Catholic and Loving it!

I've already blogged a few exerpts from Humanae Vitae and the story of Cardinal James Francis Stafford (James Francis... that's good name).

Now I notice that LifeSiteNews have unearthed the letter that was sent by Amleto Giovanni Cardinal Cicognani to Bishops around the world with the pre-release copy of Humanae Vitae...

Your Excellency,

When directing me to transmit to Your Excellency the enclosed document, publication of which is imminent, His Holiness strongly recommended that I draw your attention to its importance, and to the necessity of a concerted effort on the part of the entire Catholic Episcopate, in order that the doctrine it contains be explained with care in full to the Christian people, and in order that it be courageously put into practice by all as, thanks be to God, it already is by many.

[...]

The Holy Father knows full well the bitterness that this reply may cause many married persons who were expecting a different solution for their difficulties.

[...]

And now He turns to His Brothers, the Bishops of the Catholic world, asking them to stand beside Him more firmly than ever in this circumstance, and to help Him present this delicate point of the Church's teaching to the Christian people, to explain and justify its profound reasons. The Pope counts upon the attachment of His Brothers in the Episcopate to the Chair of Peter, upon their love for the Church, upon their concern for the true good of souls.

He knows, as they do, the ideas and the practices existing in modern society in this regard, and He is fully aware of the efforts which will be needed to secure an evolution of thought on this point. He knows what sacrifices - sometimes heroic sacrifices - are entailed by the application of Catholic principles in conjugal morals.

[...]

May they strive to present this teaching in its true light, that is, to show its positive and beneficent aspect. What the Church wishes above all is to help Christian husbands and wives to perfect one another, to purify their love, to taste the happiness of a married life lived in the sight of God and in complete respect for His law.

Finally, it is necessary that both in the confessional and in the pulpit, in the press and by other means of social communication, every necessary pastoral effort be made that no ambiguity exists among the faithful or in public opinion concerning the Church's position in this serious matter. Faithful to the mandate she received to teach all nations, she puts her trust in Him who guides her, Whose will she is humbly confident of interpreting faithfully. She has no doubt that future generations will appreciate fully the importance and benefit of the service she renders to married couples, to the family, to all society, by defending this point of her doctrine without weakness.

Devotedly yours in Christ,

A.G. Card. Cicognani (Amleto Giovanni Cardinal Cicognani)

[link]

Speaking as a future generation... (I was minus-fourteen when this document was written) I do indeed appreciate fully the importance and benefit of the service rendered to we married couples, we families and to all society, when this point of doctrine is defended without weakness.

Thank you Paul VI for taking a stand and getting it right. Thank you to all the Bishops in England who stood beside him "more firmly than ever".

Both of you.