LEO XIII. AND THE STUDY OF THE BIBLE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 3, 15 January 1903, Page 16

LEO XIII. AND THE STUDY OF THE BIBLE.

fHE Holy Father has always been an ardent and eloquent advocate of the value and importance of the study of Sacred Scripture and he has from time to time taken active and effective *^Jt^!f^b 8^ e P s to promote the good work he has so much V\£& at heart. Eight years ago he issued the well- \&& * known Encyclical Providentissimus Deus, set- » ting forth what all Catholics, and especially what those in sacred orders, might do in their respective spheres to promote Bible study and describing in detail the mode and manner in which that study might be advanced. The field of modern research, however, is so vast, and the forms of error are so manifold, that it is impossible for individual Catholic students or writers to explain and defend the sacred books as the needs of the hour require ; and it is necessary, therefore, that their common studies should receive assistance and direction under the auspices and guidance of the Apostolic See. For this reason his Holiness decided, some six months ago, to establish a kind of Council or Commission, whose duty it would be to strive in every possible way that the Written Word of God should receive from Catholic students that thorougli treatment which the times demand, and should be kept free not only from actual error but also from all rash or temerarious opinion ; and the Holy Father's Apostolic Letter, formally constituting the Commission, has just been given to the world. * According to the terms of this important document the Commission is to be composed of Cardinals selected by the Holy Father himself, and to these are joined, with the title of Consultors, a number of distinguished Biblical scholars of different nationalities. It will be the duty of the Com-

mission to hold regular meetings, to publish reports either at fixed times or as the occasion may require, to reply to those who may ask its opinion, and in every way possible to vindicate and encourage these sacred studies. The results of the Commissioners' labors must be submitted to the Pope by a Consultor to be appointed by his Holiness for that purpose. By way of giving practical aid to the project the Holy Fattier has set apart a certain portion of the Vatican Library for the use of the Commission, and a large collection of codices and volumes dealing with Biblical subjects are to b 3 placed there so as to be at hand for consultation. The Holy Father expresses the hope that Catholics of means will help him in this work either by contributing funds or by forwarding useful books. The names of the members of the Commission have already appeared in the columns of the N.Z. Tablet. Cardinal Parocchi, who has been appointed President, has been described as having * strong sympathies with the movement for advanced Scriptural exegesis,' while the two Vice-Presidents, Cardinals Segna and Vives y Tuto, are recognised authorities in the fields of theological and patristic learning. The important post of secretary is filled by the Very Rev. Father David Fleming, head of the Order of Friars Minor. Already, at the suggestion of his Holiness, a project for issuing a periodical to meet the needs of the Commissioners is under consideration, the Pope himself having offered to pay the whole cost of publication.

The Holy Father lays down with great clearness and distinctness the leading principles which are to serve as a guide to the members of the Commission in carrying out their great work. First of all they must take full advantage of the fruits of modern research. ' They will carefully investigate,' says the Letter, ' the modern trend of thought in this branch of study, and regard nothing discovered by modern research as foreign to their purpose — nay, they will use the utmost diligence and promptitude in taking up and turning by their writings to public use whatever may from day to day be discovered useful for .Biblical exegesis. Thus they will pay great attention to philology, with its kindred sciences, and carefully follow their developments. For immediately attacks on the Scriptures break out we must look for weapons to prevent truth from going down in the contest with error. So, too, we must see to it that the study of the ancient Oriental languages, and the knowledge of the codices, especially of the earliest codices, be not held in less estimation by us than by those who are not with us ; for both these branches are of great mument in the studies in question.'

In the second place, the authority of the Sacred Scriptures must be maintained absolute and entire. The Commissioners ' must; work especially to prevent among Catholics the prevalence of that objectionable mode of thinking and acting which attributes undue weight to the opinions of the heterodox, almost as though the true Knowledge of Scripture were to be sought principally in the show of erudition made by those who do not belong to us For no Catholic can doubt that God did not deliver up the Scriptures to the private judgment of doctors, but gave them to be interpreted by the teaching authority of the Church ' ; and the legitimate sense of Holy Scripture is not to be found outside the Church, nor can it be given by those who reject her teaching and authority. And in the third place, the Commission must give special attention to the positive work of expounding tbe Sacred Scripture, as this is of the greatest benefit to the faithful. The special principles to be observed in this work of exposition are thus expressed : ' It is hardly necessary to say that in texts, the sense of which has been determined either by the sacred authors or has been authentically declared by the Church, men must be convinced that this is the only interpretation that can be approved according to sound hermeneutics. On the other hand, there are quite a number of texts on which there has hitherto been given no certain and definite exposition by the Church, and here private doctors may follow and defend that opinion which seems to them individually to be the most reasonable, but in these cases the analogy of faith, and Catholic teaching are to be followed as a guiding principle.

So much for the general scope of the Commission and the leading principles on which it is to act. Two other somewhat delicate incidental matters are dealt with with that fineness of touch so eminently characteristic of his Holiness. Treating of the relation of Catholic students to non-Catholic writers the Holy Father says-. — 'Although it has now become an established Catholic practice to take advantage of the writings of others, especially in criticism, this must be done always with caution and a judicious spirit. Our own workers will, with Our emphatic sanction, cultivate the art of criticism as being of prime importance for the understanding of the opinion of hagiographers. We have no objection that in this branch they make use of aid furnished by the heterodox. They must be on their guard, however, not to be led thereby to intemperance of judgment, for this is frequently the result of the system known as the higher criticism, the dangerous temerity of which We have more than once denounced.' And he indicates the spirit in which the Commissioners are to approach their work in the following tactful words : ' When the questions of this kind come under discussion great care must be taken- not to allow the heat of argument to outstep the bounds of Christian charity, and the revealed truths and divine traditions themselves to seem to be made a matter of doubt* For it would be idle to hope for great results from the divers studies of many individuals without a certain principle of agreement and the frank recognition of fundamental principles. Wherefore ifc will also form a part of the work of the Council. to ensure a due and dignified treatment of the principal questions discussed between Catholic doctors, and to afford all the light and authority of which they are possessed to the attainment of a decision.'

Six months ago, when the Holy Father's intention in this matter was first announced, we wrote : 'We confess that we hope for gieat things from this Commission,' and our hopes are even higher and surer now that we have full details of the Holy Father's great scheme. The project gives eveiy promise of a great and important future. In the first place, this Commission will make tangible and visible to all men the good work which is being done by the Church in promoting Biblical interpretation, and will" ' take away in the eyes of all the world the reproach which is so often flung at us that the Catholic Church ignores and neglects all technical and critical study of the sacred text. In the second place it will supply an authoritative answer to the many vexed questions that from time to time press for solution ; or as the Holy Father puts it, 'it will afford the Apostolic See time to declare at the proper moment what is to be inviolably held by Catholics, what is to be reserved for further investigation, and what is to be left to the judgment of private individuals.' In the third place, with all the exceptional advantages which it possesses, theCommission will, we believe, earn a special name and reputation for itself so that in time it will come to be looked upon, not only by Catholics but by non-Catholics also, as the greatest authority in the world on the subjects with which it deals. Whether that be so or not it is eminently fitting that at the dawn of the twentieth century the Church which bis in the past so carefully guarded the Holy Scriptures should be building fresh bulwarks and throwing up fresh ramparts to protect God's written Word from attack, and to preserve it for the faithful in all its primitive beauty, simplicity and integrity.

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