(Death, Heaven, Purgatory, Hell)
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
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Vie
Ben Noto (Leo XIII)
On the Rosary and Public
Life
Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII
promulgated on September 20, 1887.
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 tranquility 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 honoring 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 all. 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 times 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 efficacy 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 honor 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,
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 fulfillment 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 fait and teaching of Jesus Christ, casting aside al
human respect, and considering before all thing 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 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' help, and a spirit of prayer. It is certain that the
august Queen, invoked thus well by her man 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 favors of the highest kind from
heaven.
Given at the Vatican this 20th day of September 1887.