Friday, May 6, 2011

Papal Teaching For the Day

Pope Pius IX

Pope Pius IX reigned longer than any other pope (1846 - 1878;  31 years & 236 days).   He also issued a record number of encyclicals (38) and presided over the First Vatican Council.  Pope Pius IX was the last pope to rule the Papal States, and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2000.
From Pope Pius IX's encyclical "Ubi Primum," defining the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (full text here):

And likewise in our own day, Mary, with the ever merciful affection so characteristic of her maternal heart, wishes, through her efficacious intercession with God, to deliver her children from the sad and grief-laden troubles, from the tribulations, the anxiety, the difficulties, and the punishments of God's anger which afflict the world because of the sins of men. Wishing to restrain and to dispel the violent hurricane of evils which, as We lament from the bottom of Our heart, are everywhere afflicting the Church, Mary desires to transform Our sadness into joy. The foundation of all Our confidence, as you know well, Venerable Brethren, is found in the Blessed Virgin Mary. For, God has committed to Mary the treasury of all good things, in order that everyone may know that through her are obtained every hope, every grace, and all salvation. For this is His will, that we obtain everything through Mary.

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