SINGULARI NOS (On the Errors of Lammenais)
Pope
Gregory XVI
Encyclical of
Pope Gregory XVI promulgated on 25 June 1834
To All the Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops,
and Bishops.
Venerable Brothers, Greetings and Apostolic
Blessing.
The illustrious examples of faith, obedience,
and devotion conveyed by the enthusiastic reception given everywhere to Our
encyclical letter of August 15, 1832, gave Us great joy. We declared in it the
only sound doctrine to be followed concerning the main points in the
fulfillment of the duties of Our office for the whole Catholic flock. The
statements made by many who had approved those counsels and opinions which so
grieved Us have increased Our joy, for they have acted as prompt defenders and
supporters of Our decrees. We recognized that that evil which is still inflamed
against both sacred and civil matters is not yet removed. Widely disseminated
but very shameless pamphlets and certain gloomy machinations openly denoted
those things which We condemned in a letter sent to Our venerable brother, the
bishop of
2. It hardly seemed believable that he whom We
welcomed with such good will and affection would so quickly forget Our kindness
and desert Our resolution. We can hardly believe that the good hope which
occupied Us with the fruit of Our teaching has died. However, We have learned
of the pamphlet written in French under the title Paroles d'un croyant, for it has been printed by this man and
disseminated everywhere. It was written under a pseudonym, but matters of
public record make clear the author's identity. Though small in size, it is
enormous in wickedness.
3. We were very much amazed, venerable
brothers, when at first We understood the blindness of this wretched author,
for in him knowledge does not come from Cod, but from the elements of the
world; this "knowledge" bursts forth. Against the oath solemnly given
in his declaration, he cloaked Catholic teaching in enticing verbal artifice,
in order ultimately to oppose it and overthrow it. We expressed this in Our
letter mentioned above concerning both the dutiful submission toward
authorities and the prevention of the fatal contamination of the people by
indifferentism. It also concerned measures to use against the spreading license
of ideas and speeches. Finally, it concerned that freedom of conscience which
should be thoroughly condemned and the repulsive conspiracy of societies
enkindling destruction of sacred and state affairs, even from the followers of
false religions, as We have made clear by the authority handed down to Us.
4. The mind shrinks from reading through those
things in which the author tries to break the bond of loyalty and submission
toward leaders. Once the torch of treason is ignited everywhere, it ruins
public order, fosters contempt of government, and stimulates lawlessness. It
overthrows every element of sacred and civil power. From this, the writer
transposes the power of princes, through a new and wicked idea, to the power of
Satan and an omen of subterfuge, as if it were dangerous to divine law, even a
work of sin. He brands the same marks of wickedness on the priests and rulers
because of the conspiracy of crimes and labors in which he dreams they are
joined against the rights of the people. Not content with such temerity, he
thrusts forth every kind of opinion, speech, and freedom of conscience. He
prays that everything will be favorable and happy for the soldiers who will
fight to free liberty from tyranny, and he encourages groups and associations
in the furious combat which engulfs everything. He stands so firm in such
heinous thoughts that We feel him trample right from the beginning Our advice
and orders.
5. It is annoying to recount here everything
which throws all human and divine affairs into confusion with the wicked fruit
of impiety and daring. But these things especially arouse Our indignation and
should clearly not be tolerated by religion. Especially dangerous is the fact
that holy Scriptures that have been tainted with the errors of this author are
disseminated to the unwary. Acting as if he were sent and inspired by God, he
speaks in the name of the Trinity and then uses Scripture as a pretext for
releasing the people from the law of obedience. He twists the words of holy
Scripture in a bold and cunning manner in order to firmly establish his
depraved ravings. He does this in order that, as St. Bernard used to say,
"He might spread clouds for light or give poison for honey, or rather in
the honey, creating a new Gospel for the people and laying a different
foundation from the one which is already laid."
6. He who placed Us as scouts in
7. Venerable brothers, it will now be your duty
to strongly support Our orders which We urgently demand as necessary for the
safety and welfare of both sacred and civil affairs. Let us see that no writing
of this kind comes out of hiding into the light, since it would be that much
more harmful if it were to set sail through the passion of insane reform and creep
far and wide like a crab among the people. It should be your duty to encourage
sound doctrine through this whole affair and to make known the craftiness of
the innovators. Watch more keenly over the care of the Christian flock, so that
zeal for religion, piety of actions, and public peace might happily flourish
and increase. We wait for this, trusting in your faith and commitment to the
common good so that, with the help of God who is the Father of lights, We might
give thanks (with St. Cyprian) that the error has been understood and weakened
and then laid low, because it was recognized and discovered.
8. As for the rest, We greatly deplore the fact
that, where the ravings of human reason extend, there is somebody who studies
new things and strives to know more than is necessary, against the advice of
the apostle. There you will find someone who is overconfident in seeking the
truth outside the Catholic Church, in which it can be found without even a
light tarnish of error. Therefore, the Church is called, and is indeed, a
pillar and foundation of truth. You correctly understand, venerable brothers,
that We speak here also of that erroneous philosophical system which was
recently brought in and is clearly to be condemned. This system, which comes
from the contemptible and unrestrained desire for innovation, does not seek
truth where it stands in the received and holy apostolic inheritance. Rather,
other empty doctrines, futile and uncertain doctrines not approved by the
Church, are adopted. Only the most conceited men wrongly think that these
teachings can sustain and support that truth.
9. While We write these things to understand
and preserve the sound doctrine divinely delegated to Us, We sign over the
harsh wound inflicted to Our heart by the error of Our son. In the great
sadness We suffer, there is no hope of consolation, unless We can recall him to
the way of righteousness. Therefore, at the same time, let Us raise Our eyes
and hands to Him who is the leader of wisdom and the corrector of the wise. Let
Us beseech Him with repeated prayer to give this man a docile heart and a great
spirit to hear the voice of the most loving and most sorrowful Father. May he
hasten the joy of the Church, the joy of your order, the joy of this Holy See,
and the joy of Our unworthiness. Certainly We shall
provide an auspicious and happy occasion to take hold of him and embrace him as
a son returning to the bosom of his Father. We are and We shall be very
optimistic from his example that others will come to their senses, others who
might have been led into error by the same author. May there be an agreement of
teaching, one course of thinking, one harmony of action and study, among all
for the good of sacred and public matters. We need you and We expect you to
beseech the Lord with Us in your pastoral concern for this great gift. We pray
for divine assistance in this work and We lovingly impart Our apostolic
blessing on you and on your flock as a sign of this.
Given in