Folio 436

Gregory XVI, 1831-1846

printed p. 404 · pdf p. 436

moved by which men are kept on the paths of truth, since their nature inclined to evil is now plunging headlong, we say that the "bottom of the pit" has truly been opened, from which John [Apoc. 9:3] saw "smoke arising by which the sun was darkened with locusts" coming out of it to devastate the earth. . . .

1615. Nor can we foresee more joyful omens for religion and the state from the wishes of those who desire that the Church be separated from the State, and that the mutual concord of the government with the sacred ministry be broken. For it is certain that that concord is greatly feared by lovers of this most shameless liberty, which has always been fortunate and salutary for the ecclesiastical and the civil welfare.

1616. Having embraced with paternal affection those especially who have applied their mind particularly to the sacred disciplines and to philosophic questions, encourage and support them so that they may not, by relying on the powers of their own talents alone, imprudently go astray from the path of truth into the way of the impious. Let them remember "that God is the guide of wisdom and the director of the wise" [cf. Wisd. 7:15], and that it is not possible to learn to know God without God, who by means of the Word teaches men to know God.1 It is characteristic of the proud, or rather of the foolish man to test the mysteries of faith "which surpasseth all understanding" [Phil. 4:7] by human standards, and to entrust them to the reasoning of our mind, which by reason of the condition of our human nature is weak and infirm.

The False Doctrines of Félicité de Lamennais 2

[From the Encyclical, "Singulari nos affecerant gaudio" to the Bishops of France, June 25, 1834]

1617. But it is a very mournful thing, by which the ravings of human reason go to ruin when someone is eager for revolution and, against the advice of the Apostle, strives "to be more wise than it behooveth to be wise" [cf. Rom. 12:3], and trusting too much in himself, affirms that

  1. Cf. S. Irenaeus, Against Heresies 1.4, c.6 (MG 7, 980 C ff.). ↩

  2. BRC 19, 380 b; RskRP IV 127.—When the Supreme Pontiff, by Encyclical Letters dated Aug. 15, 1832, condemned the doctrine of Félicité Robert de Lamennais and of the said journal, "L'Avenir," because, in order to protect the freedom of the Church, it was preaching rebellion and full separation of the Church from the State, and was bringing forward some inharmonious things about the powers of reason, Lamennais, indeed, for a time seemed to yield, but a little afterwards he published an infamous book with the title, "Paroles d'un croyant." The Pontiff, therefore, in this Encyclical condemns the book, and he complains bitterly that by repeated changes contrary to the doctrine of the former Encyclical he had impugned the obedience due to the principle, and taught indifferentism and all manner of liberty of conscience. Then he added those things about faith and reason which are gathered above. ↩