Mystical Body of Christ

by Pope Pius XII

Mystici corporis Christi (June 29, 1943) is a papal encyclical issued by Pope Pius XII during World War II, on the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ. It is one of the more important encyclicals of Pope Pius XII, because of its topic, the Church, and because its Church concept was fully included in Lumen gentium but also strongly debated during and after Vatican II. The Church is called body, because it is a living entity; it is called the body of Christ, because Christ is its Head and Founder; it is called mystical body, because it is neither a purely physical nor a purely spiritual unity, but supernatural.

The encyclical followed the commencement of Nazi Germany's programs of "euthanasia" of the disabled, and race-based murders of Jews and other minorities, and is therefore significant for its reiteration of Church teachings against racism and the killings of people with disabilities.

Genres: Theology, Religion, Catholic, Spirituality, Nonfiction

73 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

The 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.

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great journey in time...back when Popes acted and sounded like Popes.

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ecclesiology at its finest, rejects various incorrect positions on the nature of the Church as Body of Christ and the efficacy of prayer, while emphasizing that a) our collaboration is necessary, b) we don't have excuses to excluded anyone, c) belonging to the Church is not a purely sentimental declaration but also needs our free will to be effective (doing away with the myth of coerced baptism). Very recommendable for Pentecost.

[Francis E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This papal encyclical, by Pope Pius XII, is very significant to the topic of Ecclesiology. It is very explicit, the One Church of Christ is the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic, and Roma Church, outside of which there is no salvation. Moreover, due to the very nature of a body, this Church is visible. The document is clear in rejecting any Protestant idea of an invisible union between different churches under the one “Church of Christ.” No, the true Church shares one common faith and one common government.

The Invisible Head of this one Body is Christ, from whom we receive every grace. The visible head of the Body is the Pope, who is the Vicar of Christ, but not as though these were two separate heads. If someone be not subject to the Roman Pontiff, he cannot be saved, rather, he breaks the unity of the body of Christ by imagining he can be united to it while rejecting the head appointed by Christ. The uncreated soul of the Church is the Holy Spirit, present in the whole and every part of the Church.

A true member of the Church both professes the faith and is baptized. Those who commit heresy, schism, or apostasy, are cut off from the Church, and also those who are excommunicated by the lawful authorities. Protestants have a certain relationship to the Body of Christ, yet their path is most difficult, not having the fullness of the graces present in the Holy Catholic Church

Other than theological points, the encyclical also makes many moral exhortations, since the Body of Christ must bear a certain resemblance to Christ by its holiness. The Pope makes a beautiful point, showing how much Christ loves the Church. For, even in the womb of the Virgin, having the Beatific Vision, He could see all the members of the Church and love them most perfectly. Near the end the Pope clearly describes Mary as Co-Redemptrix, in relation to the Incarnation (her fiat) and the Passion (her offering of her Son). May the Blessed Virgin Mary throw her mantle of protection over the Church.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfectly written exhortation to clergy during the midway point of world war 2. Interesting to read mention of the Apostleship of Prayer. This was established for the universal Church by Pope Leo XIII and is still used by the current pontiff.

[Giovanni Del Piero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for school.

[ShepherdsDelight · Rating 4 out of 5]

78/100 (= 4.3/6) ≈ 4 Stars