Papal Encyclical of Pope Benedict XIV On the Instruction of the faithful (English translation)
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| Portrait of Pope Benedict XIV |
ETSI MINIME
OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF BENEDICT XIV
1. Since We address persons well-versed in the law and exhort prudent Bishops of the Churches, who lack neither piety nor the resources of Sacred Scriptures, We deem it superfluous to repeat with extensive arguments that it is insufficient, for attaining heavenly happiness, to believe vaguely and indistinctly the Mysteries revealed by God and taught by the Catholic Church. This heavenly doctrine, transmitted by God and received through hearing, must be received from the voice of a legitimate and faithful teacher, in such a way that its fundamental truths are individually explained and proposed to the faithful as truths to believe, some out of necessity of means, others out of necessity for precept. Even though We affirm that justification is obtained through Faith, as it is the principle and foundation of salvation, leading ultimately to the desired lasting city, it is equally clear that Faith alone is not sufficient. One must know the path and constantly remain on it, that is, the precepts of God and the Church, the virtues to be cultivated and the vices to be carefully avoided.
2. All of this is encompassed in the rudiments of the Catholic Faith or, as it is commonly called, in Christian Doctrine. In particular, it is the responsibility of Bishops to ensure that this is taught methodically and clearly throughout all Dioceses and places, and they cannot neglect it without tacitly condemning themselves in conscience. Rather, they must devote all their care and diligence to this supremely necessary work. We do not assert that this duty is so exclusively assigned to the Bishop as to require his constant presence in teaching Christian Doctrine, personally interrogating children and explaining the Mysteries of the Faith we profess. We know very well the heavy burdens imposed by the apostolic ministry upon pastoral care. Our own experience in governing, first the Church of Ancona, and later that of Bologna taught Us how a Prelate who strives to fulfil his duties entirely is beset by endless and diverse concerns like the waves of the sea. A Bishop will fulfil this responsibility if, at times other than during the Pastoral Visit, he occasionally attends where sound doctrine is imparted to Christians, questions boys and girls about what they have learned, and explains with his own words the Mysteries of our Religion. Such pastoral involvement will be greatly beneficial to the flock entrusted to him, and his example will encourage others to labour zealously in the vineyard of the Lord of hosts.
3. This manner of caring for the Church was established almost as a law ,not only by ancient but also by more recent Prelates included in the roll of the Blessed, such as Charles Borromeo, Francis de Sales, Turibius, and Alexander Sauli. Some of them, as their writings attest, when hindered by greater tasks, assigned this grave duty to a Vicar chosen from among the Canons or Priests, who would take on this pastoral ministry to educate the young in the fundamental truths of the Faith and the duties of Religion.
4. Therefore, the Bishop’s example, as mentioned above, will be of immense importance and great utility for the spiritual growth of souls if he carries out this duty in all parishes, at all times, and especially during his visits throughout the Diocese. However, as anyone can imagine, his strength alone will not suffice. To achieve the desired goal, it is necessary that he diligently ensures those he selects as Vicars in this praiseworthy and meritorious labour are imbued with zeal and diligence.
5. First of all, there are two imposed by the Council of Trent on those who have the care of souls. The first is to deliver sermons on divine matters on feast days. The second is to teach the rudiments of the Faith to children and anyone ignorant of the Divine Law. If parish priests, on the appointed days, deliver the required homily—one that does not burden the ears with persuasive words of human wisdom but instils the Spirit in the hearts of listeners through words suited to their understanding; if they proclaim a Mystery, particularly during the season when the Church commemorates it, sowing what incites virtue and rejects vices, especially the gravest ones that most shamefully plague the people; if on these same days, they nurture children, as if newborns, with the milk of Doctrine, questioning them individually, resolving doubts, and clarifying uncertainties; if finally, as the Apostle directs, they devote themselves to reading, exhortation, and teaching so that the believer may become perfect and prepared for every good work—then it is permissible to hope that the results will meet expectations and that a people pleasing to God and zealous for good works will easily emerge.
6. Experience has shown that the labour of the parish priest alone is insufficient since one cannot teach everyone when the number of the faithful surpasses the capacity of the teacher. Yet the Bishop who devotes his heart and zeal to the welfare of the Church entrusted to him will never be without adequate remedies. He will be able to appeal to those who are approaching the Tonsure, to those who are approaching the dignity of the Priesthood by climbing the steps of the Minor and Major Orders, and to those who, finally, are working to find a way to secure ecclesiastical benefits. The Bishop will remind them, with authoritative and harsh words (and let deeds correspond to words), that he will never consent to the Tonsure, once the proper age has been reached, or to the conferral of Minor Orders, but especially of Major Orders, of those who have neglected to assure the parish priests of their availability to teach Christian Doctrine. The Bishop should assign these clerics to individual parishes in his City and Diocese, designating some to specific Churches. Moreover, he should make it known, with assurances, that diligence and zeal in this work will weigh significantly in the granting of parishes and other benefices by the law. This will ensure it is evident that the task of teaching is not the exclusive responsibility of the Diocesan head but that many must collaborate to accomplish his mandate.
7. To all this, it must be added that, with the Sacred Apostolic Constitutions, and particularly with the seventh of Leo X, our predecessor of happy memory, appropriate provisions have been established to ensure that schoolmasters, in teaching their pupils, and pious women, in instructing young girls (under the earnest exhortation of the Bishop), nourish and strengthen them with sound and pure doctrine, as though it were vital nourishment. It is also well established that the Bishop himself can and must firmly encourage sacred preachers to instil in the ears and minds of parents, during sermons, the importance of instructing their children in the truths of our Religion. Should the parents be unable to fulfil this duty, it will be necessary to bring the children to church, where the Precepts of the Divine Law are explained. In many places (and where it does not yet exist, it should be introduced), the pious and praiseworthy custom has also taken root of laypersons—both men and women—offering assistance to the parish priest in fulfilling this task. These lay helpers dedicate themselves to Christian instruction by listening to children and young girls recite from memory the Our Father, the Angelic Salutation, the Apostles’ Creed, and all other prayers. In other locations, congregations have been established for the purpose of teaching Christian Doctrine, an institution rightfully praised by Pius V of holy memory in his Constitution beginning with Ex debito. He urged that these congregations be promoted with all diligence in every Diocese. If all these measures, directed toward the same purpose, are carefully cultivated, they will provide everyone with the assured certainty that, although the labourers are few where the harvest is abundant, there will be no lack of those who will break the bread for the children who implore it.
8. It is also well known that not only children and those of more mature years lie in ignorance of divine matters, but also men and even the elderly are often found to be quite unaware of the saving doctrine, either because they never learned it or because, having once acquired it long ago, forgetfulness has gradually erased it. This ailment, too, can be remedied by the provident diligence of Bishops if their collaborators take care to employ the remedies provided with proper attention.
9. Turning our attention to those in early childhood, many seek admission to the Holy Eucharist and Confirmation. Indeed, few fail to show a strong will for this, as though driven by an irresistible desire. Therefore, the Bishop should admonish parish priests and firmly command them not to admit to the Sacrament of the Eucharist, nor to issue the so-called Confirmation Card, to anyone who does not know the fundamentals of the Faith and Doctrine, as well as the value and efficacy of the Sacrament. In this way, the needs of early childhood may be well addressed.
10. As for adolescents, since each one receives their own gift from God, experience clearly shows that some pursue the path of ecclesiastical life, while others follow that of secular life. Concerning the former, we have already addressed them when speaking of those who desire to be admitted to Holy Orders. It seems only one additional point may be made: it would be fitting and highly beneficial for the Prelate, when examining candidates, to first inquire into the core substance of Christian knowledge. For experience, the teacher of truth has clearly shown that some candidates, though adorned with elegant and refined Latin eloquence, well-versed in a multitude of sciences, and possessing a thorough knowledge of all matters pertaining to the Orders, have responded unsatisfactorily and irrelevantly when questioned on Christian Doctrine.
11. If we turn our attention to those who spend their lives in the world, it becomes evident that the majority of them are inclined towards marriage. Indeed, they cannot be joined in matrimony if the parish priest, as is his duty, discovers through precise questioning that the man and the woman are ignorant of what is necessary for salvation. The Bishop can scarcely permit such grave and ruinous ignorance to persist; he should remind the pastors of souls of their duty and, should they fail to fulfil it, address their negligence with appropriate disciplinary measures.
12. All people, regardless of age or social condition, are accustomed to cleansing the stains of the soul through the Sacrament of Penance. Therefore, the Bishop must ensure that the Priest who hears Confessions holds as certain and immutable that sacramental absolution is invalid if imparted to someone who does not know what is necessary as a means of salvation. Moreover, men cannot be reconciled with God through this Sacrament unless they are first brought, by dispelling the darkness of ignorance, to a knowledge of the Faith. The Confessor must also know that absolution must be deferred in the case of one who, through their own fault, does not know what is necessary by precept. However, in such a case, the penitent may be absolved if they acknowledge their culpable but not insurmountable ignorance, ask God for forgiveness, and sincerely promise the Confessor to strive, with God’s help, to learn what is necessary by precept.
13. If, then, the Pastors adopt this method of forming the Christian people, and direct their counsel, efforts, and intentions towards the proposed approach, it is permissible to hope that the flock, through faith and good works, may advance over time to the point of being transformed into a dwelling of God in the Holy Spirit. However, since this matter is of the utmost importance and no other institution has been established more conducive to the glory of God and the salvation of souls, no one should be surprised if countless obstacles are continually encountered.
14. Sometimes, small and humble churches are located in the countryside, some near, others far from the parish church, where, on feast days, fathers of families with their children go to listen to the Priest as he celebrates the Holy Mysteries. This results in their being rarely present in their parish and unable to hear any words concerning the Mysteries of the Faith, the Precepts, or the Sacraments. The Bishop must address this problem with the full weight of his authority. First, regarding the small churches near the parish, he must enact a precise law to prevent Mass from being celebrated there before the Parish Priest has himself celebrated, delivered the sermon, and fulfilled the remaining duties of his office. In this way, the parish church will be frequented by a multitude of faithful who will gather there. As for the small churches located far from the parish church, it is very difficult due to the distance for parishioners to avoid the nearest church and undertake a long and arduous journey, especially in winter when rivers overflow, to reach the parish and attend the Divine Offices, the Bishop should decree, with the imposition of severe penalties, that the Priests assigned to those churches instruct the people in the essential points of Christian Doctrine and explain the Divine Law. However, the Parish Priest must be admonished not to place too much trust in the work of others, but to personally ensure the situation when it is required that the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Confirmation be administered to children, and when others request the Sacrament of Marriage.
15. Cities also present specific inconveniences. It often happens that in certain churches, especially those of Religious Orders, feasts are celebrated with solemn rites and large crowds. For this reason, if catechism is held in the parish church early in the morning or immediately after lunch, few or none will attend and will excuse themselves by citing the set time. If more convenient hours are not chosen for the people, experience confirms that the faithful will flock to the church where the feast day is solemnized, and, drawn by the liturgical display, will neglect Christian Doctrine, to the grave detriment of their souls. Since it is not possible to establish a certain and general rule in this regard, we wish to leave this task to the diligent Pastor of the Church, who, taking into account the nature of the place, the circumstances, and the people, and weighing the overall significance of the situation, will find a way to harmonize the celebration of the feast day with Christian Doctrine, so that one does not hinder the other. If the Religious Orders and exempted Orders oppose this and, despite being admonished by the Bishops, feel authorized to compromise the execution of Christian Doctrine, we offer to the local Ordinaries our authority over the Exempt Orders, and the Apostolic diligence will not lack other means to ensure that parish churches are not deprived of their due consideration.
16. It could prove highly beneficial for the education of the Christian people to appoint visitors, some of whom would travel around the city and others around the Diocese, to conduct thorough investigations into all matters, allowing the Bishop, once informed of the merits of each Pastor, to decree rewards or punishments.
17. Following in the footsteps of Pope Clement VIII and our other predecessors, we exhort in the Lord and strongly recommend that, in teaching Christian Doctrine, the booklet written by Cardinal Bellarmine at the request of Pope Clement be used. Carefully examined by the appropriate Congregation appointed for this purpose and approved, Pope Clement himself ordered that it be published, with the most valid intention that everyone thereafter adhere to the same and only method of teaching and learning Christian Doctrine. Nothing is more desirable than this uniformity, nothing more fitting and useful to prevent errors from stealthily creeping in amidst the diverse range of catechisms. If, in any place, it becomes necessary, due to specific local needs, to use another booklet, great care must be taken to ensure that it contains nothing contrary to Catholic Truth. Attention must also be given to ensure that the dogmas of the Faith are explained in a simple and clear manner, with the addition of any necessary parts that may have been omitted, and the removal of the superfluous. A concise and unified method of teaching is usually of great help for a simpler examination when assessing the progress of children.
18. This booklet must also contain the Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity, certainly composed in a correct and competent manner. If this is not the case, once perfected, they should be printed in the proper form. These Acts are better conveyed with concise rather than abundant words, provided that through them the full strength and nature of the virtue are revealed. Since it is vitally necessary for those professing the Christian Religion to have the habit and practice of frequently reciting these Acts, so that their use is not confined to narrow limits or restricted by anyone to a modest number each year, the Bishop, concerned with both his own and others' salvation, should issue appropriate provisions so that in the parishes of the city and diocese, pastors, immediately after the celebration of the feast day Mass, kneeling before the altar, clearly and intelligibly recite the aforementioned Acts of the virtues, attempting to lead the people who must repeat the words they have spoken. In this way, the faithful, almost without realizing it, will learn them by heart and take up the habit of attending to this pious practice not only on feast days but also on the remaining days.
19. These salutary instructions for teaching the flock, which we have wished to make known to you, Venerable Brothers, through this Apostolic Letter, can be recognised by each of you as in line with our pastoral admonitions, already published when, with fatherly love, we surrounded the Church of Bologna, our bride, with care.These instructions are moreover derived from the Pontifical Constitutions, recognised as valid by the testimony and example of renowned Bishops.Since we know from experience that they will bring immense benefit, we exhort and encourage you with all possible fervour, and beseech you, by the Bowels of the mercy of Our God, to attend with steadfast and resolute hearts, in the strength of the task entrusted to your pastoral Ministry, to the implementation of what has been proposed, carefully considering that all the labour, effort, and attention put forth for this purpose will be rewarded by God, the giver of all good.
We impart to you our Apostolic Blessing from the heart.
Given in Rome, at Santa Maria Maggiore, on 7th February 1742, in the second year of our Pontificate.
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