Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-22
POPE'S ENCYCLICAL
PROMOTION OF THE STUDY OF
SCRIPTURES.
The Establishment Of Commission,
With Headquarters at the
Vatican.

The text of Pope Leo's latest encyclical
to promote the study of the Scriptures has
just been received in Washington. The let
ter is dated from Rome, at St Peters
under the Ring of the Fisherman, October
80, 1902 In this document the pope pro-
vides for the establishing of commission,
with quarters in the Vatican, whose duty
shall be to study and explain the Scrip
lures more minutely. The findings and
studies of this commission will be made
public from time to time. A copy Of the
ercyclical will be forwarded by the apos-
tolic delegate to every bishop and arch
bishop in the United States.
After referring to a previous letter the
text of the new encyclical reads as follows:
I'm view of the complexity Of modern
studies and the manifold errors which pre-
vail. it has become impossible for individ-
ual interpreters to explain and defend them
as the needs of the hour require. 1t has,
therefore, become necessary that their
con. mon studies should receive assistance
and direction under the auspices and
guidance Of the apostolic see. We think
that this can be done by adopting in this
matter the same plans we have followed In
promoting other studies We are, therefore.
pleased to establish a species of council.
or commission. as 1t is commonly called, or
serious men, whose duty 1t will be to de-
divine words may receive that more MI
mute explanation Of them demanded by the
times, and may be not only preserved free
from all faint of error, but even raised
above rash opinions.
Rome the Seat Of Council.
THE fitting seat for such a council is
Rome, under the very eyes Of the supreme
pontiff himself, that, inasmuch as the city
is the mistress and guardian OF Christian
wisdom, so the teaching Of this neces-
sary doctrine may flow from it's center,
sound and incorrupt, throughout the whole
body of the Christian republic. In order
that the men composing this council may
collectively fulfill the most serious and
honorable duties, they have for their es-
pecial guidance the following principles:
First of all, they will carefully investi-
gate the modern trend of thought in this
bra ach of study and regard nothing dis
covered by modern research as foreign to
their purpose. Nay, they will use the ut
most diligence and promptitude in taking
up and promoting by their writings what
ever may from day to day be discovered
useful for BIBLICAL eXegesis. Thus they will
pay great attention to philology, with it's
kindred subjects, and carefully follow their
developments. Immediately attacks break
out on the sacred Scriptures, we must look
for weapons to prevent truth from going
down in a contest with error. So, too we
must look to the study of the ancient orr
entail languages and the knowledge of the
codices, especially of the earliest codices,
in order that they may not be held In less
estimation by than by those who are
not with us, for both these branches are
of great moment in the studies in ques-
ton.
Next, with regard to the uncompromls-
Ing maintenance of the authority Of the
Scriptures, they must exercise earnest care
and diligence They must work especially
to prevent among Catholics the prevalence
of that Objectionable mode of thinking and
acting which attributes undue weight to
the opinions Of the heterodox, almost as
though the true knowledge Of Scripture
were to be sought principally in the show
of erudition made by those who do not be-
long to u.s. In matters of faith and morals
relating to the formation of Christian doc
trine that must be held to be the true sense
of sacred Scripture which has been and is
held by holy mother church, to whom it
belongs to judge of the true sense and in
terpretations of the holy Scripture; and so
no one may lawfully interpret holy Scrip
ture contrary to this sense or even in OPP
position to the unanimous consensus Of the
fathers"