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Mediator Dei
Mediator Dei, a papal encyclical, was issued by Pope Pius XII in 1947. The encyclical suggests new directions and active participation instead of a merely passive role of the faithful in the liturgy, in liturgical ceremonies and in the life of their parish. The encyclical also emphasizes the importance of the Eucharistic cult. Mediator Dei is one of the more important encyclicals of Pope Pius XII. The encyclical condemned certain excesses of liturgical reform and stressed the importance of the union of sacrifice and altar with communion, which greatly directed additional reforms during Vatican II.
80 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1947
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Pope Pius XII
170 books27 followersThe Venerable Pope Pius XII (Latin: Pius PP. XII; Italian: Pio XII), born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli, reigned as Pope, head of the Roman Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958.
Before election to the papacy, Pacelli served as secretary of the Department of Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs, papal nuncio and Cardinal Secretary of State, in which capacity he worked to conclude treaties with European and Latin American nations, most notably the Reichskonkordat with Nazi Germany. His leadership of the Catholic Church during World War II remains the subject of continued historical controversy.
After the war, Pius XII contributed to the rebuilding of Europe, and advocated peace and reconciliation, including lenient policies toward vanquished nations and the unification of Europe. The Church, flourishing in the West, experienced severe persecution and mass deportations of Catholic clergy in the East. In light of his protests, and his involvement in the Italian elections of 1948, he became known as a staunch opponent of communism.
Pius XII explicitly invoked ex cathedra papal infallibility with the dogma of the Assumption of Mary in his 1950 Apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus. His magisterium includes almost 1,000 addresses and radio broadcasts. His forty-one encyclicals include Mystici Corporis, the Church as the Body of Christ; Mediator Dei on liturgy reform; Humani Generis on the Church's position on theology and evolution. He eliminated the Italian majority in the College of Cardinals in 1946.
Before election to the papacy, Pacelli served as secretary of the Department of Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs, papal nuncio and Cardinal Secretary of State, in which capacity he worked to conclude treaties with European and Latin American nations, most notably the Reichskonkordat with Nazi Germany. His leadership of the Catholic Church during World War II remains the subject of continued historical controversy.
After the war, Pius XII contributed to the rebuilding of Europe, and advocated peace and reconciliation, including lenient policies toward vanquished nations and the unification of Europe. The Church, flourishing in the West, experienced severe persecution and mass deportations of Catholic clergy in the East. In light of his protests, and his involvement in the Italian elections of 1948, he became known as a staunch opponent of communism.
Pius XII explicitly invoked ex cathedra papal infallibility with the dogma of the Assumption of Mary in his 1950 Apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus. His magisterium includes almost 1,000 addresses and radio broadcasts. His forty-one encyclicals include Mystici Corporis, the Church as the Body of Christ; Mediator Dei on liturgy reform; Humani Generis on the Church's position on theology and evolution. He eliminated the Italian majority in the College of Cardinals in 1946.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 20, 2015
Read this next to the 1969 Missal and ask yourself how these two documents could be produced by the same Church. Much of what Pius XII recommends and teaches in this encyclical is ubiquitously violated by Catholic churches all over the world. Loss of Latin, Gregorian Chant, nobility and reverence are just a few of the problems that come to light when reading this work. I exhort all Catholics to read this and consider the liturgy in their own parish.
January 27, 2021
What a refreshing read! This encyclical reminds me of one of Pope Benedict XVI's that I read many years ago in its writing style. I bet that not a few Catholics miss clear, succinct, to-the-point encyclicals.
To the content of this primary-source historical document: what a difference 74 years has made in the development of Roman Catholic liturgical practice! To read this encyclical and understand how the Holy Sacrifice and its surrounding practices used to be preserved and safeguarded and then to attend a run-of-the-mill Roman Catholic Mass today at most parishes would leave one stunned. Almost all the specific points named explicitly by Ven. Pius XII to be avoided and denounced have manifested themselves in common celebration of the Holy Mass today.
Ven. Pius XII, ora pro nobis!
To the content of this primary-source historical document: what a difference 74 years has made in the development of Roman Catholic liturgical practice! To read this encyclical and understand how the Holy Sacrifice and its surrounding practices used to be preserved and safeguarded and then to attend a run-of-the-mill Roman Catholic Mass today at most parishes would leave one stunned. Almost all the specific points named explicitly by Ven. Pius XII to be avoided and denounced have manifested themselves in common celebration of the Holy Mass today.
Ven. Pius XII, ora pro nobis!
July 31, 2014
It is quite long, but it is definitely worth the time for all Catholics.
December 28, 2022
A beautiful reflection on Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, the sacred liturgy, the priesthood, and the proper conduct of the laity in the act of worship.
I don’t think this encyclical is necessarily the silver bullet that traditionalists would like it to be, for although Pope Pius XII argues for organic development (stating that the Holy Spirit guides the liturgy throughout all ages) and against false antiquarianism (giving specific examples which were unfortunately adopted in the Missal of Pope St. Paul VI), he also states that it is the exclusive competency of the Roman Pontiff and the Apostolic See to modify existing rites and establish new rites of the Holy Mass for the Church.
I hope that this encyclical becomes more widely read in the discussions of the current state of the two Missals in use in the Latin Church. Only through the critical reading of historical scholarship; the understanding that changes to the liturgy throughout the ages is guided by the Holy Spirit (e.g. we should not speak of additions to the Mass in the Middle Ages as “excesses”); the necessity the continuity of traditions within a given rite; and most importantly, prayer, will the whole Latin Church return to the usus antiquior to “[grow], [mature], [develop], and [adapt] and [accomodate] to temporal needs and circumstances, provided that the integrity of [the Church’s] doctrine be safeguarded.”
I don’t think this encyclical is necessarily the silver bullet that traditionalists would like it to be, for although Pope Pius XII argues for organic development (stating that the Holy Spirit guides the liturgy throughout all ages) and against false antiquarianism (giving specific examples which were unfortunately adopted in the Missal of Pope St. Paul VI), he also states that it is the exclusive competency of the Roman Pontiff and the Apostolic See to modify existing rites and establish new rites of the Holy Mass for the Church.
I hope that this encyclical becomes more widely read in the discussions of the current state of the two Missals in use in the Latin Church. Only through the critical reading of historical scholarship; the understanding that changes to the liturgy throughout the ages is guided by the Holy Spirit (e.g. we should not speak of additions to the Mass in the Middle Ages as “excesses”); the necessity the continuity of traditions within a given rite; and most importantly, prayer, will the whole Latin Church return to the usus antiquior to “[grow], [mature], [develop], and [adapt] and [accomodate] to temporal needs and circumstances, provided that the integrity of [the Church’s] doctrine be safeguarded.”
May 5, 2020
Livro maravilhoso que além da liturgia, trás muito da vivencia da vida católica. Centrada na liturgia, ela da vivencia católica como um todo, como o calendário litúrgico, devoções, rosário e a vida em si.
August 31, 2023
An insightful encyclical to read on the Liturgy, proper reception and devotion to the Eucharist, the importance of art and Gregorian Chant in the church and truly living out the Catholic faith!
June 28, 2024
Pius XII answered questions I had but didn't even know how to ask. Fantastic explanation of the liturgy and the basic theology behind it, as well as how to form ourselves through it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews