Aeterni Patris

by Pope Leo XIII

"In August 1879, eighteen months into his pontificate, Pope Leo XIII (formerly Joachim Cardinal Pecci, bishop of Perugia), issued the encyclical letter Aeterni Patris. The aim of the encyclical was to aid and advance the restoration of Christian philosophy, which had fallen into danger and disrepute by adhering to modern trends in secular philosophy, by urging a return to the scholastic thinkers of the Middle Ages, most especially the Angelic Doctor St. Thomas Aquinas, and the related philosophical system of Thomism. The encyclical attempts to clarify the roles of faith and philosophy (later to be covered again in John Paul II's encyclical, Fides et Ratio [[On] Faith and Reason]), showing how most beneficially each may profit from the other."

Genres: Catholic, Philosophy, Religion, Theology, Nonfiction, 19th Century, Audiobook

ebook

First published August 4, 1879

About the author

Pope Leo XIII (Italian: Leone XIII), born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, reigned as Pope from 20 February 1878 to his death in 1903. He was the oldest pope (reigning until the age of 93), and had the third longest pontificate, behind that of Pope Pius IX (his immediate predecessor) and John Paul II. He was the most recent pontiff to date to take the pontifical name of "Leo" upon being elected to the pontificate until 2025.

He is well known for his intellectualism, the development of social teachings with his famous papal encyclical [Book: Rerum novarum] and his attempts to define the position of the Catholic Church with regard to modern thinking. He influenced Roman Catholic Mariology and promoted both the rosary and the scapular.

Leo XIII issued a record of eleven Papal encyclicals on the rosary earning him the title as the "Rosary Pope". In addition, he approved two new Marian scapulars and was the first pope to fully embrace the concept of Mary as Mediatrix. He was the first pope to never have held any control over the Papal States, after they were dissolved by 1870. He was briefly buried in the grottos of Saint Peter's Basilica before his remains were later transferred to the Basilica of Saint John Lateran.

Reviews

[Zbigniew Zdziarski · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite encyclical. Outlines the importance of studying good philosophy for society, the arts, sciences, and civilisation. A little bit of background knowledge of the times is required to fully appreciate what Leo is trying to convey, however.

[Raul · Rating 5 out of 5]

St. Thomas Aquinas.Is.A.Must!

[Albana Bikaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Therefore in this also let us follow the example of the Angelic Doctor, who never gave himself to reading or writing without first begging the blessing of God, who modestly confessed that whatever he knew he had acquired not so much by his own study and labor as by the divine gift; and therefore let us all, in humble and united prayer, beseech God to send forth the spirit of knowledge and of understanding to the children of the Church and open their senses for the understanding of wisdom. And that we may receive fuller fruits of the divine goodness, offer up to God the most efficacious patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is called the seat of wisdom; having at the same time as advocates St. Joseph, the most chaste spouse of the Virgin, and Peter and Paul, the chiefs of the Apostles, whose truth renewed the earth which had fallen under the impure blight of error, filling it with the light of heavenly wisdom.”

[Nathan Suire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pope Leo XIII endorses St. Thomas Aquinas' philosophy as the philosophy of the Catholic Church and commends its restoration especially in high schools and universities.

[Casey Farr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly wouldn’t have finished this if i wasn’t reading it with Lindsey, it had some really great points though! Made me think about the qualities of good philosophy more than i ever have and probably more than i ever will again

[OSCAR · Rating 3 out of 5]

El Papa León XIII en aras de pelear contra la filosofía de su tiempo, decidió primero subrayar que la fe cristiana no era irracional, segundo, aludió a una larga trayectoria de pensamiento cristiano sólido y tercero, insistió que la filosofía de Tomás de Aquino, por su precisión y por su profundidad, era la coronación de la filosofía cristiana. Este último punto, supongo yo, ha llevado a varios admiradores de Tomás de Aquino y güelfos a apegarse literalmente a las obras tomasianas sin espíritu crítico, lo cual condujo a la esterilidad intelectual en la Iglesia previa al Concilio Vaticano II. Intenten leer los tratados de Garrigou-Lagrange y verán que si bien son trabajos de filosofía dura, son mamotretos inservibles que no animan al fiel, creo yo que incluso lo vacían anímicamente.

Sin embargo, León XIII subrayó que la filosofía de Tomás de Aquino debería enseñarse en los seminarios para que los seminaristas pudieran lidiar con los desafíos de su época pero no cerró la posibilidad a rectificaciones ni a aportaciones deliciosas o útiles ni en la teología ni en la filosofía. El meollo fueron sus sucesores en el solio pontificio y los católicos de buena fe pero poca sesera, que establecieron que el tomismo era la filosofía oficial de la Iglesia católica. Los resultados son obvios: prepotentes católicos tradicionalistas que viven en adoración de las cenizas y que viven desfasados de su tiempo, católicos mal instruidos, otros tantos revisan filosofías perniciosas mientras que ríos de gente salen de la iglesia romana en busca de savia para nutrirse anímicamente. El mal viene más atrás que la encíclica "Aeterni Patris; el atolladero fue creer que la teología es mero discurso y no experiencia. Por eso Roger Scruton pudo decir que los tratados teológicos eran finas diversiones pero nada más.

Únicamente tengo algo por seguro: Si habrá un regreso a Tomás de Aquino en el futuro se hará a pesar de sus fanáticos.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

This encyclical was issued by Pope Leo XIII in August, 1879, and is subtitled “On the Restoration of Christian Philosophy". The aim of the encyclical was to advance the revival of Scholastic philosophy and its application to Catholic theology.

[Simon]

Essential revival of Scholasticism in the late 1800s by Pope Leo XIII. Based on this Encyclical, the Neo-thomistic tradition in Louvain started, which sadly has disintegrated now.

Faith is necessary to reason.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This helped me further understand the key role played by Thomas Aquinas in the history of theological philosophy.

[Vagabond of Letters, DLitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/10. Good material, but superficial. Historically important - to the future as well, Deo volente. Thomism yesterday, Thomism today, Thomism forever!

[Suzanne Brayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This document mostly is expounding the virtues of following the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas.

[Umbra Kil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Introduction to Christian Philosophy

[Ben Eastman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good summary of the Catholic Church's relationship with Philosophy over the centuries, with special emphasis on St. Thomas Aquinas. Pope Leo asks the universities to return to the great body of Scholastic philosophical thought and cease being pulled away by modern streams which reject the foundation which has come before.

Even 150 years ago, Pope Leo comments on a growing hostility by the physical sciences "now in such great repute" towards philosophy, arguing that "the investigation of facts and the contemplation of nature is not alone sufficient for their profitable exercise and advance."

[Afonso Maria Teixeira da Mota · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sem entrar em grande detalhe, o Papa faz um apanhado da história da filosofia, destacando S. Tomás como o algutinador de tudo, ou quase, o que de bom tinha sido produzido até então.

Diante do desmoronamento civilizacional a que assistia, e que se agravou até aos nossos dias, o Papa indica a sabedoria de S. Tomás como o caminho de re-edificação a seguir.

É uma carta encíclica muito boa e de recomendável leitura :)

[Christopher Moellering · Rating 5 out of 5]

A concise, clear call to embrace St. Thomas as a sure guide in theology and philosophy. Still rings true and relevant over 140 years later.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything written by Leo XIII is amazing. This focuses on the importance of philosophy for proper theology, and the supremacy of Thomistic Philosphy. If the world would take this serious we'd have far fewer problems than we do now.

[Joseph Serwach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent primer on philosophy and theology

Excellent primer on philosophy and theology required reading at our seminary and all great seminaries. St. Leo was wise beyond his time.

[Leonardo]

Me sorprende de este muchacho su fe en Dios, su estima por la Iglesia, y en este caso su admiración por Santo Tomás (Doctor Angélico). Se trata de una carta corta que busca animar al desarrollo de una filosofía católica basada en Santo Tomás.