The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-12-26
AN INSPIRING ENCYCLICAL.


AN INSPIRING ENCYCLICAL.
In this issue we publish in its
entirety the Encyclical Of our
Holy Father Pope Benedict XIV.
1t is a document worthy of most
careful perusal by Catholics not
only on account of the source
from which it emanates, but be-
cause of the Importance Of the
topics with which it deals. 1t is
the first encyclical given to the
world by the present Pope and,
for that reason, if for no other
deserves special attention on the
part of the faithful, because it
gives the keynote and motto OF
his pontificate which is ''to make
every effort so that the charity
OF Christ may prevail amongst
men,"
It is an inspiring document
graced with a purity Of diction
and an elegance Of style which
recall the great Lconine encycli.
Gals and suggest the beginning OF
new era of important papal pro.
nouncements.
Issued at a time when all the
great nations of the earth, with
one exception, are engaged in
deadly conflict on land and sea,
the Encyclical is addressed, very
OPPORTUNITY and appropriately
not only to Catholics but to all
the children of God who, for that
reason, are children of Christ
and, Therefore, children Of His
Vicar upon earth.
What more natural, under the
circumstances, than that it should
deal largely with the question OF
peace-peace not only among
warning nations but among Cath
olics themselves who are prone to
criticise one another and even the
Church herself. After dealing
with the causes Of the sanguinary
war now being waged on Euro
pean battlefields, the Pope makes
an appeal for peace among ma.
tons calling upon the. belligerents
to lay down their arms and seek
others means than. the sword Of
settling their differences. He
fully recognizes the difficulties
that lie in the way Of an annie
able adjustment Of the questions
at issue, but, nevertheless, raises
his paternal voice on behalf of a
peaceful solution.
In ultimate analysis, he finds
that the cause of the condition
which he deplores is forgetfulness
OF God and of the hereafter, which
is SO marked a characteristic OF
the age. This materialism natur-
ally leads to denial of legitimate
authority, to rebellion against
society, to a studied disregard OF
the rights of others and a selfish
desire to promote ones own inter.
ests.
AS a remedy for this, he admon.
lshes all TO recognize the author
ity vested in civil society-an au.
thority which comes from God,
and without a due recognition of
which there can be nothing but
chaos in the world at large.
Then addressing himself direct
ly to Catholics, he lays upon them
the solemn obligation of living at
peace with one another, of avoid
ing uncharitable criticism and
everything that would tend to
disrupt the harmonious relations
which should ever exist among
the faithful. He intimates that
there is too much controversy and
discord among Catholics, espe-
cially in Europe, where, a certain
school, the so-called Integral
lists, have criticised those who
differ from them, whom they re-
fer to as "Minimizers," and have
sought to make themselves appear
more Catholic than the Church
herself. He reiterates the late
Pope's condemnation of Modern
ism and blames all who take adj
vantage of this "synthesis of
Iheresies" to SOW the seeds Of dis
union among Catholics who are
sincerely striving to hold on to
the deposit of faith entrusted to
the guardianship of the Church.
The Holy Father desires most
ardently that priests and people
live in obedience to the Bishops
of the Church whose authority is
divine and who are united to the
Vicar of Christ in the great work
of furthering the interests of
Christ's kingdom.
In conclusion, the Pontiff prays
for the cessation Of this "calam-
itous war; in order that society
may make real progress and that
no obstacles may be placed in the
way of the Church in her efforts
to bring ''help and salvation to
men in every part of the earth.
But one must read the Encv-