Today in Catholic History – Inscrutabili Dei Consilio

On Easter Sunday 21 April 1878, Pope Leo XIII issued the encyclical Inscrutabili Dei Consilio or On the Evils of Society. This was the first encyclical of his pontificate and stressed many of the themes which would guide his future papacy.

In this encyclical, Pope Leo identifies several threats facing humanity at his time, chiefly that the rejection of objective truth and authority which has led to civil strife and war; the rejection of law; and a desire for the things of this world rather than the eternal. The chief defense against these threats is the Catholic Church, which is why Pope Leo believes it is under attack.

Leo stresses the contributions of the Catholic Church to civilization through science and culture. He also calls for the restoration of Vatican political independence to ensure that the Church can freely exercise its responsibilities in the world.

Read the rest here at Catholic Under the Hood

Inscrutabili Dei Consilio

Thanks to Sue Cifelli for sharing.

New Encyclical Released - Caritas in Veritate

Caritas in Veritate

CWS - Caritatis in Veritate: papal encyclical calls for new moral approach to global economy

St. Padre Pio, Humanae Vitae, and Mandatory Abortion

St. Pio defended the controversial encyclical, praising its “lofty teachings” and “eternal truths.”

An aspect of the document often overlooked today is its grim warning that governments might “impose” contraceptive methods on citizens.

In the light of the Humanae Vitae’s other accurate predictions,
are mandatory birth control and abortion on the horizon for America?

Article by Frank M. Rega, S.F.O.

Hope Springs Eternal...

Hope springs eternal in the human breast;
Man never Is, but always To be blest:
The soul, uneasy and confin'd from home,
Rests and expatiates in a life to come.

-Alexander Pope,
An Essay on Man, Epistle I, 1733

Just another Catholic blog posting about the Holy Father's new encyclical:

Spe Salvi

SPE SALVI facti sumus”—in hope we were saved

Daily Dosage of SACRAMENTUM CARITATIS

Picture courtesy of Aci Prensa

The Legion of Mary Blog has been posting excerpts of the new apostolic exhortation making it easy to follow and understand the beauty it contains.

1. The sacrament of charity (1), the Holy Eucharist is the gift that Jesus Christ makes of himself, thus revealing to us God’s infinite love for every man and woman.

This wondrous sacrament makes manifest that “greater” love which led him to “lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). Jesus did indeed love them “to the end” (Jn 13:1). In those words the Evangelist introduces Christ’s act of immense humility: before dying for us on the Cross, he tied a towel around himself and washed the feet of his disciples. In the same way, Jesus continues, in the sacrament of the Eucharist, to love us “to the end,” even to offering us his body and his blood. What amazement must the Apostles have felt in witnessing what the Lord did and said during that Supper! What wonder must the eucharistic mystery also awaken in our own hearts!

Excerpt from Sacramentum Caritatis

..."it is through the working of the Spirit that Christ himself continues to be present and active in his Church, starting with her vital centre which is the Eucharist".

from: The Holy Spirit and the Eucharist Jesus and the Holy Spirit #12.