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Message of h[is Holiness

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Pope Paul VI

1

to the

Sardinals, Prchbishops and bishop:

of the United States

on the Occasion of the

United States bicentennial



V



Message of His Holiness

Pope Paul VI

to the

Gardinals, Prchbishops and Pishops

of the United States

on the Occasion of the

United States nicentennial

1976

Publications Office

UNITED STATES CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

1312 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 2QD05





MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS

POPE PAUL VI

TO THE CARDINALS, ARCHBISHOPS and BISHOPS OF THE

UNITED STATES

ON THE OCCASION OF THE OBSERVANCE

OF THE UNITED STATES BICENTENNIAL

To Our Venerable Brothers

the Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops,

and to all the Ordinaries of the United States of America

As we celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost and commemorate

the sanctifying and unifying mission of the Holy Spirit in the

Church, we turn our thoughts to you our beloved Brethren in the

Episcopate called together with us to the pastoral service of God’s

people in the United States. Since it is by the power of the Holy

Spirit that the unity of the Church’s fellowship and ministry is

brought about (cf. Lumen Gentium, 4), we are happy at this time

to extol the hierarchical communion that binds us together. We

are one in Christ Jesus, one in his priesthood, one in the preach-

ing of his word, one in the service of his people. And in the Holy

Spirit, through Jesus Christ, we are one in his love for the Father.

Ecclesial communion is for us a cause of immense joy and a

source of pastoral strength. We wish to share with you this joy

and this strength, opening our heart to you, and through you to

the beloved clergy. Religious and laity of all Rites in America.

In this year that marks the Bicentennial of your nation we ask the

Holy Spirit to come upon you, to bring to completion and fruit-

fulness the works that have been begun among you with great

generosity, sacrifice and love. To his powerful action we entrust

you with a solemn exhortation: “Do all you can to preserve the

unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together’’ (Eph

4:3).

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There are many considerations we would like to share with

you and it is not possible to touch upon all of them in this letter.

But, as Successor of Peter, we are writing in order to confirm you

in your faith in Jesus Christ the Son of the living God, and to

confirm you in the ministry you exercise in his name for the

building up of his Church in faith, hope and love.

We had occasion to speak to those of you who were assembled

last year in Rome, and through you to send our message back

to the entire Hierarchy. We wish now to repeat the sentiments

expressed on that occasion, sentiments of deep affection in the

Lord, and of profound gratitude for your sharing with us in the

ministry of the Gospel. At numerous other times we have spoken

with you individually and in groups. We have expressed joy in

our meetings with you: during your ad limina visits we have cele-

brated together our ecclesial communion. Some of our encoun-

ters have been brief, others protracted, but all of them have been

full of significance in the love of Christ and the Church. With

special thanksgiving to God we shall always recall two special

moments when our ecclesial communion found its highest expres-

sion in the Eucharist: we were together in the Sistine Chapel, on

September 22, 1974 and once again in Saint Peter’s Square, on

September 14, 1975 under the banner and aegis of an American

woman. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton.

The motives for our fraternal affection in the Lord are many.

We have known your work, your toil, your labor of love on behalf

of the Gospel (cf. 1 Thess 1:3). We have known your dedication

to the Church, your loyalty to our predecessors and to ourself in

this See of Peter. We have known also the goodness of your

people and their sustained piety and generosity. We are witness

personally to the immense good accomplished by Catholic Re-

lief Services over the years and we know the zeal and love gen-

erated in your people for the cause of the missions and for Peter’s

Pence. We know also of a multiplicity of other works done in the

name of Jesus and for the glory of his name, among which we

would mention explicitly the Campaign for Human Development.

Your Christian sensitivity and pastoral concern have brought honor

to your local Churches. And, as on other occasions, in the name

of the poor and of those who have benefited from your fraternal

love, we express gratitude to you and to all your fellow-citizens

—

gratitude to America.

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We are one with you in all your many efforts to help bring about

renewal. And today in the plenitude of Christ’s charity we exhort

you to continue faithfully and laboriously the good work begun.

United with your clergy, your Religious and laity—as a single
people, in communion with the entire Church of God—go for-
ward along the path of spiritual renewal and reconciliation—along
the path of the Second Vatican Council, for its full application in

every sphere. All your efforts will likewise constitute a hymn of

thanksgiving to the Holy Spirit whose action has brought such a

great blessing to Christ’s Church in our day.

In a word, what we view as the aim to be achieved is, without

doubt, increased holiness of life—holiness that will be manifested
at every level of the Church and will be a witness to society.

We ask that everyone should assume the part that is his or

hers. To priests, your conscientious collaborators of the pres-

byteral order and sharers in your responsibility, we lovingly recall

the expression of the Acts of the Apostles: their priorities must

be today and forever “in prayer and in the service of the word”

(Acts 6:4). Deacons are to accomplish their ministry of service

in the fullness of faith and of the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 6:5). May

the laity be “light in the Lord” (Eph 5:8), giving a witness of

good works before the world, and may the home be a stronghold

of true conjugal love, of unity and of peace. In this regard we

repeat what our predecessor Pius XII wrote to the American

Bishops: “What can there be on earth more serene and joyful

than the Christian family” (Sertum Laetitiae, November 1, 1939).

We renew our solicitude for the full participation of women, in ac-

cordance with their role, in the life of the Church.

We pray for the young, that having been given the undiluted

message of the Gospel they may lend their total energy, in the

authenticity of love and discipline, to the building up of the Chris-

tian community. For the elderly we ask respect and reverence.

For all the various component groups of your society we ask the

determination to work in unity—so “that the world may believe”
(Jn 17:21).

A role of special ecclesial service is occupied by the Religious.

This role in turn is but the manifestation of a state of conse-

crated and generous love of Christ and his Church. As we extol

anew the value of this consecration, we recall a conviction of our

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predecessor Pius XII, who used to say—we heard him often

—

that the strength of the Church in America was in the Catholic

schools and that the strength of the schools was in the Religious

—

in their consecrated ecclesial love. We willingly attest again to

the importance of the contemplative vocation, in which Christ

Jesus intimately associates Religious in his eternal praise of the

Father. We are not unmindful of the large number of other par-

ticular apostolates exercised by Religious for the love of Christ

and his brethren. Among these a place of honor is held by those

who have understood the Lord’s concern for the sick and suffer-

ing and who lovingly minister to them in his name. To all the

Religious we earnestly present again the Gospel ideals as ex-

pressed in Evangelica Testificatio.

We have supreme pastoral solicitude for the future of your

seminaries and we repeat to you what we said last year to a group

of Rectors of Major Seminaries: “. . . we rely on your devoted

collaboration, so that our beloved seminaries may be always

houses of deep faith and authentic Christian asceticism, as well

as joyful communities sustained by Eucharistic piety” (Discourse,

April 16, 1975).

The inheritance of the Holy Year to the entire Church is one

of Evangelization. With immense joy we have been assured that

you are committed with increased energy to this goal. Within this

context we pray that the Church in the United Staes will gener-

ously keep alive the missionary spirit, and indeed “intensify it

in the moment of history in which we are living” (Evangelii

Nuntiandi, 53). May the priestly and religious vocations, which

we beseech the Lord to multiply in your midst, also include an

increase of selfless missionaries who will help this generation

to carry out Christ’s command “to make disciples of all nations”

(Mt. 28:19). In this regard we cannot emphasize too forcefully

the teaching of the Second Vatican Council wherein the Eucharist

is presented as “the source and summit of all evangelization”

(Presbyterorum Ordinis, 5), as well as “the source and summit

of all Christian life” (Lumen Gentium, 11).

The true Christian spirit that must animate your people has

today and always its primary and indispensable source in their

active participation in the Eucharistic Sacrifice and in the entire

liturgical life of the Church (cf. Sacrosanctum Concilium, 10, 14).

We ask that your people be constantly invited to a deeper reali-

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zation of the centrality of the Eucharist in their lives and of their

need to participate therein. This is indeed an important emphasis,

especially in a year in which the Eucharistiic Congress marks the

special passage of the Lord among your people.

We exhort all our sons and daughters to a profound sense of

reverence for the Eucharistic mystery, and above all we lovingly

remind all the priests who are called to act in the person of

Christ of their special duty: sancta sancte tractanda. The very

holiness of God, of Jesus Christ—Tu solus sanctus . . . )esu
Christe—demands deep reverence and profound respect.

We are pleased to recall that the Holy See has authorized,

under certain circumstances, the distribution of Holy Communion

by extraordinary ministers duly deputed to this high task. But

we wish to emphasize that this ministry remains an extraordinary

ministry to be exercised in accordance with the precise norms of

the Holy See. By its nature therefore the role of the extraordinary

minister is different from those other roles of Eucharistic partici-

pation that are the ordinary expression of lay participation.

As we have already told the President of your Episcopal Con-

ference, we have deeply at heart the renewed discipline of the

Sacrament of Penance or of Reconciliation. We pray that the

element of spiritual conversion, so necessary for this Sacrament,

will play a great role in the life of your people and that they will

never lose a sense of sin and therefore of the need for confes-

sion and forgiveness. We ask for supreme vigilance in the ques-

tion of auricular confession: that it may be held in honor by all,

and that its fervent and frequent use may be promoted with

pastoral conviction and zeal.

In pursuing the cause of evangelization we are all mindful

of the preeminence of God’s word. The message that we preach

is Christ. What we proclaim to the world is that the summit of

wisdom and the “power of God’’ (1 Cor 1:18) is the mystery of

Christ’s Cross. With Saint Paul, once again we charge each of

you “to preach the word, to stay with the task whether convenient

or inconvenient—correcting, reproving, appealing—constantly
teaching and never losing patience’’ (2 Tim 4:2). And to each of

you we say: “Be steady and self-possessed: put up with hardships,

perform your work as an evangelist, fulfill your ministry’’ (2 Tim

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4:5). Brethren, these are the highest priorities of your activities

as Bishops of the Church of God.

Intimately linked with progress in evangelization is the need

for prayer. We are confident that you yourselves will be exemplars

in this regard and encourage prayer among your people, especially

family prayer. May meditation on the word of God spread among

your people.

We are grateful for the pastoral concern that you have shown

in the field of catechetics. This sphere is so important as to con-

stitute the matter for the next Synod of Bishops. The future of the

Church depends on the wisdom and zeal shown in catechetics.

The world says to us today precisely what a group of individuals

recorded in the Gospel once said to the Apostle Philip: “We wish

to see Jesus” (Jn 12:21). And it is Jesus that we must show to

the world—Jesus and no substitute. Hence, Venerable Brothers,
we exhort you to the utmost vigilance in the matter of catechetical

content, as you endeavor to point out to children and adults the

Way, the Truth, and the Life, who is Christ.

We are deeply appreciative of your constant solicitude in bring-

ing the application of Christ’s message into the lives of your

people. We know your commitment to the social teaching of the

Church in various fields. We thank you for promoting liberty and

justice and for your concern with the many needs of your people:

for food and housing, for health assistance, employment and

education—your preoccupation for farm labor, for the condition
of migrants, for the dignity of immigrants and for the promotion

of peace through endeavors favoring development.

We would confirm you in this pastoral solicitude offered in

the name of Christ. And we would likewise recall to you that

your endeavors must be incessantly renewed in the application

of the uplifting message of the Gospel. Each day constitutes a new

beginning in our service of Christ in our people. At the same

time as we strive to uplift them, we must proclaim the mystery

of the Beatitudes—^the plan of Christ for the happiness of the
world. It will never be possible to anticipate fully the Kingdom of

God, to eliminate completely the consequences of sin, or to eradi-

cate totally the injustice of men. With the balance of the Gospel

and in the love of Christ, we must still teach our people that

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“one thing only is required’' (cf. Lk 10:42). We must still speak

to them of “other higher needs” (Address at Tondo, in the

Philippines, November 29, 1970).

Of immense importance is the question of Catholic education.

We know that you and all your predecessors have expended great

effort in this field. The repeated concern for Catholic education

expressed by the many Councils of Baltimore is but one glorious

chapter in your history. We renew the plea we made last year and

which you took so magnanimously to heart: “Brethren, we know

the difficulties involved in preserving Catholic schools, and the

uncertainties of the future. And yet we rely on the help of God

and on your own zealous collaboration and untiring efforts, so

that Catholic schools can continue, despite grave obstacles, to

fulfill their providential role at the service of genuine Catholic

education, and at the service of your country” (Address, Sep-

tember 15, 1975). We pray that the ideal that inspired so many

teachers—priests, brothers, sisters and lay people—will con-
tinue to be the goal of Catholic education: donee formetur Chris-

tus in vobis (Gal. 4:19):

We thank you for the efforts with which as a Hierarchy you have

sustained the cause of the Catholic University of America. We pray

that this institution and all the Catholic institutions of higher

learning in your country will be proud of their Catholic heritage,

and maintain an institutional commitment to the message of

Christ as proclaimed by the Catholic Church. We hope that these

institutions will always offer courses of high value where the

wisdom of God will clarify and elevate limited human reasoning,

and where the word of God and the magisterlum of the Church

will be held in honor.

We express gratitude to all who dedicate their intellectual tal-

ents to the Church. We are thinking of all those who spend long

hours in research and study at the service of God’s word, at the

service of truth.

As we have had the occasion to express in private audiences,

we ask that the heritage of Latin be revived and sedulously pur-

sued in the seminaries.

Of special interest to us is the use of the mass media. We

have repeatedly spoken about them and our thoughts are widely

7



known. But the field has such importance and such ramifications

in life that we wish to stress again the viewpoint of the Church:

“The Church’s aim in the employment of the mass media is then

crystal clear: to preach effectively Jesus Christ, the way, the

truth and the life (cf. Jn 14:6), and following his example to per-

form a ministry of service in the midst of the world” (Message to

Pan Asian Meeting of Episcopal Commissions for Social Communi-

cations, August 1-3, 1974). We ask that all the means of social

communication at the service of the Church be inspired by this

goal. We place special hope in the diocesan press.

Through the proper use of the mass media the Catholics in

America can also make an increased contribution to their fellow-

citizens. The enunciation of moral principles and the inculcation

of fraternal love and support that know no ethnic limitations can

greatly assist the entire country as it faces obstacles to its moral

greatness, continued progress and worldwide mission. We are

glad that real progress in good will and charity has indeed been

made in combatting discrimination of various kinds, especially

racial discrimination. At the same time we are confident that these

sincere efforts will continue and be intensified. We assure you

moreover that we are one with you and all American citizens of

good will in facing the special dangers to your country and society

from abortion and euthanasia. Besides, we would repeat with in-

sistence: “The rights of minorities call out for protection as do

the rights of the poor, the handicapped, the incurably ill and all

those who live at the margin of society and are without voice.

Above all the precious right to life . . . must be affirmed anew . . .”

(Address to the President and Members of the United Nations

Special Committee on Apartheid, May 22, 1974).

Also of great importance are the endeavors to control narcotic

abuse wherever it is found. We would earnestly reiterate the “hope

that the immense forces of good would exert pressure against the

unworthy activities of those who are greatly responsible for the

corruption of youth” (Message on the occasion of the North Amer-

ican Congress on Alcohol and Drug Problems, December 12-18,

1974). We know likewise of your efforts to fortify your people

against the materialism and hedonism that menace all sectors of

society. A short time ago we spoke to a group of legislators of your

land, saying: “At every turn, your Bicentennial speaks to you of

moral principles, religious convictions, inalienable rights given

8



by the Creator” (Address, April 28, 1976). If all Catholics and

people of good will were united in “those sound moral principles

formulated by your Founding Fathers and enshrined forever in

your history,” what a beacon of light America would be for the

world!

We are deeply pleased to see the continuing efforts being made

in the field of ecumenism. We reiterate the profound conviction

already expressed to you Bishops “that conversion of heart and

holiness of life, along with public and private prayer for unity

of Christians, should be regarded as the soul of the whole ecu-

menical movement and can rightly be called ‘spiritual ecumen-

ism' ” (Unitatis Redintegratio, 8; cf. Address, September 15,

1975). One of the fruits of ecumenism will be a united service

to humanity in the name of Jesus.

Our thoughts turn to all your beloved people—especially to
those who suffer physical and mental anguish. We pray that the

rising generation will know how to bring understanding and love

into the world and accept the Christian discipline necessary for

them to fulfill their mission of compassion.

We are confident in the power of Christ’s Resurrection to sus-

tain you all in his love and in the joyful hope of his coming.

As we confirm the value of sacrifie and effort—and especially the
enormous value of contemplative love and of suffering endured

in union with the Sacrifice of Jesus for the salvation of the world

—we exhort you again to that victory which overcomes the world:
faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God (1 Jn 5:5). Above all. Brethren,

let us love, because love binds the other virtues together and

makes them perfect (cf. Col. 3:14).

Finally, with great affection, we commend you all to the inter-

cession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Patroness of the United

States, and entrust the destiny of your ministry to her maternal

care. We invoke upon you the heavenly assistance of Saint Frances

Xavier Cabrini, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton and Blessed John

Neumann.

And in this way. Brethren, let us go forward—forward together,
in the name of the Lord, in the name of Jesus. It is he who tells

us: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in God and

faith in me” (Jn 14:1).

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With God's grace there is no hardship we cannot endure, no

difficulty we cannot sustain, no obstacle we cannot overcome for

the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the glory of his name.

In this name. Brethren—in the holy name of Jesus—we impart
to you and to all our sons and daughters in America our special

Apostolic Blessing.

From the Vatican, the Solemnity of Pentecost, June 6, 1976

Paulus P P. VI

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