In 1897, Giovanni Montini was born in Italy, and his parents were very active in their Catholic faith. At 19 he entered the seminary, was ordained at 23, and received a doctorate in canon law. While working at the Vatican Secretariat of State he helped organize the hiding of refugees in convents and seminaries during World War II, and he was made the Archbishop of Milan in 1954 where he worked to spread the faith to non-Catholics and those who had fallen away. He was promoted to Cardinal in 1958, was elected pope in 1963, and took the name Paul VI. His papacy saw the completion of the Second Vatican Council, the reform of the curia and the liturgy, and sparked a great deal of controversy from both inside and outside the Church, some of which continues to this day.
CHALLENGE
St. Pope Paul VI wrote seven encyclicals, but he is most famous for the last one he wrote in 1968, Humanae Vitae. Many had hoped that Pope Paul VI would change Church teachings on marriage and birth control to reflect the direction of society. Instead, he reaffirmed and clarified the teaching of the Church and his three predecessors. Today, read Humanae Vitae and fully understand Church teaching on these important topics.
Forwarded this email? Don’t miss tomorrow! Sign up today and get The Saint Challenge delivered to your inbox!
Have you checked out the Saint In Progress podcast?
The weekly show delves into issues of faith that everyone deals with on their journey home to the Father’s house.
