Evening star., 1938-10-13
Pope Plus Message to c. U.
Text of Communication Golden Jubilee
Celebration, in Which Church Head Cites
Catholics Role in Liberty.

give full meaning and compelling mo-
tive to the demand for human rights
and liberties because it alone gives
worth and dignity to human person.
ality.
Champion Of Liberties.
In consequence of his high concep-
ton of the nature and gifts of man,
the Catholic is necessarily the cham
pion of true human rights and the de-
fender of true human liberties; it Is
in the name of God Himself that he
cries out against any civic philosophy
which would degrade man to the posi-
ton of soulless pawn in = sordid
game of power and prestige, or would
seek to Danish him from membership
in the human family it is in the same
Holy Name that he opposes any social
philosophy which would regard man
as a mere chattel in commercial COM
| petition for profit or would set him at
the throat Of his fellows in 4 blind,
british class struggle for existence.
| The Catholic University, then, be-
cause 1t is Catholic, has the traditional
mission of guarding the natural and
| fulfillment Of this sublime mission, 1t
must, because Of the exigencies of the
present age, give special attention to
the sciences Of civics. sociology and
economics. The encyclical letters to
! which we have already referred deal
with the modern problems in these
fields, and apply to them the unchang-
ing principles of philosophy and re-
ligion. With these encyclicals as the
basis of study and research, the uni
| versity can evolve q constructive pro-
gram OF social action, fitted in its de-
tails to local needs, which will COM
mand the admiration and acceptance
of all right-thinking men. 1t is our
earnest desire. cur beloved sons and
venerable brethren, that under your
patronage and direction the schools Of
the above sciences be devel-
oped to the highest possible point Of ex-
cellence 50 that men will naturally turn
to the university for enlightenment
and guidance on social questions. with
expanded and improved facilities, with,
an increased corps Of distinguished
professors whose lectures, consulta tions
and writings carry authority, and with
picked groups Of talented students
from all parts Of the country, it will
be possible to achieve the desired emf
nence, and to exercise thus = salutary
Christian influence upon contemporary
society.
Leave Cause In Your Hands.
That the material resources required
for the accomplishment Of 4 mission
frsught with such immense importance
for the well-being OF your country may
not be lacking, we again repeat the
warm recommendation which we made
in our former letter to you, our beloved
sons and venerable brethren: that
nothing be left undone to place before
the faithful the needs Of this national
center Of Christian culture. In . spe-
cial way, we commend to you this
cause which is so near Our heart, and
We leave it in your hands, secure in
the confidence that you will, individ-
ually and severally, take the steps nec-
essary to endow and maintain the uni
versity on q scale commensurate with
the Importance Of its mission.
In testimony OF our prediction
and as q pledge that Divine light and
favor may be vouchsafed you in meas
ure proportioned to your sacred under
taking from our heart we impart te
you, our beloved sons and venerable
brethren, to the clergy and people con.
fided to your vigilant care, and in par.
ticular to the superiors, professors AND
students of the Catholic University, oul
affectionate apostolic benediction.
Given at Castelgandolfo near Rome
the 21st day of September, Feast ol
st. Matthew. apostle and evangelist, ir
the year of Our Lord MCMXXxVIII
the XVII year Of our pontificate.-
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