Optime noscitis (1855)

Optime noscitis is an encyclical from Pope Pius IX. , with which he turned to the Austrian episcopate on November 5, 1855 and expressed himself "about the bishops' assemblies in Austria ".

Holy See and Austrian Emperor

First, Pius IX went. on the relationship between the Holy See and Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria , he described the emperor as a man of old faith and piety. With his imperial decree of April 18, 1850, he fully fulfilled the papal demands and wishes and thus made a major contribution to the protection of the Holy Catholic Church . With this circular, Pope Pius IX. swearing the Austrian episcopate to the imperial-Catholic line and imposed on them pastoral duties for fruitful cooperation.

Apostolic Duties

The Pope demanded that the ecclesiastical councils should be guided by the principles of faith, should lead their congregations unscathed and should attach great importance to the training of priests . He encouraged the bishops in the ecclesiastical provinces and dioceses to hold meetings so that a better harmony could arise between the areas, but also to better integrate civil society into the realm of the Catholic Church .

collaboration

Pius IX recommended that a fruitful cooperation with the governments could be established. to send a copy of all pastoral letters to the “Imperial and Apostolic Majesty ”. The same applies to synodal documents, which are ultimately intended to serve the common good. The dioceses work closely with local governments and ministries . The Pope placed particular emphasis on the education of young people and teaching in schools, with particular attention and vigilance in the selection of professors and teachers .

Imperial say

With this circular, Pius IX expressly granted the Austrian emperor a say in questions of the staffing of priests and spiritual leaders. The Pope even stipulated that if there were differences in staffing for rejected clerics, an appropriate alternative should be sought. Under no circumstances, he stated, should there be discrepancies in the filling of professorships and teaching positions, because the wellbeing of the Church is always in the foreground.

Exhortation

The papal closing words and his exhortation read: “You have now heard what I wanted to say to you. I have no doubt that you will welcome and accept my advice with open ears. See to it that you will diligently strive to carry them out ... As I mentioned earlier, I praised your piety and your obedience to the Holy See ... Almighty God bless your pastoral concerns, plans and work that end up in our holy religion and doctrine serve and make your dioceses prosper ”.