''Mense maio'' is an encyclical of

Pope Paul VI Pope Paul VI ( la, Paulus VI; it, Paolo VI; born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini, ; 26 September 18976 August 1978) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 21 June 1963 to his death in Augus ...

promulgated on 29 April 1965, which focused on the Virgin Mary, to whom traditionally the month of May is dedicated as the Mother of God. It is a call to pray for peace in the world during the month of May. "The pastoral urgency in the political struggle with communism was the underlying cause for writing the letter." Paul VI writes, "Since Mary is rightly to be regarded as the way by which we are led to Christ, the person who encounters Mary cannot help but encounter Christ likewise."

''Mater Ecclesiae''

Issued in the midst of the

Second Vatican Council The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, commonly known as the , or , was the 21st ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church. The council met in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome for four periods (or sessions), each lasting between 8 and ...

, Pope Paul first invokes Mary as "

Mother of the Church Mother of the Church ( la, Mater Ecclesiae) is a title given to Mary in the Roman Catholic Church, as officially declared by Pope Paul VI in 1964. The title first appeared in the 4th century writings of Saint Ambrose of Milan, as rediscovered by Hu ...

", to guide and prosper the deliberations of the council fathers and the subsequent implementation of the results. The Pope formally conferred the title, (first used by

Ambrose of Milan Ambrose of Milan ( la, Aurelius Ambrosius; ), venerated as Saint Ambrose, ; lmo, Sant Ambroeus . was a theologian and statesman who served as Bishop of Milan from 374 to 397. He expressed himself prominently as a public figure, fiercely promot ...

), some months previously on the Feast of the Presentation of Mary in November 1964, at the close of the Third Session.AAS 56 (1964), pp. 1007-1018

Threats to peace

Paul VI then expresses his concern over the state of international affairs and encourages world leaders to seek diplomatic solutions rather than resort to war. He specifically condemns "...secret and treacherous warfare, terrorist activities, the taking of hostages, and savage reprisals against unarmed people. These are crimes which debilitate man's awareness of what is just and humane, and further embitter the hearts of the combatants." He asks for special prayers "for the intercession and protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is the Queen of peace" during the month of May, especially the Rosary and also particularly on the Feast of Queenship of Mary (at that time celebrated on May 31). "May she enlighten the minds of those who rule nations. And finally, may she prevail on God, who rules the winds and storms, to calm the tempests in men's warring hearts and grant us peace in our day."

References

{{Reflist

External links

''The Encyclical ''Mense maio'' of Pope Paul VI
Papal encyclicals Documents of Pope Paul VI 1965 documents 1965 in Christianity April 1965 events