Adiutricem

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Adiutricem (also Adiutrix populi) is an encyclical of Pope Leo XIII. , it dates from September 5, 1895 and belongs to the series of rosary cycles. In this encyclical he represents the connection between the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mission and the rosary .

Mary and Mission

In this encyclical the Pope describes the connection between Mary and the apostolate very closely when he says of Mary that she "generously donated to the apostles the treasure of those divine words that she kept in her heart". This would mean, he states, that in Christ she kept the treasure of the Word of God and distributed it from its fullness to all. In the past, however, the Marian orientation would have been internally connected with the idea of ​​mission and apostolate. In the missionary encyclicals, the apostolic activity essential for the Church has been associated with Mary. This connection would be strengthened by the bestowal of certain titles and characteristics on Mary, which she z. B. as a participant in God's plan of salvation expressed.

Rosary prayer as faith and protection

So Mary is given to us by God as the powerful patroness (note "Adiutrix" = helper and promoter) of unity among Christians. And even if this, their patronage, would not be given to us in response to a single prayer, in his opinion this is best and most effectively done through praying the rosary . Among the blessings of the rosary, it certainly does not come last, so that it provides Christians with strength in faith and protection from dangers, ignorance, and error in an easy and effortless way. Finally, with the prayer of the rosary, the enlargement of the "Kingdom of Christ" should be expanded and consolidated. Next October, the Pope suggests, it would be advisable to intensify the prayer of the Rosary. This would show the bond with the "Virgin Mother of God" and the perseverance of prayer is helpful in the fulfillment of the task to spread the faith.

Protection of the Catholic Faith

Believing people must constantly ensure that belief remains at home in the midst of people and may lead to unity. In times when, to the sorrow of the Church, faith is waning and believers are becoming indifferent to religion , it is of the utmost importance to defend the faith. He mentions Saint Dominic as an example of this faithfulness .

Mother of the Nation and Guardian of Unity

The Pope asks for the help and trust of Our Lady that she should preserve and secure the progress and triumphs of faith. It was her only son who gave her this task and who, like the “mother of a nation” (Note Populi = nation), enables her to do so. As the mother and helper of the nations, she would help maintain unity and form a nation of brothers who would obey the priests of Christ and the Roman Pope. Unity in faith, in the East as well as in the West, should be striven for in order to send good news into the world and therefore the veneration of the Blessed Mother in the churches of the East, especially the spreading of Marian icons , should be viewed with remarkable joy.

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