Encyclical

see also: Etymology of Encyclical

An encyclical (in Latin litteræ encyclicæ , old Greek ἐκκύκλιος / ekkuklios according to κύκλος / kuklos , the circle) is in a letter formally addressed by the Pape to all the bishops (it is literally: a circular letter ).

An encyclical is attached normally to the mission of teaching of the pope, it is intended to expose to its recipients the official position of the Roman Église on a given topic. Generally, the topic approached is treated made abstraction of topical questions, which gives to teaching a general and relatively permanent range. However, opportunity of treating a particular topic is often appreciated according to the state of the world; and the encyclicals comprise sometimes more precise warning statements, even of the specific judgments.

Although formally intended for the bishops, the letter is addressed in practice to all the faithful ones of the Church, entrusted to the teaching of their respective bishop, and is of an interest for any person interested by the position of the Church. An encyclical is the text of reference on the position of the Church, but except contrary precision, it does not engage the pontifical Infaillibilité: a faithful free remainder not to follow this teaching, if its conscience dictates to him, while remaining in the Church.

Definition

In the beginning, the term, very generic (one could translate by “circular”) indicates the correspondence exchanged by the bishop S and the Archevêque S. It indicates then any letter sent specifically by the Pape. Nowadays, it took a direction specialized which differentiates it from the Bref S, bubble pontifical S and other documents.

It is a letter of solemn and universal nature, written in Latin before being translated in a great number of languages. It is sent to the patriarch S, Archevêque S and bishop S of the universal Church, in communion with the apostolic Seat, bearing on a point of Doctrine or Morale.

There exist exceptions, devoted by the use, with the recourse to Latin. Thus, one calls encyclical :

“In the middle of solicitudes”, letter of the February 29th 1892 addressed in French by Leon XIII to the bishops of France, about the Rallying;
“ Not abbiamo bisogno ”, letter of the June 29th 1931 of Black and white XI on the Italian Fascism;
“ MIT brennender Sorge ”, letter of the March 21st 1937 of Magpie XI on the Nazism.

The encyclicals do not aim to define new dogmas. The encyclical Ubi primum of Pie IX (February 2nd 1849) preceded the promulgation by the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. The purpose of they are rather to point out the catholic doctrines, to analyze a situation or exalter a figure considered to be exemplary, like the Virgin Mary or a Doctors of the Church (for example Thomas d' Aquin in Æterni Patris ).

One generally considers that the first encyclical, with the modern direction, is that of Benoît XIV, Epistola encyclica and commonittoria AD omnes episcopos ( encyclical and comminatory Lettre, addressed to all the bishops ), of the December 3rd 1740. One names an encyclical according to the first words of the Latin text .

Some important encyclicals

See also: List of the encyclicals

The encyclical is means of communication very much used by the Church since the end of the 19th century. One can quote, among the most important encyclicals: Rerum Novarum (social Doctrines of the Church, revisited every 10 years, Centesimus Year (updated for the centenary of Rerum Novarum), Populorum Progressio , and Fides and Ratio , last encyclical of the Thousand-year-old second .

Here a more complete list by order antichronologic:

Benoit XVI:

Deus caritas is , December 25th 2005, on the love and charity

Jean-Paul II:

Ecclesia de Eucharistia , April 17th 2003, on the Eucharistie in his report/ratio in the Church,
Fides and Ratio , September 14th 1998, on the relations between the faith and reason.
We remember , March 12th 1998, a reflection on the Shoah,
Ut Unum Sint , May 25th 1995, on oecumenical engagement
Evangelium vitæ , March 25th 1995, on the value and the inviolability of the human life.
Veritatis Splendor , August 6th 1993, on the moral teaching of the Church
Centesimus year , May 1st 1991, updated of Rerum Novarum, on knowledge and the organization
Redemptoris Missio , December 7th 1990, on the permanent value of the precept missionary.
Redemptoris MATER , March 25th 1987, on the place of the Virgin Mary in the faith
Dominum and vivificantem , May 15th 1986, On the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church and the world
Laborem Exercens , September 14th 1981, on work
Redemptor hominis , March 4th 1979, on human dignity

Paul VI:

Humanæ vitæ , July 25th 1968, on the birth control
Sacerdotalis cœlibatus , June 24th 1967, on the celibacy of the priests
Populorum progressio , March 26th 1967, on the development of the people
Ecclesiam suam , August 6th 1964, on the dialog in the Church and out of the Church

the Vatican II:

Pacem in terris , April 11th 1963, on peace
Pænitentiam agere , July 1st 1962, on the future council
MATER and will magistra , May 15th 1961, commemoration of Rerum novarum

Jean XXIII:

Grata recordatio , September 26th 1959, on the Rosary
Sacerdotii nostri primordia , July 31st 1959, on Jean-Marie Vianney, cleaned Ars

Pie XII:

Musicæ sacræ , December 25th 1955, on the liturgy and the sacred music
Crowned Virginitatis , March 25th 1954, on the marriage and virginity
Humani generis , August 12th 1950, on theology and philosophy
Divino afflante Spiritu , September 30th 1943, on the biblical studies (Exégèse).

Black and white XI

MIT brennender Sorge , March 21st 1937, judgment of the Nazism
Divini Redemptoris , March 19th 1937, against the Communism
Quadragesimo Year , May 15th 1931, on social justice, commemoration of Rerum novarum
Casti conubii , December 31st 1930, on the Christian marriage
Rerum orientalium , September 8th 1928, on oecumenism
Miserentissimus Redemptor , May 8th, 1928, on ..............
Quas took precedence , December 11th 1925, over the festival of the Christ-King
Studiorum Ducem , June 29th 1923, on the thomism

Pie X

Pascendi , September 8th 1907, against the modernism
Acerbo nimis , April 15th 1906, on the catechesis
Vehementer our , February 11th 1906, on the law of separation of the Church and the State in France
AD diem illum laetissimum , February 2nd 1904, second encyclical of Magpie X, on the devotion with the Virgin Mary
E Supremi Apostolatus October 4th 1903, first encyclical of Magpie X

Benoit XV (1914 - 1922)

Spiritus Paraclitus , September 15th 1920, on the study of the Bible
the object of its first encyclical will be to calm the tensions caused by the modernistic crisis.
Maximum illud , November 30th 1919, on the missions

Leon XIII:

Providentissimus deus , November 1893, on the biblical studies,
Rerum Novarum , May 16th 1891, on the question of the trade unionism and the workmen, and in a more general way on the social Doctrines of the Church
Humanum Genus , 1884, condemning the Freemasonry and the secret societies
Æterni Patris , August 4th 1879, on Thomas d' Aquin and the Theology Scholastic
Inscrutabilis , April 21st 1878, on the dangers of the modern society

Black and white IX:

Quod nunquam , February 5th 1875, against the Kulturkampf
Quanta cleaned , December 8th 1864, accompanying the Syllabus
In suprema $petri sede , January 6th 1848, on the orthodoxe Églises and the unit of the Church
Which pluribus , November 9th 1846, on the Rationalisme and infallibility

See too

Diplomatic vaticane

The various forms which the acts of the pope take:

Random links:

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