Mater si, magistra no
Encyclopedia
Mater si, magistra no is a macaronic
phrase that means Catholic
s need not follow all the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church
, particularly in regard to economic justice or the rights of workers. It was originally in direct response to the papal
encyclical
Mater et Magistra
of 1961, as a reference to the then-current anti-Castro slogan, "Cuba sí, Castro no."
The original use was focused on the Church's 1960s teachings on social policy
but Roman Catholic publications such as the New Oxford Review
and the National Catholic Reporter
have described it as a slogan for "'pick-and-choose Catholicism" or for those who have a "deep love for the faith and tradition, coupled with skepticism about ecclesiastical authority and its claims to special wisdom."
The phrase is often attributed to William F. Buckley, Jr; although it was first published in Buckley's National Review
, the phrase was actually coined by Garry Wills
during a telephone conversation with Buckley.
Macaronic language
Macaronic refers to text spoken or written using a mixture of languages, sometimes including bilingual puns, particularly when the languages are used in the same context . The term is also sometimes used to denote hybrid words, which are in effect internally macaronic...
phrase that means Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
s need not follow all the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, particularly in regard to economic justice or the rights of workers. It was originally in direct response to the papal
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
encyclical
Encyclical
An encyclical was originally a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area in the ancient Catholic Church. At that time, the word could be used for a letter sent out by any bishop...
Mater et Magistra
Mater et Magistra
"Mater et Magistra" is the encyclical written by Pope John XXIII on the topic of "Christianity and Social Progress". It was promulgated on May 15, 1961. The title means "mother and teacher", referring to the role of the church. It describes a necessity to work towards authentic community in order...
of 1961, as a reference to the then-current anti-Castro slogan, "Cuba sí, Castro no."
The original use was focused on the Church's 1960s teachings on social policy
Catholic social teaching
Catholic social teaching is a body of doctrine developed by the Catholic Church on matters of poverty and wealth, economics, social organization and the role of the state...
but Roman Catholic publications such as the New Oxford Review
New Oxford Review
The New Oxford Review is a magazine of Roman Catholic cultural and theological commentary, founded in 1977 as an Anglo-Catholic magazine in the Anglican tradition. In 1983, the magazine officially "converted" to Roman Catholicism. The magazine championed Pope John Paul II's condemnation of...
and the National Catholic Reporter
National Catholic Reporter
The National Catholic Reporter is the second largest Catholic newspaper in the United States; its circulation reaches ninety-seven countries on six continents. Based in midtown Kansas City, Missouri, NCR was founded by Robert Hoyt in 1964 as an independent newspaper focusing on the Catholic Church...
have described it as a slogan for "'pick-and-choose Catholicism" or for those who have a "deep love for the faith and tradition, coupled with skepticism about ecclesiastical authority and its claims to special wisdom."
The phrase is often attributed to William F. Buckley, Jr; although it was first published in Buckley's National Review
National Review
National Review is a biweekly magazine founded by the late author William F. Buckley, Jr., in 1955 and based in New York City. It describes itself as "America's most widely read and influential magazine and web site for conservative news, commentary, and opinion."Although the print version of the...
, the phrase was actually coined by Garry Wills
Garry Wills
Garry Wills is a Pulitzer Prize-winning and prolific author, journalist, and historian, specializing in American politics, American political history and ideology and the Roman Catholic Church. Classically trained at a Jesuit high school and two universities, he is proficient in Greek and Latin...
during a telephone conversation with Buckley.
Cultural impact
- When CommonwealCommonwealCommonweal is a American journal of opinion edited and managed by lay Catholics. It is headquartered in The Interchurch Center in New York City.-History:...
published Eamon DuffyEamon DuffyEamon Duffy is an Irish Professor of the History of Christianity at the University of Cambridge, and former President of Magdalene College....
's negative review of Wills's 2000 book Papal Sin, the caption on the front cover read "Mater Si, Wills No".
- National Review editor Priscilla Buckley subsequently regretted having published the phrase, stating in 2005 that it had "got (National Review) into lots and lots of trouble ... over lots and lots of years".
External links
- John XXIII: Mater et Magistra (Critical Comments Selected by Gerald Darring) from the Theology Library of Spring Hill CollegeSpring Hill CollegeSpring Hill College is a private, Roman Catholic Jesuit liberal arts college in the United States. It was founded in 1830 on the Gulf Coast in Mobile, Alabama, by Most Rev. Michael Portier, Bishop of Mobile, Alabama...