Encyclicals

[brigid12]

I am a post-VII convert so am wondering what are the 3-4 encyclicals that you would suggest I read from pre-VII?

 

[Eucharisted]

post-VII convert

That makes no sense. If you’re implying that you’ve gone from being a Catholic to a Catholic who rejects the Second Vatican Council, than here is a document to read on the Second Vatican Council.

Documents of the First Vatican Council

 

[Kook]

Perhaps a bit more charity is in order. The question might just be an attempt to read some good pre-conciliar items that don’t get much mention these days.

My suggestions:

Libertas by Leo XIII
Satis Cognitum by Leo XIII
Rerum Novarum by Leo XIII
Pascendi Domenici Gregis by Pius X
Quas Primas by Pius XI
Mystici Corporis by Pius XII

 

[basenji]

A timely one would also be Octobri Mense, an encyclical promulgated by Pope Leo XIII on the month of the Rosary (October).

vatican.va/holy_father/leo_xiii/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_22091891_octobri-mense_en.html

Peace!

 

[Ultima_Ratio]

Perhaps a bit more charity is in order. The question might just be an attempt to read some good pre-conciliar items that don’t get much mention these days.

My suggestions:

Libertas by Leo XIII
Satis Cognitum by Leo XIII
Rerum Novarum by Leo XIII
Pascendi Domenici Gregis by Pius X
Quas Primas by Pius XI
Mystici Corporis by Pius XII

Those are great suggestions. Of the above list, I tell which three I suggest and why.

Libertas: This is one of my favorite encyclicals because it explains what true liberty is. Liberty is a word that is used often, but rarely properly understood. True liberty is not the freedom to do what we want, but rather the freedom to do what we ought. What hinders us from doing what we ought is 1.) error, and 2.) disordered movements of our lower nature.

In Libertas, Pope Leo XIII distinguishes between, what he calls, natural liberty (which is the same thing as free will), and moral liberty. He begins by explaining that the Church has always defended free will against the heretics who have denied it. Free will (natural liberty) is what man is capable of doing (which is virtually anything), whereas moral liberty is what man is allowed to do. Moral liberty sets the boundaries for our natural liberty.

Consider the example of a car driving down the road. Since the car has a steering wheel, the driver is capable of driving any direction he wants, or even go off the road; however, he is only allowed to drive in the correct direction and on the road. The same is true with man: Because man possesses free will, he has the ability to do whatever he wants, but he is only *allowed *(morally speaking) to do what the law permits.

After discussing natural liberty and moral liberty, he discusses the various kinds of law, the purpose of which is to direct man to his proper end.

This encyclical will give you a correct understanding of liberty, and enable you to see through many errors of our day. You’ll probably need to read it a few times slowly in order to fully grasp it.

**Quas Primas: ** Next I would read Quas Primas. This encyclical deas with Christ the King. It was the encyclical written to establish this as a feast day of the Church. This encyclical has many similarities to Libertas. It explains that Christ is the Universal King of the human race - a King that all mankind has a moral duty to obey. This duty applies, not only to individuals, but to society as well. Not only individuals, but the State itself has a moral duty to acknowledge Christ the King and to submit to him. It is another must read for today since it is so contrary to what we hear today.

Satis Cognitum: Lastly I would read Satis Cognitum. The reason this encyclical is so important is because it gives the true understanding of ecclesiology (what the Church is), which, like human liberty, is something that is often obscured and misunderstood today.

If you really study these three encyclicals, you will benefit greatly. Each deals with errors that are very common today. When these encyclicals are really understood, the person will be able to see clearly through many obscure errors that come to us from many directions.

 

[Genesis315]

Some already pointed out Satis Cognitum by Leo XIII and Mystici Corporis by Pius XII. Both are on the Church and Pope Paul VI explained them as essential reading along with Lumen Gentium.

For a third I will add Leo XIII’s Divinum Illud Munus on the Holy Spirit.

Besides that, it depends what you’re interested in–medieval heresies, church/state relations, the Rosary, Marian dogmas, slavery, the morality of dueling, etc., etc., etc.–you name it, you can probably find a Pope who’s written something about it!

Surfing around papalencyclicals.net/ can be interesting.

 

[brigid12]

Many thanks for the both charitable and informative replies. As a catechist, I’ve felt it my duty to read and keep up with orthodox Catholicism, including the documents of VII, but I haven’t read any encyclicals from pre-VII and didn’t know where to start.

 

[yablabo]

Many thanks for the both charitable and informative replies. As a catechist, I’ve felt it my duty to read and keep up with orthodox Catholicism, including the documents of VII, but I haven’t read any encyclicals from pre-VII and didn’t know where to start.

Check this out, then:

papalencyclicals.net/index.htm

– Nicole

 

[diggerdomer]

I am a post-VII convert so am wondering what are the 3-4 encyclicals that you would suggest I read from pre-VII?

Choosing 3-4, I’d say

Rerum Novarum
Divino Afflante Spiritu
Humani Generis
Mater et Magistra (actually contemporary with Vatican II, but close enough!)