocal example
to do and suffer great things for religion, you will merit well on that
account if you encourage and persuade laymen, especially the young, to
join Christian societies. We have frequently praised them in exhortations
as institutions that strive to care for the needs of religion and improve
the advantages of the poor; at the same time, they diminish the appeal
of those associations that abuse the title of public charity, since they
are very much opposed to the welfare of Church and State.-Also do not
fail to realize how much influence for good and evil, especially in these
our times, magazines and similar popular writings have acquired. Use these
weapons in defense of the Christian name, with the leadership of the episcopate
properly preserved and with all respect due the civil power. Finally all
Catholics should remember that it is of the greatest concern to the Church
what kind of men are elected to the legislature. Thus, preserving the
rights of civil law, everyone must strive to elect those who join zeal
for religion to their zeal for public affairs. This will come about more
readily if each individual obeys the supreme authority governing the state
and if everyone continuously advocates those things We have published
not long ago in encyclical letters concerning the Christian constitution
of the state.
6. For
the rest, may suitable love and concord of minds flourish among you by
thinking alike with one soul and one mind.(6) For this reason we strongly
recommend that you share your plans frequently
among yourselves and hold episcopal synods in various places to satisfy
the obligations of your sacred office. You have with you the Legate of
the Apostolic See, who will tell you Our mind and Our counsels. Then too,
because of the paternal love with which We embrace you, you have Us at
all times ready to lend aid to your work.
7. May
God very graciously grant you the gifts of His heavenly blessings, which
supply the strength needed to fill the pastoral office in a holy and proper
way. As a promise of these gifts, Venerable Brothers, We very lovingly
impart the Apostolic Blessing to you, your clergy, and the people who
have been entrusted to your care.
Given
in Rome, at St. Peter's, July 2, 1894, in the seventeenth year of Our
pontificate.
REFERENCES:
1. Mal
2.6. 2.
2 Cor 4.6.
3. Mal 2.9.
4. 1 Cor 8.1.
5. 2 Tm 2.15.
6. Phil 2.2.
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