J.M.J.
TO THE PATRIARCHS, PRIMATES,
ARCHBISHOPS, AND OTHER ORDINARIES
AT PEACE AND IN COMMUNION
WITH THE APOSTOLIC SEE.
WITH THE APOSTOLIC SEE.
The Christian people have never ceased
to invoke and experience the Blessed Virgin Mary's assistance, and
therefore they have, at all times, venerated her with ever growing
devotion.
2. And so, because love when it is true
and deeply felt tends of its own nature to manifest itself through ever
renewed demonstrations, the faithful have vied with one another all
through the centuries in expressing at all times their ardent piety
toward the Queen of Heaven. In our opinion, this is the reason why, for a
long time past, numerous petitions (those received from 1849 to 1940
have been gathered in two volumes which, accompanied with suitable
comments, have been recently printed), from cardinals, patriarchs,
archbishops, bishops, priests, religious of both sexes, associations,
universities and innumerable private persons have reached the Holy See,
all begging that the bodily Assumption into heaven of the Blessed Virgin
should be defined and proclaimed as a dogma of faith. And certainly no
one is unaware of the fact that this was fervently requested by almost
two hundred fathers in the Vatican Council.
3. But We, who are charged with the
care of defending and developing the Kingdom of Christ, have at the same
time to exercise continual care and vigilance to keep away everything
adverse to this Kingdom, and to support whatsoever may promote it.
Therefore, from the beginning of Our Pontificate, we had to examine most
carefully whether it would be lawful, convenient and useful to support
with Our authority the above mentioned petitions. We have not neglected
and do not at present neglect to offer insistent prays to God that He
might clearly manifest the will of His ever-adorable goodness in this
instance.
4. In order that We may receive the
gift of heavenly light, do you, Venerable Brethren, in pious
competition, unite your entreaties with Ours. But, while paternally
exhorting you to do this, thus following the example of Our
Predecessors, and particularly that of Pius IX when about to define the
dogma of the Mother of God's Immaculate Conception, we earnestly beg you
to inform us about the devotion of your clergy and people (taking into
account their faith and piety) toward the Assumption of the most Blessed
Virgin Mary. More especially We wish to know if you, Venerable
Brethren, with your learning and prudence consider that the bodily
Assumption of the Immaculate Blessed Virgin can be proposed and defined
as a dogma of faith, and whether in addition to your own wishes this is
desired by your clergy and people.
5. We shall be most grateful for your
prompt response and we entreat an abundance of divine favors and the
favorable assistance of the heavenly Virgin upon you, venerable
brothers, and upon yours, while we most lovingly impart our apostolic
blessing in the Lord as a token of our fatherly affection to you and to
the flocks committed to your care.
--Venerable Pius XII, Deiparae Virginis Mariae (May 1, 1946)
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