Posted on 02/15/2008 5:07:55 PM PST by markomalley
.- In an article published by L’Osservatore Romano, Italian historian Francesco Guglietta, an expert on the life of Pius IX, revealed how the Pontiff decided to consult with the bishops of the world to proclaim the dogma of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 1854.
Guglietta points out that the revolution that ended with the proclamation of the “Roman Republic” in 1848 and that forced the Pope to take up residence for nine months in Gaeta, south of Rome, had a profound effect on the Pontiff, who like Cardinal Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti, had openly sympathized with the European revolutionary movements.
“During this lapse of time, in fact, Pius IX progressively lost trust in the processes of the ‘revolution’ that were taking place in Europe and distanced himself from the liberal Catholic environment, beginning to see in the insurrection movement, as well as in the ‘modernity’ of that time, a dangerous snare for the life of the Church,” Guglietta writes.
The expert points out that “understanding what happened with the thinking of Pius IX in Gaeta is of significant historic relevance” and is an “area of research not yet explored.” Nevertheless, he said, the Pope’s sojourn in Gaeta was fundamental for his decision of proclaiming the Marian dogma of the Immaculate Conception.
According to tradition, Pope Pius IX spent a long period in prayer in Gaeta before a painting of the Immaculate Conception by Scipione Pulzone preserved in the so-called Chapel of Gold, and that moment of encounter with God convinced him to proclaim the dogma.
However, French historian and professor Louis Baunard said that while gazing upon the Mediterranean from the city, “the Pope mediated on remarks made to him by Cardinal Luigi Lambruschini: Holy Father, you will not be able to heal the world unless you proclaim the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Only this dogmatic definition will reestablish the meaning of the Christian truths and bring minds back from the paths of naturalism upon which they have become lost.”
According to Guglietta, naturalism, which rejected all supernatural truth, could be considered the “backdrop” for the Pope’s proclamation of the dogma. “The affirmation of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin laid a strong foundation for affirming and strengthening the certainty of the primacy of grace and the work of Providence in the lives of men.”
He said Pius IX, despite his enthusiasm, welcomed the idea of consulting with the bishops of the world, who expressed their agreement, leading him to finally proclaim the dogma.
“He said Pius IX, despite his enthusiasm, welcomed the idea of consulting with the bishops of the world, who expressed their agreement, leading him to finally proclaim the dogma.”
Should have consulted with God.
Who said he didn’t?
If he consulted with God there would be no need to consult with the Bishops.
How interesting. I’ve always liked Pio Nono.
“Should have consulted with God.”
that was my thought and then go back and read his scriptures again.
Thanks for posting, I’ve never heard this before.
He’s been dead for 130 years this year. I can tell you this though, that he wouldn’t the advice of “Reformed” Christian who offer the same old platitudes.
“that he wouldn’t the advice of “Reformed” Christian who offer the same old platitudes”
I’m guessing you mean “listen to” the advice etc, etc.
Them same old platitudes still hold true. When you can provide chapter and verse regarding the SCRIPTURAL validity of the man mad Marian doctrine, then we might talk.
Did I spell “caucus” wrong or something?
When you can prove to me that Christianity is a religion based SOLELY on the Bible, then we might talk as well. As St. Bernard of Clairvaux famously put it, the Christian faith “is not a religion of the Book,” but of the Word of God - “not of a written and mute word, but incarnate and living.”
Did you not see the word “Caucus” in the thread title?
“Did you not see the word “Caucus” in the thread title?”
Which means what?
3. “Closed” threads on the Religion Forum include devotionals, prayer threads and caucuses. The header of the thread should make it obvious that the thread is closed, i.e. like a church meeting behind closed doors. Such assemblies will not be disturbed. Any challenges or ridicule will be removed. Any thread can be designated a caucus - e.g. labeled as a “[Catholic Caucus]” or “[LDS Caucus]” - provided that neither the article nor any of the posts challenge [*see footnote] or ridicule any other confession. These are “safe harbors” for those who are easily offended or are ill equipped to defend their own confession.
*Footnote on Caucuses
When we first began using Caucus labels to close threads in the interest of providing “safe harbor,” the Calvinists posted several articles which represented what the Catholics believe. Several Catholics strongly objected to such a thread qualifying for a closed caucus. Other posters agreed and so did I. After much discussion on thread, we determined that a caucus thread cannot be used as cover to take shots at another confession, argue against other confessions’ doctrines and traditions and so on. The other confession has an interest in rebutting statements made "against" it - no matter how mild those statements might be. Factual statements alone cannot remove a caucus protection, e.g. the current Pope is named Benedict, Martin Luther died in 1546, etc. But when a poster of another confession protests that statements made in a Caucus are incomplete, inaccurate, a strawman or whatever – and I determine those statements to have merit - the Caucus label must be removed so that rebuttals can be made.
It would have been more helpful to politely point that out. I saw the title and concluded the “Catholic Caucus” was in reference to the group of bishops.
You’re assuming much in my remarks to the poster I FIRST replied to. YOU continued the conversation and now you want to complain? Ok. Whatever.
I didn’t notice it until markomalley, the person who posted the thread, pinged me.
Please see explanation in post number 16. Thank you.
And I pinged you as a snide, snarky gesture (as in "geez, can't folks read around here???). Had I intended to invoke the wrath of mod, I would have pinged the mod.
The problem is that you can only see (Catholic Cau) in the window bar, and that’s probably why I didn’t see it in the first place.
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