Acerba Animi
Encyclopedia
Acerba Anima is an encyclical
of Pope Pius XI
promulgated on September, 29, 1932, to denounce the continued persecution of the Catholic Church in Mexico
. It was the second of three encyclicals concerning persecution Mexico
, including Iniquis Afflictisque
(1926) and Firmissimam Constantiamque (1937). The Mexican government at the time was engaging in violently anticlerical persecution of the Church, and the Pope harshly criticised the government for its past and current abuse of the Church and its faithful and chided the government for not only violating its promises to the Church made in the recent cessation of the Catholic uprising, the Cristero War
, but expanding the persecution.
The Pope criticized the state's continued persecution noting that the Mexican people had been "so long harassed by grievous persecutions". The Pope stated that the anticlerical articles of the Mexican constitution were "seriously derogatory to the most elementary and inalienable rights of the Church and of the faithful" and that both he and his predecessor had endevored to avoid their application by the Mexican government. The Pope chided the Mexican government for braking its promise not to apply the anticlerical provisions, just shortly after making those promises in writing to the Holy See.
The letter noted the recent history of Mexico where a "rigorous application was given to Article 130 of the Constitution" which due to its "extreme hostility to the Church as may be seen from Our Encyclical Iniquis afflictisque" caused the Holy See
to protest, leading to "[h]eavy penalties" for those who did not comply with the "deplorable article". The Pope recalls that the government of Plutarco Calles then enacted a law which allowed the states to regulate the number of priests in their territory. The "despotism" of the "Government hostile to the Catholic" and its "intolerant" acts lead the Bishops of Mexico to suspend public worship, after which they were nearly all banished to watch from abroad the martyrdom of their priests and flock. The persecution lead to the rebellion known as the Cristero War.
The letter allows that the See "did not forbear to encourage with word and counsel the lawful Christian resistance of the priests and the faithful"
The Pope noted that the government's indications that it was not adverse to coming to an agreement gave some hope, even though the same government had a recent history of braking its promises. Thus when the government indicated in 1929 that it did not by application of the anticlerical provisions of the constitution intend to destroy what the government called the "identity of the Church" nor to ignore its hierarchy, the Holy See agreed to relent, allowing the resuming of public worship, with the understanding that the Church would not accept the government regulation of worship, nor cease protest against, nor to combat it. Nonetheless, the government again broke its promises as "faithful Catholics continued to be penalized and imprisoned", exiled Bishops were not allowed to return and more were exiled "without any semblance of legality". In violation of promises, in many diocese, seized property, including churches, seminaries, Bishops' residences were not returned and "priests and laymen who had steadfastly defended the faith were abandoned to the cruel vengeance of their adversaries".
The government continued to spur antireligious, socialist and masonic
education in the schools and to gradually eliminate priest in the country by severely regulating their numbers, noting that Michoacan
had only one priest for every 33,000 faithful, Chiapas
one for every 60,000, and Vera Cruz
only one for every 100,000. The government continued to close seminaries and exhibit an intention to destroy the Church. The persecution differed little for that going on in the U.S.S.R. at the time.
The Pope stated that "any restriction whatever of the number of priests is a grave violation of divine rights", urging the "Bishops, the clergy, and the Catholic laity to continue to protest with all their energy against such violation, using every legitimate means.". (Paragraph 20 makes it clear that "legitimate means" did not include renewed rebellion.) As a remedy the letter especially urged that "the priests with their proved spirit of abnegation render ever more intense their sacred ministry, particularly among the young and the common people, striving to carry on a work of persuasion and of charity especially among the enemies of the Church, who combat her because they do not know her." It also urged "instituting and furthering to an ever greater extent Catholic Action
", "recourse to the Sacraments, sources of grace
and strength, and instruction in the truth of the faith. Rejecting further rebellion, the letter counseled laymen to "the closest union with the Church and the Hierarchy, manifesting it by their docility to her teachings and directions".
, calling the encyclical "insolent and defiant" Some rebellious faithful did not heed the encyclical either, renewing hostilities with guerrilla action, deviating from the lack of rebellion from 1929-1931. On the other hand, substantial efforts were made to comply, in the least overtly political way possible, the goals of Acción Católica Mexicana (Mexican Catholic Action - ACM):
Still, during most of the Maximato membership was not high and action was limited.
Encyclical
An encyclical was originally a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area in the ancient Catholic Church. At that time, the word could be used for a letter sent out by any bishop...
of Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
promulgated on September, 29, 1932, to denounce the continued persecution of the Catholic Church in Mexico
Persecution of Christians in Mexico
The modern history of Mexico has often been characterized by deep conflicts between the government and the Catholic Church, sometimes including outright persecution of Catholics in Mexico.- Beginning of Anticlericalism and Persecution :...
. It was the second of three encyclicals concerning persecution Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, including Iniquis Afflictisque
Iniquis Afflictisque
Iniquis Afflictisque is an encyclical of Pope Pius XI promulgated on November 18, 1926, to denounce the persecution of the Catholic Church in Mexico. It was one of three encyclicals concerning Mexico, including Acerba Animi and Firmissimam Constantiamque...
(1926) and Firmissimam Constantiamque (1937). The Mexican government at the time was engaging in violently anticlerical persecution of the Church, and the Pope harshly criticised the government for its past and current abuse of the Church and its faithful and chided the government for not only violating its promises to the Church made in the recent cessation of the Catholic uprising, the Cristero War
Cristero War
The Cristero War of 1926 to 1929 was an uprising and counter-revolution against the Mexican government in power at that time. The rebellion was set off by the strict enforcement of the anti-clerical provisions of the Mexican Constitution of 1917 and the expansion of further anti-clerical laws...
, but expanding the persecution.
Substance of the Encyclical
The letter noted the recent history of Mexico where a "rigorous application was given to Article 130 of the Constitution" which due to its "extreme hostility to the Church as may be seen from Our Encyclical Iniquis afflictisque" caused the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
to protest, leading to "[h]eavy penalties" for those who did not comply with the "deplorable article". The Pope recalls that the government of Plutarco Calles then enacted a law which allowed the states to regulate the number of priests in their territory. The "despotism" of the "Government hostile to the Catholic" and its "intolerant" acts lead the Bishops of Mexico to suspend public worship, after which they were nearly all banished to watch from abroad the martyrdom of their priests and flock. The persecution lead to the rebellion known as the Cristero War.
The letter allows that the See "did not forbear to encourage with word and counsel the lawful Christian resistance of the priests and the faithful"
The Pope noted that the government's indications that it was not adverse to coming to an agreement gave some hope, even though the same government had a recent history of braking its promises. Thus when the government indicated in 1929 that it did not by application of the anticlerical provisions of the constitution intend to destroy what the government called the "identity of the Church" nor to ignore its hierarchy, the Holy See agreed to relent, allowing the resuming of public worship, with the understanding that the Church would not accept the government regulation of worship, nor cease protest against, nor to combat it. Nonetheless, the government again broke its promises as "faithful Catholics continued to be penalized and imprisoned", exiled Bishops were not allowed to return and more were exiled "without any semblance of legality". In violation of promises, in many diocese, seized property, including churches, seminaries, Bishops' residences were not returned and "priests and laymen who had steadfastly defended the faith were abandoned to the cruel vengeance of their adversaries".
The government continued to spur antireligious, socialist and masonic
Anticlericalism and Freemasonry
The question of whether Freemasonry is Anticlerical is the subject of debate. The Catholic Church has long been an outspoken critic of Freemasonry, and Catholic scholars have often accused the fraternity of anticlericalism. The Catholic Church forbids its members to join any masonic society under...
education in the schools and to gradually eliminate priest in the country by severely regulating their numbers, noting that Michoacan
Michoacán
Michoacán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia...
had only one priest for every 33,000 faithful, Chiapas
Chiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
one for every 60,000, and Vera Cruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
only one for every 100,000. The government continued to close seminaries and exhibit an intention to destroy the Church. The persecution differed little for that going on in the U.S.S.R. at the time.
The Pope stated that "any restriction whatever of the number of priests is a grave violation of divine rights", urging the "Bishops, the clergy, and the Catholic laity to continue to protest with all their energy against such violation, using every legitimate means.". (Paragraph 20 makes it clear that "legitimate means" did not include renewed rebellion.) As a remedy the letter especially urged that "the priests with their proved spirit of abnegation render ever more intense their sacred ministry, particularly among the young and the common people, striving to carry on a work of persuasion and of charity especially among the enemies of the Church, who combat her because they do not know her." It also urged "instituting and furthering to an ever greater extent Catholic Action
Catholic Action
Catholic Action was the name of many groups of lay Catholics who were attempting to encourage a Catholic influence on society.They were especially active in the nineteenth century in historically Catholic countries that fell under anti-clerical regimes such as Spain, Italy, Bavaria, France, and...
", "recourse to the Sacraments, sources of grace
Grace (Christianity)
In Christian theology, grace is God’s gift of God’s self to humankind. It is understood by Christians to be a spontaneous gift from God to man - "generous, free and totally unexpected and undeserved" - that takes the form of divine favour, love and clemency. It is an attribute of God that is most...
and strength, and instruction in the truth of the faith. Rejecting further rebellion, the letter counseled laymen to "the closest union with the Church and the Hierarchy, manifesting it by their docility to her teachings and directions".
Reception and ramifications
The reaction of the government was hostile, the President at the time Abelardo Rodriguez, a puppet of Plutarco Calles' MaximatoMaximato
The Maximato was a period in the historical and political development of Mexico ranging from 1928 to 1934. That period was named after Plutarco Elías Calles, who was known as the Jefe Maximo of the Revolution. Elias Calles was president in the period 1924-1928, but in the next six years, there were...
, calling the encyclical "insolent and defiant" Some rebellious faithful did not heed the encyclical either, renewing hostilities with guerrilla action, deviating from the lack of rebellion from 1929-1931. On the other hand, substantial efforts were made to comply, in the least overtly political way possible, the goals of Acción Católica Mexicana (Mexican Catholic Action - ACM):
- 1. To again place Jesus Christ in the middle of the family school and society
- 2. To combat by all just an legal means anti-Christian civilization.
- 3. To repair by the same means the grave disorders in our society.
- 4. To reestablish the principle that human authority is representative of that of God.
Still, during most of the Maximato membership was not high and action was limited.