CHRISTIAN RECONCILIATION OF PEOPLES

New Zealand Tablet, 2 September 1920, Page 19

CHRISTIAN RECONCILIATION OF PEOPLES

ENCYCLICAL BY HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XV. ..... ‘ Following is ”an authorised translation'of the full •text of the Encyclical on, the Christian Reconciliation of Peoples, issued by Pope Benedict XV. on Pentecost ■Sunday, May 23 —• ■ To the Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, Bishops ; and Ordinaries in peace and communion with the Holy See. Venerable brethren, health and Apostolic Benediction. Peace, the great gift of God, than Avhich, in St. Augustine s words, there is no happier thing among men, nothing more desirable or better; peace, which ■all good people have implored for more than four years with the prayers of the faithful and the tears of mothers, has finally begun to shine among the peoples, and Ave are among the first to rejoice at it. But still too many and too bitter anxieties disturb this Our paternal joy, for if almost everyAvhere the Avar has- in ;a way come to an end, and several treaties of peace have been signed, nevertheless the germs of old bitterness remain; and you know Avell, venerable brethren, that no peace can have consistency, no alliance cm have strength though elaborated in daily laborious 'conferences and solemnly sanctioned, if at the same time hatreds and enmities are not quenched by means ■of a reconciliation based on mutual charity. y it is on this consideration, which is full of anxiety en tK We wish to dwell, venerable" en, that at the same time the peoples entrusted to .your care may have it brought home to them Excited PoAA r for Peace. -ITT In ever since by the hidden designs of God ■ceased to T* t0 (I ‘ he See of We have nevlf ceased to do everything , n Our power, from the very mmbf nng of t „ I War ' that all nations of the world -that endT C ° ldial rela ," S among themselves. To that end We never ceased to pray, to repeat exhoi'ta■means in IT! WayS ? f ™ngement, to try every sort In -i n ’ a °P en by Divine aid a door of some ra.Wttij Oil "t -sormv^L'id^dis^te^ 6 f everywhereUiat terrible loacLof 'immense tragedy. 1 ° ' y S ° rt accom Pauying the ’troubled Polrtiflcate tL‘T“ ‘I* 16 . be f miin S of Our Us to work for !’ * ,iU / 7of Jesus Christ. led the horrors of war so °/u P eace and . to alleviate ■been finally concluded h°T a Certa ‘ u P eace has urges Us to exhort 'better, SmSfthe ?'■ ■the old bitterness and mVo ’,l ,• e T ma y put aside 'concord. S and B lve P la « to mutual love and ■how “Vanity o is"Tntrri.y S to o it °? •*<"** tors if, while peace indeoA .^ e 118 / ot terrible disas- • tility and enmity amrail the Collcluded - '“tent nos■need to dwell on the harm to all S t fmft'T ' T ° itiu°e" and theTfa’an „TTT(I “"“I iudustr Kterai ipeoples live together in tranquilly °" ly "’ he, “ the ■ done to thTv.rTr ta, ;‘ of ha ™ would be ■tially based on c s- ? ote,-s----°f ° hr ‘ st - “** £- * r^l" ■called to mind 8 TiT’ kllow alld as We have often ■tauaht L I br S S ° ° ften and 80 insistently taught of the Divine Master to His disciples as this dudes H°it fra n enial - ° harity is the one which in. PreSnt L he ltself : and Our Lord called that :rr i ie u an H ? T n ’ desirin S that it should be might P hall-mark of the Christians, by which they •might.. easily be-distinguished from all others.

No other, indeed, was the testament that He left to His followers when He died, praying them to love one another, and loving one another , try to imitate the ineffable unity that exists between the Persons of the Holy Trinity; “That they may be, one as We also ate one, that they be made perfect in one." And the Apostles, following the order of the Divine Master and taught by His very voice, were unceasing in their exhortation to the faithful: “But before all things have a constant mutual charity among yourselves ; and above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection;” “dearly beloA’ed, let us love one another, for charity is of God." the teaching of Jesus Christ and of the Apostles was faithfully observed by, Our brethern of the old ,times, who belonged indeed to different nations, often at war among themselves, but who nevertheless wiped out the record of past differences in voluntary oblivion and lived in, perfect concord. And indeed there was marked contrast between such intimate union of minds and hearts and the deadly hostilities that then broke out among the nations. What has already been said to teach. the precept of charity holds good for the pardoning of offences, no less solemnly commanded by the Lord: “But I say to you, love your enemies; do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you, that you may be the children of your Father Who is in Heaven, Who maketh His sun to rise upon the good and bad.” Hence that terribly severe warning of the Apostle St. John; “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in himself.” Forgiveness of Enemies. Finally, Jesus Christ has taught us to pray the Lord, so that we ask for forgiveness on condition of forgiving others: “And forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors." And if sometimes the observance of this law seems to be severe and difficult, the Redeemer of the human race Himself assists us not only with the Divine Grace but also by His admirable example, for as He hung on the Cross He prayed pardon of His Father for those who so unjustly and wickedly tortured Him; “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." We, too, should be the first to imitate the pity and loving kindness of Jesus Christ, whose Vicar We are here, though without any merit of Our own; with all Our heart, following His example. We ' forgive all any every one of Our enemies who knowingly or unknowingly have heaped and are still heaping on Our person and Our work every sort of vituperation, and We embrace all with supreme charity and benevolence, neglecting no opportunity to do them all the good in Our power, and that is indeed what Christians really worthy of the name are bound to do towards those from whom they have received offences during the Avar. Christian charity, in fact, is not confined to not bating our enemies and loving them as brothers : it desires also that A\’e do good to them, following the rule of the Divine Master, Who “went about doinggood and healing all that Avere oppressed by the devil,’’ and ran the course of His mortal life giving it all • p to doing untold good to men, even shedding His blood foi them. So said St. John : “In this we have known the charity of God, because Pie hath laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. He that hath the substance of this world and shall see his brother in need and shall shut up his bowels from him, lioav doth the, charity of God abide in him ? My little children, let us not loa'6 in word nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

Days* of Sorrow. Never indeed was there a time when we should "spread the limits of charity" more than in these days of universal suffering and sorrow; never perhaps as to-day has humanity needed that common beneficence which grows from sincere love of our neighbor and is full of sacrifice and fervor. For if we look anywhere

where the fury of the war has : passed we see immense regions utterly desolate and squalid; multitude's reduced to such extremes as to be without bread, clothing, and- shelter; innumerable widows and orphans awaiting help from someone; and, lastly, a great crowd of enfeebled beings,- particularly infants and children, whose, malformed bodies bear witness to the atrocity of war. ' • ’..A'j . To the mind of anyone who sees this picture of misery by which the human race is oppressed there must come back at once the story of the Gospel traveller who was journeying from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves, who robbed him and covered* him with wounds and left him half dead by the wayside. The two cases are very much alike; and as to the traveller there came the good Samaritan, full of compassion, who bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine over them, took him to the inn and undertook all care of him, so as to cure the wounds of the human race the hand is needed of Jesus Christ, of whom the Samaritan was figure and image. That indeed is the work which the Church takes upon itself as heir and guardian of the spirit of Jesus Christthe Church whose entire existence is a marvellously varied network of good deeds, the Church, “that real mother of Christians, which has such tenderness of love for its neighbor that for every one of the different evils which trouble the soul with sin it has ready every kind of medicine,” and so “treats and guides children as children, young men with courage and strength, old people with quiet calm, as each had his condition not only in body but in soul.” And all this many-sided Christian beneficence, by sweetening the spirit, has wonderful effect in restoring tranquillity to the peoples.

Appeal to Journalists. Therefore We pray you, venerable brethren, and We exhort you in the bowels of charity of Jesus Christ, do everything in your power, not only to urge the faithful entrusted to you to lay aside hatred and pardon offences, but also to promote more actively all those works of Christian benevolence which bring aid to the needy, comfort to the afflicted, protection to the weakopportune assistance, in fact, of every kind to all who have suffered most gravely through the war. We wish that you should specially exhort your priests, as ministers of peace, to be assiduous in this work, which is indeed the very compendium of the Christian life, in preaching love towards one’s neighbors, even if enemies, and being “all things to all men.” So as to afford a shining example, let them wage war everywhere on enmity and hatred, knowing well that in doing so they are doing a thing very welcome to- the most Loving Heart of Jesus and to him who, however unworthy, is His Vicar here on earth. And in this connection also they should exhort and pray Catholic journalists and writers in that “as elect of God, holy and beloved,” they may clothe themselves in’ “the bowels of mercy and benignity,” expressing it in their writings, abstaining not only from false and empty accusations, but also from all intemperance and bitterness of language, which is contrary to the law of Christ, and does no more than re-open sores as yet unhealed , especially in that men who are suffering bitterly from recent wounds find it difficult to endure even the lightest injury. ~ • All that We have said here to individuals about their duty of practising charity We wish to apply also to those peoples who have fought the great war, in order that, when every cause of disagreement has been removed as far as possible, and saving of course reasons of justice, they may resume friendly relations among themselves. For the Evangelic law of charity is the same between „„ i,„j. __ <-,< , * , r 4- , . . anuiv.uuUiij cio between otaces ana nations, the are indeed but collections -of individuals five? the moment that the war ended, both from moof thin f a<f h +? ty T d k S ° throUgh a ! certain necessity Aether nf’fl *f S begUn a universal drawing together of the peoples, moved to unite by their mutual

; needs ,as well as by . reciprocal benevolence, which is more marked now that civilisation is sd extended and means of communication so marvellously increased.

Catholic Princes May Visit Rome. Truly, as We have already said, this Apostolic See has never wearied of teaching during the war such pardon of offences and the fraternal, reconciliation of the peoples, in conformity with the most holy law of Jesus Christ and in agreement with the needs of humanity; nor did it allow that these moral principles should be forgotten, even in the clash of dissension and hatred. And • now, after the treaties of peace, it puts forward these principles and proclaims them even more strongly, as indeed it did a short time ago in the letter to the Bishops of Germany and in the letter addressed to the Archbishop of Paris. , And inasmuch as one very useful means of maintaining and increasing this concord among the peoples is found in the visits which the heads of States and Governments are accustomed to exchange to consult on matters of special importance, considering the changed circumstances of the time and "the dangerous trend of events, in order to co-operate in this brotherhood of the peoples We are willing to mitigate in some measure the severity of the conditions which were justly laid down by Our predecessors, when the civil power of the; Holy See was destroyed, to exclude visits to Rome of Catholic Princes in official form. But at the same time We solemnly proclaim that this concession, determined, or rather willed, as is seen, on account of the seriousness of the present’ times, must not be interpreted as a tacit renunciation of sacrosanct '-rights as if the Holy See were satisfied with the abnormal condition in which it is now placed. Indeed, the protests which Our predecessors have several times made, not in the least moved thereto by human interests but by the sanctity of duty, to defend the dignity and rights of this Apostolic See, We on this occasion renew for the very same reasons, claiming once again and with even greater insistence that now that peace is made among the nations “for the Head of the Church too an end may be put to that abnormal condition which does serious harm, for many reasons, to that very tranquillity of the peoples.”

Society of Nations Desirable. Things being thus restored in the order desired by justice and charity, and the peoples reconciled among themselves, it would be truly desirable, venerable brethren, that ail States should put aside mutual suspicion and unite in one sole society or rather family of peoples, both to guarantee their own independence and safeguard order in the civil concert of the peoples. A. special reason, not to mention others, for forming this society among the nations, is the need generally recognised of reducing, if it is not possible to abolish it entirely, the enormous military expenditure which can no longer be borne by the States, in order that in this way murderous and disastrous wars may be prevented, and to each people may be assured, in the just confines, the independence and integrity of its own territory.” - - And once this League among i the nations is founded on the Christian law in all that regards justice and charity, the Church will surely not refuse its valid aid, inasmuch as being itself the most perfect type of universal society ; through its very essence and its aims it has wonderful power for bringing this brotherhood among men, not only for their eternal salvation but also for their material well-being; it leads them, that is, through temporal happiness so as not to lose the eternal. Indeed, we know from history that when the Church pervaded with its spirit the ancient and barbarous nations of Europe, little by little the many and varied differences that divided them disappeared; in time they joined together in a homogeneous society from which originated modern Europe, which, under the guidance and auspices of the Church, while it preserved for each nation its own characteristics, culminated in a compact unity bringing prosperity and great-

ness. Well does St. Augustine say in this regard: “This celestial city, while in exile here on earth, calls to itself citizens of every nation and forms out of all the peoples one sole pilgrim society; no thought is had of differences in customs, laws, x and institutions; everything which tends to the conquest and maintenance of peace on earth the Church, far from repudiating and destroying, .jealously preserves ; for, however these things may vary among the nations, they are all directed to the same end of peace on earth, as long as they do not hinder the exercise of the religion which teaches adoration of the one supreme true God.” And the same holy teacher thus spoke to the Church: “Citizens, peoples, and all men, recalling their common origin, thou shalt not only unite among themselves but shalt make them brothers.” We meanwhile, coming back to what We said at the beginning, turn affectionately to all Our children and conjure therti, in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, to forget mutual differences and offences and draw together in the embrace of Christian charity before which there are no strangers and we fervently exhort, too, all the nations that, under the influence of Christian benevolence they establish a true peace among themselves, and join together in one single alliance which, under the auspices of justice, will be lasting; and, finally, we appeal to all the men and all the peoples of the earth to adhere in mind ami heart to the Catholic Church, and through the Church to Christ, the Redeemer of the human race, so that we may address to them in very truth the words of St. Paul to (he Ephesians: “Rut now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were afar off are. made nigh by the blood of Christ. For lie is our peace Who hath made both one, and breaking down the middle wall of partition . . . killing the enmities in Himself. And coming He preached peace to you that were afar off and peace to them that were nigh.” Nor less appropriate are the words which the same Apostles addressed to the Colossians : “Lie not one to another; stripping yourselves of the old man with his deeds and putting on the new, him who is renewed unto knowledge according to the image of Him Who created him ; where there is neither Gentile nor Jew. circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian nor Scvthian, bond nor free, but Christ is all and in all.” Meanwhile, trusting in the protection of the Virgin Immaculate, who not long ago We directed should be universally invoked as “Queen of Peace,” as also in that of the three new Saints, we humbly implore the Divine Spirit the Paraclete that He may ‘Graciously grant to the Church the gift of unity and peace,’ and with even further outpouring of charity for the common salvation may renew the face of the earth. As harbinger of these celestial gifts and as pledge of Our paternal benevolence, We "impart with all Our heart to you, venerable brethren, to all your clergy and people, the Apostolic Benediction. Given in Rome at St. Peter’s the 23rd day of May, the solemnity of Pentecost, 1920, the sixth 'year ol Our Pontificate. J BENEDICT XV. POPE.