Our Brothers in Christ according to the flesh.
In response to some of the lively comments made to our last post,
which, according to Ven, Pius XII,
would derive
"from the poisoned source of religious and moral agnosticism,"
we give here some authority for calling our Jewish brothers
"our brothers."
Venerable Pius XII
in the Encyclicals
Summi Pontificatus
and
Mystici Corporis Christi.
Among the many errors
which derive from the poisoned source
of religious and moral agnosticism,
We would draw your attention, Venerable Brethren,
to two in particular, as being those which more than others
render almost impossible or at least precarious and uncertain,
the peaceful intercourse of peoples.
(Summi Pontificatus, 34)
...Ven. Pius XII offering the redeeming sacrifice...
The first of these pernicious errors, widespread today,
is the forgetfulness of that law of human solidarity and charity
which is dictated and imposed by our common origin
and by the equality of rational nature in all men,
to whatever people they belong,
and by the redeeming Sacrifice
offered by Jesus Christ on the Altar of the Cross
to His Heavenly Father
on behalf of sinful mankind.
which, according to Ven, Pius XII,
would derive
"from the poisoned source of religious and moral agnosticism,"
we give here some authority for calling our Jewish brothers
"our brothers."
Venerable Pius XII
in the Encyclicals
Summi Pontificatus
and
Mystici Corporis Christi.
Among the many errors
which derive from the poisoned source
of religious and moral agnosticism,
We would draw your attention, Venerable Brethren,
to two in particular, as being those which more than others
render almost impossible or at least precarious and uncertain,
the peaceful intercourse of peoples.
(Summi Pontificatus, 34)
...Ven. Pius XII offering the redeeming sacrifice...The first of these pernicious errors, widespread today,
is the forgetfulness of that law of human solidarity and charity
which is dictated and imposed by our common origin
and by the equality of rational nature in all men,
to whatever people they belong,
and by the redeeming Sacrifice
offered by Jesus Christ on the Altar of the Cross
to His Heavenly Father
on behalf of sinful mankind.
(Summi Pontificatus, 35)
"...all mankind..brothers..."The Apostle of the Gentiles later on makes himself
the herald of this truth
which associates men as brothers in one great family,
when he proclaims to the Greek world
that God "hath made of one, all mankind..." (Acts 17:26)
(Summi Pontificatus, 37)
...The Jewish people ... our brothers in Christ...True love of the Church, therefore, requires
not only that we should be mutually solicitous one for another
as members and sharing in their suffering
but likewise that we should recognize in other men,
although they are not yet joined to us in the body of the Church,
our brothers in Christ
according to the flesh, (c.f. below, Rom. 9:3)
called, together with us, to the same eternal salvation.
(Mystici Corporis Christi, 96.)
...Our Brothers in Christ according to the flesh...For I wished myself to be an anathema from Christ,
for my brethren,
who are my kinsmen according to the flesh,
Who are Israelites,
to whom belongeth the adoption as of children,
and the glory, and the testament,
and the giving of the law,
and the service of God,
and the promises:
Whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ,
according to the flesh,
who is over all things,
God blessed for ever.
Amen.
(Rom. 9:3-5 )
for my brethren,
who are my kinsmen according to the flesh,
Who are Israelites,
to whom belongeth the adoption as of children,
and the glory, and the testament,
and the giving of the law,
and the service of God,
and the promises:
Whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ,
according to the flesh,
who is over all things,
God blessed for ever.
Amen.
(Rom. 9:3-5 )
Comments
So good to see your last two posts.
Raphaela, Christchurch.
(really)
And if these are the words of the venerable Pope Pius XII, he would certainly not apply them to these lively comments, which are a just expression of indignation and horror at your betrayal of Our Lord JESUS CHRIST.
As St Paul says in his epistle to the Corinthians: "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."
However, I also find the term "Holocaust", as reference to the slaughter of the Jews under Hitler objectionable.
"Holocaust" means "whole burnt sacrifice." To whom was the sacrifice offered: God or Satan?
Either answer is repugnant.
True love of the Church, therefore, requires not only that we should be mutually solicitous one for another [184] as members and sharing in their suffering [185] but likewise that we should recognize in other men, although they are not yet joined to us in the body of the Church, our brothers in Christ according to the flesh, called, together with us, to the same eternal salvation.
Where does Pius XII mention the Jews in particular? He does not...but you do, in an effort to distort the truth.
"Let us revisit wartime Germany. The Nazi high command knew that the Catholic Church was its mortal enemy. The SS would not admit any Catholic unless he had repudiated the Church. [13] Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels issued pamphlets in many languages describing Pius XII as a “pro-Jewish Pope.” [14] On Sunday July 26, 1942, a protest by the Catholic Bishops of Holland against the Nazi deportation of Dutch Jews was read at every Mass in all churches. It said, “In this we are following the path indicated by our Holy Father, the Pope.” [15] One week later, the Gestapo arrested, deported, and sent to Auschwitz all Dutch Catholics of Jewish origin. Gestapo General-Commissar Schmidt announced, “We are compelled to regard the Catholic Jews as our worst enemies and consequently see to their deportation to the East with all possible speed.” St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross gave her life for that protest. The Nazis’ savage reaction to the Dutch Bishops’ protest vividly indicated to Pius XII how much more they would react to a Pope’s protest. Evidently, other approaches were necessary. Pius XII sent a coded message calling all Catholics to help the Jews in his encyclical Mystici Corporis Christi of June 29, 1943: “True love of the Church, therefore, requires … that we should recognize in other men, although they are not yet joined to us in the Body of the Church, our brothers in Christ according to the flesh, called, together with us, to the same eternal salvation.” [16] Catholics recognized the unmistakable reference to St. Paul’s, “…of [the Jewish] race, according to the flesh, is the Christ.” (Rom 9:5)
With best wishes in Christ Jesus Our Lord.
Fr. MM
To all readers:
This subject has been raised sufficiently to express our condemnation of Antisemitism and our acceptance of the Jewish people as our brethren according to the flesh. There will always be those who oppose us in this; other points could indeed be raised and argued.
We have taken the time to explain our view on this matter. It is our contribution.
To those who continue even now to write passionately in opposition and condemnation of us, let us simply say: Thank you!
However this is not the place for it at this time. The subject is closed from our perspective and no further comments will be posted.
With best wishes
Fr. Michael Mary, F.SS.R.