Class 26: Pius IX and Vatican I

10 April 2015

Dr. Ann Orlando

Introduction

Romantic Movement Catholic Reactions Pius IX Vatican I

Romanticism

What is driving Romanticism Concern that liberalism inevitably leads to social

chaos Man is more than just reason; spiritual component

What is Romanticism Restoration of social order Idealization of past Renewed interest in Catholic traditions

Important Romantic movements in England, America, Germany and France

French Romantic Movement

Apologists for lost traditions that deChristianization of revolution had caused

Usually ultamontanists Usually supported restoration of French

monarchy

Francois Rene Vicomte de Chateuabriand (1768-1848) As a result of Pius VII stance against

Napoleon, Chateuabriand returned to Church from skepticism

Wrote strong apology for Christianity, Genius of Christianity Reflected on history and importance of Church in

civilizing society Emphasized the beauty of Christianity; impact on

arts and sciences Strong argument for a Christian culture

Felicite Robert de Lamennais (1772-1854) Also a Romantic; also wrote apologies for Christianity Essay on Indifference (1817)

Three kinds of indifference: atheist, Deist, heretical Protestant Key issue is epistemology Lamennais relies on sensus communis (sense of the community) to attain to

certain primal truths, innately known After the Fall, God offers revelation as a way to reestablish sensus

communis Catholic Christianity existed in all religions in inchoate form (one God,

prayer, worship, sacrifice, sin, forgiveness) Catholicism is the one true religion

Proof: Many intellectuals in French Church wanted Church to adapt to modern political and economic trends but Church did not

Lamennais was an ultramontanists, but not a royalist Pope essential to unity and perseverance of Catholic Christianity Pope has a cultural role as preserver of faith; not one of pronouncing

doctrine Opposed by Gallicans, Royalists, and economic liberals

L’Avinier

Newspaper started by Lamennais in July 1830 to promote his views of a liberal Catholic program: Liberty of conscience; separation of Church and State Freedom of education and press Universal suffrage Decentralization of Government

These points became part of Belgian Constitution (1831)

Rome (Gregory XVI) does not support Lamennais Lamennais leaves the Church and joins radicals in

revolution of 1848

Pope Gregory XVI (1831-1846) After Pius VII dies (1823); succeeded by Leo XII

(1823-1829), Pius VIII (1829-1830) and then Gregory XVI; Camaldolese friar

Revolution of Italian nationalists broke out in Papal States 3 days after election

In 1831 Five Powers of Congress of Vienna (England, Austria, Russia, Prussia, France) tried to coerce Gregory XVI into reforming Papal States

Opposition to liberal trends in Catholicism: Mirari Vos and Singulari nos

Pius IX (1846-1878)

Considered a liberal, but shocked by revolutions of 1848

Negotiates Church rights with many European governments (concordats)

Issues Syllabus of Errors condemning much enlightenment thought

Promotes Thomism as ‘official’ theology of Church Convenes Vatican I in 1869 Loses Papal States in 1870 Beatified along with John XXIII in 2000

Pope Pius IX (1846-1878)

Pope Pius IX considered more liberal than Gregory XVI Amnesty for political prisoners in Papal States Started negotiations with some Italian political

activists on a Federated Italy with Pope as head of State; Parliamentary system of Government

Significantly reduced censorship in Papal States Jewish ghetto opened, Jews could worship

anywhere in Rome

Wars and Revolutions of 1848-1849 French Revolution of 1848 brings Louis

Napoleon to power French, Austrian and Italian Republicans fight

over unification of Italy Pope Pius IX forced to flee Rome in 1849;

could not return until French captured Rome In 1850s Church is seen by many as bulwark

of stability against rampant social unrest

Reaction of Pius IX

Social, economic and political turmoil of ‘radical’ liberals causes Pius IX to rethink any accommodation toward liberalism

Declaration of dogma Immaculate Conception in 1854 in Ineffabilis Magisterium of Church mediated by Pope This is how we know the Truth

Syllabus of Errors 1864

Vatican I

Pius IX announced intention to call a Council in 1864 just before publication of Syllabus of Errors

Bull of Convocation was promulgated on Dec 8, 1868 Definition of Papal Infallibility Hostile reaction in England, Germany, France

First Session 8 Dec. 1869, Council ended in 1870 Council affirmed infallibility in First Dogmatic Constitution of

Church of Christ (Session 4) Franco-Prussian War of 1870; Council not officially closed

Reflections on Vatican I

Epistemology Major issues in early Enlightenment: how do we know Vatican I says we know the faith because we can trust in

Magisterium of Church; Pope is uniquely guarantor of what is in the Magisterium

Method of knowing the truth: Thomism; theological empiricism; most like a mathematical proof

Society and Politics Stability in religion and society critical Church (Pope) provides that stability The document is a Constitution

Three Types of Anti-Semitism 19th C Religious

From Second Century onwards conflict between synagogue and Church

Economic and Social Middle class and wealthy Jews adept at moving and taking

advantage of free market economies because of roots in banking business

Several intellectual leaders of radical social reforms and revolution to implement them were Jewish

Both of these lead to fear of Jews by non-Jewish middle class

Cultural Development of nations; what does it mean to be German

or Italian or French?

Pius IX and Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara Remember, Pius IX opened the Jewish ghetto in

Rome In 1858 a Jewish boy who may have been Baptized

by a family servant was ‘kidnapped’ by Catholic authorities in Bologna an placed in a monastery

Pope Pius IX affirms this action and takes a special interest in the boy

Fuels flames of Italian nationalism against Pope and Papal States

International outrage over this incident also contributes to downfall of Papal states in 1870

What Happened to Edgardo?

In his early teens, he was given the opportunity to return to his family and Judaism; he refused

He joined Canon Regulars; ordained at age 21 Canon Regulars follow Augustine’s Rule All are ordained (unlike monks) Dedicated to service to Church, often in world

Lived in Belgium He felt a special link to spirituality of Lourdes Died in 1940, just two months before the Nazis

invaded Belgium

Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and Dreyfus Affair France lost the Franco Prussian War of 1870 in a disastrous

series of battles; Forced to relinquish Rhine valley, Alsace-Loraine to Prussia Defeat created social and political tensions within France and the

military: who was to blame French military had been very open to Jewish officers

In 1880s the Panama Canal Company went bankrupt, causing one of the first capitalist depressions in France Owners of company were Jews

Cries of ‘France for the French’ were raised ‘Scientific’ definition and stereotyping of races

Dreyfus arrest as a spy for Germans in 1890; convicted and spent 12 years on penal colony; exonerated in 1906

Timeline of Pius IX

1846: Elected Pope 1848: Revolutions of 1848, forced to flee Rome,

returned by French 1854: Dogma of Immaculate Conception 1858: Lourdes and Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara 1864: Syllabus of Errors 1869-1870: Vatican I 1870: Franco-Prussian War 1878: Pope Pius IX dies 1985: Declared blessed along with John XXIII by

Pope John Paul II

Assignments

1. Francois Viscount de Chateaubriand Genius of Christianity, Book I, pp 43-70. (optional)2. Pope Pius IX, Syllabus of Errors, available at http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/P9SYLL.HTM3. First Vatican Council, First Dogmatic Constitution on Church of Christ, available at http://www.ewtn.com/library/COUNCILS/V1.HTM