Pius XII – Haurietis Aquas and Invicti Athletae Christi: the Heart of Mary and pre-conciliar Mariology

Beyond the great dogmatic encyclicals (Munificentissimus Deus 1950 and Ad Caeli Reginam 1954) and the pastoral encyclical Le Pèlerinage de Lourdes 1957, Pius XII published other encyclicals with strong Marian content: Invicti Athletae Christi (1957) on Saint Andrew Bobola, Haurietis Aquas (1956) on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Bull Ineffabilis Deus (1954) that opened the Marian Year. These constitute the most systematic Marian Magisterium of the pre-conciliar pontificate.

Haurietis Aquas (May 15, 1956), Heart of Jesus and Heart of Mary

The encyclical Haurietis Aquas (Is 12:3: “You shall draw waters with joy from the fountains of the Savior”) celebrated the first centenary of the extension of the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to the universal Church by Pius IX (1856). Although dedicated to the Heart of Christ, it contains an extensive Marian section on the Heart of Mary as the complement of the Heart of Christ:

“Cor Iesu et cor Mariae sicut duo cores intime coniuncti sunt unum cor unum sensu sentens, una doctore docens, una propinquitate caritatem effundens. Coram, infinitum Cor Christi exsubrenat super omnes creaturas, sed cor Mariae prima omnium creaturae cor “recepit” Spiritum Sanctum, primum cor “accendit” Christi amorem in mundo, primum cor “sensit” dolorem Christi cum Christo”

The Heart of Jesus and the Heart of Mary, as two hearts intimately united, are one single heart, one single feeling, one single doctrine teaching, one single nearness pouring out charity. Although the infinite Heart of Christ rises above all creatures, the heart of Mary was the first heart of a creature that “received” the Holy Spirit, the first heart that “kindled” the love of Christ in the world, the first heart that “felt” the pain of Christ with Christ.

Devotion to the two Hearts

Haurietis Aquas theologically joins the two devotions, to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, showing that they are inseparable. The Catholic Church venerates the two Hearts as a single devotion in two dimensions: divine-human (Christ) and human-Marian (Mary as cooperator of the Heart of Christ).

Invicti Athletae Christi (May 16, 1957), Saint Andrew Bobola and Mary

The encyclical on Saint Andrew Bobola, a Polish martyr of the seventeenth century (canonized in 1938), contains a reflection on Mary as the model of the holy martyrs. Mary was a “martyr incruenta” through her union with her Son on the Cross, and therefore the model of all martyrs.

A summary of the Marian Magisterium of Pius XII

The pontificate of Pius XII (1939-1958) constituted one of the golden ages of magisterial Mariology. The nineteen years of his pontificate produced:

• 1942: Consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (radio broadcast of October 31)
• 1944: Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary extended to the universal Church
• 1945: Bendito Quinquagesimo Anno, 50 years since the death of Saint John Bosco
• 1947: Mediator Dei, encyclical on the liturgy, with a Marian section
• 1950: Munificentissimus Deus, dogmatic definition of the Assumption
• 1952: Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart
• 1953: Fulgens Corona, encyclical of the centenary of the Immaculate Conception
• 1954: Ad Caeli Reginam, definition of the Queenship of Mary, Marian Year
• 1956: Haurietis Aquas, Heart of Jesus and Heart of Mary
• 1957: Invicti Athletae Christi, Le Pèlerinage de Lourdes, centenary of Lourdes

Influence on the Second Vatican Council

Although Pius XII died four years before the opening of the Council (1962), his Marian Magisterium provided the essential theological substratum for chapter VIII of Lumen Gentium. The definition of the Queenship, of the Assumption, and the theology of the two Hearts would be taken up directly by the Council Fathers in the elaboration of conciliar Mariology.

Further reading

Mariology | Munificentissimus Deus | Ad Caeli Reginam | Le Pèlerinage de Lourdes (1957) | Lumen Gentium, chap. VIII