Negacja objawienia w Chrystusie: modernizm

Abstract

A hundred years have passed since the Holy Father Pius X announced the encyclical Pascendi dominici gregis – On the Doctrine of the Modernists (8 September 1907). The objective of this study will be an attempted synthetic look on one of the essential issues touched upon in the encyclical, that is, the supernatural character of the revelation in Jesus Christ. In the very Introduction Pius X emphasizes that the decision of its announcement stemmed from the sense of obligation to defend the truth about Jesus Christ. Since the enemies of Jesus strive to „ruin” His kingdom, the Holy Father has an obligation „assigned by Christ (...) of guarding with the greatest vigilance the deposit of the faith delivered to the saints. (...) Wherefore We may no longer keep silence (...) lest the kindness (...) should be set down to lack of diligence in the discharge of Our office” (No. 1) Considering the defence of the Divine Person of Jesus Christ and the supernatural character of the His redemption announced by Pius X in Introduction, this article presents the analysis of selected theological publications which – it appears – provide the basis for formulating the answer to the question what – in the light of the Papal encyclical - the modernist error in the „issue of Jesus” is. In other words, in what way Modernism negates the redemptive nature of the revelation in Christ in the context of the following problems: cognitive capabilities of the man towards the supernatural, relationship between revelation and faith, the presence of Jesus in the mystery of the Church as well as the value of dogmatic definitions. The last part of the reflection is devoted to general conclusions pertaining to the timeless value of the encyclical Pascendi dominici gregis. It may well take another hundred years before the critical reviewing of Pius X ’s encyclical Pascendi dominici gregis becomes less and less controversial, for time grants an opportunity for a new look at what was written in this document – at present – a hundred years ago. As for the problem of Modernism as a way of negating the redemptive revelation in Christ scrutinized in this study, and the encyclical Pascendi dominici gregis announced by Pius X on the subject, it is worthwhile to quote the words of John Paul II:, Also in our times and on many occasion Magisterium voiced a warning against the temptation of rationalism. This is the background against which the statement of the Pope Saint Pius X ought to be viewed, who pointed out that Modernism rests on philosophical theses constituting the demonstration of phenomenalism, agnosticism and immanentism”. (...) Thus, in the past Magisterium of the Church many times and on various occasions expressed its stance on philosophical questions. The contribution made by my Honorable Predecessors is a valuable achievement which must not be forgotten” (nr 54).