LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS POPE PIUS X TO CARDINAL PETER RESPIGHI,
VICAR OF ROME, WITH WHICH IS APPROVED THE CATECHISM OF CHRISTIAN
DOCTRINE FOR THE DIOCESE AND THE ECCLESIASTICAL PROVINCE OF ROME
October 18, 1912
[Note: The original of this letter is in Italian and found on the
Vatican website. Here are also
photocopies of
the letter on pages 3 and 4 of the original Catechism published in 1912.
Note also the English translation below
is not completely accurate as it was created using Google
translate.]
Your Eminence,
Since the beginning of Our Pontificate We addressed the utmost care
to religious instruction of the Christian people, and particularly
children, convinced that most of the ills that afflict the Church
come from ignorance of its doctrine and its laws. The enemies of it
condemn cursing what ignorant, and many of 'his children, sore
knowing them, they live as if they were not. So often insisted on
the necessity sum in teaching the catechism, and promovemmo
everywhere, according to our power, and with the Encyclical Letters
Unripe nimis and with the provisions concerning the catechism in
parishes, and with the approval and encouragement at conferences
catechetical and schools of religion, both by introducing here in
Rome, the text of the Catechism used for some time in some great
ecclesiastical provinces of Italy.
However with the passage of the years, so much on account of the new
difficulties insidiously that comes in to any teaching of Christian
doctrine in schools, where s'impartiva for centuries, as also for
his provident anticipation, as we wanted, the first Holy Communion,
and other reasons, since there was expressed a desire for a
Catechism enough, it was much shorter and more suited to today's
needs, We we agreed that there was less ancient Catechism in a new,
very small, which we examined ourselves and wanted were also
examined from many of our brother bishops of Italy, so that we
express their opinion in general, and obtained with regard to
particular, according to their knowledge and experience, the
modifications to be introduced.
They had a favorable appreciation almost unanimous, with quite a few
valuable comments that we ordered were duly taken into account,
there seems not to have to delay more than a text replacement for
various reasons recognized appropriate, confident that it will, with
the blessing of the Lord, will return much more comfortable and
equally, if not more beneficial ancient, and because the volume of
the book and the things to apprendersi, much diminished, not
disanimerà the boys, already very aggravated from the school
curriculum, and will allow teachers and catechists to do learn in
full, and because you are, despite the brevity, as explained and
emphasized the truth that nowadays, to the immense harm of souls and
society, are no longer fought, or misunderstood, or forgotten.
Indeed we are confident that even adults, who want to, as it is
sometimes supposed to live better and to educar family, revive the
soul the fundamental knowledge upon which the spiritual life and
Christian morality, are to find useful in this and appreciated this
brief sum, very accurate even in the form, where they will meet with
great simplicity exhibited the capital divine truths and the most
effective Christian reflections.
This Catechism, therefore, and the Prime elements from it, for the
convenience of little children, we are willing derive no word
mutation, We, with the authority of this, we approve and prescribe
the dioceses and ecclesiastical province of Rome, by prohibiting d '
henceforth in 'catechetical instruction is followed other text. As
for the other dioceses d 'Italy, We just express the wish that the
same text from. We and many Ordinaries deemed sufficient, is also
adopted in them, because even cease the fatal confusion and
discomfort that nowadays many feel in the frequent mutations of
residence, finding new homes in vastly different formulas and texts
that they hardly learn, while disuse confused and finally also
forget what they already knew. And worse it is for the children,
because nothing is so fatal to the success of a teaching as the
continue them with a different text from that to which the young man
is already more or less addicted.
And since the introduction of the text will encounter some
difficulties adults, because it deviates from the previous year, on
certain formulas, so, to remove inconveniences, we order that all
major festive harvest, as well as in all classes of Christian
doctrine, should be recited in the beginning, loudly, clearly,
composedly, the first prayers and the main other formulas. In this
way, after some time, without effort, everyone will have them learn,
and s'introdurrà good and dear custom of common prayer and
education, which has long been in place in many Italian dioceses,
with no small edification and profit.
We strongly urge in the Lord all the catechists, now that the
brevity of the text makes it easier to work with much greater care
to want to explain and to penetrate into the souls of boys to
Christian doctrine, the greater the need for a soda nowadays
religious education for the spread of impiety and immorality. Always
remember that the fruit of the Catechism depends almost entirely by
their zeal and their intelligence and skill in make their teaching
more mild and pleasing to the pupils.
We pray to God that, as today the enemies of the Faith, evermore
growing in number and power, by all means go by propagating the
error, so arise countless souls volonterose with great zeal to
assist the pastors, teachers and Christian parents in teaching what
is necessary as noble and fruitful of the Catechism.
With this wish impart to you, Your Eminence, and to those who will
cooperators in this holy ministry, the apostolic blessing.
From the Vatican, 18 October 1912.
PIUS PP. X.