A Real Pope Proclaims: All Catholics Obliged To Defend The Faith

Dr. Mazza sends… (BTW, all is well at the Mazza SoCal abode post-Hurricane Hilary)

Pope Leo XIII in Sapientiae Christianae said the following:

“When necessity compels, not only those who are invested with the power of rule are bound to safeguard the integrity of the FAITH, but as St. Thomas Aquinas maintains, ‘Each one is UNDER OBLIGATION to show forth his faith, either to instruct and encourage others of the Faithful, or repel the attacks of unbelievers.’

“To recoil before an enemy, or to keep silence when from all sides such clamors are raised up against truth, is the part of a man either devoid of character or who entertains doubt as to the truth of what he professes to believe.

“In both cases such mode of behaving is base and is insulting to God, and both are incompatible with the salvation of mankind. This kind of conduct is profitable only to the enemies of the Faith — for nothing emboldens the wicked so greatly as the lack of courage on the part of the good.

“Moreover, want of vigor on the part of Christians is so much the more blameworthy, as not seldom little would be needed on their part to bring to naught false charges and refute erroneous opinions: and, by always exerting themselves more strenuously, they might reckon upon being successful.

“After all, no one can be prevented from putting forth that strength of soul which is characteristic of true Christians; and very frequently by such display of courage our enemies lose heart and their designs are thwarted.

“Christians are moreover, BORN FOR COMBAT, whereof the greater the vehemence, the more assured, God-abiding, the triumph: ‘Have confidence; I have overcome the world!'”