ON THE COLUMBUS QUADRICENTENNIAL

QUARTO ABEUNTE SAECULO

Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII promulgated on July 16, 1892.

To Our Venerable Brethren, the Archbishops and Bishops of Spain, Italy,
and the two Americas.

Now that four centuries have sped since a Ligurian first, under God's 
guidance, touched shores unknown beyond the Atlantic, the whole world is 
eager to celebrate the memory of the event, and glorify its author. Nor 
could a worthier reason be found where through zeal should be kindled. For 
the exploit is in itself the highest and grandest which any age has ever 
seen accomplished by man; and he who achieved it, for the greatness of his 
mind and heart, can be compared to but few in the history of humanity. By 
his toil another world emerged from the unsearched bosom of the ocean: 
hundreds of thousands of mortals have, from a state of blindness, been 
raised to the common level of the human race, reclaimed from savagery to 
gentleness and humanity; and, greatest of all, by the acquisition of those 
blessings of which Jesus Christ is the author, they have been recalled from 
destruction to eternal life. Europe, indeed, overpowered at the time by the 
novelty and strangeness of the discovery, presently came to recognize what 
was due to Columbus, when, through the numerous colonies shipped to 
America, through the constant intercourse and interchange of business and 
the ocean-trade, an incredible addition was made to our knowledge of 
nature, and to the commonwealth; whilst at the same time the prestige of 
the European name was marvelously increased. Therefore, amidst so lavish a 
display of honor, so unanimous a tribute of congratulations, it is fitting 
that the Church should not be altogether silent; since she, by custom and 
precedent, willingly approves and endeavors to forward whatsoever she see, 
and wherever she see it, that is honorable and praiseworthy. It is true she 
reserves her special and greatest honors for virtues that most signally 
proclaim a high morality, for these are directly associated with the 
salvation of souls; but she does not, therefore, despise or lightly 
estimate virtues of other kinds. On the contrary, she has ever highly 
favored and held in honor those who have deserved well of men in civil 
society, and have thus attained a lasting name among posterity. For God, 
indeed, is especially wonderful in his Saints--"mirabilis in Sanctis suis;" 
but the impress of His Divine virtue also appears in those who shine with 
excellent power of mind and spirit, since high intellect and greatness of 
spirit can be the property of men only through their parent and creator, 
God.

2. But there is, besides, another reason, a unique one, why We consider 
that this immortal achievement should be recalled by Us with memorial 
words. For Columbus is ours; since if a little consideration be given to 
the particular reason of his design in exploring the "mare tenebrosum," and 
also the manner in which he endeavored to execute the design, it is 
indubitable that the Catholic faith was the strongest motive for the 
inception and prosecution of the design; so that for this reason also the 
whole human race owes not a little to the Church.

3. For we have the record of not a few brave and experienced men, both 
before and after Christopher Columbus, who with stubbornness and zeal 
explored unknown lands and seas yet more unknown. And the memory of these, 
man, mindful of benefits, rightly holds, and will hold in honor; because 
they advanced the ends of knowledge and humanity, and increased the common 
prosperity of the race, not by light labor, but by supreme exertion, often 
accompanied by great dangers. But there is, nevertheless, between these and 
him of whom we speak, a generous difference. He was distinguished by this 
unique note, that in his work of traversing and retraversing immense tracts 
of ocean, he looked for a something greater and higher than did these 
others. We say not that he was unmoved by perfectly honorable aspirations 
after knowledge, and deserving well of human society; nor did he despise 
glory, which is a most engrossing ideal to great souls; nor did he 
altogether scorn a hope of advantages to himself; but to him far before all 
these human considerations was the consideration of his ancient faith, 
which questionless dowered him with strength of mind and will, and often 
strengthened and consoled him in the midst of the greatest difficulties. 
This view and aim is known to have possessed his mind above all; namely, to 
open a way for the Gospel over new lands and seas.

4. This, indeed, may seem of small likelihood to such as confine their 
whole thought and care to the evidence of the senses, and refuse to look 
for anything higher. But great intellects, on the contrary, are usually 
wont to cherish higher ideals; for they, of all men, are most excellently 
fitted to receive the intuitions and breathings of Divine faith. Columbus 
certainly had joined to the study of nature the study of religion, and had 
trained his mind on the teachings that well up from the most intimate 
depths of the Catholic faith. For this reason, when he learned from the 
lessons of astronomy and the record of the ancients, that there were great 
tracts of land lying towards the West, beyond the limits of the known 
world, lands hitherto explored by no man, he saw in spirit a mighty 
multitude, cloaked in miserable darkness, given over to evil rites, and the 
superstitious worship of vain gods. Miserable it is to live in a barbarous 
state and with savage manners: but more miserable to lack the knowledge of 
that which is highest, and to dwell in ignorance of the one true God. 
Considering these things, therefore, in his mind, he sought first of all to 
extend the Christian name and the benefits of Christian charity to the 
West, as is abundantly proved by the history of the whole undertaking. For 
when he first petitioned Ferdinand and Isabella, the Sovereigns of Spain, 
for fear lest they should be reluctant to encourage the undertaking, he 
clearly explained its object: "That their glory would grow to immortality, 
if they resolved to carry the name and doctrine of Jesus Christ into 
regions so distant." And in no long time having obtained his desires, he 
bears witness: "That he implores of God that, through His Divine aid and 
grace, the Sovereigns may continue steadfast in their desire to fill these 
new missionary shores with the truths of the Gospel." He hastens to seek 
missionaries from Pope Alexander VI, through a letter in which this 
sentence occurs: "I trust that, by God's help, I may spread the Holy Name 
and Gospel of Jesus Christ as widely as may be." He was carried away, as we 
think, with joy, when on his first return from the Indies he wrote to 
Raphael Sanchez: "That to God should be rendered immortal thanks, Who had 
brought his labors such prosperous issues; that Jesus Christ rejoices and 
triumphs on earth no less than in Heaven, at the approaching salvation of 
nations innumerable, who were before hastening to destruction." And if he 
moved Ferdinand and Isabella to decree that only Catholic Christians should 
be suffered to approach the New World and trade with the natives, he 
brought forward as reason, "that he sought nothing from his enterprise and 
endeavor but the increase and glory of the Christian religion." And this 
was well known to Isabella, who better than any had understood the great 
man's mind; indeed it is evident that it had been clearly laid before that 
most pious, masculine-minded, and great-souled woman. For she had declared 
of Columbus that he would boldly thrust himself upon the vast ocean, "to 
achieve a most signal thing, for the sake of the Divine glory." And to 
Columbus himself, on his second return, she writes: "That the expenses she 
had incurred, and was about to incur, for the Indian expeditions, had been 
well bestowed; for thence would ensure a spreading of Catholicism."

5. In truth, except for a Divine cause, whence was he to draw constancy and 
strength of mind to bear those sufferings which to the last he was obliged 
to endure? We allude to the adverse opinions of the learned, the rebuffs of 
the great, the storms of a raging ocean, and those assiduous vigils by 
which he more than once lost the use of his sight. Then in addition were 
fights with savages, the infidelity of friends and companions, criminal 
conspiracies, the perfidy of the envious, and the calumnies of detractors. 
He must needs have succumbed under labors so vast and overwhelming if he 
had not been sustained by the consciousness of a nobler aim, which he knew 
would bring much glory to the Christian name, and salvation to an infinite 
multitude. And in contrast with his achievement the circumstances of the 
time show with wonderful effect. Columbus threw open America at the time 
when a great storm was about to break over the Church. As far, therefore, 
as it is lawful for man to divine from events the ways of Divine 
Providence, he seemed to have truly been born, by a singular provision of 
God, to remedy those losses which were awaiting the Catholic Church on the 
side of Europe.

6. To persuade the Indian people to Christianity was, indeed, the duty and 
work of the Church, and upon that duty she entered from the beginning, and 
continued, and still continues, to pursue in continuous charity, reaching 
finally the furthest limits of Patagonia. Columbus resolved to go before 
and prepare the ways for the Gospel, and, deeply absorbed in this idea, 
gave all his energies to it, attempting hardly anything without religion 
for his guide and piety for his companion. We mention what is indeed well 
known, but is also characteristic of the man's mind and soul. For being 
compelled by the Portuguese and Genoese to leave his object unachieved, 
when he had reached Spain, within the wall of a Religious house he matured 
his great design of meditated exploration, having for confidant and adviser 
a Religious--a disciple of Francis of Assisi. Being at length about to 
depart for the sea, he attended to all that which concerned the welfare of 
his soul on the eve of his enterprise. He implored the Queen of Heaven to 
assist his efforts and direct his course; and he ordered that no sail 
should be hoisted until the name of the Trinity had been invoked. When he 
had put out to sea, and the waves were now growing tempestuous, and the 
sailors were filled with terror, he kept a tranquil constancy of mind, 
relying on God. The very names he gave to the newly discovered islands tell 
the purposes of the man. At each disembarkation he offered up prayers to 
Almighty God, nor did he take possession save "in the Name of Jesus 
Christ." Upon whatsoever shores he might be driven, his first act was to 
set upon the shore the standard of the holy Cross: and the name of the 
Divine Redeemer, which he had so often sung on the open sea to the sound of 
the murmuring waves, he conferred upon the new islands. Thus at Hispaniola 
he began to build from the ruins of the temple, and all popular 
celebrations were preceded by the most sacred ceremonies .

7. This, then, was the object, this the end Columbus had in view in 
traversing such a vast extent of land and water to discover those countries 
hitherto uncultivated and inaccessible, but which, afterwards, as we have 
seen, have made such rapid strides in civilization and wealth and fame. And 
in truth the magnitude of the undertaking, as well as the importance and 
variety of the benefits that arose from it, call for some fitting and 
honorable commemoration of it among men. And, above all, it is fitting that 
we should confess and celebrate in an especial manner the will and designs 
of the Eternal Wisdom, under whose guidance the discoverer of the New World 
placed himself with a devotion so touching.

8. In order, therefore, that the commemoration of Columbus may be worthily 
observed, religion must give her assistance to the secular ceremonies. And 
as at the time of the first news of the discovery public thanksgiving was 
offered by the command of the Sovereign Pontiff to Almighty God, so now we 
have resolved to act in like manner in celebrating the anniversary of this 
auspicious event.

9. We decree, therefore, that on October 12, or on the following Sunday, if 
the Ordinary should prefer it, in all the Cathedral churches and convent 
chapels throughout Spain, Italy, and the two Americas, after the office of 
the day there shall be celebrated a Solemn Mass of the Most Holy Trinity. 
Moreover, besides the above mentioned countries, We feel assured that the 
other nations, prompted to it by the counsel of their bishops will likewise 
join in the celebration, since it is fitting that an event from which all 
have derived benefit should be piously and gratefully commemorated by all.

10. Meanwhile, as a pledge of heavenly favors and of Our own paternal 
goodwill, we lovingly bestow the Apostolic Benediction in Our Lord upon 
you, Venerable Brethren, and upon your clergy and people.

Given at Rome, from St. Peter's, on the 16th day of July, 1892, in the 
fifteenth year of Our Pontificate.