(Death, Heaven, Purgatory, Hell)
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
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On the Occasion of the First Day of May
(Paul VI)
Encyclical Letter of His Holiness Pope Paul VI promulgated on April 30, 1965.
Venerable Brothers,
As the month of May draws near, a month which the piety of the Faithful has
specially dedicated to Our Blessed Lady, We are gladdened at the thought of the
moving tribute of faith and love which Catholics in every part of the world will
soon be paying to the Queen of Heaven. For this is the month during which
Christians, both in Church and in the privacy of the home, offer up to Mary from
their hearts an especially fervent and loving homage of prayer and veneration.
In this month, too, the gifts of God's mercy come down to us from her throne in
greater abundance.
This pious practice, by which the Blessed Virgin is honored and the Christian
people enriched with spiritual gifts, gladdens and consoles us. Mary remains
ever the path that leads to Christ. Every encounter with her can only result in
an encounter with Christ Himself. For what other reason do we continually turn
to Mary than to seek for the Christ she holds in her arms--to seek in her,
through her and with her the Savior to Whom men, in the perplexities and dangers
of life here below, must of necessity have recourse, and to Whom they feel the
ever recurring need of turning as to a haven of safety and an all-surpassing
source of life?
It is precisely because the month of May is a powerful incentive to more fervent
and trusting prayer, and because during it our petitions find their way more
easily to the compassionate heart of Our Blessed Lady, that it has been a custom
dear to Our Predecessors to choose this month, dedicated to Mary, for inviting
the Christian people to offer up public prayers, whenever the needs of the
Church demanded it, or whenever danger hovered menacingly over the world. This
year, We too, Venerable Brothers, feel the need of sending out a similar appeal
to the whole Catholic world. When We look at the present needs of the Church or
at the state of peace in the world, We have compelling reasons for believing
that the present hour is especially grave; that it makes a call for united
prayer from the whole Christian people more than ever a matter of urgency.
The first reason for this appeal is suggested to Us by this historic moment in
the life of the Church, the period of the Ecumenical Council. This momentous
event confronts the Church with the immense problem of how to renew herself in
accordance with the needs of the times. On its outcome will depend for a long
time to come the future of the Spouse of Christ and the destiny of innumerable
souls. It is God's great time in the life of the Church and in world history. In
this regard, although the amount of work happily brought to completion is great,
heavy tasks still await you in the next Session, which will be the final one.
After that will follow the equally important period of implementing the
Council's decisions which likewise will demand the united effort of Clergy and
Faithful for the effective and beneficial development of the seeds sown during
the Council. To obtain God's light and blessings on this great volume of work
ahead of us, We place our confidence in Her whom We had the joy of proclaiming
Mother of the Church in the last Session. From the beginning of the Council she
has been unstinting in her loving help and will certainly not fail to continue
her assistance to the final stage of the work.
The other reason for Our appeal comes from the international situation, which,
as you are well aware, Venerable Brothers, is darker and more uncertain than
ever, now that grave new threats are endangering the supreme benefit of world
peace. Today, as if no lesson had been learnt from the tragic experiences of the
two conflicts which shed blood on the first half of our century, we have the
dreadful spectacle in certain parts of the world of antagonism on the increase
between peoples, and see repeated the dangerous phenomenon of recourse to arms,
instead of negotiation, to settle the disputes of the opposing parties. This
means that populations of entire nations are subjected to unspeakable
sufferings, caused by agitation, guerrilla warfare, acts of war, ever growing in
extent and intensity, which could at any moment produce the spark for a terrible
fresh conflict.
In view of these grave dangers to international life, and conscious of Our duty
as supreme Pastor, We judge it necessary to make known Our anxieties and Our
fear that the disputes will become so embittered as to degenerate into a bloody
war. We beg all who hold responsibility in public life not to remain deaf to the
unanimous desire of mankind which wants peace. We ask that they do all in their
power to preserve the peace that is threatened, and continue at all times to
foster and encourage conversations and negotiations at all levels, that the
dangerous resort to force with all its lamentable consequences, material,
spiritual and moral may be halted. Along the lines marked out by law, let
efforts be made to single out for recognition every true and sincere yearning
for justice and peace. Through this recognition let such yearnings find
encouragement and fulfillment, and let confidence enrich every loyal act of good
will so that the forces of order may prevail over those of disorder and ruin.
Unfortunately, in this painful situation We are forced to recognize with a heavy
heart that all too often oblivion swallows up the respect due to the sacred and
inviolable character of human life, and that recourse is had to methods and
attitudes which stand in open revolt against the moral sensibilities and the
customs of a civilized people. In this respect We cannot fail to raise Our voice
in defense of the dignity of man and of Christian civilization, We cannot fail
to condemn acts of guerrilla warfare and of terrorism, the practice of holding
hostages and of taking reprisals against unarmed civilians. These are crimes
which not only reverse the development of the sense of what is fair and humane,
but also embitter even more the hearts of those in conflict. These outrages can
block the paths still open to mutual good-will, or at least can render
negotiations more difficult, which, if conducted with openness and fairness
could lead to a reasonable settlement.
These deep concerns of Ours, as you well know, Venerable Brothers, are dictated
not by any narrow interests, but solely by the desire to protect all who are
suffering, and to promote the true welfare of all peoples. We hope that
awareness of personal responsibilities to God and to history will be powerful
enough to impel governments to continue their generous efforts to safeguard
peace, and to remove as far as possible those obstacles, real or imagined, which
interfere with the achievement of secure and sincere agreement.
But peace, Venerable Brothers, is not merely of our own making; it is also, and
particularly, a gift from God. Peace comes from Heaven, and it will truly reign
among men when we finally deserve to receive it from Almighty God Who holds in
His hands, not only the happiness and the destinies of peoples, but also their
very hearts. Therefore, We shall do our utmost to obtain this incomparable
blessing by prayer, praying, indeed, with constancy and watchfulness, as the
Church has always prayed from her earliest days, and in a special way calling on
the intercession and protection of the Virgin Mary, who is the Queen of Peace.
So, Venerable Brothers, let our prayers ascend to Mary in this month of hers, to
implore her graces and favors with increased fervor and confidence. And if the
grave faults of men weigh heavy in the scales of God's justice and provoke its
just punishments, we also know that the Lord is 'the Father of mercies and the
God of all comfort' (2 Cor. 1:3), and that Mary most holy is His appointed
steward and the generous bestower of the treasures of His mercy. May she, who
knows the sufferings and troubles of life here below, the weariness of everyday
work, the hardships and privations of poverty, the sufferings of Calvary, bring
help to the needs of the Church and the world, heed the appeals for peace rising
to her from every part of the world, and enlighten those who rule the destinies
of men. May she prevail on God, Lord of the winds and storms, to still also the
tempests in men's conflicting hearts and 'grant us peace in our time,
'true peace based on the solid lasting foundations of justice and
love--of justice granted to the weakest as to the strongest; and love which
prevents egoism from leading men astray, so that each one's rights may be
safeguarded without forgetfulness or denial of the rights of others.
Inform the Faithful in your charge, Venerable Brothers, in whatever way you
judge best, of Our wishes and exhortation, and make provision for special
prayers in each diocese and every parish during this coming month of May,
devoting in a special manner the Feast of Our Lady Queen of Heaven to solemn
public prayers for the intentions We have mentioned. We would point out that We
rely particularly on the prayers of the innocent and the suffering, for their
voices more than any others reach Heaven and disarm God's justice. And since
this is a fitting occasion do not fail to lay careful stress on the saying of
the Rosary, the prayer so dear to Our Lady and so highly recommended by the
Supreme Pontiffs. By this means the Faithful can most pleasingly and most
effectively carry out our Divine Master's command: 'Ask, and it shall be given
you: seek and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened' (Mt. 7:7).
With these thoughts and in the hope that Our exhortation will be readily
received in the souls of all, We grant to you from Our heart, Venerable
Brothers, and to all the Faithful in your care, Our Apostolic Blessing.