Saving Hindus from Vile Brahmans

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AD EXTREMAS

ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII ON

SEMINARIES FOR NATIVE CLERGY

"Converting thousands of Hindus from the myths and vile superstitions

of Brahmans"

 

Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, on the 24th day of June, in the year

1893, the sixteenth year of Our pontificate.

 

LEO XIII:

 

To Our Venerable Brothers, the Patriarchs, Archbishops and

Bishops and other Ordinaries in Peace and Communion with the Holy See.

 

Venerable Brothers, Health and Apostolic Benediction.

 

The Orient, courageously and successfully explored by the Portugese,

is coveted by many today for its lucrative trade. We, however, have a

more noble purpose in mind. We reflect upon those immense regions of

the Indies where for many centuries men of the Gospel have expended

their labor. Our thoughts turn first of all to the blessed Apostle

Thomas who is rightly called the founder of preaching the Gospel to

the Hindus. Then, there is Francis Xavier, who long afterwards

dedicated himself zealously to the same praiseworthy calling. Through

his extraordinary perseverence, he converted hundreds of thousands of

Hindus from the myths and vile superstitions of the Brahmans to the

true religion. In the footsteps of this holy man followed numerous

priests, secular and religious, who with the authority and permission

of the Holy See strove untiringly to preserve and promote the

Christian mysteries and institutions introduced by Thomas and renewed

by Xavier. To this day, they are continuing these noble efforts;

nevertheless, in the vast reaches of the earth, many are still

deprived of the truth, miserably imprisoned in the darkness of

superstition! How very great a field, especially in the north, lies

yet uncultivated to receive the seed of the Gospel!

 

2. Pondering these needs, We place our trust in Our Savior who alone

knows the exact circumstance and time to bestow his light; he is wont

to direct the mind and hearts of men by divine inspiration. But,

assuredly, We ought to exert every possible effort to convert such a

great part of the world. We have been searching for possible ways of

better organizing and expanding Christianity in the East Indies, we

have decided upon certain measures to help achieve Our goal.

 

New Dioceses

 

3. First of all, to be sure, with respect to the patronato of the

Portuguese people in the East Indies, We have concluded a formal pact

with the most faithful king of Portugal and Algerve. This agreement

has removed the causes of dissensions, which had disrupted Christians

for so long a time. These communities have been under obedience to

apostolic vicars and prefects. We have decided to form them into

dioceses with their own bishops to be administered by ordinary right.

Therefore, by the apostolic letter, Humanae salutis, given on the

first of September, 1886, a new hierarchy has been instituted in

those regions, consisting of eight church provinces, namely, Goa as

the patriarchal see, Agra, Bombay, Verapoly, Calcutta, Madras,

Pondichery and Colombo. Furthermore, through the Congregation of the

Propagation of the Faith, We will do whatever will be fruitful there

for salvation and for the increase of faith and piety.

 

Native Clergy

 

4. The preservation of the Christian faith among the Hindus will be

precarious and its propagation uncertain as long as there is not a

native clergy properly trained for priestly duties, not only to be of

assistance to foreign priests, but also to be in rightful charge of

the administration of the Christian Church in their cities. Tradition

tells us that Frances Xavier maintained this same opinion. They say

that he used to assert that the Christian cause in India could never

have firm roots without the continuing dedication of a pious and

zealous clergy native to India. It is clearly evident that he had a

keen understanding of the issue. Certainly the work of the

missionaries coming from Europe is beset with many obstacles. Most

especially, indeed, is their unfamiliarity with the vernacular, which

is very difficult to learn. There is also the remoteness of

institutions and customs which remain unfamiliar even after a long

period of time. Hence, the European clergy is forced to live there as

in a strange land. Since a foreign clergy, therefore, has difficulty

in winning the hearts of the people, it is plain that the work of a

native clergy would be far more fruitful. From experience, they know

the nature and customs of their people; they know when to speak and

when to keep silent. In fine, they live among Hindus as Hindus

without causing any suspicion and it is, indeed, difficult to say how

important this is especially in times of crisis.

 

5. Then, again, it is necessary to realize that the number of

missionaries abroad is far from adequate to serve the existing

Christian communities. This deficiency is plainly evident from the

mission statistics. The missionaries in India keep on imploring the

Sacred Congregation for more preachers of the Gospel. Now, if there

are not enough foreign priests to care for souls, what will happen in

the future when the number of Christians will have multiplied? Nor,

indeed, is there any reason to hope that the number of missionaries

will increase proportionately. Consequently, if we want to be

concerned for the salvation of India and the establishment of

Christianity in that immense region on a firm foundation, we will

have to select candidates from the native people, who after careful

training will assume priestly functions and duties.

 

6. Thirdly, we must not overlook an eventuality, even though at the

present time it is improbable. Such critical conditions could arise

in Europe or Asia that would compel foreign priests to leave the

Indies. In that event, how could religion survive without a native

clergy: with no one to administer the sacraments, no one to teach the

law of God? The history of the Chinese, Japanese, and Ethiopians

speaks clearly enough about this hazard. More than once, the

Christians in Japan and China had to suffer from hatred and calamity.

The hostile people in power exiled and executed alien priests, but

spared the native. Because they were completely familiar with the

language and customs of their native land and were sustained by

friends and relatives, they were allowed not only to remain unharmed

in their country, but also to administer the sacraments freely, and

perform pastoral duties in all the provinces. On the contrary, the

Ethiopia, where Christians already numbered 200,000, a sudden storm

of persecution completely destroyed the fruits of long labor because

there was no native clergy when the European missionaries were killed

or expelled.

 

7. Finally, there must be respect for antiquity; whatever we see

advantageously established in times past must be religiously

preserved. Now, it was the practice of the Apostles first to instruct

the multitude in Christian precepts, then to select several from the

people and initiate them into the sacred mysteries and even elevate

them to the episcopacy. This example was followed afterwards by the

Roman pontiffs. Their custom has always been to direct missionaries

to exert every means to select a native clergy wherever the Christian

community grew sufficiently large. To take care, therefore, of the

preservation and propagation of the Catholic religion among the

Hindus, a Hindu clergy has to be formed that could administer the

sacraments and govern the Christian people properly, no matter how

menacing the times.

 

Seminaries

 

8. For that reason, the prefects of the Congregation of the Indies,

with the advice and approval of the Holy See, have founded seminaries

for priests wherever possible. The Synods, moreover, of Colombo,

Bangalore and Allahabad, held at the beginning of 1887, have decreed

that every diocese should have its own seminary for the training of a

native clergy; if any of the suffragan bishops do not have the

financial means to do so, they are to have their seminarians trained

in the metropolitan seminary at their own expense. The bishops are

making every effort to implement these beneficial decrees, but their

most admirable willingness is hindered by lack of funds and by the

want of qualified priests to supervise instruction and direct

discipline judiciously. Hence, there are hardly any seminaries where

candidates are able to complete a prescribed course of studies-and

this is at a time when the civil government and Protestants, in large

numbers, are sparing no expense nor effort to offer young men a

judicious and refined education.

 

9. It is evident, therefore, how opportune it is and how consistent

with the public good to erect in the East Indies some seminaries

where the native youth, the hope of the Church, are educated in all

the refinements of doctrine and also in those virtues essential for

the pious and wholesome exercise of sacred functions. As the reasons

for dissensions have been removed by the pact agreed upon, and as the

diocesan administration had been erected by the hierarchy of the

Church, we would seem to have attained our goals if we could provide

a sound basis for the training of the clergy. For, as We have said,

once seminaries for the clergy have been founded, qualified priests

in great numbers would come forth, and in spreading the truth of the

Gospel, would skilfully utilize the important resources of their

studies.

 

Financial Contributions

 

fitting that Europeans make some financial contribution, especially

because We alone are not able to manage the vast cost of such an

enterprise. It is the mark of Christians to cherish all mankind as

brothers wherever they are, and to exclude no one from their love,

particularly in matters upon which the eternal salvation of their

neighbour depends. We, therefore, earnestly request that you will

fully support our undertaking. Be sure that the role of Christianity

in such remote regions becomes well known. Make your people

understand that something must be done for the Hindus. May they who

believe that works of mercy are the most perfect investment

especially realize this need.

 

11. We are convinced that we have not appealed in vain to the

generosity of your people. If the contributions should exceed the

expenditures for the seminaries which we have mentioned above, we

shall take care that the remaining funds will be used beneficially

and conscientiously on other projects.

 

12. In token of heavenly favors, and as a witness of Our good will,

most lovingly in the Lord, We bestow upon you, venerable brothers,

upon your clergy and your people the Apostolic Blessing.