Pius X to Prelates: ‘Promote Sound Teaching & Spotless Morals’

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Pius X to Prelates: ‘Promote Sound Teaching & Spotless Morals’
Encyclical E Suprimi of October 4, 1903.

TIA | July 5, 2025

In his first encyclical E Supremi addressed to all the Patriarchs and Prelates of the Church, Pope Pius X gives a formula for the restoration of society, that is to restore all things in Christ. He confesses himself terrified at his selection because of the “disastrous state of human society today.”

Facing this “great perversity,” which seems to be “a foretaste of the the evils reserved for the latter days,” the Saint encourages the Bishops to act, to call men back to the empire of God through Jesus Christ & the Holy Church He instituted, and no other. He encourages the Hierarchy to form holy and orthodox priests by keeping their “seminaries aright so that they may flourish equally in the soundness of their teaching and in the spotlessness of their morals;” as well as to give the laity solid religious instruction. He ends by ordered the Prelates to have the Rosary publicly recited daily in all the churches throughout the month of May.

Let us pray Pope Leo XIV reads these words, and might issue a similar exhortation to the progressivist prelates whom he governs in our much more perverse days.


Pope St. Pius X:

"Then again, to omit other motives, We were terrified beyond all else by the disastrous state of human society today. For who can fail to see that society is at the present time, more than in any past age, suffering from a terrible and deep-rooted malady which, developing every day and eating into its inmost being, is dragging it to destruction?

"You understand, Venerable Brethren, what this disease is – apostasy from God, which truly is allied with ruin, according to the word of the Prophet: "For behold they that go far from Thee shall perish." (Ps. 72:17) We saw therefore that, in virtue of the ministry of this Pontificate, which was entrusted to Us, We must hasten to find a remedy for this great evil, considering as addressed to Us that Divine command: 'Lo, I have set thee this day over the nations and over kingdoms, to root up, and to pull down, and to waste, and to destroy, and to build, and to plant" (Jerem. 1:10). But, cognizant of Our weakness, We recoiled in terror from a task as urgent as it is arduous. …

"You see, then, Venerable Brethren, the duty that has been imposed alike upon Us and upon you of bringing back to the discipline of the Church human society, now estranged from the wisdom of Christ; the Church will then subject it to Christ, and Christ to God. … And if Our desire to obtain this is to be fulfilled, we must use every means and exert all our energy to bring about the utter disappearance of the enormous and detestable wickedness, so characteristic of our time – the substitution of man for God; this done, it remains to restore to their ancient place of honor the most holy laws and counsels of the Gospel; to proclaim aloud the truths taught by the Church, and her teachings on the sanctity of marriage, on the education and discipline of youth, on the possession and use of property, the duties that men owe to those who rule the State; and lastly to restore equilibrium between the different classes of society according to Christian precept and custom. …

"The times we live in demand action – but action which consists entirely in observing with fidelity and zeal the Divine Laws and the precepts of the Church, in the frank and open profession of Religion, in the exercise of every kind of charitable works, without regard to self interest or worldly advantage. … Oh! when in every city and village the law of the Lord is faithfully observed, when respect is shown for sacred things, when the Sacraments are frequented, and the ordinances of Christian life fulfilled, there will certainly be no more need for us to labor further to see all things restored in Christ.

Nor is it for the attainment of eternal welfare alone that this will be of service – it will also contribute largely to temporal welfare and the advantage of human society. For when these conditions have been secured, the upper and wealthy classes will learn to be just and charitable to the lowly, and these will be able to bear with tranquillity and patience the trials of a very hard lot; the citizens will obey not lust but law, reverence and love will be deemed a duty towards those that govern, "whose power comes only from God" (Rom. 13:1).

"And then? Then, at last, it will be clear to all that the Church, such as it was instituted by Christ, must enjoy full and entire liberty and independence from all foreign dominion; and We, in demanding that same liberty, are defending not only the sacred rights of Religion, but are also consulting the common weal and the safety of nations. For it continues to be true that "piety is useful for all things" (1 Tim. 4:8) – when this is strong and flourishing "the people will" truly "sit in the fullness of peace" (Is. 22:18). …

"Let us turn, too, to the most powerful intercession of the Divine Mother – to obtain which We, addressing to you this Letter of Ours on the day appointed especially for commemorating the Holy Rosary, ordain and confirm all Our Predecessor's prescriptions with regard to the dedication of the present month to the august Virgin, by the public recitation of the Rosary in all churches; with the further exhortation that as intercessors with God appeal be also made to the most pure Spouse of Mary, the Patron of the Catholic Church, and the holy Princes of the Apostles, Peter and Paul.