If We Will Not Weep (Bede)

Homily - If We Will Not Weep (Bede)

LET, THEREFORE, THE SEPARATED CHILDREN DRAW NIGH to the Apostolic See, set up in the City which Peter and Paul, the Princes of the Apostles, consecrated by their blood; to that See, We repeat, which is "the root and womb whence the Church of God springs," not with the intention and the hope that "the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" will cast aside the integrity of the faith and tolerate their errors, but, on the contrary, that they themselves submit to its teaching and government. 

• WOULD THAT IT WERE OUR HAPPY LOT to do that which so many of Our predecessors could not, to embrace with fatherly affection those children, whose unhappy separation from Us We now bewail. 

• WOULD THAT GOD OUR SAVIOR, "Who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth," would hear us when We humbly beg that He would deign to recall all who stray to the unity of the Church! 

IN THIS MOST IMPORTANT UNDERTAKING We ask and wish that others should ask the prayers of Blessed Mary the Virgin, Mother of divine grace, victorious over all heresies and Help of Christians, that She may implore for Us the speedy coming of the much hoped-for day, when all men shall hear the voice of Her divine Son, and shall be "careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

You ... understand how much this question is in Our mind, and We desire that Our children should also know, not only those who belong to the Catholic community, but also those who are separated from Us: 

• IF THESE LATTER HUMBLY BEG light from heaven, there is no doubt but that they will recognize the one true Church of Jesus Christ and will, at last, enter it, being united with us in perfect charity. 

While awaiting this event, and as a pledge of Our paternal good will, We impart most lovingly to you, Venerable Brethren, and to your clergy and people, the apostolic benediction.

Let, therefore, the separated children draw nigh to the Apostolic See:

• SET UP IN THE CITY which Peter and Paul, the Princes of the Apostles, consecrated by their blood; 

• TO THAT SEE ... which is "the root and womb whence the Church of God springs";

• TO THAT SEE which is “the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth”;

• TO THAT SEE WHICH WILL NOT cast aside the integrity of the faith and tolerate their errors;

Would that “they themselves submit to its teaching and government” grounded in Christ Jesus, and entrusted to the See of Blessed Peter!

DEAREST FRIENDS:

WE GIGGLE UNDER OUR BREATH when we find our hands holding our mobile phones for which we have been searching;

WHY THEN WILL WE NOT GIGGLE at our silliness — if we will not weep over our folly — when we discover that we have been searching, now many decades, for that Unity of the Church of Christ that has ever been in our possession?

MAY THE LORD OF THE CHURCH, Who is the head and source of the Unity of his Mystical Body, Forgive our waywardness, Give sight to our blinded eyes, And recall the human element of the Church back to the glory that is the Unalterable Unity of the Catholic Church!

O HOLY BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX, Doctor of the Church, and Apostle of Unity: Pray for us!

LORD JESUS CHRIST: Have mercy on us!

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This homily was composed using extended quotations from the Encyclical Letter, MORTALIUM ANIMOS of Pope Pius XI.

Pius XI promulgated on January 6, 1928.