On this beautiful feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, I find myself pondering Communism, Socialism and our beautiful Mothers hand in revealing it all, even today.

As I scan social media, the US Summit with Russia fills my news feed. I pray for all, as many point fingers at each other as “Communists” or “Socialists”, forgetting what they truly are. I see many frightened by the thought of the US Government being infiltrated by either. I pray for everyone.

Below you will find, just a few Encyclicals on both Communism and Socialism, written by Blessed Pious IX and Pope Leo XIII, Benedict XV, Saint John XXIII, Pope Paul VII and a few others. I encourage you to read and ponder them, and how both ideology are poisons to any society.

Thank you Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and my sister in Carmel, Lúcia de Jesus Rosa dos Santos, O.C.D., for prayers answered.

PIUS IX (1846-1878):
“Overthrow [of] the entire order of human affairs”
“You are aware indeed, that the goal of this most iniquitous plot is to drive people to overthrow the entire order of human affairs and to draw them over to the wicked theories of this Socialism and Communism, by confusing them with perverted teachings.” (Encyclical Nostis et Nobiscum, December 8, 1849)

Encyclical Nostis et Nobiscum, December 8, 1849

Encyclical Humanum Genus, April 20, 1884, n. 27

Encyclical Quod Apostolici Muneris, December 28, 1878

Encyclical Libertas Praestantissimum, June 20, 1888

Encyclical Graves de Communi Re, January 18, 1901, n. 21

Encyclical Ad Beatissimi Apostolorum, November 1, 1914, n. 13

Encyclical Quadragesimo Anno, May 15, 1931, n. 111

That We, in keeping with Our fatherly solicitude, may answer their petitions, We make this pronouncement: Whether considered as a doctrine, or an historical fact, or a movement, Socialism, if it remains truly Socialism, even after it has yielded to truth and justice on the points which we have mentioned, cannot be reconciled with the teachings of the Catholic Church because its concept of society itself is utterly foreign to Christian truth.” (Ibid. n. 117)
Catholic Socialism, a contradiction

“[Socialism] is based nevertheless on a theory of human society peculiar to itself and irreconcilable with true Christianity. Religious socialism, Christian socialism, are contradictory terms; no one can be at the same time a good Catholic and a true socialist.” (Ibid. n. 120)

Encyclical Mater et Magistra, May 15, 1961, n. 34

Apostolic Letter Octogesima Adveniens, May 14, 1971, n. 31

Saint Pope John Paul II

(1978-2005):

Socialism: Danger of a “simple and radical solution”
“It may seem surprising that ‘socialism’ appeared at the beginning of the Pope’s critique of solutions to the ‘question of the working class’ at a time when ‘socialism’ was not yet in the form of a strong and powerful State, with all the resources which that implies, as was later to happen. However, he correctly judged the danger posed to the masses by the attractive presentation of this simple and radical solution to the ‘question of the working class.’” (Encyclical Centesimus Annus − On the 100^thanniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum, May 1, 1991, n. 12)

Fundamental error of socialism: A mistaken conception of the person

“Continuing our reflections, … we have to add that the fundamental error of socialism is anthropological in nature. Socialism considers the individual person simply as an element, a molecule within the social organism, so that the good of the individual is completely subordinated to the functioning of the socio-economic mechanism. Socialism likewise maintains that the good of the individual can be realized without reference to his free choice, to the unique and exclusive responsibility which he exercises in the face of good or evil. Man is thus reduced to a series of social relationships, and the concept of the person as the autonomous subject of moral decision disappears, the very subject whose decisions build the social order. From this mistaken conception of the person there arise both a distortion of law, which defines the sphere of the exercise of freedom, and an opposition to private property.” (Ibid, n. 13)

Encyclical Deus Caritas Est, December 25, 2005, n. 28

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI –

“We do not need a State which regulates and controls everything”

“The State which would provide everything, absorbing everything into itself, would ultimately become a mere bureaucracy incapable of guaranteeing the very thing which the suffering person − every person − needs: namely, loving personal concern. We do not need a State which regulates and controls everything, but a State which, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, generously acknowledges and supports initiatives arising from the different social forces and combines spontaneity with closeness to those in need. … In the end, the claim that just social structures would make works of charity superfluous masks a materialist conception of man: the mistaken notion that man can live ‘by bread alone’ (Mt 4:4; cf. Dt 8:3) − a conviction that demeans man and ultimately disregards all that is specifically human.” (Encyclical Deus Caritas Est, December 25, 2005, n. 28)

I pray for all, who continue to look to Communism and Socialism as a means of salvation for avoiding any suffering that we all encounter every day in what is simply life in exile from our eternal home with our Lord. May we grow closer to our Lord Jesus Christ, through Our Lady of Mount Carmel, to learn how to carry our crosses, together, in love, dignity and humility with the realization that our Lord Jesus Christ is the only Way, Truth and Life which brings us to Our Father.

 

As I finished up writing this post, my middle daughter came to me, and handed me a holy card she found in her room. This being the one. She then preceded to ask me to pray the rosary so she and my youngest could go to bed.

My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love Thee! I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love Thee.

Most Holy Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit- I adore Thee profoundly. I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges, and indifference’s whereby He is offended. And through the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of poor sinners.