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Given by His
Holiness Pope Leo XIII
December 8, 1892
To the Italian
People.
1. Guardians of that faith to which the Christian nations owe their morality
and civil redemption, We must dutifully discharge each one of Our supreme
tasks. Therefore We must raise Our voice in loud protestations against the
impious war which tries to take such a precious treasure away from you, beloved
children. Already taught by long and sorrowful experience, you know well
the terrible trials of this war, you who deplore it in your hearts as Catholics
and as Italians. Can one be Italian in name and sentiment and not resent
these continual offenses against divine beliefs? These beliefs are the most
beautiful of our glories, for they gave to Italy its primacy over the other
nations and to Rome the spiritual scepter of the world. They likewise made
the wonderful edifice of Christian civilization rise over the ruins of paganism
and barbarism.
Can we be Catholic in mind and heart and gaze with dry eyes on that land
where our wondrous Redeemer deigned to establish the seat of His kingdom?
Now We see His teachings attacked and His reverence outraged, His Church
embattled and His Vicar opposed. So many souls redeemed by His blood are
now lost, the choicest portion of His flock, a people faithful to Him for
nineteen centuries. How can We bear to look upon His chosen people exposed
to a constant and ever-present danger of apostasy, pushed toward error and
vice, material miseries, and moral degradation?
2. This war is directed at the same time against the heavenly and the earthly
kingdoms, against the faith of our ancestors and the culture which they handed
on to us. It is thus doubly evil, being guilty of a divine offense no less
than a human one. Is its chief source not that very masonic sect which We
discussed at length in the encyclical "Humanum genus" of April 20, 1884,
and in the more recent one of October 15, 1890, addressed to the bishops,
the clergy and the Italian people? With these two letters We tore from the
face of masonry the mask which it used to hide itself and We showed it in
its crude deformity and dark fatal activity.
3. We shall restrict Ourselves now to its deplorable effects on Italy. For
a long time now it has bored its way under the deceitful guise of a philanthropic
society and redeemer of the Italian people. By way of conspiracies, corruptions,
and violences, it has finally come to dominate Italy and even Rome. To what
troubles, to what calamities has it opened the way in a little more than
thirty years?
4. Our country has seen and suffered great evils in such a short span of
time, for the faith of our fathers has been made a sign for persecutions
of every sort. The satanic intent of the persecutors has been to substitute
naturalism for Christianity, the worship of reason for the worship of faith,
so-called independent morality for Catholic morality, and material progress
for spiritual progress. To the holy maxims and laws of the Gospel, they have
opposed laws and maxims which can be called the code of revolution. They
have also opposed an atheistic doctrine and a vile realism to school, science,
and the Christian arts. Having invaded the temple of the Lord, they have
squandered the booty of the Church's goods, the greatest part of the inheritance
necessary for the ministers, and reduced the number of priests by the
conscription of clerics beyond the limits of extreme need. If the administration
of the sacraments could not be impeded, they sought nonetheless to introduce
and promote civil marriages and funerals. If they have not yet succeeded
in seizing control of education and the direction of charitable institutions,
they always aim with perseverance to laicize everything, which is to remove
the mark of Christianity from it. If they could not silence the voice of
the Catholic press, they made every effort to discredit and revile it.
5. In this battle against the Catholic religion, what partiality and
contradictions there are! They closed monasteries and convents, but they
let multiply at will Masonic lodges and sectarian dens. They proclaimed the
right of association, while the legal rights which all kinds of organizations
use and abuse are denied to religious societies. They proclaim freedom of
religion and reserve odious intolerance and vexations precisely for the religion
of the Italians—which, for that reason, should be assured respect and
a special protection. They made protests and great promises for the protection
of the dignity and independence of the pope, but you see their daily contempt
of Our person. All kinds of public shows find an open field; yet this or
that Catholic demonstration is either prohibited or disturbed. They encourage
schisms, apostasies, and revolts against legitimate superiors in the Church.
Religious vows and especially religious obedience are rebuked as contrary
to human dignity and freedom, while impious associations which bind their
followers by wicked oaths and demand blind, absolute obedience in crime are
allowed to flourish with impunity.
6. We do not wish to exaggerate the Masonic power by attributing to its direct
and immediate action all the evils which presently preoccupy Us. However,
you can clearly see its spirit in the facts which We have just recorded and
in many others which We could recall. That spirit, which is the implacable
enemy of Christ and of the Church, tries all ways, uses all arts, and prevails
upon all means. It seizes from the Church its first-born daughter and seizes
from Christ His favored nation, the seat of His Vicar on earth and the center
of Catholic unity. To see the evil and efficacious influence of this spirit
on our affairs, We have more than a few fleeting indications and the series
of facts which have succeeded themselves for thirty years. Proud of its
successes, the sect herself has spoken out and told us all its past
accomplishments and future goals. It regards the public powers as its
instruments, witting or not, which is to say that the impious sect boasts
as one of its principal works the religious persecution which has troubled
and is troubling our Italy. Though often executed by other hands, this
persecution is inspired and promoted by masonry, in an immediate or mediate,
direct or indirect manner, by flattery or threats, seduction or revolution.
7. The road is very short from religious to social ruin. The heart of man
is no longer raised to heavenly hopes and loves; capable and needing the
infinite, it throws itself insatiably on the goods of this earth. Inevitably
there is a perpetual struggle of avid passions to enjoy, become rich, and
rise. Then we encounter a large and inexhaustible source of grudges, discords,
corruptions, and crimes. In our Italy there was no lack of moral and social
disorders before the present events—but what a sorrowful spectacle we
see in our days! That loving respect which forms domestic harmony is
substantially diminished; paternal authority is too often unrecognized by
children and parents alike. Disagreements are frequent, divorce common. Civil
discords and resentful anger between the various orders increase every day
in the cities. New generations which grew up in a spirit of misunderstood
freedom are unleashed in the cities, generations which do not respect anything
from above or below. The cities teem with incitements to vice, precocious
crimes, and public scandals. The state should be content with the high and
noble office of recognizing, protecting, and helping divine and human rights
in their harmonious universality. Now, however, the state believes itself
almost a judge and disowns these rights or restricts them at will. Finally,
the general social order is undermined at its foundations. Books and journals,
schools and universities, clubs and theaters, monuments and political discourse,
photographs and the fine arts, everything conspires to pervert minds and
corrupt hearts. Meanwhile the oppressed and suffering people tremble and
the anarchic sects arouse themselves. The working classes raise their heads
and go to swell the ranks of socialism, communism, and anarchy. Characters
exhaust themselves and many souls, no longer knowing how to suffer nobly
nor how to redeem themselves manfully, take their lives with cowardly suicide.
8. Such are the fruits which the Masonic sect has borne to us Italians. And
after that it yearns to come before you, extolling its merits towards Italy.
It likewise yearns to give Us and all those who, heeding Our words, remain
faithful to Jesus Christ, the calumnious title of enemies of the state. The
facts reveal the merits of this guilty sect toward our peninsula, "merits"
which bear repeating. The facts say that Masonic patriotism is no less than
sectarian egotism which yearns to dominate everything, particularly the modern
states which unite and concentrate everything in their hands. The facts say
that in the plans of masonry, the names of political independence, equality,
civilization, and progress aimed to facilitate the independence of man from
God in our country. From them, license of error and vice and union of faction
at the expense of other citizens have grown. The easy and delicious enjoyment
of life by the world's fortunate is nurtured in the same source. A people
redeemed by divine blood have thus returned to divisions, corruptions, and
the shames of paganism.
9. That does not surprise Us.—After nineteen centuries of Christian
civilization, this sect tries to overthrow the Catholic Church and to cut
off its divine sources. It absolutely denies the supernatural, repudiating
every revelation and all the means of salvation which revelation shows us.
Through its plans and works, it bases itself solely and entirely on such
a weak and corrupt nature as ours. Such a sect cannot be anything other than
the height of pride, greed, and sensuality. Now, pride oppresses, greed plunders,
and sensuality corrupts. When these three concupiscences are brought to the
extreme, the oppressions, greed, and seductive corruptions spread slowly.
They take on boundless dimensions and become the oppression, plundering and
source of corruption of an entire people.
10. Let Us then show you masonry as an enemy of God, Church, and country.
Recognize it as such once and for all, and with all the weapons which reason,
conscience, and faith put in your hands, defend yourselves from such a proud
foe. Let no one be taken in by its attractive appearance or allured by its
promises; do not be seduced by its enticements or frightened by its threats.
Remember that Christianity and masonry are essentially irreconcilable, such
that to join one is to divorce the other. You can no longer ignore such
incompatibility between Catholic and mason, beloved children: you have been
warned openly by Our predecessors, and We have loudly repeated the warning.
11. Those who, by some supreme misfortune, have given their name to one of
these societies of perdition should know that they are strictly bound to
separate themselves from it. Otherwise they must remain separated from Christian
communion and lose their soul now and for eternity. Parents, teachers,
godparents, and whoever has care of others should also know that a rigorous
duty binds them to keep their wards from this guilty sect or to draw them
from it if they have already entered.
12. In a matter of such importance and where the seduction is so easy in
these times, it is urgent that the Christian watch himself from the beginning.
He should fear the least danger, avoid every occasion, and take the greatest
precautions. Use all the prudence of the serpent, while keeping in your heart
the simplicity of the dove, according to the evangelical counsel. Fathers
and mothers should be wary of inviting strangers into their homes or admitting
them to domestic intimacy, at least insofar as their faith is not sufficiently
known. They should try to first ascertain that an astute recruiter of the
sect does not hide himself in the guise of a friend, teacher, doctor or other
benefactor. Oh, in how many families has the wolf penetrated in sheep's clothing!
13. It is beautiful to see the varied groups which arise everywhere today
in every order of social life: worker groups, groups of mutual aid and social
security, organizations to promote science, arts, letters, and other similar
things. When they are inspired by a good moral and religious spirit, these
groups certainly prove to be useful and proper. But because the Masonic poison
has penetrated and continues to penetrate here also, especially here, any
groups that remove themselves from religious influence should be generally
suspect. They can easily be directed and more or less dominated by masons,
becoming the sowing-ground and the apprenticeship of the sect in addition
to providing assistance to it.
14. Women should not join philanthropic societies whose nature and purpose
are not well-known without first seeking advice from wise and experienced
people. That talkative philanthropy which is opposed to Christian charity
with such pomp is often the passport for Masonic business.
15. Everyone should avoid familiarity or friendship with anyone suspected
of belonging to masonry or to affiliated groups. Know them by their fruits
and avoid them. Every familiarity should be avoided, not only with those
impious libertines who openly promote the character of the sect, but also
with those who hide under the mask of universal tolerance, respect for all
religions, and the craving to reconcile the maxims of the Gospel with those
of the revolution. These men seek to reconcile Christ and Belial, the Church
of God and the state without God
16. Every Christian should shun books and journals which distill the poison
of impiety and which stir up the fire of unrestrained desires or sensual
passions. Groups and reading clubs where the Masonic spirit stalks its prey
should be likewise shunned.
17. In addition, since we are dealing with a sect which has pervaded everything,
it is not enough to remain on the defensive. We must courageously go out
into the battlefield and confront it. That is what you will do, beloved children,
opposing press to press, school to school, organization to organization,
congress to congress, action to action.
18. Masonry has taken control of the public schools, leaving private schools,
paternal schools, and those directed by zealous ecclesiastics and religious
of both sexes to compete in the education of Christian youth. Christian parents
especially should not entrust the education of their children to uncertain
schools. Masonry has confiscated the inheritance of public charity; fill
the void, then, with the treasure of private relief. It has placed pious
works in the hands of its followers, so you should entrust those that depend
on you to Catholic institutions. It opens and maintains houses of vice, leaving
you to do what is possible to open and maintain shelters for honesty in danger.
An anti-Christian press in religious and secular matters militates at its
expense, so that your effort and money are required by the Catholic press.
Masonry establishes societies of mutual help and credit unions for its partisans;
you should do the same not only for your brothers but for all the indigent.
This will show that true and sincere charity is the daughter of the One who
makes the sun to rise and the rain to fall on the just man and sinner alike.
19. May this struggle between good and evil extend to everything, and may
good prevail. Masonry holds frequent meetings to plan new ways to combat
the Church, and you should hold them frequently to better agree on the means
and order of defense. It multiplies its lodges, so that you should multiply
Catholic clubs and parochial groups, promote charitable associations and
prayer organizations, and maintain and increase the splendor of the temple
of God. The sect, having nothing to fear, today shows its face to the light
of day. You Italian Catholics should also make open profession of your faith
and follow the example of your glorious ancestors who confessed their faith
bravely before tyrants, torture, and death. What more? Does the sect try
to enslave the Church and to put it at the feet of the state as a humble
servant? You must then demand and claim for it the freedom and independence
due it before the law. Does masonry seek to tear apart Catholic unity, sowing
discord even in the clergy itself, arousing quarrels, fomenting strife, and
inciting insubordination, revolt, and schism? By tightening the sacred bond
of charity and obedience, you can thwart its plans, bring to naught its efforts,
and disappoint its hopes. Be all of one heart and one mind, like the first
Christians. Gathered around the See of Peter and united to your pastors,
protect the supreme interests of Church and papacy, which are just as much
the supreme interests of Italy and of all the Christian world. The Apostolic
See has always been the inspirer and jealous guardian of Italian glory.
Therefore, be Italians and Catholics, free and non-sectarian, faithful to
the nation as well as to Christ and His visible Vicar. An anti-Christian
and anti-papal Italy would truly be opposed to the divine plan, and thus
condemned to perish.
20. Beloved children, faith and state speak to you at this time through Us.
Listen to their cry, arise together and fight manfully the battles of the
Lord. May the number, boldness, and strength of the enemy not frighten you,
because God is stronger than they; if God is for you, who can be against
you?
21. Redouble your prayers so that God might be with you in a greater abundance
of grace, fighting and triumphing with you. Accompany your prayers with the
practice of the Christian virtues, especially charity toward the needy. Seek
God's mercies with humility and perseverance, renewing every day the promises
of your baptism.
22. As a pledge of these things and as a sign of Our paternal love, We bestow
on you Our apostolic blessing, beloved children.
Given in Rome at Saint Peter's, the eighth day of December, 1892, in the
fifteenth year of Our pontificate. |
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