WITH THE APOSTOLIC SEE

To Our Vénérable Brethren the Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops and Bishops of the Catholic ivorld in favor and communion with the Apostolic See.

LEO XIII, POPE

Vénérable Brethren, health and apostolic bénédiction.

In obédience to the duty imposed by our apostolical office, We hâve not failed, from the beginning of our Pontificate, in the Encyclical Letters which We hâve addressed to you, Vénérable Brethren, to point out the deadly poison which is creeping through the inmost members of human society, and places it in extrême danger. At the same time We hâve pointed out to you the most efficacious remédies to enable society to recover its health and escape from the grave périls which threaten it. But the evils which We then deplored hâve increased so rapidly that We are again obliged to address you, since the prophet cries in Our ears : Cry loud, spare not ; lift vp thy voice like a trumpet. (Isaias LVIII, 1.) You readily understand,

Vénérable Brethren, that We now speak of those sects of men who, under différent and almost barbarous names, are called Socialists, Communists or Nihilists, and who, scattered through the whole world and closely bound together by an unholy alliance, no longer shelter themselves in the darkness of secret cabals, but bodly advance in full daylight and labour to achieve their purpose, long since formed, of undermining the foundations of ail civil society. Thèse are assuredly the persons indicated by Holy Scripture, who défile tkeflesh, despise dominion and blasphème majesty. (Jude 8). They leave whole and intact nothing of ail that has been wisely established by Divine and human laws for the safety and honour of life ; they refuse obédience to those higher powers to which the apostle teaches us that every soûl must be subject, which derived from G-od the right to rule, and they preach the absolute equality of ail men in rights and dignities ; they dishonour the natural union of man and woman, sacred even among barbarous nations, and they enfeeble and give over to caprice that tie by which human society is chiefly restrained. Seduced by that greed for worldly things which is the root of ail evils, which, some coveting, hâve erred from the faith (1 Tim., VI, 10), they attack the right of property sanctioned by natural law, and, by an abominable crime, while they prétend to provide for ail the necessities and desires of man, they labour to take from him and render common ail that is acquired, either by legitimate inheritance or by labour of mind or body, or by economy. And they proclaim thèse monstrous errors in their gatherings, they défend them in pamphlets and scatter them among the people by means of a clouoj-of newspapers. It results therefrom that the vénérable majesty of kings and emperors has become on the part of this seditious populace the object of such hatred that certain abominable traitors, impatient of ail restraint, hâve many times within a brief period

turned their arms with impious audacity against the heads of States themselves.

Now, this audacity of perfidious men, which threatens civil soçiety with more and more imminent ruin and strikes ail minds with anxiety an! fright, dérives its origin and its cause from those poisonons doctrines which, diffused in former times like germs of corruption in the midst of peoples, hâve borne in their season such deleterious fruits. You well know, Vénérable Brethren, that the relentless war which from the sixteenth century the innovators excited against the Catholic faith, and which has gone on increasing daily until our time, tends to this resuit — that, ail révélation being discarded and ail natural order overthrown, the path may be cleared for the inventions, or rather the ravings, of unassisted reason. This error, which wrongly dérives its name from reason, stimulâtes and excites the désire which man naturally has of elevating himself, and gives loose rein to ail the passions, so that it spontaneously makes fearful ravages, not only in the minds of private individuals, but still more in civil society. Wherefore it has happened that, by a new impiety, unknown even by the pagans, States are constituted without taking any account either of G-od or of the order established by Him. Public authority has been declared to dérive neither its principle, nor its majesty, nor its binding force from Grod, but to proceed rather from the multitude, which, considering itself free from ail Divine sanction, has refused to be subjected except to the laws which it has itself laid dowj according to its own caprice. The supernatural trutns of the faith being combatted and rejected as contrary to reason, the Author Himself and Redeemer of the human race has been insensibly and by degrees banished from the universities, the lyceums and gym. nasiums and ail public récognition of human life.

Finally, the future rewards and punishments of eternal life being handed over to oblivion, the ardent désire for happiness has been circumscribed within the limlts of the présent time. Thèse doctrines being everywhere widely spread, and this extrême license of thought and action being introduced into ail places, it is not surprising that men of the lowest condition, tired of the wretchedness of their homes and little workshops, manifest their impatience to invade the palaces and enjoy the fortunes of the rich ; it is not surprising that there is no longer tranquility in public or private life, and that the human race has almost arrived at the brink of an abyss.

Meanwhile, the suprême pastors of the Church upon whom rests the responsibility of preserving the Lord's flock from the snares of the enemy, hâve undertaken to avert the danger and to provide for the safety of the faith. In fact, from the time when the secret societies began to be formed, in the bosoms of which were already being inculcated the germs of the errors which ¥e hâve pointed out, the Roman PontifTs, Clément XII, and Benedict XIV., did not fail to unveil the impious designs of the sects and to warn the faithful of the whole world of the terrible evils which were secretly springing up. And after those who gloried in the name of " philosophers " had attributed to man a sort of unbridled independence, and had begun to invent and sanction against the natural and divine law what is called " the new right," Pope Pius VI., of blessed memory, made known by public documents the evil character and the falsehood of the doctrines, dfad at the same time he predicted with apostolic foresight the ruinous condition into which the pcople, miserably deceived, would be plunged. Nevertheless, as no efficacious measure was adopted to prevent the perverse doctrines of the sects from permeating more and more among the nations, and from reaching into

the public acts of governments Pope Pius VII and Léo XII. condemned and anathematized secret societies, and anew warned the public of the péril by which it was threatened.

Lastly, ail are aware with what weighty words and with what firmness of spirit Our glorious predecessor, Pius IX., of blessed memory, combated, both in his Allocutions and his Encyclical Letters which he adressed to the bishops of the whole world, the iniquitous efforts of the sects, and especially the scourge of socialism which had already burst forth from their bosom.

But it is a déplorable fact that those who are charged to watch over the public welfare, being deceived by the wiles of the impious and frightened by their threats, hâve always given proofs of suspicion and even of injustice as regards the Church, not understanding that ail the efforts of sects would be powerless if the doctrines of the Catholic Church and the authority of the Roman Pontiffs had been always duly respected both by princes and by peoples. For it is the Church of the living God, thepillar and ground of truth, (1 Tim., III, 15) which teaches the doctrines and the principles which hâve the virtue of completely assuring the existence and the tranquility of society and destroying completely ail the deadly germs of socialism.

In fact, although the socialists abuse the Grospel itself in order the more easily to deceive unsuspecting soûls, and although they habitually torture its words to interpret them in their own sensé, the discrepancy between their depraved doctrines and the pure doctrine of Jésus Christ could not be greater. For ivhat fellowship ha/ h righteousness with unrighteousness ? and what communion hath lig/U with darkness ? (II, Cor.

VI, 14). They do not cease, in fact, to proclaim, as We hâve said, the equality of ail men by nature, and they afnrm, in reliance upon this principle, that we owe neither honour nor respect to authorities, no obédience to the laws, unless it be to laws established by themselves, according to their own pleasure. The G-ospel, on the contrary, teaches us that the equality of man consists in this : That ail, endowed with the same nature, are called to the same superior dignity as children of Grod, and that, the same end being allotted to ail, ail will be judged by the same law and will receive the rewards or punishments they may haye deserved. But the inequality of rights and power cornes from the one great Author of nature Himself, " from Whom ail paternity is derived, in the Heavens as well as on earth." As to princes and their subjects, their consciences are bound together, according to the Catholic doctrines and precepts, by mutual rights and duties, in such a manner that the passion of power is tempered, and obédience becomes easy, constant and noble.

Thus the Church inculates constantly upon her subjects the precept of the apostle, For there is no power but of God ; the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God, and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. And again it enjoins, ye must needs be subject not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake ; render, therefore, to ail their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour. (Rom. XIII, I). In efFect, He who has created and who governs ail things has ordered in His providential wisdom that the lowly by the aid of the middle classes, the middle classes by the aid of the most elevated shall attain each the end to which they hâve been assigned. So also, just as in the kingdom of heaven, He willed that the choirs of angels should b e

distinct and subordinate the one to the other, in the same manner in the Church He has instituted degrees in the orders and the diversity of offices so that ail cannot be apostles, ail doctors or ail pastors ; in like manner has He ordained that there should be in civil society several orders differing in dignities, in rights and in powers, so that the state should be like the Church, a single body containing a large nuraber of members more noble the one than the other, but ail necessary one to another and careful for the common good.

But in order that the rulers of nations may wield the power which is given th^m to edify ând not to destroy, the Church of Christ warns them much to the point that the severity of the Suprême Judge menaces ail princes, and, borrowing the words of Divine wisdom, she cries to ail, in the name of G-od : — " Lend ear, you who govern the multitudes and you who take pleasure in numerous nations, for power has been given you by the Lord and strength by the Most High, who will question you as to your deeds and will search your thoughts. For the judgment will be severe for those we command. ^ # # Grod, in truth, will except none, and will hâve no regard for the greatness of any one, for He has made the humble and the great, and he has the same care over ail. For the great is reserved the greatest punishment." ("Wisdom VI, 9). If, however, it frequently happms that public power is wielded by princes rashly and unreasonably, the doctrine of the Catholic Church does not allow individual résistance, for fear that public tranquility should be more and more troubled, and that society should sufl'er an even greater injury. And when afFairs hâve corne to such a pass that there gleams no longer any hope of safety, she teaches that the remedy should be hastened by the merits of Christian patience and by earnest prayers to Grod ; that if

the enactments of legislators and princes sanction or command anything which is opposed io divine law or to the law of nature, the dignity of the Christian name and duty, as well as apostolic teaching, enjoin to " obey G-od rather thanman." That saving virtue of the Church which contributes to the perfect organization and the conservation of civil society, of domestic society, which is the active principle of each city, of each state, conflrms this and proves it necessary. You know, in truth, Vénérable Brethren, that the trae constitution of this society is based, according to the demands of natural law, first of ail on the indissoluble union of man and of woman, and that it is made pèrfect by the mutual duties between parents and children and between masters and servants. You also know that the doctrines of socialism destroy almost entirely this society, because in loosingthe stability which is given to it by religious marriage, it sees inevitably relaxed to their extrême limits the power of the father over his children and the duties children owe to their parents. The Church on the contrary, teaches us that " marriage is honorable in ail" (Heb. XIII, 4); instituted by God Himself, at the commencement of the world, for the propagation and the conservation of the human race, and willed by Him to be indissoluble, it has been rendered even more lasting and more sacred by Christ, who conferred upon it the dignity of a sacrament and has made it the symbol of His union with the Church.

This is why, according to the teachings of the apostles, as Christ is the Head of the Church, so is the husband the head of the wife (Eph. V, 23) ; and in like manner as the Church is subject unto Christ, who embraces it with an eternal love and with the most chaste affection, so must wives be subject unto their husbands, who should in return love them with a faithful and constant love. The Church tempers

also the power of parents and of masters in such a manner that it can control children and servants within the limits of their duties, while on the other hand it does not exceed its own. For, according to the Catholic teachings, the authority of parents and master is derived from the authority of the celestial Father and Master. Consequently it dérives from it not only its origin and its force, but necessarily borrows of it its essence and character. This is why the Apostle exhorts children to obey their parents in the Lord, and to honour their father and mother, which is the First Commandment with promise (Eph. VI, 2). And to the parents he says, " Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Id. 4). And, furtheron, the same apostle addresses to servants and masters this divine commandment : — To the former, " Be obedient to them that are masters according to the flesh — as unto Christ — with good will doing service, as to the Lord ; " to the latter, " Forebear threatening, knowing that your Master also is in heaven, neither is there respect of persons with him" (Id. 9). If ail thèse precepts were carefully observed according to the will of G-od by each one of those to whom they apply, every family would seem like the image of the celestial home, and the precious benehts which would resuit would not be confined within the walls of the domicile, but would spread abundantly in the States themselves.

Catholic wisdom, relying upon the precepts of natural and divine law, has taken ample précaution to watch over public and domestic tranquility, not only by its doctrines but by its instruction as to the rights of property and the proper division of those goods which are possessed for the necessities and usefulness of life. "While socialists présent the right of property as a human invention, which is répugnant

to the natural idea of man's equality, and while aspiring to the common possession of property, they think they need not patient ly tolerate poverty and that they may violate the possessions and the rights of the rich ; the Church on the contrary, far more wisely and usefully, recognizes in men who naturally difFer as to their physical and spiritual strength, an inequality as to the possession of property, and prescribes that the right of property and domain, which is derived from nature itself, be kept intact and inviolate. The Church knows, in fact, that theft and rapine are forbidden by G-od, the Author and Avenger of every right, in such a manner that it is not permitted even to covet other people's property, and that thieves and ravishers are, like adulterers and idolators, excluded from the kingdom of heaven. Nevertheless, the Church, that tender moth'er of ail, neglects not the care of the poor, and does not forget to look after their necessities. Far otherwise, she embraces them in her maternai tenderness, well knowing that they represent the person of Christ Himself, who recognizes as done to Himself whatever be done to the most insignificant of the poor ; the Church, indeed, holds the poor in great honour. She comforts them by ail possible means, takes care that ail over the world homes and hospitals are erected to receive them, to feed them and appease their sufferings, and keeps them under her own protection. She does more, she summons the rich by the most urgent commands to distribute their surplus among the poor, and she threatens them with the judgment of G-od if they do not corne to the aid of the poor. In fine, the Church valiantly lifts up and consoles the heart of the poor, either by showing them the example of Jesus-Christ, who " being rich has made himself poor for ail of us," or by reminding them of His words when He déclares the poor to be blessed and commends them to look for their reward in eternal happiness. Who then does

not see that thèse are the best means to put a limit to the now ancient quarrel between the poor and the rich ? For the very évidence of circumstances and facts shows that if the means hère set forward are rejected, that one of the two alternatives must follow : — Either the greater portion of the human race will fall back into the ignominious condition of slavery which existed for a long time among the pagans, or human society will be agitated by continuons troubles and desolated by thefts and brigandage, as we hâve only recently had the misfortune to see.

This being so, Vénérable Brethren, We on whom rests at présent the government of the entire Church, after having shown since the commencement of Our Pontificate to the peoples and the princes, now tossed by the violence of the tempest, the harbor where they can find a safe refuge, moved as We are by the extrême péril which menaces society, We are in duty bound to proclaim again and again to ail the apostolic words. For their own good and the welfare of our common cause We pray them, We beseech them, to accept with docility the magistracy of the Church, which has deserved so well ofthe various States, even in point of public prosperity, and fully to understand that the interests of the State and religion are so interwoven that whatever be taken from the latter diminishes in an equal degree the submission of subjects and the majesty of power. And since they know that in order to avert this pest of socialism the Church of Christ possesses a force which neither human laws nor magistarial measures nor the arms of soldiers hâve ever had, they should render to the Church opportunity and the necessary freedom, sothat she may exercise lier salutary force fol the welfare of al] human societ y.

As for y ou, Vénérable Brethren, who know so well the origin and the character of the evils which now afflict us, apply yourselves with ail the power and ail the efforts of your spirit to spread among your people, and cause to penetrate into their soûls the Catholic doctrine. Act in such manner that ail Christians, even from their most tender years, may accustom themselves to love G-od with a filial love and to révère His power, to bowbefore the majesty of princes and the law, to restrain their passions and to guard carefully the order which G-od has established in civil and domestic society. It behooves you also to see to it that under no pretext whatever the sons of the Catholic Church ever amliate with a single one of thèse abominable societies, nor even favour them ; more than this, by their honourable actions and the honesty of their conduct they demonstrate how happy human society would be if every one of its members shone by the rectitude of his actions and by his virtues. Lastly, since the partisans of Socialism are chiefly found among the tradespeople, or rather among those who work for their living, and who, impatient at their work, are easily seduced by hopes of riches and promises of great fortunes, it would seem appropriate to favour those societies of artisans and workmen founded on religious instruction, and to recommend ail thèse men to content themselves with their situation in life, to labour and to persuade them to lead a calm and tranquil life.

May He to Whom We are responsible for the principles that guide Our deeds and the results of Our labour favour Our and your enterp*ises. This very day, when We are celebrating the Nativity of Our Lord, inspires Us to hope for immédiate and tangible help. In fact, this new salvation which the newborn Christ brings to the world, already growing old and falling into utter misery, commands Us to hope

ever, for the peace which He has proclaimed to the world through his angels and He has also promised to give ns. " The hand of the Lord has not been shortened so that He cannot save us, nor has His ear become heavy so that He cannot hear us." (Isaias LIX, 1). During thèse ho]y days ¥e wish you, Vénérable Brethren, and to ail the faithful of the Church, ail possible happiness and joy, and We pray fervenlly that He who giveth ail good things may once more " show to man the goodness and humanity of G-od, our Saviour " (Titus III, 4.), He, indeed, who, afterhaving saved us from the power of our most terrible enemy, has raised us to the noble dignity of sons.

And in order that we may enter more quickly and fully upon the enjoyment of thèse wishes, join your fervent prayers to Ours, Vénérable Brethren, and invoke also the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary, conceived without sin, and of Joseph, her spouse, and of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, in whose support we hâve such full confidence. In the meantime, as a token of divine gifts, we give you, with ail Our heart, in the name of the Lord, the Àpostolic Bénédiction for yourselves, Vénérable Brethren, for your clergy. and for ail the faithful people.

G-iven at Rome, at St. Peter's, Dec. 28, 1878, the Hrst year of our Pontificate.

LEO XIII., Pope.

LETTËBS APOSTOLIC

OF