ON CONDITIONS IN SPAIN

CUM MULTA

Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII promulgated on December 8, 1882.

To Our Venerable Brethren and Beloved Sons, the Archbishops, Bishops, and
other Ordinaries in Spain.

Venerable Brethren and Beloved Sons, Health and the Apostolic Benediction.

Many are the points in which the noble and generous Spanish nation has 
shown itself preeminent; but above all others, and worthy of the highest 
praise, is their preservation, through so varied a succession of men and of 
events, of that love of the Catholic faith with which the prosperity and 
greatness of Spain have always appeared to be bound up. Of this affection 
various proofs might be mentioned, but the chief one is that peculiar 
devotion to this Apostolic Chair of which Spaniards have given such 
repeated and striking testimony by all manner of manifestations, by 
letters, by their liberality, and by their pilgrimages. The recollection 
must still be fresh of that recent period when Europe beheld their courage 
and their piety, at a time when the Holy See became a victim of dire and 
unfortunate circumstances.

2. In all this, Beloved Sons and Venerable Brethren, We recognize not only 
a special grace from God but the fruit of your zeal, and likewise the all-
praiseworthy disposition of the people itself, which in these times, so 
hostile to Catholic interests, clings with the greatest watchfulness to the 
religion of its fathers as to an inheritance, and does not hesitate to 
oppose itself to the greatness of the danger with an equal greatness of 
resolution. Nothing can be more hopeful for Spain, if only these 
dispositions be quickened by charity and strengthened by a lasting harmony.

3. But on this point We cannot suppress the truth; when We mark the conduct 
which some Spaniards deem themselves justified in pursuing, We experience a 
feeling akin to that anxious solicitude of the Apostle St. Paul for the 
Corinthians. The perfect union of Catholics among themselves, and 
especially with their Bishops, had ever been secure and undisturbed in 
Spain, and led Our predecessor, Gregory XVI., to address to the Spanish 
people the well-merited eulogium that "the immense majority had persevered 
in its ancient reverence towards the Bishops and the inferior clergy 
canonically instituted."[1] But now, owing to party rivalry, signs are 
showing themselves of dissensions which are dividing minds, as it were, 
into different camps, and greatly disturbing even societies founded for a 
purely religious object. It happens often that in discussions as to the 
best manner of defending Catholic interests the authority of the Bishops 
has not that weight which should belong to it. Sometimes even, if a Bishop 
recommends or decrees something in virtue of his power, there are people 
who will submit to it but ill, or even openly criticize it, assuming that 
he has wished thereby to favor some or hinder others.

4. Yet it is easy to see how important it is that unity should exist among 
the minds of men, and all the more so that, amid the unfettered prevalence 
everywhere of error and in the war so violently and insidiously waged 
against the Catholic Church, it is absolutely necessary that all Christians 
would unite their wills and powers in resistance, for fear that separately 
they may be crushed by the cunning and violence of their foes.

5. Moved, therefore, by the thought of such dangers, We have addressed 
these Letters to you, Beloved Sons, Venerable Brethren; and We most 
earnestly call upon you to be the interpreters of Our salutary warning, and 
to employ your wisdom and your authority in the maintenance of concord.

6. Here, however, it will be fitting to recall the mutual relations of the 
spiritual and of the temporal order, for many minds on this matter fall 
into a two-fold error. There are some, for instance, who are not satisfied 
with distinguishing between politics and religion but separate and 
completely isolate the one from the other; they wish them to have nothing 
in common, and imagine that the one should exercise no influence over the 
other. Such men, in truth, differ but little from those who desire the 
exclusion of God, the Creator and Sovereign of all things, from the 
constitution and administration of the State; and the error they profess is 
the more pernicious that they thereby rashly debar the State from its most 
abundant source of prosperity. The moment religion is removed, those 
principles are of necessity shaken on which the public welfare most of all 
rests, and which drive their greatest force from religion, among the first 
of which are government with justice and moderation, obedience from a sense 
of duty, the submission of the passions to the yoke of virtue, to render to 
each his due, to leave untouched that which is another's.

7. But, though this opinion is to be avoided, the contrary error must 
likewise be shunned of those who identify religion with some one political 
party and confound these together to such a degree as to look on all of 
another party as undeserving any longer of the name of Catholic. This is an 
intrusion of political factions into the August realm of the Church; it is 
an attempt to break the union of brothers, and to open the gate and give 
access to a multitude of grievous troubles.

8. The spiritual and temporal orders being, therefore, distinct in their 
origin and in their nature, should be conceived and judged of as such. For 
matters of the temporary order--however lawful, however important they be--
do not extend, when considered in themselves, beyond the limits of that 
life which we live on this our earth. But religion, born of God, and 
referring all things to God, takes a higher flight and touches heaven. For 
her will, her wish, is to penetrate the soul, man's best part, with the 
knowledge and the love of God and to lead in safety the whole human race to 
that City of the Future which we seek for.

9. It is, then, right to look on religion, and whatever is connected by any 
particular bond with it, as belonging to a higher order. Hence, in the 
vicissitudes of human affairs, and even in the very revolutions in States, 
religion, which is the supreme good, should remain intact; for it embraces 
all times and all places. Men of opposite parties, though differing in all 
else, should be agreed unanimously in this: that in the State the Catholic 
religion should be preserved in all its integrity. To this noble and 
indispensable aim, all who love the Catholic religion ought, as if bound by 
a compact, to direct all their efforts; they should be somewhat silent 
about their various political opinions, which they are, however, at perfect 
liberty to ventilate in their proper place: for the Church is far from 
condemning such matters, when they are not opposed to religion or justice; 
apart and removed from all the turmoil of strife, she carries on her work 
of fostering the common weal, and of cherishing all men with the love of a 
mother, those particularly whose faith and piety are greatest.

10. The fundamental principle of this concord of which We speak is at once 
the same in religion and in every rightly constituted State; it is 
obedience to the lawful authority which orders, forbids, directs, 
legislates, and thus establishes harmonious union amid the diverse minds of 
men. We shall here have to repeat some well-known truths, which, however, 
ought not to be the subjects of mere speculative knowledge, but should 
become rules applicable to the practice of life.

11. Now, even as the Roman Pontiff is the Teacher and Prince of the 
Universal Church, so likewise are Bishops the rulers and chiefs of the 
Churches that have been duly entrusted to them. Each has within his own 
jurisdiction the power of leading, supporting, or correcting, and generally 
of deciding in such matters as may seem to affect religion. For they share 
in the power which Christ Our Lord received from the Father, and 
transmitted to His Church: and therefore Gregory IX., Our Predecessor, said 
of Bishops, "We do not hesitate to declare that the Bishops called on to 
share Our cares are the representatives of God"[2] This power has been given 
to Bishops for the supreme benefit of those over whom it is exercised; it 
tends by its very nature to the building up of the Body of Christ; and 
makes of each Bishop and bond which unites in faith and charity the 
Christians under his guidance at once with one another and with the Supreme 
Pontiff, as members with the head. Here is a weighty expression of St. 
Cyprian's: "The Church is the people united with its pastors, and the flock 
that follows its Shepherd: "[3] and another, still more weighty: "Know ye, 
that the Bishop is in the Church, and the Church in the Bishop: and if any 
one be not with the Bishop, the same is not in the Church"[4] Such, 
unchangeable and everlasting, is the constitution of the Christian 
commonwealth; if it be not religiously maintained, a disturbance of rights 
and duties ensues as a necessary consequence of the broken association of 
the members whose perfect union constitutes the body of the Church, that 
body which "by joints and bands being supplied with nourishment and 
compacted, groweth unto the increase of God"[5] We see, therefore, that 
Bishops should have paid to them that respect which the eminence of their 
charge exacts, and receive in all matters within their office a perfect 
obedience.

12. In face of the passions that at this moment are troubling the minds of 
so many in Spain, We exhort, nay, We conjure, all Spaniards to recall this 
so important duty and to fulfill it with all zeal. Let those, especially, 
who are of the clergy, and whose words and example exercise such potent 
influence, scrupulously apply themselves to observe moderation and 
obedience. For be it known to them that their toil in the fulfillment of 
their duties will be most profitable to themselves and efficacious to their 
neighbor, when they follow in full submission the guidance of him who is 
placed over them as head of the diocese. Assuredly it is not conduct 
consonant with the duties of the priesthood to give oneself up so entirely 
to the rivalries of parties as to appear more busy with the things of men 
than with those of God.

13. They must, therefore, studiously avoid overstepping the reserve imposed 
on them by their office. If they only observe this rule faithfully, We are 
convinced that the Spanish clergy will render daily by their virtues, their 
wisdom, and their labors the greatest services at once to the salvation of 
souls and to the interests of the State.

14. We deem those associations peculiarly fitted to aid them in this work 
which are, so to speak, the auxiliary forces destined to support the 
interests of the Catholic religion; and We approve, therefore, their object 
and the energy they display; We ardently desire that they may increase in 
number and in zeal, and that from day to day their fruits may be more 
abundant. But since the object of such societies is the defense and 
encouragement of Catholic interests, and as it is the Bishops who, each in 
their proper diocese, have to watch over those interests, it naturally 
follows that they should be controlled by their Bishops, and should set 
great value on their authority and commands. In the next place they should 
with equal care apply themselves to preserving union, first because on the 
agreement of men's wills all the power and influence of any human society 
depends; and next, because in the societies of which We speak that mutual 
charity should especially be found which necessarily accompanies good works 
and is the characteristic trait of those whom Christian discipline has 
moulded. Now as it may easily happen that the members may differ on 
politics, they should recall to themselves the aim of all Catholic 
associations, and thereby prevent political partisanship from disturbing 
their cordial unity. In their discussions the members ought to be so 
completely penetrated by the thought of the purpose they united for as to 
seem of no party, remembering the words of the Apostle St. Paul: "For as 
many of you as have been baptized in Christ have put on Christ. There is 
neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither bond nor free .... For you are all 
one in Christ Jesus"[6]. Such rules of conduct will lead not only to amiable 
and friendly relations among the several members of these societies, but 
also between societies of a similar character, an object extremely 
desirable. Thus, by the exclusion of party rivalries, the principal sources 
of dispute will be avoided; and all will be enlisted in the service of the 
one cause, the highest and noblest, about which no disagreement can exist 
among Catholics worthy of the name.

15. Lastly it is most important that those who defend the interests of 
religion in the press, and particularly in the daily papers, should take up 
the same attitude. We are aware of the objects they strive to attain and 
the intentions with which they have entered the arena, and We cannot but 
concede to them well-earned praise for their good service to the Catholic 
religion. But so lofty, so noble, is the cause to which they have devoted 
themselves, that it exacts from the defenders of truth and justice a 
rigorous observance of numerous duties which they must not fail to fulfill; 
and in seeking to accomplish some of these, the others must not be 
neglected. The admonitions, therefore, which we have given to associations, 
We likewise give to writers; We exhort them to remove all dissensions by 
their gentleness and moderation, and to preserve concord amongst themselves 
and in the people, for the influence of writers is great on either side. 
But nothing can be more opposed to concord than biting words, rash 
judgments, or perfidious insinuations, and everything of this kind should 
be shunned with the greatest care and held in the utmost abhorrence. A 
discussion in which are concerned the sacred rights of the Church and the 
doctrines of the Catholic religion should not be acrimonious, but calm and 
temperate; it is weight of reasoning, and not violence and bitterness of 
language, which must win victory for the Catholic writer.

16. These rules of conduct will be, in Our judgment, of great use in 
removing the causes which impede perfect concord. It will be your task, 
Beloved Sons, Venerable Brethren, to explain Our thoughts to the people and 
to endeavor to the utmost of your power to make all conform their lives to 
the rules We have here laid down.

17. We are confident that the faithful of Spain will embrace them of their 
own accord, as well from their tried devotion to this Apostolic Chair, as 
from a sense of the benefits which are rightly to be expected from concord. 
Let them recall the facts of their own history; let them recognize that the 
glorious exploits of their ancestors at home and abroad could not have been 
achieved had their forces been scattered by dissensions, and were only 
possible owing to their perfect union. Animated by brotherly love and all 
inspired by the same sentiments, they triumphed over the haughty domination 
of the Moors, over heresy, and over schism. Let the faithful of Spain 
imitate the example of those from whom they have inherited faith and fame, 
and show that they inherit not only their ancestors' name but their virtues 
also.

18. We believe, moreover, Beloved Sons and Venerable Brethren, that to 
promote union and uniformity in discipline, it will be well that the 
Bishops of each province should often deliberate among themselves and with 
their Archbishop, consult about one another's interests, and, when 
circumstances require it, address themselves to that Apostolic See whence 
flow the integrity of faith, the power of discipline, and the light of 
truth. The numerous pilgrimages which are being projected in Spain will 
afford a most favorable opportunity. Nothing can, indeed, be more fit to 
allay dissensions and to decide controversies than the voice of him whom 
Our Lord Jesus Christ has constituted the Vicar of His power, and the 
wealth of heavenly graces which flow in streams from the tomb of the 
Apostles.

19. But, since all "our strength is of God," join yourselves with Us in 
fervent prayer to God that He may give efficacy to Our teaching and render 
the people ready to receive it with docility. May the august Mother of God, 
the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Patroness of Spain, deign to favor Our common 
efforts! May We also be helped by the Apostle St. James and St. Teresa of 
Jesus, the virgin law-giver and great light of Spanish wisdom, in whom the 
love of concord, affection for her country, and perfect Christian obedience 
were equally conspicuous.

20. In the meanwhile, as a pledge of Heavenly gifts and in token of Our 
fatherly good-will, We here lovingly bestow on you in the Lord, Beloved 
Sons, Venerable Brethren, and on all the people of Spain, Our Apostolic 
Benediction.

Given in Rome, at St. Peter's, on the 8th day of December, 1882, in the 
fifth year of Our Pontificate.

     ENDNOTES:

     1. Alloc. "Affictas," 1st, March, (1841).

     2. Epist. 198, lib. 13.

     3. Epist. 69, "Ad Papianum."

     4. Ibid.

     5. Colossians ii, 19.

     6. Galatians, iii., 27-28.