CONSECRATION OF MANKIND TO THE SACRED HEART.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 30, 27 July 1899, Page 3

CONSECRATION OF MANKIND TO THE SACRED HEART.

ENCYCLICAL LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS THE POPE.

THE following Encyclical Letter from the Pope to the Patriarch*, Primates, Archbishops, and Bishops of the Catholic world in communion with the Holy See has been issued. To our Venerable Brethren, All Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, and Bishops of the Catholic World in Grace and Communion with the Apostolic See.

POVE LEO XIII.

Venerable Brethren, Health and Apostolic Benediction, — But a short time ago, as you well know, We, by Letters Apostolic, and the following the cut-tom and ordinances if Our predecessors, commanded the celebration in this city, at no distant date, of a Holy Y«ar. And now today, in the hope and with the object that this religious celebration shall be more devoutly performed, We have traced and recommended a striking design from which, if all shall follow it out with hearty good will, We not unreasonably expect extraordinary and lasting benefits for Christendom in the first place and also for the whole human race.

Already more than once We have endeavoured, after the example of Our predecessors Innocent Xl f., Benedict Xf II., Clement XIII., Pius VI., Pius VII , and Pius IX., devoutly to foster and bring out into fuller light that most excellent form of devotion which has for its object the veneration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus This We did especially by the decree given on June 2S, 188!), hy which We raised the Feast under that name to the dignity of the first olass. But now we have in mind a more signal form of devotion which shall be in a manner the crowning perfection of all the honours that people have been accustomed to pay to the Sacred Heart, and which We confidently trust will be most pleasing to Jesus Christ, Our Redeemer. This is not the first time, however, that the design of which We speak has been mooted. Twenty-five years ago, on the approach of the solemnities of the second centenary of the Blessed Margaret Mary Alacoque's reception of the divine command to propagate the worship of the Sacred Heart, many letters from all parts, not merely from private persons but from Bishopß also were sent to Pius IX. begging that he would conBent to consecrate the whole human race to the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was thought best at the time to postpone the matter in order that a well considered decision might be arrived at ; meanwhile permission was granted to individual cities which desired it thus to consecrate themselves, and a form of consecration wa« drawn up. Now, for certain new and additional reasonß, We consider thar, the plan is ripe for fulfilment.

CUBIST OUE KING.

This world-wide and solemn testimony of allegiance and piety is especially appropriate to Jesus Christ, Who is the Head and Supreme Lord of the race. His empire extends not only over Catholic nations and those who, having been duly washed in the waters of Holy Baptism, belong of right to the Church, although erroneous opinions keep them astray, or dissent from her teaching cuts them off from her care; it comprises also all those who are deprived of the Christian faith, so that the whole human race is

most truly under the power of Jesus Christ. For He Who is the onlr -begotten Son of God the Father, having the same substance with Him and bning th* 1 brightness of His glorj and the fiyureof His substance (Hebrews i , 3) necet-sarily has everything in common with the Father, and thirefore sovereign power over all things. This is why the Son of God thus speaks ot Himself through the prophet: ' But I am appointed King by Him over Sion, His holy mountain. . . . The Lord s«id to Me Tbeu art My Son, this day I have begotten Thee. Ask ot Me and I w>b give Thee the Gentile s for Ihy inheritance and the utmo-i p*rt-of iLe torth for Thy posxtssion ' (Ps. ii. /. By these words He declares that Ho has power from <»od over the whole Church, which is signified by Mount Sion. and also over the rest of the world to its uttermost ends. On what foundation this bOvereign power re<ts is made sufficiently plain by the words, ' Thou art My Son ' For by the very fact that He is the Son of the King of all, He is also the heir of all His Father's power. Hence the words. ' I will give Thee the Gentiles for Thy inheritance.' which are similar to those used by Paul the Apostle, ' whom He hath appointed heir of all things ' (Heb. j. f).

But we should now give most special consideration to the declarations made by Jesus Christ, njt through the A ponies or the Propoet*, but by His own words. To the Kouian Governor who jus ed Hi'ii, 'Art thou a kii gtien ?' He an-wered unhesitatingly, 'Thou sayt'st th«t lam m, king' (John xviii., 37) And the great-n-ss of this power auu the boundlessnesr, of His kingdom is still more clearly dec'ar»-d in the-e word 1 - to the Apostles : 'All piwer is given t>Mo in h"aven aid on earth ' (Matthew xxviii., 18). If then all power has been given to Christ it follows of necessity that His empire must be supreme, absolute and independent of the will of any ether, so that none is either equal or like unto it ; and since it n s b en aiveo in h. aven anl on e><rth it ought to have Heaven and c irth ob dienr tn it And verily He hat acted on this extraordinary and peuuli ir right when He commandid His apostles to preach His 'to trine over the earth, to gather all men together into the one bo'iy ot the Church by the hsiptism of sulvat'on, and to bind ihe*n r>y law.B which no one could tej ct without ri^kmg his eternal sal van on.

CHKIST OUR KEDKEMER,

But this is not all. Christ reigns not only by natural right as the Son of God, but aUo by a right that He has acquired. For He it was Who snatched us ' from the powers of darkness ' (Colossians i , 13), and ' gave Himself for the redemption of all " (1 Timothy ii., 6). Therefore not only Catholics, and those who have duly received Christian baptism, but also all men, individually and collectively, have become to Him ' a purchased people ' (1 Peter ii., !)). St. Augustine's words are therefore to the point when he says : ' You ask what price He paid ? See what He gave and you will up ->r srand how much He paid. The pri^e was the hi™*" Christ. What could coat so much but the wliole world, ai)' 1 all its people ? The great price he puid was paid for all ' (Tract 120 in Joan)

How it comes about that infidels themselves are subject to the power and dominion of Jesus Christ is clearly shown by St. Thomas, who give« us the reason its explanation. For having put the question whether His judicial power extends to all men and having stated that judicial authority flows naturally from royal authority, he concluded decisively as follows : "AH things are subject to Christ as far as Hi.s power is concerned, although they are not all subject to Him in the exe-N ise ot that power ' (.'ia P, Q sl> A). Thi-< sovt-reign power of Christ over men is exerted by truth, justice, and, above all, by charity.

VOLUNTARY CONSECHATION

To this twofold ground of His power and domina r ion He graciously allows us, if We think tit, to add voluntary consecration. Jesus Christ. Our God and Our Redeemer, is rich in the fullest and pertect possession of all things ; we. on the other hand, are so poor and needy that we have nothing of our own to offer Hhnasagi't. But yet in His infinite goodness and love, He in no way objects to our giving and consecrating to Him what is already His, as if it were rea ly our own ; nay, far from refusing 1 such an offer, He positively desires it and asKs it : ' My Son give Me thy h» art.' We are, therefore, able to be pleasing to Him by th" goodwill and affection of our soul. For by consec rating ourselves to Him we not only declare our open and free acknowledgement ami acceptance of His authority over us, but we also testify that if what we offer as a gift were really our own, we would still offer it with our whole heart. We also beg ot Him that Pc would vouchsafe to receive it from us. though clearly His own. Such is the efficacy of the act of which we speak, such is the meaning underlying our words.

And since there is in the Sacred Heart a symbol, and a sensible image of the infinite love of Jesus Christ which moves us to love one another, therefore is it fit and proper that we should consecrate ourselves to His Most Sacred Heart — an act which is nothing else than an offering and a binding of oneself to J< sus Christ, seeing that whatever honour, veneration, and love is given to this divine Heart is really and truly given to Christ H.mself.

For the«e reasons we urge and exhort all who know and love this Divine Heart willingly to undertake this aut of piety ; ani' it is Our earnest desire thar, all should make it on the same day, that so the aspirations of ho many thousands who are performn g this act of consecration may be b me to the Temple of H«aven on the sanie day. But shall We allow to blip from Our remembrance tliose innumerable others upon whom the light of Christian truth has not yet shined ? We hold the place of Him who came to save that which was lost, and who shed His blood for the salvation of the whole human race. And so We gre.ttly desire to bring to the true life those who sit in the j-hadow of death. A? We have already sent messengers ot Christ over the earth to instruct them, so now. in pity for their loft, with all Our soul Wec<<mmei d them, as f..r as in Us lies We consecrate them to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In this way this act of dtvotiou. which We recommend,

will be a blessing to all. For having performed it, those in whose hearts are the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ will feel thtit faith and love increased. Those who knowing Christ yet neglect His law and Us precepts may still gain from His Saored Heurt tho flames of charity. And, lastly, for thos-e still more unfortunate who are stiugsihng m the cUirknens o' superstition, wrf shall all with one mind implore the assistance of lleaven th.it Jesus Christ, to whose power they are subject, may also one day render them submissive to its exercise : and that not only in the life to come, when he will iulflll lli« will upon "ill men. by saving somo ;md punishing others (St. Thomas, loco r/itoto), but also in this mortal life by ghing then faith and holiness Mny they by thesp virtue" strive to honour God as they ought, and to win everlasting happiness in Heaven.

THE NEED OV IT

Such an aot of consecration, since it can establibh or draw tighter the bonds which naturally connect public affairs with God. gives to States a hope of better things. In these latter times especially, a policy has been followed which has resulted in a sort of wall being raised between the Church and civil society. In the constitution and administration ot Slates the authority of sacred and divine law is utterly disregarded, with, a view to the exclusion of 'religion from having any constant part in public life. This policy almost tends to the removal of the Criristian faith from our midsc, and, if that wero possible, of the banishment ot God Himself from the earth. When men s minds are raised to such a height of insolent pride, wh it wonder is >t that the greater part of the human race should have fallen into «uch disquiet of mind and be buffetted by waves so rough that no o:i>j is suffered to be free from anxiety and peril ? When religion is oace disregarded it follows of necessity that the surt«t found itions ot the public welfare must give way, whilst God, to inflict on His enemies the punishment they so lichly deserve, has left, them the pn y of thtir own evil desiie«. so that they give themselves up to their pay-ions and ihiolly wear theajiselve.s out by excess of liberty. Hence that abundance of evils which have now for a long time settled upon the world, and which pre-singiy call upon us to seek for help from Him by Whose strength alone lhey can be driven away. Who can lie bo but Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son ot God ? ' For there id no other name under heaven given to men whereby we must be saved ' (Acts iv., 12). \\ c must have recourse to Him Who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. W T e have gone astray and we must return to the right path ; darkness has overshadowed our minds, and the gloom must be dispelled by the light of truth ; death has sei/.ed upon us, and Aye must lay hold of life. It will at length be possible that our many wounds be healed and all justice spring forth again with the hope of restored authority ; that the splendours of peace be renewed, and swords and arms drop' f.vn the hand when all men shall acknowledge the empire of Christ and w, ,\- obey His word, and ' Every tongue shall confess that our Lord Jesu Christ is in the glory of God the Father' (Phil ii.,11). When the Church, in the days immediately succeeding her institution, was oppressed beneath thy yoke of the Ca;sars, a young Emperor saw in the hi avurw ;i cross, which became at onoe the happy omen and cause ot tbi' ulouous victory that soon followed. And row. to-day, behold aiioch- r blewd and heavenly token is offered to our sight — the mo- v S.ural Heart of Je-,u>, with a cross rising from it. and shining form with uaz/ling splendour amidst flames of love. In that Si.cied 11 art all our hopes should be placed, and from it the sahation of men is to be confidently besought. Finally, there is one motive which We are unwilling to pass over in silence, personal to Ourselves it is true, but still good and weighty, which moves Us to undt rtake thi-s celebration. God, tho author of every gooi. not long ago pre-erved Our life by <*irmg Us of a dangerous disease. We now wish, by this increase ot the honour paid to the Sacred Heart, that the memory of this tuvat mercy should be brought prominently toi ward, and Our giatitude be publicly acknowledged.

Till] DATE OF THE COXSEC H AT] ON

For thee reasons, We ordam that on the itth, 10th, and 11th of the coming month of June, in the principal church of every town and village, certain appointed prayers be said, and on each of the-e days there be added to the other prayers the Litany of the Sacred Heart approved by Our authority. On the la-t day the form of consecration shall be recited, which, Venerable Brethren. We send to you with these letters. As a pledge of divine benefits, and in token of Our paternal benevolence to you and to the clergy and people committed to your care We lovingly grant in the Lord the .Apostolic Bene.in.tion. Given in Rome at St. Peter's on the 2."ith day of May, 18'J'J, the twenty-second year of Our Pontificate. Leo XIII.