Persecution
All events, including the bad ones experienced at present, are subject to the hidden plans of God. To endure the present calamities, it is necessary to be strong in hope and faith, and, to live publicly and privately, like a reflection of Gospel teachings. Pope Pius suggests to his readers, to look up to the powerful virgin, in case they are afraid. The most blessed Mother will never abandon her faithful and beloved Polish people. The Pope reminds his readers, that he castigated anti-Christian religious persecutions many times before. The persecution got worse, not only in Poland but in other countries too. Priests and Bishops are incarcerated under most awful circumstances, or they are under house arrest, unable to be pastorally active. Religious were forced to leave their houses, Catholic organizations were dissolved, all Catholic media closed, Catholic schools closed or robbed of their rights.
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- We paternally hug all these brothers and sons of ours, so dear to us, because they suffer innocently for truth and justice, and once again we recommend them and all their intentions most ardently to our Lord God, the most generous source of consolation and eternal rewards.
In the following part, Pope Pius XII critiques some unnamed Polish clergy, for meddling in affairs, which are none of their business, and for giving sermons and press releases, which are misleading, as they are based on wrong principles and false teachings. He reminds his readers, that he led worldwide protests against the incarceration of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński two years earlier. Many countries living in freedom joined in his protest. But Polish bishops are still incarcerated or kept from their offices. The invincible Mother of God who watches over the freedom for Poland, will most certainly assist. The Pope concludes, it is most justified, to memorize her and thank her for the liberation from the most terrible occupation. Pope Pius XII concludes his letter with his best wishes to Poles all over the world, and his Apostolic Blessing.
Read more about this topic: Gloriosam Reginam
Famous quotes containing the word persecution:
“I hate Science. It denies a man’s responsibility for his own deeds, abolishes the brotherhood that springs from God’s fatherhood. It is a hectoring, dictating expertise, which makes the least lovable of the Church Fathers seem liberal by contrast. It is far easier for a Hitler or a Stalin to find a mock- scientific excuse for persecution than it was for Dominic to find a mock-Christian one.”
—Basil Bunting (1900–1985)
“... social evils are dangerously contagious. The fixed policy of persecution and injustice against a class of women who are weak and defenseless will be necessarily hurtful to the cause of all women.”
—Fannie Barrier Williams (1855–1944)