The New York herald., 1879-09-01
POPE LEO'S ENCYCLICAL.
The Place of Philosophy in Science,
Theology and Politics.
SPECULATION SyBSERVIENT 10 FAITH.
An Exhortation to Adopt the Doctrine Of
St Thomas Aquinas.

The following Is full translation of the Ency-
:iical Letter addressed by His Holiness Pope Leo
KILL to the patriarchs. primates archbishops and
bishops Of the Catholic world In grace and commu-
Mon with the Apostolic See:-
VENERABLE BRETHREN-The only Son of the
Eternal Father. who descended to earth in order
to convey to the human race the light and saliva
tion of Divine wisdom. conferred on the world
an immense and admirable benefit whom. as He
He directed His apostles to "go and teach all ma
tons," and left to the peoples the Church founded
by Him as the common and supreme mistress of
their instruction Man, in fact who has been saved
by the truth. ought to be preserved by the truth;
and the fruits of the celestial doctrines which
have been been the safety Of man would not
have lasted long If Our Lord Jesus Christ had not
instituted perpetual magisterate to bring up
minds in the faith But the Church. supported by
the promises Of her Divine Author. animated after
His example by the purest charity, accompshes the
orders she has received in such way that the aim
which she has always proposed to herself the prin-
cipal object Of her desires has been to teach
the doctrines of religion and to fight without cessa-
ton against error. 1t is toward this end that
directed the watchings and the lapors OF all
the bishops the decrees and the ordinances enacted
by the councils. and especially the daily soltcitudes
OF tho Roman Pontiffs, to whom belong, as the
successors in the primacy of Peter (the Prince of
the Apostes, the privilege and the duty Of in
structing and confirming their brothers in the faith
But as it often happens, the Apostle has warned
us. that the mind Of the faithful is deceived "by
philosophy and vain deceit" and that the purity
of the faith is soiled in the souls Of many, the
Supreme Pastors OF the Church have always re-
garded 1t duty to advance with all their strength
the progress of true science, and at the time
be everywhere taught only in conformity with the
Catholic faith. and especially in the Of phi
losophy. on which depends in great measure
proper appreciation of the other We have
ourselves dwelt on this point among many others.
venerable brothers in the first Encyclical letter
which We addressed to you, but to-day the i'm
portance of the subject and the necessities of the
time compel us again to speak to you with regard
to the adoption OF a philosophical teaching which
may. at the same time. preserve the faith and con-
form to the dignity OF science.
REASON.
II we let our thoughts rest for q moment on the
critical conditions of the time i'll which we live and
rs private it will be easily discovered that the evils
which press us down like those others with which
we are threatened arise in great part from the fact
tlat erroneous ideas affairs both human and
divine. issuing from the schools of philosophy,
have insinuated themselves into all ranks Of So
the hearts large number. fact it is natural
for man to take reason as the guide for his acts.
that tho falsoness Of opinions which aAphsvo have
their origin in the intelligence influences
and depraves the course of human actions. On the
other hand il the intelligence of man is sound and
rests firmly true and solid principles it becomes
the source or many advantages for the public veal
as well as for personal interests. This must cer-
tainly not be taken as saying that we accord to
human philosophy, by itself alone strength and
authority sufficient to restrain absolutely destroy
error. When the Christian religion established
1t was by the admirable light OF expanded faith,
mot in the persuasive words OF human WISDOM but
in the showing of the spirit and power. that the
dignity; and in the same way at the pres
ent time it is. above all. by the powerful
strength of virtue and by the help of God that we
should expect to drag back minds from the dark
ness of error. But ought neither to despise nor
to neglect the natural aids placed the disposal Of
men by gift OF the Divine wisdom. which disposes
everything with much benefcence. Without
contradiction. the most pussant of all of them Is
the wellregulated use of philosophy For it is not
In vain that God has caused the light OF reason to
Anime in the mind. and that light. superadded to
the faith so far from decreasing the yigor of the
renders 1t perfect adds to its power and makes it
capable of attaining higher objects. It is,
then, quito in the order of Divine Providence that
to recall the people to faith and salvation re-
course should be had to the assistance of human
science-an effectual and wise method OF which tho
most illustrious Fathers of the Church frequently
made use. as the monuments OF antiquity testify.
They have. in fact assigned to the role not
less active than important. is summarized by the
as being the thing by which salutary faith is cngon.
dered nourishcd, defended and fortified.
PHILOSOPHY LEADING TO FAITH.
First Of all, that philosophy, wisely understood
and practised has the virtue OF smoothing and max
the true faith. and of disposing the minds Of its
disciples to receive the revelation and therefore it
stitution Christian faith the 'preude and auxil-
tary OF Christianity, and "the master Of the teach
ing which leads to the Gospel" And. in fact in tho
order OF things divine, the God OF Mercy has not
alone revealed by the light of faith those truths
which human intelligence Is incapable OF at
taining for ITSELF but He also made manifest
many which not absolutely inaccessible to
human reason. SO that thus finding themselves
supported by the divine authority thoy may at
and without any mixture of error be easily rccog-
nized oy oil. Whence comes II that the pagan
philosophers themselves. by tho sole light OF nat
ural reason, have known. demonstrated and sus-
tanned certain truths proposed for our belief by
divine revelation. or attached by close bonds to
says, ''the invisible things of Him from the crea-
ton OF the world are clearly seen. being under.
stood by the things that are made. His eternal
tho law. nevertheless "show the work OF the law
written in their hearts, Those truths which the
pagan philosophers themselves have explored
can be very opportunely turned to tho advantage
and utility OF revealed doctrine and it is we'll to
show with clearness that tho testimony even of our
adversaries must be given in favor OF tho Christian
faith. This IL method which Is not of recent in
PRODUCTION. 1t is known that 1t is a very old prac-
tice frequently used by the fathers OF tho Church.
More than that these venerable guardians and wit
nesses OF religious traditions have recognized a
blInlnLuuc aIu az nEurc Oh tnlS proceeding
the fact that the Hebrews when they were about to
leave Egypt, received the order to carry with them
the vases Of gold and silver and the precious vest
ments OF the Egyptians. that these spoils,
which had up to that time been tor
iRnominious rites ana for the purposes OF
superstition should. by sudden change. DO consc-
Grated to the religion of the true God. st. Gro
CORY, OF Neo Cesarca, makes it u title OF glory for
Origen that taking possession of ideas ingcnously
chosen among those OF the pagans, like SHAFTS torn
from the enemy, he had turned them with singular
skill to tho defonce OF Christian wisdom and the ruin
OF superstition. Gregory OF Nazanzem and Gregory
OF Nissa praise and approve this method OF discuss
sion In Basus the Great; st. Jerome celebrates IL
IN Quadrat the disciple OF the Apostles in Aristides.
III justin. In IrenHus, and in great number OF
others; ana st. Augustin says, "Do we not
see with what trophy OF gold OF silver
ana OF precious raments Cyprian. the suave
doctor, the blessed martyr, comes out OF
Egypt; with what trophy Lactantius, Victorin,
optst and Hilary, and-not to speak of the living.
these iniiumorable Greeks. Therefore. II before be-
Ing fertiized by the virtue Christ natural reason