The Irish standard., 1915-01-02

z, 1915.
calamities of the day, should be, at
least to some extent, comforted. For
besides the manifest proofs which pre-
sent themselves of the divine power
and indefectibility of the church, no
little consolation is given to US by
the splendid fruit of his active zeal
left by our predecessor Plus X, after
having added to the lustre of the
Apostolic See by the example of a
holy life. For, thanks to his work, We
see the religious spirit stirred up
everywhere amongst ecclesiastics;
piety excited amongst the Christian
people; Catholic action and discipline
promoted in Catholic societies; here
episcopal Sees established, and here
their number increased; arrangements
made for the education of young
clerics in accordance with the strict
requirements of Canon Law and as
needed owing to the nature of the
times; all danger of rash innovations
removed from the teaching of the sa-
cred sciences; musical art made to
serve worthily the majesty of sacred
functions; the decorum of worship.
pers increased; and Christianity wide
ly propagated by the new missions of
heralds Of the Gospel.
These are indeed great merits of
Our predecessor in regard to the
Church, and posterity will gratefully
bear them in mind. Since. however,
the field of the good man of the house
is always. God permitting, exposed to
the wicked arts of the enemy, the fear
lest an abundance of cookie may in
jure the good fruit should never pre-
vent work being done there. There
fore, taking as addressed to Ourselves
what God said to the prophet, "Lo,
have set thee this day over the ma
lions and over Kingdoms, to root up
and pull down and to build
and to plant" (Jeremias i, 1O), so far
as lies in Our power, We shall take
the greatest care, until it please the
Pastor of Pastors to demand from Us
an account of the exercise of the min
istry entrusted to Us, to avert what
ever Is evil and to promote what is
good.
In addressing to you, venerable
brethren, this first Encyclical Letter
We think it well to touch on certain
of the chief subjects to which We
have decided to devote Our special
attention, and through your efforts to
help Our work by your zeal the de-
sired fruit will be secured earlier.
Dlseord to Be Avoided.
First Of all, since in every human
society, for whatever purpose formed,
it is of the utmost Importance that
the members should work strenuously
together to attain the same object, we
must exert ourselves by all means at
our disposal to put an end to dissen-
sion and discord, Of whatever kind,
amongst Catholics; to guard against
the growth of fresh differences be-
tween them: and to induce them to
think and act unitedly. The enemies
of God and the Church clearly under.
stand that any dissension between
Catholics in defending the Faith
means victory for them. Hence it is
a frequent practice of theirs when
they see Catholics closely united to
throw the seeds of discord between
them astutely and to try to destroy
this unity. Would that their design
had not so often succeeded to the
great detriment of religion. Accord
ingly, when there is no doubt that
legitimate authority has given an Or
der, let no one consider he is at lib
erty to disregard it on the ground
that he does not approve Of it; but
let everyone submit his opinion to the
authority of him to whom he is sub
ject and obey him through conscious
ness of duty. Again, let no private
person either by the publication of
books or journals or by delivering dis
courses publicly assume the position
of master in the Church. All know
to whom God has given the teaching
Office in the Church; let him have the
unrestricted right to speak as he
thinks fitting when he wishes; it is
the duty of others to tender him de.
vout homage when he speaks and to
obey his words. Concerning matters
in which, since the Holy See has not
pronounced judgment, saving faith and
discipline, discussion may take place
pro and contra, it is certainly lawful
for everybody to say what he thinks
and to uphold his opinion. But in
such discussions let all Incorporate
language which may be seriously
hurtful to charity be eschewed; let
everyone indeed maintain his own
view freely, but let him do SO modest
ly, and let him not imagine he is JUS
titled in casting suspicion on the faitl,
or discipline of those who hold con-
trary opinion simply because they
differ from him. We desire also that
our people should refrain from the use
of those appelatives which have recent
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