Marian papal encyclicals and Apostolic Letters Since Pope Leo XIII, Popes promulgated Mariology also with encyclicals, apostolic letters and with two dogmas (Immaculate Conception and Assumption). This article reviews the major official teachings by the popes. In terms of formality, papal bulls and Apostolic Constitutions are above encyclicals, followed by Apostolic Letters. 1 Papal Bulls 1.1 Dominici gregis This papal bull was issued by Pope Clement VIII on February 3, 1603. It considered Marian piety the basis for Church and condemned a number of issues as errors, including the denial of the virginity of Mary.[2] 1.2 Ineffabilis Deus In this key papal bull (the title of which means “inef- fable God” in Latin) Pope Pius IX defined ex cathedra the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The decree was promulgated on December 8, 1854, the date of the annual Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The decree surveys the history of the belief in Christian Madonna and Child, Master of Badia a Isola, c.1300 tradition , citing its roots in the long-standing feast of the Conception of Mary as a date of significance in the East- ern and Western churches. It also cites the approval of Marian papal encyclicals and Apostolic Letters have Catholic bishops worldwide who were asked in 1849 to been a major force that has shaped Roman Catholic Mar- offer their opinion on the matter. iology over the centuries. Mariology is developed by the- ologians on the basis not only of Scripture and Tradition but also of the sensus fidei of the faithful as a whole, “from 1.3 Bis Saeculari the bishops to the last of the faithful”,[1] and papal docu- ments have recorded those developments, defining Mar- This Apostolic Constitution Sodality of Our Lady was ian dogmas, spreading doctrines and encouraging devo- promulgated by Pope Pius XII on September 27, 1948, tions within the Catholic Church. the two hundredth anniversary of the Papal bull Gloriosae Popes have been highly important for the development Dominae of Pope Benedict XIV in 1748. It is impor- of doctrine and the veneration of the Blessed Virgin tant for the fact that Apostolic constitutions are the high- Mary. They made decisions not only in the area of est form of Papal teaching, above encyclicals, and below Marian beliefs but also Marian practices and devotions. dogmatization ex cathedra. Before the twentieth century, Popes promulgated Mar- The Sodality of Our Lady dates to 1584. It consists of ian veneration and beliefs by authorizing new Marian associations of persons, sodalists, dedicated to a Chris- feast days, prayers, initiatives, and special privileges. tian life, following the model of the Virgin Mary. In Bis 1 2 2 PAPAL ENCYCLICALS Saeculari, Pope Pius XII pointed to the importance of the 2.2 Deiparae Virginis Mariae Sodality of Our Lady within the Church which after four hundred years exist in all countries. They have produced This encyclical by Pope Pius XII issued on May 1, 1946 virtuous lives among the faithful priests and saints. They and was directed to all Catholic bishops on the possibility still prepare men to be active in modern society.[3] of defining the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a dogma of faith. The encyclical states, that for a long time past, numerous 1.4 Munificentissimus Deus petitions have been received from cardinals, patriarchs, archbishops, bishops, priests, religious of both sexes, as- This Apostolic constitution (the title of which means sociations, universities and innumerable private persons, “most bountiful God” in Latin) was issued by Pope Pius all begging that the bodily Assumption into heaven of XII on November 1, 1950. the Blessed Virgin should be defined and proclaimed as a dogma of faith. This was also fervently requested by al- It defines ex cathedra the dogma of the Assumption of most two hundred fathers in the Vatican Council (1869- the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is the second ex-cathedra 1870). infallible statement ever made by a Pope, the first since the official ruling on Papal Infallibility was made at the First Vatican Council (1869-1870). 2.3 Ingruentium malorum This encyclical of Pope Pius XII focused on the rosary. 2 Papal encyclicals It was given on the 15 September, the Feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary, in 1951. 2.1 Ad diem illum The encyclical states that from the beginning of his pon- tificate, Pope Pius XII entrusted to the Mother of God the destiny of the human family. The Pope argued that the re- peating of identical formulas has a great impact on those who pray, giving them confidence in Mary. He strongly supports the idea, that Catholic families should pray the rosary together. He stated that while reciting the Rosary, Catholics should not forget those who languish in prison camps, jails, and concentration camps. 2.4 Fulgens corona Coat of arms of Pius X Pius XII's signature This encyclical by Pope Pius X on the Immaculate Con- This encyclical by Pope Pius XII was issued on 8 Septem- ception, was given on February 2, 1904, in the first year ber 1953 on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Vir- of his Pontificate. It was issued in commemoration of the gin Mary. The encyclical proclaimed a Marian year for fiftieth anniversary of the dogma of the Immaculate Con- 1954, to commemorate the centenary of the definition ception. It is an important document because it explains of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Vir- the Mariology of Pope Pius X. gin Mary. Fulgens corona is significant as it contained the One of the reasons the pope gave for writing the encycli- Mariological methodology of Pope Pius XII and his views cal was his desire for the restoration of all things in Christ on limits and challenges of Roman Catholic Mariology. which he had defined as his motto Instaurare omnia in One hundred years before, Pius IX, surrounded by a vast Christo: to restore everything in Christ, to whom there is retinue of Cardinals and Bishops, with infallible apostolic no safer or more direct road than Mary. To Pope Pius X, authority defined, pronounced and solemnly sanctioned in Mary unites all humankind in Christ. the dogmatic bull Ineffabilis Deus. 3 2.5 Ad Caeli Reginam 3 Papal Apostolic Letters This encyclical was issued by Pope Pius XII, on the feast 3.1 Gloriosae Dominae of the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 11 Oc- tober 1954. The encyclical is an important element of This Apostolic Letter by Pope Benedict XIV was issued the Mariology of Pope Pius XIIand established the feast on September 27, 1748. Queenship of Mary. In this Apostolic Letter Pope Benedict XIV called the It states that assumed into heaven, Mary is with Jesus Blessed Virgin Mary “Queen of heaven and earth,” stated Christ, her divine son. With the encyclical, Pope Pius XII that the sovereign King has in some way communicated institutes the feast Queenship of Mary. Mary should be to her his ruling power. called Queen, not only because of her Divine Motherhood of Jesus Christ, her only son, but also because God has willed her to have an exceptional role in the work of our 3.2 Marialis cultus eternal salvation. Pope Paul VI issued this Mariological Apostolic Letter on February 2, 1974. The letter is subtitled, For the Right Ordering and Development of Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The document does not focus on specific 2.6 Redemptoris Mater themes in Mariology, but clarifies the way the Roman Catholic Church celebrates liturgies that commemorate Mary and about Marian devotion. The preparation of the document reportedly took 4 years.[4] 3.3 Rosarium Virginis Mariae This Apostolic Letter by Pope John Paul II was issued on October 16, 2002. It deals with the Holy Rosary and views it as compendium of the Gospel message: The Rosary, though clearly Marian in charac- ter, is at heart a Christocentric prayer. In the sobriety of its elements, it has all the depth of the Gospel message in its entirety, of which it can be said to be a compendium. The letter reaffirms the Roman Catholic beliefs on the power of the rosary and states: Through the Rosary the faithful receive abundant grace, as though from the very hands of the Mother of the Redeemer. The letter also emphasizes total devotion to the Virgin Mary, as promoted by Saint Louis de Montfort. John Paul II Coat of arms with the Marian Cross 4 References Pope John Paul II delivered this encyclical on March 25, • 1987. It is subtitled On the Blessed Virgin Mary in the life Pope Paul VI's Apostolic Letter Marialis Cultus of the Pilgrim Church. • Pope Pius IX, Apostolic Constitution The encyclical discusses the special place of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the plan of salvation and continues to fo- • Apostolic Constitution Ineffabilis Deus cus on Mary’s role in the Mystery of Christ. In this en- • Pope Pius XII, encyclicals and bulls cyclical Pope John Paul II confirmed the title, Mother of the Church, proclaimed by Pope Paul VI at the Second • Encyclical Fulgens corona on the Vatican Vatican Council on November 21, 1964. website The encyclical also refers to Maternal Mediation and the • Encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam on the Vatican role of the Virgin Mary as a Mediatrix. website 4 6 EXTERNAL LINKS • Encyclical Deiparae Virginis Mariae on the Vatican Website • Encyclical Ingruentium malorum on the Vat- ican website • Encyclical Le pèlerinage de Lourdes on the Vatican website • Encyclical Mystici Corporis Christi on the Vatican website • Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus on the Vatican Website • Pope John Paul II, encyclical, apostolic letters and addresses • Encyclical Redemptoris Mater on the