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Divini Redemptoris
Excerpt: Nevertheless, the struggle between good and evil remained in the world as a sad legacy of the original fall. Nor has the ancient tempter ever ceased to deceive mankind with false promises. It is on this account that one convulsion following upon another has marked the passage of the centuries, down to the revolution of our own days. This modern revolution, it may be said, has actually broken out or threatens everywhere, and it exceeds in amplitude and violence anything yet experienced in the preceding persecutions launched against the Church. Entire peoples find themselves in danger of falling back into a barbarism worse than that which oppressed the greater part of the world at the coming of the Redeemer.
3. This all too imminent danger, Venerable Brethren, as you have already surmised, is bolshevistic and atheistic Communism, which aims at upsetting the social order and at undermining the very foundations of Christian civilization .
4. In the face of such a threat, the Catholic Church could not and does not remain silent. This Apostolic See, above all, has not refrained from raising its voice, for it knows that its proper and social mission is to defend truth, justice and all those eternal values which Communism ignores or attacks. Ever since the days when groups of "intellectuals" were formed in an arrogant attempt to free civilization from the bonds of morality and religion, Our Predecessors overtly and explicitly drew the attention of the world to the consequences of the dechristianization of human society. With reference to Communism, Our Venerable Predecessor, Pius IX, of holy memory, as early as 1846 pronounced a solemn condemnation, which he confirmed in the words of the Syllabus directed against "that infamous doctrine of so-called Communism which is absolutely contrary to the natural law itself, and if once adopted would utterly destroy the rights, property and possessions of all men, and even society itself." Later on, another of Our predecessors, the immortal Leo XIII, in his Encyclical Quod Apostolici Muneris, defined Communism as "the fatal plague which insinuates itself into the very marrow of human society only to bring about its ruin." With clear intuition he pointed out that the atheistic movements existing among the masses of the Machine Age had their origin in that school of philosophy which for centuries had sought to divorce science from the life of the Faith and of the Church.
5. During Our Pontificate We too have frequently and with urgent insistence denounced the current trend to atheism which is alarmingly on the increase. In 1924 when Our relief-mission returned from the Soviet Union We condemned Communism in a special Allocution which We addressed to the whole world. In our Encyclicals Miserentissimus Redemptor, Quadragesimo Anno, Caritate Christi, Acerba Animi, Dilectissima Nobis, We raised a solemn protest against the persecutions unleashed in Russia, in Mexico and now in Spain. Our two Allocutions of last year, the first on the occasion of the opening of the International Catholic Press Exposition, and the second during Our audience to the Spanish refugees, along with Our message of last Christmas, have evoked a world-wide echo which is not yet spent. In fact, the most persistent enemies of the Church, who from Moscow are directing the struggle against Christian civilization, themselves bear witness, by their unceasing attacks in word and act, that even to this hour the Papacy has continued faithfully to protect the sanctuary of the Christian religion, and that it has called public attention to the perils of Communism more frequently and more effectively than any other public authority on earth.
3. This all too imminent danger, Venerable Brethren, as you have already surmised, is bolshevistic and atheistic Communism, which aims at upsetting the social order and at undermining the very foundations of Christian civilization .
4. In the face of such a threat, the Catholic Church could not and does not remain silent. This Apostolic See, above all, has not refrained from raising its voice, for it knows that its proper and social mission is to defend truth, justice and all those eternal values which Communism ignores or attacks. Ever since the days when groups of "intellectuals" were formed in an arrogant attempt to free civilization from the bonds of morality and religion, Our Predecessors overtly and explicitly drew the attention of the world to the consequences of the dechristianization of human society. With reference to Communism, Our Venerable Predecessor, Pius IX, of holy memory, as early as 1846 pronounced a solemn condemnation, which he confirmed in the words of the Syllabus directed against "that infamous doctrine of so-called Communism which is absolutely contrary to the natural law itself, and if once adopted would utterly destroy the rights, property and possessions of all men, and even society itself." Later on, another of Our predecessors, the immortal Leo XIII, in his Encyclical Quod Apostolici Muneris, defined Communism as "the fatal plague which insinuates itself into the very marrow of human society only to bring about its ruin." With clear intuition he pointed out that the atheistic movements existing among the masses of the Machine Age had their origin in that school of philosophy which for centuries had sought to divorce science from the life of the Faith and of the Church.
5. During Our Pontificate We too have frequently and with urgent insistence denounced the current trend to atheism which is alarmingly on the increase. In 1924 when Our relief-mission returned from the Soviet Union We condemned Communism in a special Allocution which We addressed to the whole world. In our Encyclicals Miserentissimus Redemptor, Quadragesimo Anno, Caritate Christi, Acerba Animi, Dilectissima Nobis, We raised a solemn protest against the persecutions unleashed in Russia, in Mexico and now in Spain. Our two Allocutions of last year, the first on the occasion of the opening of the International Catholic Press Exposition, and the second during Our audience to the Spanish refugees, along with Our message of last Christmas, have evoked a world-wide echo which is not yet spent. In fact, the most persistent enemies of the Church, who from Moscow are directing the struggle against Christian civilization, themselves bear witness, by their unceasing attacks in word and act, that even to this hour the Papacy has continued faithfully to protect the sanctuary of the Christian religion, and that it has called public attention to the perils of Communism more frequently and more effectively than any other public authority on earth.
70 pages, Paperback
First published March 19, 1937
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About the author
Pope Pius XI
100 books23 followersPope Pius XI,born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, reigned as Pope from 6 February 1922 to his death in 1939. He was the first sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929. He took as his papal motto, "Pax Christi in Regno Christi," translated "The Peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ."
Pius XI issued numerous encyclicals, including Quadragesimo Anno , in the 40th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII's groundbreaking social encyclical Rerum Novarum, highlighting the capitalistic greed of international finance, and social justice issues, and Quas primas, establishing the feast of Christ the King. The encyclical Studiorum Ducem, promulgated 29 June 1923, was written on the occasion of the 6th centenary of the canonization of Thomas Aquinas, whose thought is acclaimed as central to Catholic philosophy and theology. The encyclical also singles out the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Angelicum as the preeminent institution for the teaching of Aquinas: "ante omnia Pontificium Collegium Angelicum, ubi Thomam tamquam domi suae habitare dixeris" (before all others the Pontifical Angelicum College, where Thomas can be said to dwell).
To establish or maintain the position of the Catholic Church, he concluded a record number of concordats, including the Reichskonkordat with Germany (Germany's betrayals of which he condemned four years later in the encyclical Mit brennender Sorge ("With Burning Anxiety")). During his pontificate, the longstanding hostility with the Italian government over the status of the papacy and the Church in Italy was successfully resolved in the Lateran Treaty of 1929. He was unable to stop the persecution of the Church and the killing of clergy in Mexico, Spain and the Soviet Union. He canonized important saints, including Thomas More, Petrus Canisius, Konrad von Parzham, Andrew Bobola and Don Bosco. He beatified and canonized Thérèse de Lisieux, for whom he held special reverence, and gave equivalent canonization to Albertus Magnus, naming him a Doctor of the Church due to the spiritual power of his writings. Pius XI created the feast of Christ the King in response to anti-clericalism. He took a strong interest in fostering the participation of lay people throughout the Catholic Church, especially in the Catholic Action movement. The end of his pontificate was dominated by speaking out against Hitler and Mussolini and defending the Catholic Church from intrusions into Catholic life and education.
He died on 10 February 1939 in the Apostolic Palace and is buried in the Papal Grotto of Saint Peter's Basilica. In the course of excavating space for his tomb, two levels of burial grounds were uncovered which revealed bones now venerated as the bones of St. Peter.
Pius XI issued numerous encyclicals, including Quadragesimo Anno , in the 40th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII's groundbreaking social encyclical Rerum Novarum, highlighting the capitalistic greed of international finance, and social justice issues, and Quas primas, establishing the feast of Christ the King. The encyclical Studiorum Ducem, promulgated 29 June 1923, was written on the occasion of the 6th centenary of the canonization of Thomas Aquinas, whose thought is acclaimed as central to Catholic philosophy and theology. The encyclical also singles out the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Angelicum as the preeminent institution for the teaching of Aquinas: "ante omnia Pontificium Collegium Angelicum, ubi Thomam tamquam domi suae habitare dixeris" (before all others the Pontifical Angelicum College, where Thomas can be said to dwell).
To establish or maintain the position of the Catholic Church, he concluded a record number of concordats, including the Reichskonkordat with Germany (Germany's betrayals of which he condemned four years later in the encyclical Mit brennender Sorge ("With Burning Anxiety")). During his pontificate, the longstanding hostility with the Italian government over the status of the papacy and the Church in Italy was successfully resolved in the Lateran Treaty of 1929. He was unable to stop the persecution of the Church and the killing of clergy in Mexico, Spain and the Soviet Union. He canonized important saints, including Thomas More, Petrus Canisius, Konrad von Parzham, Andrew Bobola and Don Bosco. He beatified and canonized Thérèse de Lisieux, for whom he held special reverence, and gave equivalent canonization to Albertus Magnus, naming him a Doctor of the Church due to the spiritual power of his writings. Pius XI created the feast of Christ the King in response to anti-clericalism. He took a strong interest in fostering the participation of lay people throughout the Catholic Church, especially in the Catholic Action movement. The end of his pontificate was dominated by speaking out against Hitler and Mussolini and defending the Catholic Church from intrusions into Catholic life and education.
He died on 10 February 1939 in the Apostolic Palace and is buried in the Papal Grotto of Saint Peter's Basilica. In the course of excavating space for his tomb, two levels of burial grounds were uncovered which revealed bones now venerated as the bones of St. Peter.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 2, 2021
Much of this encyclical is a compelling and vigorous teaching of Catholic social justice. It begins with a great overview of what communism teaches, more thorough and insightful than I expected.
Clear and persuasively written, it is a much better read than most more recent papal encyclicals. A call to arms that remains relevant for different anti-Christian political ideologies today.
Clear and persuasively written, it is a much better read than most more recent papal encyclicals. A call to arms that remains relevant for different anti-Christian political ideologies today.
January 31, 2015
A vehement condemnation of the evils of Communism by Pope Pius XI, published in 1937. As the selected quotes below indicate, the Pope was truly terrified of many aspects of Communism ... equality and fraternity ... evolution ... rejection of hierarchy ... emancipation of women ... religion as the "the opiate of the people."
LMW COMMENT: This fear of Communist ideas ultimately led the Church into a pact with Hitler as the best defender against Communism, ignoring the political realities (1) that Communism was never going to become a political force in Germany and (2) that Hitler was a demon far worse than the Communists.
Selected quotes ...
... We wish to expose once more in a brief synthesis the principles of atheistic Communism as they are manifested chiefly in bolshevism … The Communism of today, more emphatically than similar movements in the past, conceals in itself a false messianic idea. A pseudo-ideal of justice, of equality and fraternity in labor impregnates all its doctrine and activity with a deceptive mysticism, which communicates a zealous and contagious enthusiasm to the multitudes entrapped by delusive promises.
... According to this doctrine there is in the world only one reality, matter, the blind forces of which evolve into plant, animal and man. Even human society is nothing but a phenomenon and form of matter, evolving in the same way. By a law of inexorable necessity and through a perpetual conflict of forces, matter moves towards the final synthesis of a classless society. In such a doctrine, as is evident, there is no room for the idea of God; there is no difference between matter and spirit, between soul and body; there is neither survival of the soul after death nor any hope in a future life.
... In man's relations with other individuals, besides, Communists hold the principle of absolute equality, rejecting all hierarchy and divinely-constituted authority, including the authority of parents.
... Communism is particularly characterized by the rejection of any link that binds woman to the family and the home, and her emancipation is proclaimed as a basic principle. She is withdrawn from the family and the care of her children, to be thrust instead into public life and collective production under the same conditions as man. The care of home and children then devolves upon the collectivity.
... Communism is by its nature anti-religious. It considers religion as "the opiate of the people" because the principles of religion which speak of a life beyond the grave dissuade the proletariat from the dream of a Soviet paradise which is of this world.
... Communism is intrinsically wrong, and no one who would save Christian civilization may collaborate with it in any undertaking whatsoever.
LMW COMMENT: This fear of Communist ideas ultimately led the Church into a pact with Hitler as the best defender against Communism, ignoring the political realities (1) that Communism was never going to become a political force in Germany and (2) that Hitler was a demon far worse than the Communists.
Selected quotes ...
... We wish to expose once more in a brief synthesis the principles of atheistic Communism as they are manifested chiefly in bolshevism … The Communism of today, more emphatically than similar movements in the past, conceals in itself a false messianic idea. A pseudo-ideal of justice, of equality and fraternity in labor impregnates all its doctrine and activity with a deceptive mysticism, which communicates a zealous and contagious enthusiasm to the multitudes entrapped by delusive promises.
... According to this doctrine there is in the world only one reality, matter, the blind forces of which evolve into plant, animal and man. Even human society is nothing but a phenomenon and form of matter, evolving in the same way. By a law of inexorable necessity and through a perpetual conflict of forces, matter moves towards the final synthesis of a classless society. In such a doctrine, as is evident, there is no room for the idea of God; there is no difference between matter and spirit, between soul and body; there is neither survival of the soul after death nor any hope in a future life.
... In man's relations with other individuals, besides, Communists hold the principle of absolute equality, rejecting all hierarchy and divinely-constituted authority, including the authority of parents.
... Communism is particularly characterized by the rejection of any link that binds woman to the family and the home, and her emancipation is proclaimed as a basic principle. She is withdrawn from the family and the care of her children, to be thrust instead into public life and collective production under the same conditions as man. The care of home and children then devolves upon the collectivity.
... Communism is by its nature anti-religious. It considers religion as "the opiate of the people" because the principles of religion which speak of a life beyond the grave dissuade the proletariat from the dream of a Soviet paradise which is of this world.
... Communism is intrinsically wrong, and no one who would save Christian civilization may collaborate with it in any undertaking whatsoever.
September 6, 2024
... We trust that those rulers of nations, who are at all aware of the extreme danger threatening every people today, may be more and more convinced of their supreme duty not to hinder the Church in the fulfillment of her mission. This is the more imperative since, while this mission has in view man's happiness in heaven, it cannot but promote his true felicity in time.
And this was 1937, almost 90 years ago.
And this was 1937, almost 90 years ago.
January 8, 2024
Amazing clarity. Such a breath of fresh air to read something so clear and without doubt as to meaning! This should be required reading. It was written in 1937 but if you didn't know, you would think it was written last week. These truths are unchangeable. It's a 50 small page book but you can also find it on the Vatican.Va website. Book version more user friendly.
May 1, 2022
I read this out of curiosity & i want credit on goodreads. it’s a pretty weak argument against communism based solely in the catholic interpretation of the bible. argues that communism takes women out of the home so that is one of the main reasons it must be defeated. spends most of the pamphlet patting catholicism on the back for the guilds of the middle age and instructing catholics on how to fight communism. cringe.
September 28, 2023
Excellent (if brief) condemnation of communism. Pope Pius XII was able to thoroughly explain the true basis for opposing communism in light of "the doctrine of the Church, which alone in the social as in all other fields can offer real light and assure salvation . . ."
October 30, 2023
Completely vindicated.
December 29, 2025
Pope Pius XI expertly diagnoses the spiritual and material conditions which allowed Communism to take root in human societies, contrasting it with the truths of faith and reason.
He also acknowledges the real disparities and evils that the working-class suffers, but emphasizes communism would not solve these problems, but reduce all to ruin.
The Holy Father wisely points out that Communism is a sort of false-Messiah, promising a paradise on earth based purely on materialism and economic goods.
He also acknowledges the real disparities and evils that the working-class suffers, but emphasizes communism would not solve these problems, but reduce all to ruin.
The Holy Father wisely points out that Communism is a sort of false-Messiah, promising a paradise on earth based purely on materialism and economic goods.
April 22, 2023
An overview of Communism done by Pope Pius XI in 1937. As expected it is a condemnation of atheistic communism though there are some statements on what the Catholic church would like to see for owners and workers to do to address economic inequality.
May 26, 2025
Más que su condena tajante del comunismo, lo relevante para nuestro tiempo de esta encíclica es una aseveración que molestaría a los libertarios y liberales: que el abandono del orden cristiano y las condiciones generadas por el mercado dejaron a las masas en el desamparo y abonaron para el triunfo del comunismo.
Esta encíclica también adujo un argumento que ha servido a varios conspiranoicos para hablar de que, a pesar de sus diferentes métodos y fines (aparentes), el comunismo siempre busca el fin de la Cristiandad, y que para sus intenciones puede adoptar múltiples máscaras. Por su naturaleza proteica, para Pío XI, el comunismo es intrínseca pernicioso y cualquier alianza se hace del todo cuño imposible.
En nivel de condena, se equipara a la destinada contra la masonería en Humanum Genus, de León XIII.
Esta encíclica también adujo un argumento que ha servido a varios conspiranoicos para hablar de que, a pesar de sus diferentes métodos y fines (aparentes), el comunismo siempre busca el fin de la Cristiandad, y que para sus intenciones puede adoptar múltiples máscaras. Por su naturaleza proteica, para Pío XI, el comunismo es intrínseca pernicioso y cualquier alianza se hace del todo cuño imposible.
En nivel de condena, se equipara a la destinada contra la masonería en Humanum Genus, de León XIII.
July 16, 2018
"21. Nem se pode asseverar que semelhantes atrocidades são consequências fatais de todas as grandes revoluções, como excessos esporádicos de exasperação, comuns a qualquer guerra: não, são frutos naturais do sistema, cuja estrutura não obedece a freio algum interno. Um freio é necessário ao homem, tanto individualmente como socialmente considerado; e é por isso que até os povos bárbaros reconheceram o vínculo da lei natural, esculpida por Deus na alma de cada homem. E, quando a observância dessa lei foi tida por todos como um dever sagrado, viram-se nações antigas atingir um tal esplendor de grandeza, que espanta, ainda mais até do que é razão, aqueles que só superficialmente compunham os documentos da história humana. Mas quando se arranca das mentes dos cidadãos a própria ideia de Deus, necessariamente os veremos precipitar-se na crueldade mais selvagem, e na ferocidade dos costumes. Luta contra tudo que é divino."
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August 11, 2020I read this on a friend's suggestion. In 1937, Pope Pius XI addresses how Communism does not fit with the story and mission of the Church. The timely pieces are that Encyclical addresses the reality of the social and economic problems that Communism is pointing to. The Pope highlights the systemic nature of economic injustice and calls Catholic business leaders and industrialists to extend charity and justice to the workers.
Along the way he shows how Communism is built upon a different story than the one told in God's story of redemption. He highlights some of the atrocities committed by Communists against priests and monks in Mexico, Spain, and Russia--often unreported by the media.
Along the way he shows how Communism is built upon a different story than the one told in God's story of redemption. He highlights some of the atrocities committed by Communists against priests and monks in Mexico, Spain, and Russia--often unreported by the media.
January 31, 2022
Siempre palabras sabias
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews