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| Pius XII On rural life IntraText CT - Text |
A Welcome
We always experience particular pleasure in welcoming representatives of occupations that make up the economic and social life of a people. We have added satisfaction on this occasion in greeting you, beloved sons, delegates of a vast National Confederation, comprised of a large number of owner-operator farmers. The lands that you cultivate are the "sweet fields," "dulcia arva," so dear to the gentle Vergil (Eclogue, 1, 3). They are the lands of Italy, whose perennial and life-giving healthfulness, whose fertile fields, sunny hills, and shadowy woods, whose generous vines and olive trees, whose sleek flocks were exalted by Pliny (Nat. Hist. 1. III, 5, n. 41). "O fortunatos nimium, sua si bona norint, agricolas!" (Verg., Georg. II, 458-459). "O more than happy husbandmen," exclaimed the great poet of the country, "did they but know their blessings!" Hence We could not let this occasion pass without speaking some word of encouragement and exhortation, especially since we are all well aware how much the moral recovery of our whole people depends on a class of farmers socially sound and religiously firm.1
LaFarge, John, S.J., "The Church and Rural Welfare," pp. 37-41.
Bishop, W. Howard, "Agrarianism, the Basis of the New Order," pp. 49-52.
Third Series: Ciognani, Most Rev. Amleto Giovanni, "Address of the Apostolic Delegate," pp. 9-11.
Muench, Most Rev. Aloisius J., "The Catholic Church and Rural Welfare," pp. 15-19.
Sheen, Fulton J., "Challenge to Our Democracy," pp. 99-102.
Manifesto on Rural Life Chapter VIII, The Rural Pastorate, pp. 35-38. Chapter IX, Rural Church Expansion," pp. 39-42.
Agricultural Handbook for Rural Pastors and Laymen, Thomas E. Howard, pp. 44-52.
For This We Stand, L. G. Ligutti.
Standing on Both Feet, Patrick T. Quinlan.
Rural Life in a Peaceful World, p .1.
The Popes and Social Principles of Rural Life.