r and jesue · st. joseph, p t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . lord . and . savi our . jesue . chri st,...
TRANSCRIPT
St J oseph P t r on and db l a orkers
r Lord and Sav i our J esue Chr i st i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al
f 1 ro 1 t he d ivin _ anomy of the Redemnt 10n the L I1~ 0
God 10 taketh a ay the in of the or ld 11 (1) ho Hi mself
caTre 1 truotin u t hat denyi un odl i ne and orIdly
de ires e may live oberly a d justly a d odly in this
arId l ookln for the bles ed hopo ( ) But it in tho en thly
ttin of t e divine 1 n ther e econd ry f i 1e horn
ad 0 a i m ortnt i n tru nt of of 101e nd
mercy n ho ir t e ir )r c er p ere ed i fy n to oh u
mun hal o e 1 in tho p1aot 0 v1r 1 tlnn hilo o 1
OI l i f e Fo1erno mong t e i un ue ti nahly 1y tne
ever ble d ir n o h r t 1 a 0 i ted
t t e mer and ion t t she e rit the title
o~ Co- R e tr i x Py n t 1e d noe e t nd 0 t
a or the ohi ldren of me
J
l ~te t je 6 OT 1 creashy
i on excit in uur admilat10n and l ove t L 1Il middot tln us to
i m1t te h r vlrt middot s nd invitln our 00ni1middot no il the )over
of her tnt r oess i on at the t hrone of er d i vine on a our
e rts 10 blrn i th t e ardont de ire one day to tne s
e r glori io tion ate ueen of t e An e1 ado t he S i nt
Hai l 0 ~een of heaven enthroned
I 11 by An ele ietres oed
Root of Je e G te of morn
henoe t e arId s true Li ht 8 born
St Jo epb 2
Gl orious Vir in joy to thee
Lovul i e t hom in he ven t eye
ire t tho ere a ll are fir
Ple d it Obr i t our ins to spare (3 )
But there ove yet not er fi re throu h the early
o 1) 1 ceHe 0 the b i e yeter y of t e ) e odes t yet
o t 1m rc iv i n i solemn xavit y ilent of speeoh ye t eo
10 en in his obedi nce to the e venly Fat er spotlee ly
c~ te yet 0 loy 1 in h i devot i on 0 the at e r and on
bl in ocial r nk n voc tion yet so exalted by the
divlne decree 10 olnted h 1r ou e of t oth r of ~
od and e ted hi it uthor l ty of f thar ~ lord
de 1 1 i p t e on of J co Jo eph th h eb nd
0 1 ry of om born Jo 1 ho i c led r i t (It )
Jos I as a t au e and f 11y 0 v i d f (5) There
pr ev i led amon t 6 venerable an e1 e e
eu to hieh obl i e t 1e on of ric and poor 11 -0 to
baec e kil1e i n an ontr ble tr de T e uxoo l of t h i s
r egul tion to B11p Jl y i n case of neee itmiddot t le me ns of
ea rn i n a livelihood and thus uarante indenendence I t a l so
emphas i zed the di~nity of l lbor nd f urni sled a safe ard
aga i at i dlenes nd i t c onc omi~ ant vi ces JOB ph de an i t e
hi s de ee nt frem the r yal house of DaVi d as poor thor efore
t he pur suit of a m chani c 1 tr de s for h i m a neeees ty He
as a e r penter i n the e ity of na zareth a ali1ee her e he
enj oyed tbe r putat i on of Ifbo1n a just man II ( 6 ) Henoe i t i
1e i t i m t e to a ell Ad t at he olied h i trade in n honour able
anne r hei O toned no doubt by t con8eiousnes t hat t he
St oeepb 3
fxu i e 0_ hi l abour muet rovlde t 1 eu port ot t e Iol y
lami l y i t h ho e re 0 ibi l i ty i in~ Provide ce bad eo
myste i oua y charped h e re not f ilia r ith the o i r shy
cums t ances of t he ojourn ate oly F mily in E pt duri ng
t he i nfancy a Jesus but e y ore tQan Bu+mi e t hat ther e
t oo Jomiddot )h l i ed him elf to the same oeeup t i on to earn
eustenanne ror his loved ones
he orkshoP of Nazareth beoame the play room 0 t he
Chi ld Js s Late ate Sav i our advanoed n a e i t became
the a reI tic eho~ ereln Jo h the master and t e
Boy Jeeua the puoil for Jesu a 1 t r kno not 0 ly s
t e t r so If (7) but 01 a0 nter t h
so o ary (8 ) It is rot rev ~ l ed ho 10 t C s ored ill ion
of the oly Famly l e beautiful El t i o h b t ts
members rem 1 ed broken - I 11 probe 11 ty Jose h ied
so e 1 a b fore J e ntere u on i hI c in sbry b
aueathi n to the youthLul apJren ice h B orks op n tIe
duty 0 gupport l n the howe C rtai 11 Jos~pb at have pa sed
on to h i ter al re ard ere Jesus d i d on the Oro s Only
thu B can e understand the tender solicitude of Je ue in c ~
a i ni n Hi B b~loved at er to the c re of St John the Apostle
Pi oua trad i t i on ba i t that St J oseph bra thed fo r t h h i s soul
h ile r ecl i in i n the l ov n a r m of Je u and ry uuon
born he had beste ed BO ch solic i tude and care and to hom
he had bee eof lthful1y clevoted t~rou(nout t e year
St To epb 4
0 bla t beyond t e lot of mort 1 men
O er ho e la t dyin gb
Christ an t e V1r c- n- otber tched erene
Soothi n hia a onyl ( I ta quem laett)
TH01 I TY OF BOR
r Ho l y Fat er Po e Pius Xl a ded i cated the arah
intent i on of t 16 ostle 1 of PTayer to St Jaseh P tron
and odel a or-e 0 f itt in in these dal en the ~ rum ler accunati n~ re l ooked u)on it d i dain en
e ven more d i i fied ta k are re arded as un ortby drudmiddoterie s
I t i true indeed t t toil oon e uenae of t~o 1 a our
Ir t r ent - t Cur i tle c rth in t y ork it 1 roUX
an toi 1 t e y 0 t 1i_1) II (9)
But i t i eauall t re i i ni r inne nt in 1 botr
Ihi h it honon e nioe nd 0 B ses
a Tf 11 ioh makeamp it profit ble not only for ti b t en
or t r nity Th ~ l abou of the r i ~hteou t nde to life (1 0 )
Our d i vine Saviou e p i ed not Is our toil H ol-to e
orkman t o be t e ofIi 0 bl~E ed ot ~er y aI
c roenter to 16 i a foster- f t her n mast r l i e 0 n
hands ere trai od to the se of hammer a en He
se ect d nostles He au t chie ly 0 t e or i ng lt
o asse bull ~e desi ed t o aka i m re~ive th Ie ons about
t he Ki n darn of e ven H clothed them i n paxable dra from
t he occupat i ons of t e husband J t~e ardener the cul t i vat i ar
of t~e vine t e bop rd t h ser va ts of the ousehold he n
He au l d demo strate is corn ssio i t i ~u fe
in t he fo r of an
St Joseph 5
i nv i taticn to 11 that labo I are burdened to come and be
refr e hed by Him
I n bull Jo ph ne a m l d reco lt i on nd xaltat i on
f 1 bour The ost Hol y f r i nity sin e out t l-t i numb e and
obscure mechanic t be orne in a mo t extraordin 1y and int i mat e
annel a oci ted it t e most sublime y texie of t e
Incar ation d t e nedemptlon T e ternal F thar entrusts
to st Jo ph i 0 prer atives over i a beloved Son and
cor i a to 1m the ut y o ~ )rovid i n orne ustena c d
clotmiddot In or rOf ada an e as t ere aet for uman effort
ore blim nd insp1xin tas r The oly p i t of od t 1 e
I tern 1 e 0 tho ev r Ie ced Vir Di 1 ary inducts St
Jo e1M in 0 th i ner 0 t Becr to t e nc rnation 1 en-
t 11 t i El 0 S - b 1 it o an t 1e 0 i s
nroteotlon 0 e ix n at e before d d aft ~ the
ti 1 Y 0 t e v our see ntr ted to mortal
n olier an a more 00 ldenti_l p tiei tio i n t
m~ ~e 1e a Go~ he Son of rin n t he ilesh
paces i huan elf e i l i citly i t o the hands an keepi ng
of thi ru rrod ca e tel be t o u un him ls childi ove
and subri t in a hu il l y to 1 ut 0 1 1ty And nt
do i t h the and caDle to Tazaretl an a bj ct to t e (1 )
hen d i d He a hold the un i erae in t e 0110 of Hi
acoord eater 0 er or er onor to hu an bein
Such 1 the exaltati on or human labour aa illust r ated in
the car eer of at Josep an emIt t n in h ich every ollrer
has a 9 ~e nd fro i c h ev ry to i ler sho ld gat er ins 1rashy
tion d encour e nt Ho u 01 toil i s ever conte t i bIa
St J eph 6
i n t h eyes of ad even thou h tle arId ith iBt ur ted
~i 9 ion nd vain conc i pt y deepmiddotse the bro t h t 1s ended
ith t he er ep i r tio of hu ble toll and r ejeot the hand th t
h rd abour a c loused 1d rc che out of hape In St
Joaep1 e ve roo t r t Go set t e h i e t value mon
11 n or k an hoI s in onour t he Bon of toi ho folIo
t he ex~ I e of th i s
ODiL 0
1 or ~ Y 1c d 81 t 0 t 1 e ar t re u tl
r orifio d i of t fou d ver ir - orne to m n llnt l re
Ho c n it b otherrlso s ilce t e e te oe JronOllnce by d
J
in i 0 ov r over 301 en fO l all ti e- In t
0 t Y h t t hou br t ill tho r et rn o t l1 arth
( ) out f c t u t II h n h 19 ~ e
v i i n oJ fait or ri- in I e1 ion at t e just de crees
of 10 or i veloped in the dark ni ht of dee air t han the
eent nc ecomas dOlbly epre si d t yo r of l abour
crushi ng bea nes about our hOuldWi)s va e not
a ll en oh forelor eoul o t hrough i f i thout I i ht n
t l t hout hop in t hc lr he rt it vut a 1 e upon
eir i~ no 0 bitt r i t eir I a n 1 e en they
ive ~xpressio t o the ullan t hou ht hleh a it te t eir
mi nd
And huve e not on the ot er an sft en ~oo ed i to the
t he oabin nd tene e tot e poor onl y to vel ho mi d t
Burroun -in so e t itute of creat re co or t t ere oan e~ i t
pe ce ~ nd h0 1e and love Th day a r e i nd ed ero ded i t h ta il
St J os ph 7
and ere and t e nl ht are be ed by eary v i ils nd
the tel co ark don i all too t o me t the
demo ds of exi tence and t e re oneibi i t i e for t e f mi l y
and t 16 hOJ e t t ere 1 my t~r ous so ethin i n the
a t osphere 0 such h me hi en m es th n s di fferent If ou ~~~~~~~~~ ~ i i soern by it di~ I i ht ovef yon er on t e all
pri tot e of azare t T ere i ary at er p indle
clo i t ay b or t t se les m nt ov r
hi en t e 01 1ers ca t lot f ot of t he Cro e on t e
Hi of 0 vary I n t he forefround i 9 the BI- J esus ork in
i t r cYl and er and cbisel op h t B e to be a
cro 0 is it the 11 for t e door i cn JOB )h i co shy
StXl10t i on h1s ark b ch Ove --s lado in t e 8C n 1 the
fi lre of trc 0 bo y rave a co oe
h l y B r a I ht t t of co t ntm nt anJ hu_
layin ab(ut 1 l i p that i di e te love joy in
h i t k 0 me y ho D hav been brl uc a r
mind r a the oorreot attit de to or l a ex m lified n t1e
Carpenter of t
St JOB h uted ao just Ju tice ere at
for ri _ht eouene or t a t ense ble of ern tu al virtue and
] ic~ is the I f ect 01 anatlfyin ce hereby
he I J 1 i renderod lea in to o e i ce this eneral
char ct rization e discerr in t e can at of St Jo eph oer tain
outstandi n irt GS ic d hi part i c larly t he ode 1
of or e r s
St Joseph 8
Falt~ in ad nd contdent e b lsal n to is ecr a a t a ll
time X the under1yin oharacte r ist i os of hi life Le t i t be
t he co and 0 ten el of God to acc t ary a hi pause
(1 2 ) 0 t he 110 in 1 and hiB del ic te
ou e to et hleh 0 t he order i B ad i n the dead sil nee
0 ni t to lit th t C1ild nd hi other d f ly~e
into y t (14) or t e ne e t t i n 0 t he 111 0 God to
a r i d tmiddot 0 the C il nd h i ot er 0 into t he land -L
oI Inrael ( ~ ) th r i never r nor oytent e bas i shy
t tion nor ex 1e ei on 0 l et bo t t he d ff ianltyI
r th task _od h ad kno DI y ill it i i e i t
c on I denoe r1 a l cr 1 0 bo t h middotty l he e
e t s I a incd the so i ou of D l d JTl i d s t
h uncertaint i e of i d 11y toil s -et nin t e yo e nd
I i ni n t he bu dar i the 10 e 00 i on i of Jon
nd alY
nd a t mo e I or f i d 11 ty I 0 e f i nd in thi lent
son of toil - ali es t the do e ic i et h d
i th lnrtu tr l ou at o here 01 t 0 ork hop lI i e l lt y to
Iry t1h i G espoused 1f ) i n her v rrin ity 1n h r motherhood
i n the ha y y9 r OI peaoeful family 11 e 1 eI ty t o J au i nf boy d yout hom h nd or hi ed a 1 o
Y t ho it h1e privil to oarreas to su~port t o 1nshy
st~lct aye even to cornman n to t r a i n into a oar pente r
even Ii ~ unto imsel i deli ty t o t he heavenl y tru t I c orrJllUnshy
icat ed to h i re by ne n e1 of od t o ot nd a ar d i nn over the
august my t eries of the I nca r natio d t he R dempt i on h ich
affe ct so profoundl y the i nterests of humani ty i n t i Ile and in
St Joseph 9
e t r ni ty IF i t lul n i e te ard o I hi lor t et
over his fam i ly to ive the their r of -at i n v e
s ea on II (16 ) oh i Jo e th on o~ avid t x ~Xoent er
of zaret
nd may e ot lc middotd into i lfe me re ae it i i it
ol~ l in t t be~ut iful ality 0 Jat i ence t~ t nee ary
nt 0 a euienee n f el i ty lch a ~et B or fi ce
all txi I bear blo An bo ill qu~Bti on he
enct l fic t i on 0 o e h I e life it it labours it cri shy
te orlO 9 by su-oe r bund nt lov of 0 h ob
vi ra ed i n hi 1 ht COU8 Boul ad JeB ary i s i an
h i hi olkqhop an t az 2ac place
i n 1 de rece e of hie bert r c in t r
i px hl~ ife n inj at Cal rend oy into a )irit
fter all ~ t ia 10 e ieh from la our
th t ick ri 1 i ft the irkeo I erie
U 1 t ~ne u lt ~ t a ell - Ubi ~tul non laborat t i
1 boratur 1 bor amatur shy
o TO JO
n so middot hr i etian Soul you t t tau in the iQst 0 the
eet in h ll sin turmoil of mod r lif P Re
t t i rres to aze upon tht t pi ctlre on t c b i n 11 10
portrays the industrio e yet eaceful Jo p i n i8 0_ h i p
t Nazare t Study every fa t t anctua y 0 do st ic
pe 0 nd in 1 t r it it can acr ted service r dered a
modes 1 0 lently yet 0 0 oelfully n so erfeotly
You r orks~op may be t he f aotory or the mi ll i h it ner ve
raok lyt h of ponder ou c i nelYi i t may b perc e i n the
st Joseph 10
dizzy he i hts of teat e1 k l e t o of the ne eat r i v 1 of the
to ex 0 Babe+ it may be 1 00 ted do i n t dan~ tlflin
cavern of Borne le hundred of feet bane th the surfaoe of
t earth or it may b b~h~nd - count r 1_ 1 nt 10 e t shy
ment tore or it ln -ir ed enol ur of tel te t Ii of
ome b noo1)or tio or in th exeontlve d - rtrnent or p i va t e
ofIice of i ant industry e profe ion nd occuoation
a rc e ion herel)y the desoendant of A m an va ar e
or]middotin out the universal e te 0 it labour nd toil ~ol t
hou e t ~~ t earth all the day of t~y l ifo (9 ) 011 111
l a our in vain an your toil ill i h 0 your i r t
even it ds out t h tl au of y TIl body f il t o
ap 1y t e p 11080 y of he C rpenter of
omiddott 1 )l y t at ~110 inju ~ice to ~
o ph Y u to You v ri 10 you 0 n ~~~
T i-all the I fu a or er17 e n at your co and y
di- i n deoree 1 are 01 ced under t e obli~ tion of toil
but th re is no d cr ee hioh conmele t he orleer to su it
to i nju t i ce or anel eve nt T 1 bour r i orthy of Il l
h i re ( 9 ) 1 t e div ine way of e re in tle 1i t to ju 4
co en tion n fair oondition of labour eit e1 ~ r l t
nor th h r c advocates or countenano ~e degradation a part
of the l ot OI ~an Bu even der ideal C0n ition t ere come
orne te of earinee a d de resei n loments he lh motives
f de out d Ie ve tie e irit of t or er de 01 te o It i
then tb t you need t picture of t Joseph P- t ron nd odel
of or ere to buoy you u bull
st 08e h 11
Learn then f 0 St Joemiddot to labour ith fa i t in ad nd
itb an humble iv sprit It i 0 k ick a inst
the 00 1(17) ill only ti t ore or tie
obst i n ey elin to thy ta k f i del i ty e en thou h t
t i iJ 8 the y be bitter ea on thy labour it love ot ify
thtgtm y nion itb 1od ke the rofit hI for etal 1ty by
oon8oratln leI t o 1 Flory II do 1 for t e lory 0 bull Gee I
(18) uoh discorrte t oule v li su fro the h nrt of m n -n
p a ce ou t elr ouJ coul t ey ut tt ~r
t ei r l i ve f er t t of t e 1 t 0 t 1e Rtxiarc B t
o )h ~n of av i d
Ther e t ron d in 0 r let hi 10 in a1
ith farvent 1 o ~
in u r 0 in our ed
And p aoe fo r ever more I bull
I t qu aetl
o
( ) Jo r 1 - 9 (a) Titus 2 1 3 (3) nti hon - uri loat i oq
(4 ) att 1 - 1 6 (5) V k 11 - 4 - (6) ltl tt 1 - I n middot (7 ) att XlII shy
55 (8 ) - 3 (9) en 111 - 17 (IO) xov ( 11 )I
Ln 11 - 5 (1 2) middotn 11 - _9 (U3) tt 1- - 24 middot (14 ) a t t 11shy
1 3 (If) att 1- ao ( 6 ) Luke nl - 4a j (17 ) Ao t a lX - 5
( 8 ) 1 Cor X - 31 (I e ) Lu X - 7
-b~~~ --~~ 7~
THE AI S OF CATHOLIC ACTI ON
Holy ~ame ~en we hail you as the very salt of our
catholic manhood Representatives of every station in life
thoug you be your lory rests not upon the lLsterial social
or political prestige of which you lliay boast but rather upon
your sterling ca~holicity which makes brothers of you ell
in t h e COKmon bond of a sturdy fait h a conEietently clean
life and an enthusiastic zeal for the
iCingdo of Jesus Christ IVh ose Sacred
revere
It is a particular privilege to participate in your
most impressive demonstration tecause you make it a I
solemn act of worsh ip in which you render public honor
and praise to the Holy Name of Go d ho is so little
recof~lJ i zed in t he publ ic 1 ife of our day Reco Qn izin ~t
as too fe~ io that we Bre passi g through a period of
retribution fo r our enerations exceEsee and extravagances
in t ne moral and economic order you ere dedic~tin~ to God
an act of puolic reparat ion for the hurden ot sin uncer
which hlli Bn ity is staggering ith t h e consciouBne s s of
fait h wh ich direct s you to look to God I 8 love and lercy
rat her tn n to hUITan po~er and ingenuit y ior the allevi 8t ion
of the evile _hich are sadde ning t e hearts of men you are
hopefully sentHng to heaven a ni ghty prayer that humanity
Iay SOOD 100- into the dawn of a better dov But an act
of wors~ i p would be incomplete without t ~le element of
2
thanks g iving After all our very depre~sion is proof by
antithesis that Go 6 has blessed UB end blessed UP of
America beyond the other namptions of the earth ~aterially
I e must not forget thiE lest we add to
our unwort i1iness t i1e guilt of iilgratit lde You do well to
render tnsn s g iving on an occaeion svch as t h is fo r God IS
innmrerable blessins poured out so lavishly upon our
c lUrc h our countr y an i our institutions Among t -lese
blessi ngs you have singled ou t one for eID hasis today God
wh ich 1I1e hail with rej oicing - Thatl11iay be thanked so
rea ds your pro gr a m for the great blessing s that have come
to our diocese and to t1e Ohurc1 of t hese United States
through tl-e wise and beneficent leadership of our beloved
Bishop in tbe past decade of years - For years we hAve
adfiired a nd founl1 inspiraticn in t 1e amiable claracter
unt iri g zeal and inexhaust 11)le energy o f ~rOilI ost
Reverend and beloved Bis ~ op You of Oleveland are b lessed
indeed in t t e ~ ift of shch a leader As for the Church
in thee LJni ted States of A cerica if t ~ ie s tory of Oat holic
r~ction in t _1is country is ever wri t ten no name iVill etand
out i n bolder relief or more glorious s _ lendor t hampn that
of your high priest and father Bis hop JCEeph Sc hr-erubs
ith you we t hank the Lord a nd p ray ~OEt fervently that
Cleveland and me rica may b e neLi t by h is [enius ~is
guidance and his labors for many years to come
Seeking 8 Prophet
That God may free t he wDrld from the perils of
3
economic depression hatre tislmderstanding and false
philosophy tnat are menacin lJ our civilization and culture
Thu s you deLine the purpo pe of t hi s Cat hoI ic Act ier Demonst ration
In t is you betray t he t il ougl1 ts w~ich dominEte your ass embly
t10Ug_ltS which in fact no asse J- bly of [ren foregat hered tOrlay
in any part of t l1e world can suppress wi t rlOut some unnatural
restraint The evile are too universal too omnipresent too
deep-rooted too painf~ l to ad~it even t he pretence of i g oring
t h em
All t he world is not only thinking talking a nd writing
ab out t is t ing called econo~ic depressi on it is a lso
awai t i ng wit h canst ernst iO[1 what ilay yet oe f a11 our civil i za t ion
-any ho are not pessimists see the handwritinv
of dooll on the wall rrelplessly and well ni gh ho peleesly all
t he wor ld is casting a bout for t h e nostrum wh ich will effect
t he lrag ic cu re f or t e sorcerer who will coax bac ~( over nigh t
the il luSive rite called Pro pe rit j Only t hree day s go
-eneva sent out t 11e Ile 8saPe t ~1at it s econ )) io COll1I1 i ttee can
agr e e on no sine-Ie cure-all for t he prevailing d ifficulties in
~ i ce co nm r ce and i ndus try Gove rnrrents a nd political
parties are tottering becau se t hey seem incapable of doing
or e t han orga niz ing nat io nel aIlc~ in terns t ional conferelces
creat ing conmi s 8ions and order ing surveys and invest i gat ions
in endless variety whose results seeI to be f e r the most part
illusory Captains of industry seem to have lost their skill
4
and t ile wi zardry with wh ich for two decades they have aTi-assed
lortuller in com-pariscn with which the wealth of 01010l or
Croesus are were ant h ills Ban]ers and fin EIlCiers confronted
wi t h t he st na t i e n of indus t ry 8nO co merce 8re pe rplexed
because tne irony of fate leaves them without a market for the
millions of dollars stored in their vaults e xcept for tne
OCC3 i onal 1 010caust on tne al tal of arunon t e stabilize some
le~d in_ worl d Dower Universlt y- f2c11ties scierlci~tE and
ph ilos op ere e_rryer te in re8earc f1 ork ltind surveys reve l no
way out of t ile labyrinth of eCO(lO r 1c 80ci21 ano t 0101 conshy
fusion into wh ic ~ they h ove helped not alittle to steer t h e
bullorld
In ti1e meant i rr e comJimnity c heste 80ci21 agencies
chari t ab1 2 organ izat i Ol1s and inst i tlt i f-llS Ere plannin~ a nd
s middot_ruggling a gainst de s perati o to raise tile fund nece ss ary
to relieve pypoundic a l soci al an -i moral misery in our homes end
to reHove t he evioe rices of de gradati cn from our streets and
t h orou ghf aree dur ing t he onco lr ing winter lhe world is
looking for leadersh i p and sigh i V for a p ro_ het ho lay
forecast a brighter era en divert t1l1m8nit y S cmlr~OJlj t he
IT iry jLu ~ elE of co(mu nism a d r a ical eociali sbull
Truly may e cry out with C-t John t h e Bapt ist There hath
stoo( one in t~e lli i6st of you whom you kno not - For nearly
a decade 01 years a9Iophet whose heart has been rac lced b y the
5
eestlessnese ami gravitatirlb trenrj of t he religiouE moral
anc soc ial I ife of the ~rorl ana whooe unerring unobscured
vi8i~n has been concentrated upon the t h ing s that Bre for t h e
peace of hUr anity has raised h is p r oph e t ic voice in sea on a na
out oi seas on in allocutions and writin r-r s ithout um er even
se Hd ing his mesea e to the end s of t h e eart by t le electrified
va ves of the a ir to warn ~ is ch ildren against t he mena c i g
portents o the ti e s and to call UDon the nations to r a lly to
the --= e f e lEe of t be very f oundations of c rieti an civill~ ation
~ ore 1ceenly than 811 ot~lers t il is prophet re c lizes t hat our
econo ic o reakda wn is a sy p ton rat her t ha t h e 6 i E ease The
u i ver s 1U80rder nes its root 8 in treason to Go and in t h e
f lout inc a t cnrist ian p rinc i ples o j D oral i ty in oontenpt for
socia l jUftice a lld c -1Clri t y i n eva rice 8middotel f isn ness a d lust
-- a ll tlle u f ly t e nt ie l e s of t e c ancer 0 g ross Iat er i a l i ~m
which holds t h e nations in ite rip
lirOI(j his lo f ty wat chtower flung h i gh upon t Ile impre gnable
Rock of Fet e r this holy se er se nds f ort h t h e r ally i nq cry
T_ e peace of Ch rist i the r e i g n of Christ ll bull Tth t h e su reness
o t e explie nced d i ag o s t icia1 W lose f i ngers a ve pl ay ed upon
the pul s e of hutlanity for nearly two t l1 0118 2nd years he diecerns
t e illala dy an p rescribes t te reme ciy - Pr yer Bec r i f ice and
a ct i on - 3t hmiddot lie Act ien - tnrou o-h t h e a1lc l icat ion of
c nrist ian prinelulee to all t ~e proble~ s o f li ~ e The world
maybe indis ~osed to accept his leadership beca~ Be he carries
shyo
not t oe sy b oIs of materi~liE~ on his scutcheon it may not
reec 1~0 to hi s rallyin~ cry because it i e ill p repared for
L h spiritual ideals but it it woul d Ieturn to st b ility
or(er and peace it must accept the recipe -Prayer sacrifice
and C thalic Acticn t h loug-h t ne application of CllIistian
principles to the problerr e of life ll prescribe i by t e Vic a r of
Jrist ~loriously r e i zr i ng over t ne Church of God t he Father
So extensive are t ne ramifications of Cat holic Action
W i cn a ct ually touch es and i nf lue ces every domain of hU~Bn
life anci its ani f ol d relations that a n exhaustive developlent
of its sc op e would be an i ff position uyon your tilli8 a nd patience
But since you hElve dedicated t h is ma _11i f icent demcnstrat ion to
Catholic Action you are entitled to know at least its rrajor
ai rrs as vi 8~ alize b y the Holy Fat ~er
Address ing t h e Int erna t ional Catho lic 0(1 en IS Leagll e in
Ro me t~o years ag o the Supreme Fontiff said Ce1thelic Action
as Fe Wi8~1 it 210 88 we heve frequently charccterized it is the
partiCIpation of the laity in the hierarcnical aposto l ate for
t r~l e deiels e c reli 2 ic u 8 and rnOT21 princirles for t l1 e development
of a 80un~ and ho leBo ~e social acticn under t j e ~uidance of the
h ierarc_y funct io n i ng out s ide and above all -poll tical -98rt ies
7
Be it e mphasized that Cgtholic Acticn is an invitation and
a 8UIlOns isslled to tte c8t101iC lElity to pcrticiprte in the
ayos tolic ministry of the hierarchy It ie an extensi on of
the sacard tampl office in the broad eenee in h ich t Peter
addresses t he l~ity as amp chosen generati2n a ~ingly priesthood
ilOly nati c n (I Petro -2 ) Th Holy Father exlains thi8
exalted co cept ~nOIe sDeci ically wren he deEcribes this lay
apostolate lias a ay and a leans which has come into being
throu~h t h e dispensati of divine ~race to the end tha t the
Ch ~ rch may call and in Dce those to follol the teachinf and the
law of t n e Gospel o might ot~er vrie e t h rough lack of priestly
inIlue ce fe] l a p rey to t ll e isrepreeent s t i one and de 8trllcti ve
efforts of disturoing a 1tators (Acta 1 8 28-38( )
Tru~ to its nartle a tholic Acti r n is charGcterize5 by its
universality 8U waning catholics of every station in life to
share ifl teiE g enuirle apoetolate a nd offerimr a bOLm less
liel t to the ze a l of t belaity for it i B way and a means
of which t h e hurch aV6ils itself to bring to the nations
~less ings of every kind (Acta 1~28-385) It is a masse d
forward movement of the ent ire catholic body hierarchy clergy
cn laity in t n e ir proper coordinat ion t c ir~ p iritall
human life a n its cO II~lex relationshipe wit1 tne Eo1l the
pO er the unction and t~e rule of Ohrists doctrlile and
8
Defend Religious and oral PrilCiples
The defense of the nation its constitution and interests
is tile first duty of a Jhysical army So the first function
of Catholic Action is the defenee 0f the princiles of religion
ane norali ty i h ich Christ pro lul gat ed and sealed with His
de~th ~ h o will deny the necessity of such a defense in the face
of skeptici m agnosticism irreligion and downri~ht atheism
which are sweeping like a tidal wave over the eart h At least
one government has declered an inferrlal warfare upon all reli gion
defying God s wrath with its unspeakable blasphe~ ies threatening
to tear to shreds every vestige of reli gious belief still
lingering in the heartE of ite enslaved su bjectE and forb idding
mothers to lisp the name of God or Christ to the children at
their knees The atheistic propaganda of Communism h s its
resources rophets and high priest s scattered thouhout Europe
and Ame rica sO~i i ng- the se6ds of e materialis far ro s ser and
more destructive than the capitalistic system which it aims to
supplant The divorce of reli CT ion from education in tne public
schools of OUT ovn country co r) lefented by t he undisguised anti shy
relig ious attitude of secular colleges and universities is
~orkin~ out logically in a descend i n_ course indicating a
di~inishinry reli g ious grasp in each succeeding eneration
indifference s kepticis iI-religion at he ism
vel chri stian churche s are speeding uo t he ~Jrocess of
dechr ist iani zat ion by re-5uc ing to mere s~eletons and shadows
9
their traditional beliefs by weakening or abro gating all
d iEc i ~)l ille and by adapt ing the ir moral code to the popular
whi m of t h e age That wonder that forty t housand non-cat Olic
churches are reported closed with their pulpits as silent a 8
t~e tombstones in t h e adjacent cerfeteries at wonder that a
leadin5 minister of a denomination wllOse statistician reported
ten thousa Eo churches wi t fJout a si ngle baptisJ1 last year
charg ed eli s chur ch v i t h s piritual suicide fI and sp i ritual
b irtb control Perhpas t here is h ere a relation ship between
the p hysic a l and t he spiritual order
As for the weakening of morality t here is no need of
nauseating t h is auoience 1i ith the u gly tale of viDlence -fl ~~ooo
crue a middotd l rrmoralltyen wncn t h e d~lly press p resents ln ~ jj-LH~~7 ~tW- -IW ~~ch~~~ NcI ~~ te ~25
ulllntelrupted serlals The lcker sh am Repor~na8 confirmed
t he nQst invinc ible sket ics of the enormous extent of lawlessness
in our land But it may be i mportant to cite expert testimony
imiddotor t h e fact t hat irrel i g ion and cr i rre are int i mately rela t ed
On June 15th Dr Brandl Folice Presi de nt of Vienna a id inter-oh
nat io nal aut h~i t T on c r i mi nolos y addressi ng t he Int er nat ional
Conlt ree of Reli ioll s PSYChOlOy 11 Vienna ma de t h is si p-nificant
state ent about juvenile crLTinele It is to be noted that
t heir attitude toward reli~ion definitely fixes t he deg ree of
t~ eir criminalit y If they have lost t he ir relig ion t hey a re
uore prone to COl ~it crime t an t hos e who ha ve p reserved some
reI i g i on In t he case of g rave CT i me s it i s founei almost
invariably t hat t e offe ers reli g ious feeli ng i~ either
wholly lost or strongly diTdnisned (Oath UeliS June 27 31)
America may well take heedl JMLdeg1~~~ 4-Ugt ~~
10
lhese conCiitions explain in part why t he TToly Fat~er setpound forth as
t be f irst s~)eciiic ai IT of Catholic Action IIt l~e defense of relig ious
and moral princi-oleE II Tne Catholic Church alone stand)firm a nd
i mrnOiralIe above t he ri s il2 t ide of reI i g ious unre st a nd amidst
t h e del~ge of moral decadence and corruption She not only
ga t ers her cnildren to her 8h e1 t e r ing prot ect ion but in
Oatholic Action s ~ e bids the~ to consecrate t~eir gifts of
tongJe and pen especially t he persuasive pOrer of a conei s tent
cat ~olic life to promul gate defeId and de r1onstrate to the
un-oel ievine loose living oft en 1 icent iOUE worldl ing s that
the Go s pel and the Decalogue contain t l e rule oi life w ich
alone g ives dignity to hu man existence and peace to restless
heFrt s
Sound Wn olesore Social Altion
-uch ot t he disorder and ttisery from wh ich hluanity is suffering
today ariseE from unsound p rinciples and theories regarding the
social order unde r wh ich men live Therefore the Hol y Fa t h er has
not only ma de the develo pment of a sound nd who lesome 80cial
action one of t~1e chief airllS of CRtholic Action but in his
recent encyclical entitled 1170rty Years After he has g iven to
the orld t 1e prinCip les End methods according to wh ich the social
order should be constitu ted and reconstructed
A fundamenta_ weakness in the efforts Dut forth to adjust
the present econorrdc and social dislocat ion is the drea m that
the old order is ri ght and sound and that nothing is lac~ing
b ut confi~ence to set the machinery of industry and com~erce in
11
--~~~~~~J Iqal
t1ot ion Geneva t ellSUS dat II psychol og ical U~ctor8 dOjlinate
the econoIr ic crieis t h rou hout t he worl d ( Sept 2AP World
~erampl~ ) Fs yct ology is play1n - its 9srt in the trag ic drama
0 worl d depression but a sk t h e man w o walk s t he streets
in searc_ of 2 j o-b or t h e fat her oo e ch il iren cry for
b read a d t 1ere is none to break to t hem or the far r er~~(L~
WhOE8 cred itors have dis iJossessed h bl o ecclUse tie failed to
(Leet hi S otliga t ions hether p eyc _ olog- ical facto~s dotl inated J--c~lt1J k~~~1-~ ~PL ~AL-~I t h eir inc ivLua l c1i8i8 The social strl ct lJ re and mac h inery
needs ~ore t~aG B p sycho log ical up turn or a superfic i al
repair job it needs a n ew pn ilosoph ic outlook a nd a t horough
reco nstru ction accord ing to the prinCiples cont a ined in or
log ically deduced from t ) e te a chings ot O111i st The r SJulation
of t he responsib ilities a rising from t he possession of p roperty
a nd weBl t ~~ t h e ordering of t he lllutual relat i m s1ips du t ies QA~4q~
and burden~ between t he state and its citizens between capit al
and lab or between t he e~ployer a nd t ~ e e p loyees between one
rank of huma n society a nd t h e ot il er fair c omp ensatioTl a mi the
e qu it a b le d i stri c_ti on of t he joint fruits of iIlvest iIent brains
and bran i r indust ry a gric11 l t ure a dd commerce are all vital
issues Libera l i and cap italism have met therr in t he spirit
of e zrat er ial ist ic philosoph y 821fi sl1ne ss anr avarice t lle
p resent e on Jic debacl e is t ile resu lt If we ould escas e ~
-~he ROPet cOllseque21ces of aei Z I of 80ci a1is and c o municom
vhose advocates are lJot ent i a1ly in our very midst then
gover l ents i imm cial inoustrial and c ommercial l eaders toshy
g etl e r it h t h e sooel advis e rs of t he l abo r i ng clrusep must
adoDt t he safe 6 i1t_ sounel Lidc le course mapp ed ou t by the
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
St Jo epb 2
Gl orious Vir in joy to thee
Lovul i e t hom in he ven t eye
ire t tho ere a ll are fir
Ple d it Obr i t our ins to spare (3 )
But there ove yet not er fi re throu h the early
o 1) 1 ceHe 0 the b i e yeter y of t e ) e odes t yet
o t 1m rc iv i n i solemn xavit y ilent of speeoh ye t eo
10 en in his obedi nce to the e venly Fat er spotlee ly
c~ te yet 0 loy 1 in h i devot i on 0 the at e r and on
bl in ocial r nk n voc tion yet so exalted by the
divlne decree 10 olnted h 1r ou e of t oth r of ~
od and e ted hi it uthor l ty of f thar ~ lord
de 1 1 i p t e on of J co Jo eph th h eb nd
0 1 ry of om born Jo 1 ho i c led r i t (It )
Jos I as a t au e and f 11y 0 v i d f (5) There
pr ev i led amon t 6 venerable an e1 e e
eu to hieh obl i e t 1e on of ric and poor 11 -0 to
baec e kil1e i n an ontr ble tr de T e uxoo l of t h i s
r egul tion to B11p Jl y i n case of neee itmiddot t le me ns of
ea rn i n a livelihood and thus uarante indenendence I t a l so
emphas i zed the di~nity of l lbor nd f urni sled a safe ard
aga i at i dlenes nd i t c onc omi~ ant vi ces JOB ph de an i t e
hi s de ee nt frem the r yal house of DaVi d as poor thor efore
t he pur suit of a m chani c 1 tr de s for h i m a neeees ty He
as a e r penter i n the e ity of na zareth a ali1ee her e he
enj oyed tbe r putat i on of Ifbo1n a just man II ( 6 ) Henoe i t i
1e i t i m t e to a ell Ad t at he olied h i trade in n honour able
anne r hei O toned no doubt by t con8eiousnes t hat t he
St oeepb 3
fxu i e 0_ hi l abour muet rovlde t 1 eu port ot t e Iol y
lami l y i t h ho e re 0 ibi l i ty i in~ Provide ce bad eo
myste i oua y charped h e re not f ilia r ith the o i r shy
cums t ances of t he ojourn ate oly F mily in E pt duri ng
t he i nfancy a Jesus but e y ore tQan Bu+mi e t hat ther e
t oo Jomiddot )h l i ed him elf to the same oeeup t i on to earn
eustenanne ror his loved ones
he orkshoP of Nazareth beoame the play room 0 t he
Chi ld Js s Late ate Sav i our advanoed n a e i t became
the a reI tic eho~ ereln Jo h the master and t e
Boy Jeeua the puoil for Jesu a 1 t r kno not 0 ly s
t e t r so If (7) but 01 a0 nter t h
so o ary (8 ) It is rot rev ~ l ed ho 10 t C s ored ill ion
of the oly Famly l e beautiful El t i o h b t ts
members rem 1 ed broken - I 11 probe 11 ty Jose h ied
so e 1 a b fore J e ntere u on i hI c in sbry b
aueathi n to the youthLul apJren ice h B orks op n tIe
duty 0 gupport l n the howe C rtai 11 Jos~pb at have pa sed
on to h i ter al re ard ere Jesus d i d on the Oro s Only
thu B can e understand the tender solicitude of Je ue in c ~
a i ni n Hi B b~loved at er to the c re of St John the Apostle
Pi oua trad i t i on ba i t that St J oseph bra thed fo r t h h i s soul
h ile r ecl i in i n the l ov n a r m of Je u and ry uuon
born he had beste ed BO ch solic i tude and care and to hom
he had bee eof lthful1y clevoted t~rou(nout t e year
St To epb 4
0 bla t beyond t e lot of mort 1 men
O er ho e la t dyin gb
Christ an t e V1r c- n- otber tched erene
Soothi n hia a onyl ( I ta quem laett)
TH01 I TY OF BOR
r Ho l y Fat er Po e Pius Xl a ded i cated the arah
intent i on of t 16 ostle 1 of PTayer to St Jaseh P tron
and odel a or-e 0 f itt in in these dal en the ~ rum ler accunati n~ re l ooked u)on it d i dain en
e ven more d i i fied ta k are re arded as un ortby drudmiddoterie s
I t i true indeed t t toil oon e uenae of t~o 1 a our
Ir t r ent - t Cur i tle c rth in t y ork it 1 roUX
an toi 1 t e y 0 t 1i_1) II (9)
But i t i eauall t re i i ni r inne nt in 1 botr
Ihi h it honon e nioe nd 0 B ses
a Tf 11 ioh makeamp it profit ble not only for ti b t en
or t r nity Th ~ l abou of the r i ~hteou t nde to life (1 0 )
Our d i vine Saviou e p i ed not Is our toil H ol-to e
orkman t o be t e ofIi 0 bl~E ed ot ~er y aI
c roenter to 16 i a foster- f t her n mast r l i e 0 n
hands ere trai od to the se of hammer a en He
se ect d nostles He au t chie ly 0 t e or i ng lt
o asse bull ~e desi ed t o aka i m re~ive th Ie ons about
t he Ki n darn of e ven H clothed them i n paxable dra from
t he occupat i ons of t e husband J t~e ardener the cul t i vat i ar
of t~e vine t e bop rd t h ser va ts of the ousehold he n
He au l d demo strate is corn ssio i t i ~u fe
in t he fo r of an
St Joseph 5
i nv i taticn to 11 that labo I are burdened to come and be
refr e hed by Him
I n bull Jo ph ne a m l d reco lt i on nd xaltat i on
f 1 bour The ost Hol y f r i nity sin e out t l-t i numb e and
obscure mechanic t be orne in a mo t extraordin 1y and int i mat e
annel a oci ted it t e most sublime y texie of t e
Incar ation d t e nedemptlon T e ternal F thar entrusts
to st Jo ph i 0 prer atives over i a beloved Son and
cor i a to 1m the ut y o ~ )rovid i n orne ustena c d
clotmiddot In or rOf ada an e as t ere aet for uman effort
ore blim nd insp1xin tas r The oly p i t of od t 1 e
I tern 1 e 0 tho ev r Ie ced Vir Di 1 ary inducts St
Jo e1M in 0 th i ner 0 t Becr to t e nc rnation 1 en-
t 11 t i El 0 S - b 1 it o an t 1e 0 i s
nroteotlon 0 e ix n at e before d d aft ~ the
ti 1 Y 0 t e v our see ntr ted to mortal
n olier an a more 00 ldenti_l p tiei tio i n t
m~ ~e 1e a Go~ he Son of rin n t he ilesh
paces i huan elf e i l i citly i t o the hands an keepi ng
of thi ru rrod ca e tel be t o u un him ls childi ove
and subri t in a hu il l y to 1 ut 0 1 1ty And nt
do i t h the and caDle to Tazaretl an a bj ct to t e (1 )
hen d i d He a hold the un i erae in t e 0110 of Hi
acoord eater 0 er or er onor to hu an bein
Such 1 the exaltati on or human labour aa illust r ated in
the car eer of at Josep an emIt t n in h ich every ollrer
has a 9 ~e nd fro i c h ev ry to i ler sho ld gat er ins 1rashy
tion d encour e nt Ho u 01 toil i s ever conte t i bIa
St J eph 6
i n t h eyes of ad even thou h tle arId ith iBt ur ted
~i 9 ion nd vain conc i pt y deepmiddotse the bro t h t 1s ended
ith t he er ep i r tio of hu ble toll and r ejeot the hand th t
h rd abour a c loused 1d rc che out of hape In St
Joaep1 e ve roo t r t Go set t e h i e t value mon
11 n or k an hoI s in onour t he Bon of toi ho folIo
t he ex~ I e of th i s
ODiL 0
1 or ~ Y 1c d 81 t 0 t 1 e ar t re u tl
r orifio d i of t fou d ver ir - orne to m n llnt l re
Ho c n it b otherrlso s ilce t e e te oe JronOllnce by d
J
in i 0 ov r over 301 en fO l all ti e- In t
0 t Y h t t hou br t ill tho r et rn o t l1 arth
( ) out f c t u t II h n h 19 ~ e
v i i n oJ fait or ri- in I e1 ion at t e just de crees
of 10 or i veloped in the dark ni ht of dee air t han the
eent nc ecomas dOlbly epre si d t yo r of l abour
crushi ng bea nes about our hOuldWi)s va e not
a ll en oh forelor eoul o t hrough i f i thout I i ht n
t l t hout hop in t hc lr he rt it vut a 1 e upon
eir i~ no 0 bitt r i t eir I a n 1 e en they
ive ~xpressio t o the ullan t hou ht hleh a it te t eir
mi nd
And huve e not on the ot er an sft en ~oo ed i to the
t he oabin nd tene e tot e poor onl y to vel ho mi d t
Burroun -in so e t itute of creat re co or t t ere oan e~ i t
pe ce ~ nd h0 1e and love Th day a r e i nd ed ero ded i t h ta il
St J os ph 7
and ere and t e nl ht are be ed by eary v i ils nd
the tel co ark don i all too t o me t the
demo ds of exi tence and t e re oneibi i t i e for t e f mi l y
and t 16 hOJ e t t ere 1 my t~r ous so ethin i n the
a t osphere 0 such h me hi en m es th n s di fferent If ou ~~~~~~~~~ ~ i i soern by it di~ I i ht ovef yon er on t e all
pri tot e of azare t T ere i ary at er p indle
clo i t ay b or t t se les m nt ov r
hi en t e 01 1ers ca t lot f ot of t he Cro e on t e
Hi of 0 vary I n t he forefround i 9 the BI- J esus ork in
i t r cYl and er and cbisel op h t B e to be a
cro 0 is it the 11 for t e door i cn JOB )h i co shy
StXl10t i on h1s ark b ch Ove --s lado in t e 8C n 1 the
fi lre of trc 0 bo y rave a co oe
h l y B r a I ht t t of co t ntm nt anJ hu_
layin ab(ut 1 l i p that i di e te love joy in
h i t k 0 me y ho D hav been brl uc a r
mind r a the oorreot attit de to or l a ex m lified n t1e
Carpenter of t
St JOB h uted ao just Ju tice ere at
for ri _ht eouene or t a t ense ble of ern tu al virtue and
] ic~ is the I f ect 01 anatlfyin ce hereby
he I J 1 i renderod lea in to o e i ce this eneral
char ct rization e discerr in t e can at of St Jo eph oer tain
outstandi n irt GS ic d hi part i c larly t he ode 1
of or e r s
St Joseph 8
Falt~ in ad nd contdent e b lsal n to is ecr a a t a ll
time X the under1yin oharacte r ist i os of hi life Le t i t be
t he co and 0 ten el of God to acc t ary a hi pause
(1 2 ) 0 t he 110 in 1 and hiB del ic te
ou e to et hleh 0 t he order i B ad i n the dead sil nee
0 ni t to lit th t C1ild nd hi other d f ly~e
into y t (14) or t e ne e t t i n 0 t he 111 0 God to
a r i d tmiddot 0 the C il nd h i ot er 0 into t he land -L
oI Inrael ( ~ ) th r i never r nor oytent e bas i shy
t tion nor ex 1e ei on 0 l et bo t t he d ff ianltyI
r th task _od h ad kno DI y ill it i i e i t
c on I denoe r1 a l cr 1 0 bo t h middotty l he e
e t s I a incd the so i ou of D l d JTl i d s t
h uncertaint i e of i d 11y toil s -et nin t e yo e nd
I i ni n t he bu dar i the 10 e 00 i on i of Jon
nd alY
nd a t mo e I or f i d 11 ty I 0 e f i nd in thi lent
son of toil - ali es t the do e ic i et h d
i th lnrtu tr l ou at o here 01 t 0 ork hop lI i e l lt y to
Iry t1h i G espoused 1f ) i n her v rrin ity 1n h r motherhood
i n the ha y y9 r OI peaoeful family 11 e 1 eI ty t o J au i nf boy d yout hom h nd or hi ed a 1 o
Y t ho it h1e privil to oarreas to su~port t o 1nshy
st~lct aye even to cornman n to t r a i n into a oar pente r
even Ii ~ unto imsel i deli ty t o t he heavenl y tru t I c orrJllUnshy
icat ed to h i re by ne n e1 of od t o ot nd a ar d i nn over the
august my t eries of the I nca r natio d t he R dempt i on h ich
affe ct so profoundl y the i nterests of humani ty i n t i Ile and in
St Joseph 9
e t r ni ty IF i t lul n i e te ard o I hi lor t et
over his fam i ly to ive the their r of -at i n v e
s ea on II (16 ) oh i Jo e th on o~ avid t x ~Xoent er
of zaret
nd may e ot lc middotd into i lfe me re ae it i i it
ol~ l in t t be~ut iful ality 0 Jat i ence t~ t nee ary
nt 0 a euienee n f el i ty lch a ~et B or fi ce
all txi I bear blo An bo ill qu~Bti on he
enct l fic t i on 0 o e h I e life it it labours it cri shy
te orlO 9 by su-oe r bund nt lov of 0 h ob
vi ra ed i n hi 1 ht COU8 Boul ad JeB ary i s i an
h i hi olkqhop an t az 2ac place
i n 1 de rece e of hie bert r c in t r
i px hl~ ife n inj at Cal rend oy into a )irit
fter all ~ t ia 10 e ieh from la our
th t ick ri 1 i ft the irkeo I erie
U 1 t ~ne u lt ~ t a ell - Ubi ~tul non laborat t i
1 boratur 1 bor amatur shy
o TO JO
n so middot hr i etian Soul you t t tau in the iQst 0 the
eet in h ll sin turmoil of mod r lif P Re
t t i rres to aze upon tht t pi ctlre on t c b i n 11 10
portrays the industrio e yet eaceful Jo p i n i8 0_ h i p
t Nazare t Study every fa t t anctua y 0 do st ic
pe 0 nd in 1 t r it it can acr ted service r dered a
modes 1 0 lently yet 0 0 oelfully n so erfeotly
You r orks~op may be t he f aotory or the mi ll i h it ner ve
raok lyt h of ponder ou c i nelYi i t may b perc e i n the
st Joseph 10
dizzy he i hts of teat e1 k l e t o of the ne eat r i v 1 of the
to ex 0 Babe+ it may be 1 00 ted do i n t dan~ tlflin
cavern of Borne le hundred of feet bane th the surfaoe of
t earth or it may b b~h~nd - count r 1_ 1 nt 10 e t shy
ment tore or it ln -ir ed enol ur of tel te t Ii of
ome b noo1)or tio or in th exeontlve d - rtrnent or p i va t e
ofIice of i ant industry e profe ion nd occuoation
a rc e ion herel)y the desoendant of A m an va ar e
or]middotin out the universal e te 0 it labour nd toil ~ol t
hou e t ~~ t earth all the day of t~y l ifo (9 ) 011 111
l a our in vain an your toil ill i h 0 your i r t
even it ds out t h tl au of y TIl body f il t o
ap 1y t e p 11080 y of he C rpenter of
omiddott 1 )l y t at ~110 inju ~ice to ~
o ph Y u to You v ri 10 you 0 n ~~~
T i-all the I fu a or er17 e n at your co and y
di- i n deoree 1 are 01 ced under t e obli~ tion of toil
but th re is no d cr ee hioh conmele t he orleer to su it
to i nju t i ce or anel eve nt T 1 bour r i orthy of Il l
h i re ( 9 ) 1 t e div ine way of e re in tle 1i t to ju 4
co en tion n fair oondition of labour eit e1 ~ r l t
nor th h r c advocates or countenano ~e degradation a part
of the l ot OI ~an Bu even der ideal C0n ition t ere come
orne te of earinee a d de resei n loments he lh motives
f de out d Ie ve tie e irit of t or er de 01 te o It i
then tb t you need t picture of t Joseph P- t ron nd odel
of or ere to buoy you u bull
st 08e h 11
Learn then f 0 St Joemiddot to labour ith fa i t in ad nd
itb an humble iv sprit It i 0 k ick a inst
the 00 1(17) ill only ti t ore or tie
obst i n ey elin to thy ta k f i del i ty e en thou h t
t i iJ 8 the y be bitter ea on thy labour it love ot ify
thtgtm y nion itb 1od ke the rofit hI for etal 1ty by
oon8oratln leI t o 1 Flory II do 1 for t e lory 0 bull Gee I
(18) uoh discorrte t oule v li su fro the h nrt of m n -n
p a ce ou t elr ouJ coul t ey ut tt ~r
t ei r l i ve f er t t of t e 1 t 0 t 1e Rtxiarc B t
o )h ~n of av i d
Ther e t ron d in 0 r let hi 10 in a1
ith farvent 1 o ~
in u r 0 in our ed
And p aoe fo r ever more I bull
I t qu aetl
o
( ) Jo r 1 - 9 (a) Titus 2 1 3 (3) nti hon - uri loat i oq
(4 ) att 1 - 1 6 (5) V k 11 - 4 - (6) ltl tt 1 - I n middot (7 ) att XlII shy
55 (8 ) - 3 (9) en 111 - 17 (IO) xov ( 11 )I
Ln 11 - 5 (1 2) middotn 11 - _9 (U3) tt 1- - 24 middot (14 ) a t t 11shy
1 3 (If) att 1- ao ( 6 ) Luke nl - 4a j (17 ) Ao t a lX - 5
( 8 ) 1 Cor X - 31 (I e ) Lu X - 7
-b~~~ --~~ 7~
THE AI S OF CATHOLIC ACTI ON
Holy ~ame ~en we hail you as the very salt of our
catholic manhood Representatives of every station in life
thoug you be your lory rests not upon the lLsterial social
or political prestige of which you lliay boast but rather upon
your sterling ca~holicity which makes brothers of you ell
in t h e COKmon bond of a sturdy fait h a conEietently clean
life and an enthusiastic zeal for the
iCingdo of Jesus Christ IVh ose Sacred
revere
It is a particular privilege to participate in your
most impressive demonstration tecause you make it a I
solemn act of worsh ip in which you render public honor
and praise to the Holy Name of Go d ho is so little
recof~lJ i zed in t he publ ic 1 ife of our day Reco Qn izin ~t
as too fe~ io that we Bre passi g through a period of
retribution fo r our enerations exceEsee and extravagances
in t ne moral and economic order you ere dedic~tin~ to God
an act of puolic reparat ion for the hurden ot sin uncer
which hlli Bn ity is staggering ith t h e consciouBne s s of
fait h wh ich direct s you to look to God I 8 love and lercy
rat her tn n to hUITan po~er and ingenuit y ior the allevi 8t ion
of the evile _hich are sadde ning t e hearts of men you are
hopefully sentHng to heaven a ni ghty prayer that humanity
Iay SOOD 100- into the dawn of a better dov But an act
of wors~ i p would be incomplete without t ~le element of
2
thanks g iving After all our very depre~sion is proof by
antithesis that Go 6 has blessed UB end blessed UP of
America beyond the other namptions of the earth ~aterially
I e must not forget thiE lest we add to
our unwort i1iness t i1e guilt of iilgratit lde You do well to
render tnsn s g iving on an occaeion svch as t h is fo r God IS
innmrerable blessins poured out so lavishly upon our
c lUrc h our countr y an i our institutions Among t -lese
blessi ngs you have singled ou t one for eID hasis today God
wh ich 1I1e hail with rej oicing - Thatl11iay be thanked so
rea ds your pro gr a m for the great blessing s that have come
to our diocese and to t1e Ohurc1 of t hese United States
through tl-e wise and beneficent leadership of our beloved
Bishop in tbe past decade of years - For years we hAve
adfiired a nd founl1 inspiraticn in t 1e amiable claracter
unt iri g zeal and inexhaust 11)le energy o f ~rOilI ost
Reverend and beloved Bis ~ op You of Oleveland are b lessed
indeed in t t e ~ ift of shch a leader As for the Church
in thee LJni ted States of A cerica if t ~ ie s tory of Oat holic
r~ction in t _1is country is ever wri t ten no name iVill etand
out i n bolder relief or more glorious s _ lendor t hampn that
of your high priest and father Bis hop JCEeph Sc hr-erubs
ith you we t hank the Lord a nd p ray ~OEt fervently that
Cleveland and me rica may b e neLi t by h is [enius ~is
guidance and his labors for many years to come
Seeking 8 Prophet
That God may free t he wDrld from the perils of
3
economic depression hatre tislmderstanding and false
philosophy tnat are menacin lJ our civilization and culture
Thu s you deLine the purpo pe of t hi s Cat hoI ic Act ier Demonst ration
In t is you betray t he t il ougl1 ts w~ich dominEte your ass embly
t10Ug_ltS which in fact no asse J- bly of [ren foregat hered tOrlay
in any part of t l1e world can suppress wi t rlOut some unnatural
restraint The evile are too universal too omnipresent too
deep-rooted too painf~ l to ad~it even t he pretence of i g oring
t h em
All t he world is not only thinking talking a nd writing
ab out t is t ing called econo~ic depressi on it is a lso
awai t i ng wit h canst ernst iO[1 what ilay yet oe f a11 our civil i za t ion
-any ho are not pessimists see the handwritinv
of dooll on the wall rrelplessly and well ni gh ho peleesly all
t he wor ld is casting a bout for t h e nostrum wh ich will effect
t he lrag ic cu re f or t e sorcerer who will coax bac ~( over nigh t
the il luSive rite called Pro pe rit j Only t hree day s go
-eneva sent out t 11e Ile 8saPe t ~1at it s econ )) io COll1I1 i ttee can
agr e e on no sine-Ie cure-all for t he prevailing d ifficulties in
~ i ce co nm r ce and i ndus try Gove rnrrents a nd political
parties are tottering becau se t hey seem incapable of doing
or e t han orga niz ing nat io nel aIlc~ in terns t ional conferelces
creat ing conmi s 8ions and order ing surveys and invest i gat ions
in endless variety whose results seeI to be f e r the most part
illusory Captains of industry seem to have lost their skill
4
and t ile wi zardry with wh ich for two decades they have aTi-assed
lortuller in com-pariscn with which the wealth of 01010l or
Croesus are were ant h ills Ban]ers and fin EIlCiers confronted
wi t h t he st na t i e n of indus t ry 8nO co merce 8re pe rplexed
because tne irony of fate leaves them without a market for the
millions of dollars stored in their vaults e xcept for tne
OCC3 i onal 1 010caust on tne al tal of arunon t e stabilize some
le~d in_ worl d Dower Universlt y- f2c11ties scierlci~tE and
ph ilos op ere e_rryer te in re8earc f1 ork ltind surveys reve l no
way out of t ile labyrinth of eCO(lO r 1c 80ci21 ano t 0101 conshy
fusion into wh ic ~ they h ove helped not alittle to steer t h e
bullorld
In ti1e meant i rr e comJimnity c heste 80ci21 agencies
chari t ab1 2 organ izat i Ol1s and inst i tlt i f-llS Ere plannin~ a nd
s middot_ruggling a gainst de s perati o to raise tile fund nece ss ary
to relieve pypoundic a l soci al an -i moral misery in our homes end
to reHove t he evioe rices of de gradati cn from our streets and
t h orou ghf aree dur ing t he onco lr ing winter lhe world is
looking for leadersh i p and sigh i V for a p ro_ het ho lay
forecast a brighter era en divert t1l1m8nit y S cmlr~OJlj t he
IT iry jLu ~ elE of co(mu nism a d r a ical eociali sbull
Truly may e cry out with C-t John t h e Bapt ist There hath
stoo( one in t~e lli i6st of you whom you kno not - For nearly
a decade 01 years a9Iophet whose heart has been rac lced b y the
5
eestlessnese ami gravitatirlb trenrj of t he religiouE moral
anc soc ial I ife of the ~rorl ana whooe unerring unobscured
vi8i~n has been concentrated upon the t h ing s that Bre for t h e
peace of hUr anity has raised h is p r oph e t ic voice in sea on a na
out oi seas on in allocutions and writin r-r s ithout um er even
se Hd ing his mesea e to the end s of t h e eart by t le electrified
va ves of the a ir to warn ~ is ch ildren against t he mena c i g
portents o the ti e s and to call UDon the nations to r a lly to
the --= e f e lEe of t be very f oundations of c rieti an civill~ ation
~ ore 1ceenly than 811 ot~lers t il is prophet re c lizes t hat our
econo ic o reakda wn is a sy p ton rat her t ha t h e 6 i E ease The
u i ver s 1U80rder nes its root 8 in treason to Go and in t h e
f lout inc a t cnrist ian p rinc i ples o j D oral i ty in oontenpt for
socia l jUftice a lld c -1Clri t y i n eva rice 8middotel f isn ness a d lust
-- a ll tlle u f ly t e nt ie l e s of t e c ancer 0 g ross Iat er i a l i ~m
which holds t h e nations in ite rip
lirOI(j his lo f ty wat chtower flung h i gh upon t Ile impre gnable
Rock of Fet e r this holy se er se nds f ort h t h e r ally i nq cry
T_ e peace of Ch rist i the r e i g n of Christ ll bull Tth t h e su reness
o t e explie nced d i ag o s t icia1 W lose f i ngers a ve pl ay ed upon
the pul s e of hutlanity for nearly two t l1 0118 2nd years he diecerns
t e illala dy an p rescribes t te reme ciy - Pr yer Bec r i f ice and
a ct i on - 3t hmiddot lie Act ien - tnrou o-h t h e a1lc l icat ion of
c nrist ian prinelulee to all t ~e proble~ s o f li ~ e The world
maybe indis ~osed to accept his leadership beca~ Be he carries
shyo
not t oe sy b oIs of materi~liE~ on his scutcheon it may not
reec 1~0 to hi s rallyin~ cry because it i e ill p repared for
L h spiritual ideals but it it woul d Ieturn to st b ility
or(er and peace it must accept the recipe -Prayer sacrifice
and C thalic Acticn t h loug-h t ne application of CllIistian
principles to the problerr e of life ll prescribe i by t e Vic a r of
Jrist ~loriously r e i zr i ng over t ne Church of God t he Father
So extensive are t ne ramifications of Cat holic Action
W i cn a ct ually touch es and i nf lue ces every domain of hU~Bn
life anci its ani f ol d relations that a n exhaustive developlent
of its sc op e would be an i ff position uyon your tilli8 a nd patience
But since you hElve dedicated t h is ma _11i f icent demcnstrat ion to
Catholic Action you are entitled to know at least its rrajor
ai rrs as vi 8~ alize b y the Holy Fat ~er
Address ing t h e Int erna t ional Catho lic 0(1 en IS Leagll e in
Ro me t~o years ag o the Supreme Fontiff said Ce1thelic Action
as Fe Wi8~1 it 210 88 we heve frequently charccterized it is the
partiCIpation of the laity in the hierarcnical aposto l ate for
t r~l e deiels e c reli 2 ic u 8 and rnOT21 princirles for t l1 e development
of a 80un~ and ho leBo ~e social acticn under t j e ~uidance of the
h ierarc_y funct io n i ng out s ide and above all -poll tical -98rt ies
7
Be it e mphasized that Cgtholic Acticn is an invitation and
a 8UIlOns isslled to tte c8t101iC lElity to pcrticiprte in the
ayos tolic ministry of the hierarchy It ie an extensi on of
the sacard tampl office in the broad eenee in h ich t Peter
addresses t he l~ity as amp chosen generati2n a ~ingly priesthood
ilOly nati c n (I Petro -2 ) Th Holy Father exlains thi8
exalted co cept ~nOIe sDeci ically wren he deEcribes this lay
apostolate lias a ay and a leans which has come into being
throu~h t h e dispensati of divine ~race to the end tha t the
Ch ~ rch may call and in Dce those to follol the teachinf and the
law of t n e Gospel o might ot~er vrie e t h rough lack of priestly
inIlue ce fe] l a p rey to t ll e isrepreeent s t i one and de 8trllcti ve
efforts of disturoing a 1tators (Acta 1 8 28-38( )
Tru~ to its nartle a tholic Acti r n is charGcterize5 by its
universality 8U waning catholics of every station in life to
share ifl teiE g enuirle apoetolate a nd offerimr a bOLm less
liel t to the ze a l of t belaity for it i B way and a means
of which t h e hurch aV6ils itself to bring to the nations
~less ings of every kind (Acta 1~28-385) It is a masse d
forward movement of the ent ire catholic body hierarchy clergy
cn laity in t n e ir proper coordinat ion t c ir~ p iritall
human life a n its cO II~lex relationshipe wit1 tne Eo1l the
pO er the unction and t~e rule of Ohrists doctrlile and
8
Defend Religious and oral PrilCiples
The defense of the nation its constitution and interests
is tile first duty of a Jhysical army So the first function
of Catholic Action is the defenee 0f the princiles of religion
ane norali ty i h ich Christ pro lul gat ed and sealed with His
de~th ~ h o will deny the necessity of such a defense in the face
of skeptici m agnosticism irreligion and downri~ht atheism
which are sweeping like a tidal wave over the eart h At least
one government has declered an inferrlal warfare upon all reli gion
defying God s wrath with its unspeakable blasphe~ ies threatening
to tear to shreds every vestige of reli gious belief still
lingering in the heartE of ite enslaved su bjectE and forb idding
mothers to lisp the name of God or Christ to the children at
their knees The atheistic propaganda of Communism h s its
resources rophets and high priest s scattered thouhout Europe
and Ame rica sO~i i ng- the se6ds of e materialis far ro s ser and
more destructive than the capitalistic system which it aims to
supplant The divorce of reli CT ion from education in tne public
schools of OUT ovn country co r) lefented by t he undisguised anti shy
relig ious attitude of secular colleges and universities is
~orkin~ out logically in a descend i n_ course indicating a
di~inishinry reli g ious grasp in each succeeding eneration
indifference s kepticis iI-religion at he ism
vel chri stian churche s are speeding uo t he ~Jrocess of
dechr ist iani zat ion by re-5uc ing to mere s~eletons and shadows
9
their traditional beliefs by weakening or abro gating all
d iEc i ~)l ille and by adapt ing the ir moral code to the popular
whi m of t h e age That wonder that forty t housand non-cat Olic
churches are reported closed with their pulpits as silent a 8
t~e tombstones in t h e adjacent cerfeteries at wonder that a
leadin5 minister of a denomination wllOse statistician reported
ten thousa Eo churches wi t fJout a si ngle baptisJ1 last year
charg ed eli s chur ch v i t h s piritual suicide fI and sp i ritual
b irtb control Perhpas t here is h ere a relation ship between
the p hysic a l and t he spiritual order
As for the weakening of morality t here is no need of
nauseating t h is auoience 1i ith the u gly tale of viDlence -fl ~~ooo
crue a middotd l rrmoralltyen wncn t h e d~lly press p resents ln ~ jj-LH~~7 ~tW- -IW ~~ch~~~ NcI ~~ te ~25
ulllntelrupted serlals The lcker sh am Repor~na8 confirmed
t he nQst invinc ible sket ics of the enormous extent of lawlessness
in our land But it may be i mportant to cite expert testimony
imiddotor t h e fact t hat irrel i g ion and cr i rre are int i mately rela t ed
On June 15th Dr Brandl Folice Presi de nt of Vienna a id inter-oh
nat io nal aut h~i t T on c r i mi nolos y addressi ng t he Int er nat ional
Conlt ree of Reli ioll s PSYChOlOy 11 Vienna ma de t h is si p-nificant
state ent about juvenile crLTinele It is to be noted that
t heir attitude toward reli~ion definitely fixes t he deg ree of
t~ eir criminalit y If they have lost t he ir relig ion t hey a re
uore prone to COl ~it crime t an t hos e who ha ve p reserved some
reI i g i on In t he case of g rave CT i me s it i s founei almost
invariably t hat t e offe ers reli g ious feeli ng i~ either
wholly lost or strongly diTdnisned (Oath UeliS June 27 31)
America may well take heedl JMLdeg1~~~ 4-Ugt ~~
10
lhese conCiitions explain in part why t he TToly Fat~er setpound forth as
t be f irst s~)eciiic ai IT of Catholic Action IIt l~e defense of relig ious
and moral princi-oleE II Tne Catholic Church alone stand)firm a nd
i mrnOiralIe above t he ri s il2 t ide of reI i g ious unre st a nd amidst
t h e del~ge of moral decadence and corruption She not only
ga t ers her cnildren to her 8h e1 t e r ing prot ect ion but in
Oatholic Action s ~ e bids the~ to consecrate t~eir gifts of
tongJe and pen especially t he persuasive pOrer of a conei s tent
cat ~olic life to promul gate defeId and de r1onstrate to the
un-oel ievine loose living oft en 1 icent iOUE worldl ing s that
the Go s pel and the Decalogue contain t l e rule oi life w ich
alone g ives dignity to hu man existence and peace to restless
heFrt s
Sound Wn olesore Social Altion
-uch ot t he disorder and ttisery from wh ich hluanity is suffering
today ariseE from unsound p rinciples and theories regarding the
social order unde r wh ich men live Therefore the Hol y Fa t h er has
not only ma de the develo pment of a sound nd who lesome 80cial
action one of t~1e chief airllS of CRtholic Action but in his
recent encyclical entitled 1170rty Years After he has g iven to
the orld t 1e prinCip les End methods according to wh ich the social
order should be constitu ted and reconstructed
A fundamenta_ weakness in the efforts Dut forth to adjust
the present econorrdc and social dislocat ion is the drea m that
the old order is ri ght and sound and that nothing is lac~ing
b ut confi~ence to set the machinery of industry and com~erce in
11
--~~~~~~J Iqal
t1ot ion Geneva t ellSUS dat II psychol og ical U~ctor8 dOjlinate
the econoIr ic crieis t h rou hout t he worl d ( Sept 2AP World
~erampl~ ) Fs yct ology is play1n - its 9srt in the trag ic drama
0 worl d depression but a sk t h e man w o walk s t he streets
in searc_ of 2 j o-b or t h e fat her oo e ch il iren cry for
b read a d t 1ere is none to break to t hem or the far r er~~(L~
WhOE8 cred itors have dis iJossessed h bl o ecclUse tie failed to
(Leet hi S otliga t ions hether p eyc _ olog- ical facto~s dotl inated J--c~lt1J k~~~1-~ ~PL ~AL-~I t h eir inc ivLua l c1i8i8 The social strl ct lJ re and mac h inery
needs ~ore t~aG B p sycho log ical up turn or a superfic i al
repair job it needs a n ew pn ilosoph ic outlook a nd a t horough
reco nstru ction accord ing to the prinCiples cont a ined in or
log ically deduced from t ) e te a chings ot O111i st The r SJulation
of t he responsib ilities a rising from t he possession of p roperty
a nd weBl t ~~ t h e ordering of t he lllutual relat i m s1ips du t ies QA~4q~
and burden~ between t he state and its citizens between capit al
and lab or between t he e~ployer a nd t ~ e e p loyees between one
rank of huma n society a nd t h e ot il er fair c omp ensatioTl a mi the
e qu it a b le d i stri c_ti on of t he joint fruits of iIlvest iIent brains
and bran i r indust ry a gric11 l t ure a dd commerce are all vital
issues Libera l i and cap italism have met therr in t he spirit
of e zrat er ial ist ic philosoph y 821fi sl1ne ss anr avarice t lle
p resent e on Jic debacl e is t ile resu lt If we ould escas e ~
-~he ROPet cOllseque21ces of aei Z I of 80ci a1is and c o municom
vhose advocates are lJot ent i a1ly in our very midst then
gover l ents i imm cial inoustrial and c ommercial l eaders toshy
g etl e r it h t h e sooel advis e rs of t he l abo r i ng clrusep must
adoDt t he safe 6 i1t_ sounel Lidc le course mapp ed ou t by the
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
St oeepb 3
fxu i e 0_ hi l abour muet rovlde t 1 eu port ot t e Iol y
lami l y i t h ho e re 0 ibi l i ty i in~ Provide ce bad eo
myste i oua y charped h e re not f ilia r ith the o i r shy
cums t ances of t he ojourn ate oly F mily in E pt duri ng
t he i nfancy a Jesus but e y ore tQan Bu+mi e t hat ther e
t oo Jomiddot )h l i ed him elf to the same oeeup t i on to earn
eustenanne ror his loved ones
he orkshoP of Nazareth beoame the play room 0 t he
Chi ld Js s Late ate Sav i our advanoed n a e i t became
the a reI tic eho~ ereln Jo h the master and t e
Boy Jeeua the puoil for Jesu a 1 t r kno not 0 ly s
t e t r so If (7) but 01 a0 nter t h
so o ary (8 ) It is rot rev ~ l ed ho 10 t C s ored ill ion
of the oly Famly l e beautiful El t i o h b t ts
members rem 1 ed broken - I 11 probe 11 ty Jose h ied
so e 1 a b fore J e ntere u on i hI c in sbry b
aueathi n to the youthLul apJren ice h B orks op n tIe
duty 0 gupport l n the howe C rtai 11 Jos~pb at have pa sed
on to h i ter al re ard ere Jesus d i d on the Oro s Only
thu B can e understand the tender solicitude of Je ue in c ~
a i ni n Hi B b~loved at er to the c re of St John the Apostle
Pi oua trad i t i on ba i t that St J oseph bra thed fo r t h h i s soul
h ile r ecl i in i n the l ov n a r m of Je u and ry uuon
born he had beste ed BO ch solic i tude and care and to hom
he had bee eof lthful1y clevoted t~rou(nout t e year
St To epb 4
0 bla t beyond t e lot of mort 1 men
O er ho e la t dyin gb
Christ an t e V1r c- n- otber tched erene
Soothi n hia a onyl ( I ta quem laett)
TH01 I TY OF BOR
r Ho l y Fat er Po e Pius Xl a ded i cated the arah
intent i on of t 16 ostle 1 of PTayer to St Jaseh P tron
and odel a or-e 0 f itt in in these dal en the ~ rum ler accunati n~ re l ooked u)on it d i dain en
e ven more d i i fied ta k are re arded as un ortby drudmiddoterie s
I t i true indeed t t toil oon e uenae of t~o 1 a our
Ir t r ent - t Cur i tle c rth in t y ork it 1 roUX
an toi 1 t e y 0 t 1i_1) II (9)
But i t i eauall t re i i ni r inne nt in 1 botr
Ihi h it honon e nioe nd 0 B ses
a Tf 11 ioh makeamp it profit ble not only for ti b t en
or t r nity Th ~ l abou of the r i ~hteou t nde to life (1 0 )
Our d i vine Saviou e p i ed not Is our toil H ol-to e
orkman t o be t e ofIi 0 bl~E ed ot ~er y aI
c roenter to 16 i a foster- f t her n mast r l i e 0 n
hands ere trai od to the se of hammer a en He
se ect d nostles He au t chie ly 0 t e or i ng lt
o asse bull ~e desi ed t o aka i m re~ive th Ie ons about
t he Ki n darn of e ven H clothed them i n paxable dra from
t he occupat i ons of t e husband J t~e ardener the cul t i vat i ar
of t~e vine t e bop rd t h ser va ts of the ousehold he n
He au l d demo strate is corn ssio i t i ~u fe
in t he fo r of an
St Joseph 5
i nv i taticn to 11 that labo I are burdened to come and be
refr e hed by Him
I n bull Jo ph ne a m l d reco lt i on nd xaltat i on
f 1 bour The ost Hol y f r i nity sin e out t l-t i numb e and
obscure mechanic t be orne in a mo t extraordin 1y and int i mat e
annel a oci ted it t e most sublime y texie of t e
Incar ation d t e nedemptlon T e ternal F thar entrusts
to st Jo ph i 0 prer atives over i a beloved Son and
cor i a to 1m the ut y o ~ )rovid i n orne ustena c d
clotmiddot In or rOf ada an e as t ere aet for uman effort
ore blim nd insp1xin tas r The oly p i t of od t 1 e
I tern 1 e 0 tho ev r Ie ced Vir Di 1 ary inducts St
Jo e1M in 0 th i ner 0 t Becr to t e nc rnation 1 en-
t 11 t i El 0 S - b 1 it o an t 1e 0 i s
nroteotlon 0 e ix n at e before d d aft ~ the
ti 1 Y 0 t e v our see ntr ted to mortal
n olier an a more 00 ldenti_l p tiei tio i n t
m~ ~e 1e a Go~ he Son of rin n t he ilesh
paces i huan elf e i l i citly i t o the hands an keepi ng
of thi ru rrod ca e tel be t o u un him ls childi ove
and subri t in a hu il l y to 1 ut 0 1 1ty And nt
do i t h the and caDle to Tazaretl an a bj ct to t e (1 )
hen d i d He a hold the un i erae in t e 0110 of Hi
acoord eater 0 er or er onor to hu an bein
Such 1 the exaltati on or human labour aa illust r ated in
the car eer of at Josep an emIt t n in h ich every ollrer
has a 9 ~e nd fro i c h ev ry to i ler sho ld gat er ins 1rashy
tion d encour e nt Ho u 01 toil i s ever conte t i bIa
St J eph 6
i n t h eyes of ad even thou h tle arId ith iBt ur ted
~i 9 ion nd vain conc i pt y deepmiddotse the bro t h t 1s ended
ith t he er ep i r tio of hu ble toll and r ejeot the hand th t
h rd abour a c loused 1d rc che out of hape In St
Joaep1 e ve roo t r t Go set t e h i e t value mon
11 n or k an hoI s in onour t he Bon of toi ho folIo
t he ex~ I e of th i s
ODiL 0
1 or ~ Y 1c d 81 t 0 t 1 e ar t re u tl
r orifio d i of t fou d ver ir - orne to m n llnt l re
Ho c n it b otherrlso s ilce t e e te oe JronOllnce by d
J
in i 0 ov r over 301 en fO l all ti e- In t
0 t Y h t t hou br t ill tho r et rn o t l1 arth
( ) out f c t u t II h n h 19 ~ e
v i i n oJ fait or ri- in I e1 ion at t e just de crees
of 10 or i veloped in the dark ni ht of dee air t han the
eent nc ecomas dOlbly epre si d t yo r of l abour
crushi ng bea nes about our hOuldWi)s va e not
a ll en oh forelor eoul o t hrough i f i thout I i ht n
t l t hout hop in t hc lr he rt it vut a 1 e upon
eir i~ no 0 bitt r i t eir I a n 1 e en they
ive ~xpressio t o the ullan t hou ht hleh a it te t eir
mi nd
And huve e not on the ot er an sft en ~oo ed i to the
t he oabin nd tene e tot e poor onl y to vel ho mi d t
Burroun -in so e t itute of creat re co or t t ere oan e~ i t
pe ce ~ nd h0 1e and love Th day a r e i nd ed ero ded i t h ta il
St J os ph 7
and ere and t e nl ht are be ed by eary v i ils nd
the tel co ark don i all too t o me t the
demo ds of exi tence and t e re oneibi i t i e for t e f mi l y
and t 16 hOJ e t t ere 1 my t~r ous so ethin i n the
a t osphere 0 such h me hi en m es th n s di fferent If ou ~~~~~~~~~ ~ i i soern by it di~ I i ht ovef yon er on t e all
pri tot e of azare t T ere i ary at er p indle
clo i t ay b or t t se les m nt ov r
hi en t e 01 1ers ca t lot f ot of t he Cro e on t e
Hi of 0 vary I n t he forefround i 9 the BI- J esus ork in
i t r cYl and er and cbisel op h t B e to be a
cro 0 is it the 11 for t e door i cn JOB )h i co shy
StXl10t i on h1s ark b ch Ove --s lado in t e 8C n 1 the
fi lre of trc 0 bo y rave a co oe
h l y B r a I ht t t of co t ntm nt anJ hu_
layin ab(ut 1 l i p that i di e te love joy in
h i t k 0 me y ho D hav been brl uc a r
mind r a the oorreot attit de to or l a ex m lified n t1e
Carpenter of t
St JOB h uted ao just Ju tice ere at
for ri _ht eouene or t a t ense ble of ern tu al virtue and
] ic~ is the I f ect 01 anatlfyin ce hereby
he I J 1 i renderod lea in to o e i ce this eneral
char ct rization e discerr in t e can at of St Jo eph oer tain
outstandi n irt GS ic d hi part i c larly t he ode 1
of or e r s
St Joseph 8
Falt~ in ad nd contdent e b lsal n to is ecr a a t a ll
time X the under1yin oharacte r ist i os of hi life Le t i t be
t he co and 0 ten el of God to acc t ary a hi pause
(1 2 ) 0 t he 110 in 1 and hiB del ic te
ou e to et hleh 0 t he order i B ad i n the dead sil nee
0 ni t to lit th t C1ild nd hi other d f ly~e
into y t (14) or t e ne e t t i n 0 t he 111 0 God to
a r i d tmiddot 0 the C il nd h i ot er 0 into t he land -L
oI Inrael ( ~ ) th r i never r nor oytent e bas i shy
t tion nor ex 1e ei on 0 l et bo t t he d ff ianltyI
r th task _od h ad kno DI y ill it i i e i t
c on I denoe r1 a l cr 1 0 bo t h middotty l he e
e t s I a incd the so i ou of D l d JTl i d s t
h uncertaint i e of i d 11y toil s -et nin t e yo e nd
I i ni n t he bu dar i the 10 e 00 i on i of Jon
nd alY
nd a t mo e I or f i d 11 ty I 0 e f i nd in thi lent
son of toil - ali es t the do e ic i et h d
i th lnrtu tr l ou at o here 01 t 0 ork hop lI i e l lt y to
Iry t1h i G espoused 1f ) i n her v rrin ity 1n h r motherhood
i n the ha y y9 r OI peaoeful family 11 e 1 eI ty t o J au i nf boy d yout hom h nd or hi ed a 1 o
Y t ho it h1e privil to oarreas to su~port t o 1nshy
st~lct aye even to cornman n to t r a i n into a oar pente r
even Ii ~ unto imsel i deli ty t o t he heavenl y tru t I c orrJllUnshy
icat ed to h i re by ne n e1 of od t o ot nd a ar d i nn over the
august my t eries of the I nca r natio d t he R dempt i on h ich
affe ct so profoundl y the i nterests of humani ty i n t i Ile and in
St Joseph 9
e t r ni ty IF i t lul n i e te ard o I hi lor t et
over his fam i ly to ive the their r of -at i n v e
s ea on II (16 ) oh i Jo e th on o~ avid t x ~Xoent er
of zaret
nd may e ot lc middotd into i lfe me re ae it i i it
ol~ l in t t be~ut iful ality 0 Jat i ence t~ t nee ary
nt 0 a euienee n f el i ty lch a ~et B or fi ce
all txi I bear blo An bo ill qu~Bti on he
enct l fic t i on 0 o e h I e life it it labours it cri shy
te orlO 9 by su-oe r bund nt lov of 0 h ob
vi ra ed i n hi 1 ht COU8 Boul ad JeB ary i s i an
h i hi olkqhop an t az 2ac place
i n 1 de rece e of hie bert r c in t r
i px hl~ ife n inj at Cal rend oy into a )irit
fter all ~ t ia 10 e ieh from la our
th t ick ri 1 i ft the irkeo I erie
U 1 t ~ne u lt ~ t a ell - Ubi ~tul non laborat t i
1 boratur 1 bor amatur shy
o TO JO
n so middot hr i etian Soul you t t tau in the iQst 0 the
eet in h ll sin turmoil of mod r lif P Re
t t i rres to aze upon tht t pi ctlre on t c b i n 11 10
portrays the industrio e yet eaceful Jo p i n i8 0_ h i p
t Nazare t Study every fa t t anctua y 0 do st ic
pe 0 nd in 1 t r it it can acr ted service r dered a
modes 1 0 lently yet 0 0 oelfully n so erfeotly
You r orks~op may be t he f aotory or the mi ll i h it ner ve
raok lyt h of ponder ou c i nelYi i t may b perc e i n the
st Joseph 10
dizzy he i hts of teat e1 k l e t o of the ne eat r i v 1 of the
to ex 0 Babe+ it may be 1 00 ted do i n t dan~ tlflin
cavern of Borne le hundred of feet bane th the surfaoe of
t earth or it may b b~h~nd - count r 1_ 1 nt 10 e t shy
ment tore or it ln -ir ed enol ur of tel te t Ii of
ome b noo1)or tio or in th exeontlve d - rtrnent or p i va t e
ofIice of i ant industry e profe ion nd occuoation
a rc e ion herel)y the desoendant of A m an va ar e
or]middotin out the universal e te 0 it labour nd toil ~ol t
hou e t ~~ t earth all the day of t~y l ifo (9 ) 011 111
l a our in vain an your toil ill i h 0 your i r t
even it ds out t h tl au of y TIl body f il t o
ap 1y t e p 11080 y of he C rpenter of
omiddott 1 )l y t at ~110 inju ~ice to ~
o ph Y u to You v ri 10 you 0 n ~~~
T i-all the I fu a or er17 e n at your co and y
di- i n deoree 1 are 01 ced under t e obli~ tion of toil
but th re is no d cr ee hioh conmele t he orleer to su it
to i nju t i ce or anel eve nt T 1 bour r i orthy of Il l
h i re ( 9 ) 1 t e div ine way of e re in tle 1i t to ju 4
co en tion n fair oondition of labour eit e1 ~ r l t
nor th h r c advocates or countenano ~e degradation a part
of the l ot OI ~an Bu even der ideal C0n ition t ere come
orne te of earinee a d de resei n loments he lh motives
f de out d Ie ve tie e irit of t or er de 01 te o It i
then tb t you need t picture of t Joseph P- t ron nd odel
of or ere to buoy you u bull
st 08e h 11
Learn then f 0 St Joemiddot to labour ith fa i t in ad nd
itb an humble iv sprit It i 0 k ick a inst
the 00 1(17) ill only ti t ore or tie
obst i n ey elin to thy ta k f i del i ty e en thou h t
t i iJ 8 the y be bitter ea on thy labour it love ot ify
thtgtm y nion itb 1od ke the rofit hI for etal 1ty by
oon8oratln leI t o 1 Flory II do 1 for t e lory 0 bull Gee I
(18) uoh discorrte t oule v li su fro the h nrt of m n -n
p a ce ou t elr ouJ coul t ey ut tt ~r
t ei r l i ve f er t t of t e 1 t 0 t 1e Rtxiarc B t
o )h ~n of av i d
Ther e t ron d in 0 r let hi 10 in a1
ith farvent 1 o ~
in u r 0 in our ed
And p aoe fo r ever more I bull
I t qu aetl
o
( ) Jo r 1 - 9 (a) Titus 2 1 3 (3) nti hon - uri loat i oq
(4 ) att 1 - 1 6 (5) V k 11 - 4 - (6) ltl tt 1 - I n middot (7 ) att XlII shy
55 (8 ) - 3 (9) en 111 - 17 (IO) xov ( 11 )I
Ln 11 - 5 (1 2) middotn 11 - _9 (U3) tt 1- - 24 middot (14 ) a t t 11shy
1 3 (If) att 1- ao ( 6 ) Luke nl - 4a j (17 ) Ao t a lX - 5
( 8 ) 1 Cor X - 31 (I e ) Lu X - 7
-b~~~ --~~ 7~
THE AI S OF CATHOLIC ACTI ON
Holy ~ame ~en we hail you as the very salt of our
catholic manhood Representatives of every station in life
thoug you be your lory rests not upon the lLsterial social
or political prestige of which you lliay boast but rather upon
your sterling ca~holicity which makes brothers of you ell
in t h e COKmon bond of a sturdy fait h a conEietently clean
life and an enthusiastic zeal for the
iCingdo of Jesus Christ IVh ose Sacred
revere
It is a particular privilege to participate in your
most impressive demonstration tecause you make it a I
solemn act of worsh ip in which you render public honor
and praise to the Holy Name of Go d ho is so little
recof~lJ i zed in t he publ ic 1 ife of our day Reco Qn izin ~t
as too fe~ io that we Bre passi g through a period of
retribution fo r our enerations exceEsee and extravagances
in t ne moral and economic order you ere dedic~tin~ to God
an act of puolic reparat ion for the hurden ot sin uncer
which hlli Bn ity is staggering ith t h e consciouBne s s of
fait h wh ich direct s you to look to God I 8 love and lercy
rat her tn n to hUITan po~er and ingenuit y ior the allevi 8t ion
of the evile _hich are sadde ning t e hearts of men you are
hopefully sentHng to heaven a ni ghty prayer that humanity
Iay SOOD 100- into the dawn of a better dov But an act
of wors~ i p would be incomplete without t ~le element of
2
thanks g iving After all our very depre~sion is proof by
antithesis that Go 6 has blessed UB end blessed UP of
America beyond the other namptions of the earth ~aterially
I e must not forget thiE lest we add to
our unwort i1iness t i1e guilt of iilgratit lde You do well to
render tnsn s g iving on an occaeion svch as t h is fo r God IS
innmrerable blessins poured out so lavishly upon our
c lUrc h our countr y an i our institutions Among t -lese
blessi ngs you have singled ou t one for eID hasis today God
wh ich 1I1e hail with rej oicing - Thatl11iay be thanked so
rea ds your pro gr a m for the great blessing s that have come
to our diocese and to t1e Ohurc1 of t hese United States
through tl-e wise and beneficent leadership of our beloved
Bishop in tbe past decade of years - For years we hAve
adfiired a nd founl1 inspiraticn in t 1e amiable claracter
unt iri g zeal and inexhaust 11)le energy o f ~rOilI ost
Reverend and beloved Bis ~ op You of Oleveland are b lessed
indeed in t t e ~ ift of shch a leader As for the Church
in thee LJni ted States of A cerica if t ~ ie s tory of Oat holic
r~ction in t _1is country is ever wri t ten no name iVill etand
out i n bolder relief or more glorious s _ lendor t hampn that
of your high priest and father Bis hop JCEeph Sc hr-erubs
ith you we t hank the Lord a nd p ray ~OEt fervently that
Cleveland and me rica may b e neLi t by h is [enius ~is
guidance and his labors for many years to come
Seeking 8 Prophet
That God may free t he wDrld from the perils of
3
economic depression hatre tislmderstanding and false
philosophy tnat are menacin lJ our civilization and culture
Thu s you deLine the purpo pe of t hi s Cat hoI ic Act ier Demonst ration
In t is you betray t he t il ougl1 ts w~ich dominEte your ass embly
t10Ug_ltS which in fact no asse J- bly of [ren foregat hered tOrlay
in any part of t l1e world can suppress wi t rlOut some unnatural
restraint The evile are too universal too omnipresent too
deep-rooted too painf~ l to ad~it even t he pretence of i g oring
t h em
All t he world is not only thinking talking a nd writing
ab out t is t ing called econo~ic depressi on it is a lso
awai t i ng wit h canst ernst iO[1 what ilay yet oe f a11 our civil i za t ion
-any ho are not pessimists see the handwritinv
of dooll on the wall rrelplessly and well ni gh ho peleesly all
t he wor ld is casting a bout for t h e nostrum wh ich will effect
t he lrag ic cu re f or t e sorcerer who will coax bac ~( over nigh t
the il luSive rite called Pro pe rit j Only t hree day s go
-eneva sent out t 11e Ile 8saPe t ~1at it s econ )) io COll1I1 i ttee can
agr e e on no sine-Ie cure-all for t he prevailing d ifficulties in
~ i ce co nm r ce and i ndus try Gove rnrrents a nd political
parties are tottering becau se t hey seem incapable of doing
or e t han orga niz ing nat io nel aIlc~ in terns t ional conferelces
creat ing conmi s 8ions and order ing surveys and invest i gat ions
in endless variety whose results seeI to be f e r the most part
illusory Captains of industry seem to have lost their skill
4
and t ile wi zardry with wh ich for two decades they have aTi-assed
lortuller in com-pariscn with which the wealth of 01010l or
Croesus are were ant h ills Ban]ers and fin EIlCiers confronted
wi t h t he st na t i e n of indus t ry 8nO co merce 8re pe rplexed
because tne irony of fate leaves them without a market for the
millions of dollars stored in their vaults e xcept for tne
OCC3 i onal 1 010caust on tne al tal of arunon t e stabilize some
le~d in_ worl d Dower Universlt y- f2c11ties scierlci~tE and
ph ilos op ere e_rryer te in re8earc f1 ork ltind surveys reve l no
way out of t ile labyrinth of eCO(lO r 1c 80ci21 ano t 0101 conshy
fusion into wh ic ~ they h ove helped not alittle to steer t h e
bullorld
In ti1e meant i rr e comJimnity c heste 80ci21 agencies
chari t ab1 2 organ izat i Ol1s and inst i tlt i f-llS Ere plannin~ a nd
s middot_ruggling a gainst de s perati o to raise tile fund nece ss ary
to relieve pypoundic a l soci al an -i moral misery in our homes end
to reHove t he evioe rices of de gradati cn from our streets and
t h orou ghf aree dur ing t he onco lr ing winter lhe world is
looking for leadersh i p and sigh i V for a p ro_ het ho lay
forecast a brighter era en divert t1l1m8nit y S cmlr~OJlj t he
IT iry jLu ~ elE of co(mu nism a d r a ical eociali sbull
Truly may e cry out with C-t John t h e Bapt ist There hath
stoo( one in t~e lli i6st of you whom you kno not - For nearly
a decade 01 years a9Iophet whose heart has been rac lced b y the
5
eestlessnese ami gravitatirlb trenrj of t he religiouE moral
anc soc ial I ife of the ~rorl ana whooe unerring unobscured
vi8i~n has been concentrated upon the t h ing s that Bre for t h e
peace of hUr anity has raised h is p r oph e t ic voice in sea on a na
out oi seas on in allocutions and writin r-r s ithout um er even
se Hd ing his mesea e to the end s of t h e eart by t le electrified
va ves of the a ir to warn ~ is ch ildren against t he mena c i g
portents o the ti e s and to call UDon the nations to r a lly to
the --= e f e lEe of t be very f oundations of c rieti an civill~ ation
~ ore 1ceenly than 811 ot~lers t il is prophet re c lizes t hat our
econo ic o reakda wn is a sy p ton rat her t ha t h e 6 i E ease The
u i ver s 1U80rder nes its root 8 in treason to Go and in t h e
f lout inc a t cnrist ian p rinc i ples o j D oral i ty in oontenpt for
socia l jUftice a lld c -1Clri t y i n eva rice 8middotel f isn ness a d lust
-- a ll tlle u f ly t e nt ie l e s of t e c ancer 0 g ross Iat er i a l i ~m
which holds t h e nations in ite rip
lirOI(j his lo f ty wat chtower flung h i gh upon t Ile impre gnable
Rock of Fet e r this holy se er se nds f ort h t h e r ally i nq cry
T_ e peace of Ch rist i the r e i g n of Christ ll bull Tth t h e su reness
o t e explie nced d i ag o s t icia1 W lose f i ngers a ve pl ay ed upon
the pul s e of hutlanity for nearly two t l1 0118 2nd years he diecerns
t e illala dy an p rescribes t te reme ciy - Pr yer Bec r i f ice and
a ct i on - 3t hmiddot lie Act ien - tnrou o-h t h e a1lc l icat ion of
c nrist ian prinelulee to all t ~e proble~ s o f li ~ e The world
maybe indis ~osed to accept his leadership beca~ Be he carries
shyo
not t oe sy b oIs of materi~liE~ on his scutcheon it may not
reec 1~0 to hi s rallyin~ cry because it i e ill p repared for
L h spiritual ideals but it it woul d Ieturn to st b ility
or(er and peace it must accept the recipe -Prayer sacrifice
and C thalic Acticn t h loug-h t ne application of CllIistian
principles to the problerr e of life ll prescribe i by t e Vic a r of
Jrist ~loriously r e i zr i ng over t ne Church of God t he Father
So extensive are t ne ramifications of Cat holic Action
W i cn a ct ually touch es and i nf lue ces every domain of hU~Bn
life anci its ani f ol d relations that a n exhaustive developlent
of its sc op e would be an i ff position uyon your tilli8 a nd patience
But since you hElve dedicated t h is ma _11i f icent demcnstrat ion to
Catholic Action you are entitled to know at least its rrajor
ai rrs as vi 8~ alize b y the Holy Fat ~er
Address ing t h e Int erna t ional Catho lic 0(1 en IS Leagll e in
Ro me t~o years ag o the Supreme Fontiff said Ce1thelic Action
as Fe Wi8~1 it 210 88 we heve frequently charccterized it is the
partiCIpation of the laity in the hierarcnical aposto l ate for
t r~l e deiels e c reli 2 ic u 8 and rnOT21 princirles for t l1 e development
of a 80un~ and ho leBo ~e social acticn under t j e ~uidance of the
h ierarc_y funct io n i ng out s ide and above all -poll tical -98rt ies
7
Be it e mphasized that Cgtholic Acticn is an invitation and
a 8UIlOns isslled to tte c8t101iC lElity to pcrticiprte in the
ayos tolic ministry of the hierarchy It ie an extensi on of
the sacard tampl office in the broad eenee in h ich t Peter
addresses t he l~ity as amp chosen generati2n a ~ingly priesthood
ilOly nati c n (I Petro -2 ) Th Holy Father exlains thi8
exalted co cept ~nOIe sDeci ically wren he deEcribes this lay
apostolate lias a ay and a leans which has come into being
throu~h t h e dispensati of divine ~race to the end tha t the
Ch ~ rch may call and in Dce those to follol the teachinf and the
law of t n e Gospel o might ot~er vrie e t h rough lack of priestly
inIlue ce fe] l a p rey to t ll e isrepreeent s t i one and de 8trllcti ve
efforts of disturoing a 1tators (Acta 1 8 28-38( )
Tru~ to its nartle a tholic Acti r n is charGcterize5 by its
universality 8U waning catholics of every station in life to
share ifl teiE g enuirle apoetolate a nd offerimr a bOLm less
liel t to the ze a l of t belaity for it i B way and a means
of which t h e hurch aV6ils itself to bring to the nations
~less ings of every kind (Acta 1~28-385) It is a masse d
forward movement of the ent ire catholic body hierarchy clergy
cn laity in t n e ir proper coordinat ion t c ir~ p iritall
human life a n its cO II~lex relationshipe wit1 tne Eo1l the
pO er the unction and t~e rule of Ohrists doctrlile and
8
Defend Religious and oral PrilCiples
The defense of the nation its constitution and interests
is tile first duty of a Jhysical army So the first function
of Catholic Action is the defenee 0f the princiles of religion
ane norali ty i h ich Christ pro lul gat ed and sealed with His
de~th ~ h o will deny the necessity of such a defense in the face
of skeptici m agnosticism irreligion and downri~ht atheism
which are sweeping like a tidal wave over the eart h At least
one government has declered an inferrlal warfare upon all reli gion
defying God s wrath with its unspeakable blasphe~ ies threatening
to tear to shreds every vestige of reli gious belief still
lingering in the heartE of ite enslaved su bjectE and forb idding
mothers to lisp the name of God or Christ to the children at
their knees The atheistic propaganda of Communism h s its
resources rophets and high priest s scattered thouhout Europe
and Ame rica sO~i i ng- the se6ds of e materialis far ro s ser and
more destructive than the capitalistic system which it aims to
supplant The divorce of reli CT ion from education in tne public
schools of OUT ovn country co r) lefented by t he undisguised anti shy
relig ious attitude of secular colleges and universities is
~orkin~ out logically in a descend i n_ course indicating a
di~inishinry reli g ious grasp in each succeeding eneration
indifference s kepticis iI-religion at he ism
vel chri stian churche s are speeding uo t he ~Jrocess of
dechr ist iani zat ion by re-5uc ing to mere s~eletons and shadows
9
their traditional beliefs by weakening or abro gating all
d iEc i ~)l ille and by adapt ing the ir moral code to the popular
whi m of t h e age That wonder that forty t housand non-cat Olic
churches are reported closed with their pulpits as silent a 8
t~e tombstones in t h e adjacent cerfeteries at wonder that a
leadin5 minister of a denomination wllOse statistician reported
ten thousa Eo churches wi t fJout a si ngle baptisJ1 last year
charg ed eli s chur ch v i t h s piritual suicide fI and sp i ritual
b irtb control Perhpas t here is h ere a relation ship between
the p hysic a l and t he spiritual order
As for the weakening of morality t here is no need of
nauseating t h is auoience 1i ith the u gly tale of viDlence -fl ~~ooo
crue a middotd l rrmoralltyen wncn t h e d~lly press p resents ln ~ jj-LH~~7 ~tW- -IW ~~ch~~~ NcI ~~ te ~25
ulllntelrupted serlals The lcker sh am Repor~na8 confirmed
t he nQst invinc ible sket ics of the enormous extent of lawlessness
in our land But it may be i mportant to cite expert testimony
imiddotor t h e fact t hat irrel i g ion and cr i rre are int i mately rela t ed
On June 15th Dr Brandl Folice Presi de nt of Vienna a id inter-oh
nat io nal aut h~i t T on c r i mi nolos y addressi ng t he Int er nat ional
Conlt ree of Reli ioll s PSYChOlOy 11 Vienna ma de t h is si p-nificant
state ent about juvenile crLTinele It is to be noted that
t heir attitude toward reli~ion definitely fixes t he deg ree of
t~ eir criminalit y If they have lost t he ir relig ion t hey a re
uore prone to COl ~it crime t an t hos e who ha ve p reserved some
reI i g i on In t he case of g rave CT i me s it i s founei almost
invariably t hat t e offe ers reli g ious feeli ng i~ either
wholly lost or strongly diTdnisned (Oath UeliS June 27 31)
America may well take heedl JMLdeg1~~~ 4-Ugt ~~
10
lhese conCiitions explain in part why t he TToly Fat~er setpound forth as
t be f irst s~)eciiic ai IT of Catholic Action IIt l~e defense of relig ious
and moral princi-oleE II Tne Catholic Church alone stand)firm a nd
i mrnOiralIe above t he ri s il2 t ide of reI i g ious unre st a nd amidst
t h e del~ge of moral decadence and corruption She not only
ga t ers her cnildren to her 8h e1 t e r ing prot ect ion but in
Oatholic Action s ~ e bids the~ to consecrate t~eir gifts of
tongJe and pen especially t he persuasive pOrer of a conei s tent
cat ~olic life to promul gate defeId and de r1onstrate to the
un-oel ievine loose living oft en 1 icent iOUE worldl ing s that
the Go s pel and the Decalogue contain t l e rule oi life w ich
alone g ives dignity to hu man existence and peace to restless
heFrt s
Sound Wn olesore Social Altion
-uch ot t he disorder and ttisery from wh ich hluanity is suffering
today ariseE from unsound p rinciples and theories regarding the
social order unde r wh ich men live Therefore the Hol y Fa t h er has
not only ma de the develo pment of a sound nd who lesome 80cial
action one of t~1e chief airllS of CRtholic Action but in his
recent encyclical entitled 1170rty Years After he has g iven to
the orld t 1e prinCip les End methods according to wh ich the social
order should be constitu ted and reconstructed
A fundamenta_ weakness in the efforts Dut forth to adjust
the present econorrdc and social dislocat ion is the drea m that
the old order is ri ght and sound and that nothing is lac~ing
b ut confi~ence to set the machinery of industry and com~erce in
11
--~~~~~~J Iqal
t1ot ion Geneva t ellSUS dat II psychol og ical U~ctor8 dOjlinate
the econoIr ic crieis t h rou hout t he worl d ( Sept 2AP World
~erampl~ ) Fs yct ology is play1n - its 9srt in the trag ic drama
0 worl d depression but a sk t h e man w o walk s t he streets
in searc_ of 2 j o-b or t h e fat her oo e ch il iren cry for
b read a d t 1ere is none to break to t hem or the far r er~~(L~
WhOE8 cred itors have dis iJossessed h bl o ecclUse tie failed to
(Leet hi S otliga t ions hether p eyc _ olog- ical facto~s dotl inated J--c~lt1J k~~~1-~ ~PL ~AL-~I t h eir inc ivLua l c1i8i8 The social strl ct lJ re and mac h inery
needs ~ore t~aG B p sycho log ical up turn or a superfic i al
repair job it needs a n ew pn ilosoph ic outlook a nd a t horough
reco nstru ction accord ing to the prinCiples cont a ined in or
log ically deduced from t ) e te a chings ot O111i st The r SJulation
of t he responsib ilities a rising from t he possession of p roperty
a nd weBl t ~~ t h e ordering of t he lllutual relat i m s1ips du t ies QA~4q~
and burden~ between t he state and its citizens between capit al
and lab or between t he e~ployer a nd t ~ e e p loyees between one
rank of huma n society a nd t h e ot il er fair c omp ensatioTl a mi the
e qu it a b le d i stri c_ti on of t he joint fruits of iIlvest iIent brains
and bran i r indust ry a gric11 l t ure a dd commerce are all vital
issues Libera l i and cap italism have met therr in t he spirit
of e zrat er ial ist ic philosoph y 821fi sl1ne ss anr avarice t lle
p resent e on Jic debacl e is t ile resu lt If we ould escas e ~
-~he ROPet cOllseque21ces of aei Z I of 80ci a1is and c o municom
vhose advocates are lJot ent i a1ly in our very midst then
gover l ents i imm cial inoustrial and c ommercial l eaders toshy
g etl e r it h t h e sooel advis e rs of t he l abo r i ng clrusep must
adoDt t he safe 6 i1t_ sounel Lidc le course mapp ed ou t by the
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
St To epb 4
0 bla t beyond t e lot of mort 1 men
O er ho e la t dyin gb
Christ an t e V1r c- n- otber tched erene
Soothi n hia a onyl ( I ta quem laett)
TH01 I TY OF BOR
r Ho l y Fat er Po e Pius Xl a ded i cated the arah
intent i on of t 16 ostle 1 of PTayer to St Jaseh P tron
and odel a or-e 0 f itt in in these dal en the ~ rum ler accunati n~ re l ooked u)on it d i dain en
e ven more d i i fied ta k are re arded as un ortby drudmiddoterie s
I t i true indeed t t toil oon e uenae of t~o 1 a our
Ir t r ent - t Cur i tle c rth in t y ork it 1 roUX
an toi 1 t e y 0 t 1i_1) II (9)
But i t i eauall t re i i ni r inne nt in 1 botr
Ihi h it honon e nioe nd 0 B ses
a Tf 11 ioh makeamp it profit ble not only for ti b t en
or t r nity Th ~ l abou of the r i ~hteou t nde to life (1 0 )
Our d i vine Saviou e p i ed not Is our toil H ol-to e
orkman t o be t e ofIi 0 bl~E ed ot ~er y aI
c roenter to 16 i a foster- f t her n mast r l i e 0 n
hands ere trai od to the se of hammer a en He
se ect d nostles He au t chie ly 0 t e or i ng lt
o asse bull ~e desi ed t o aka i m re~ive th Ie ons about
t he Ki n darn of e ven H clothed them i n paxable dra from
t he occupat i ons of t e husband J t~e ardener the cul t i vat i ar
of t~e vine t e bop rd t h ser va ts of the ousehold he n
He au l d demo strate is corn ssio i t i ~u fe
in t he fo r of an
St Joseph 5
i nv i taticn to 11 that labo I are burdened to come and be
refr e hed by Him
I n bull Jo ph ne a m l d reco lt i on nd xaltat i on
f 1 bour The ost Hol y f r i nity sin e out t l-t i numb e and
obscure mechanic t be orne in a mo t extraordin 1y and int i mat e
annel a oci ted it t e most sublime y texie of t e
Incar ation d t e nedemptlon T e ternal F thar entrusts
to st Jo ph i 0 prer atives over i a beloved Son and
cor i a to 1m the ut y o ~ )rovid i n orne ustena c d
clotmiddot In or rOf ada an e as t ere aet for uman effort
ore blim nd insp1xin tas r The oly p i t of od t 1 e
I tern 1 e 0 tho ev r Ie ced Vir Di 1 ary inducts St
Jo e1M in 0 th i ner 0 t Becr to t e nc rnation 1 en-
t 11 t i El 0 S - b 1 it o an t 1e 0 i s
nroteotlon 0 e ix n at e before d d aft ~ the
ti 1 Y 0 t e v our see ntr ted to mortal
n olier an a more 00 ldenti_l p tiei tio i n t
m~ ~e 1e a Go~ he Son of rin n t he ilesh
paces i huan elf e i l i citly i t o the hands an keepi ng
of thi ru rrod ca e tel be t o u un him ls childi ove
and subri t in a hu il l y to 1 ut 0 1 1ty And nt
do i t h the and caDle to Tazaretl an a bj ct to t e (1 )
hen d i d He a hold the un i erae in t e 0110 of Hi
acoord eater 0 er or er onor to hu an bein
Such 1 the exaltati on or human labour aa illust r ated in
the car eer of at Josep an emIt t n in h ich every ollrer
has a 9 ~e nd fro i c h ev ry to i ler sho ld gat er ins 1rashy
tion d encour e nt Ho u 01 toil i s ever conte t i bIa
St J eph 6
i n t h eyes of ad even thou h tle arId ith iBt ur ted
~i 9 ion nd vain conc i pt y deepmiddotse the bro t h t 1s ended
ith t he er ep i r tio of hu ble toll and r ejeot the hand th t
h rd abour a c loused 1d rc che out of hape In St
Joaep1 e ve roo t r t Go set t e h i e t value mon
11 n or k an hoI s in onour t he Bon of toi ho folIo
t he ex~ I e of th i s
ODiL 0
1 or ~ Y 1c d 81 t 0 t 1 e ar t re u tl
r orifio d i of t fou d ver ir - orne to m n llnt l re
Ho c n it b otherrlso s ilce t e e te oe JronOllnce by d
J
in i 0 ov r over 301 en fO l all ti e- In t
0 t Y h t t hou br t ill tho r et rn o t l1 arth
( ) out f c t u t II h n h 19 ~ e
v i i n oJ fait or ri- in I e1 ion at t e just de crees
of 10 or i veloped in the dark ni ht of dee air t han the
eent nc ecomas dOlbly epre si d t yo r of l abour
crushi ng bea nes about our hOuldWi)s va e not
a ll en oh forelor eoul o t hrough i f i thout I i ht n
t l t hout hop in t hc lr he rt it vut a 1 e upon
eir i~ no 0 bitt r i t eir I a n 1 e en they
ive ~xpressio t o the ullan t hou ht hleh a it te t eir
mi nd
And huve e not on the ot er an sft en ~oo ed i to the
t he oabin nd tene e tot e poor onl y to vel ho mi d t
Burroun -in so e t itute of creat re co or t t ere oan e~ i t
pe ce ~ nd h0 1e and love Th day a r e i nd ed ero ded i t h ta il
St J os ph 7
and ere and t e nl ht are be ed by eary v i ils nd
the tel co ark don i all too t o me t the
demo ds of exi tence and t e re oneibi i t i e for t e f mi l y
and t 16 hOJ e t t ere 1 my t~r ous so ethin i n the
a t osphere 0 such h me hi en m es th n s di fferent If ou ~~~~~~~~~ ~ i i soern by it di~ I i ht ovef yon er on t e all
pri tot e of azare t T ere i ary at er p indle
clo i t ay b or t t se les m nt ov r
hi en t e 01 1ers ca t lot f ot of t he Cro e on t e
Hi of 0 vary I n t he forefround i 9 the BI- J esus ork in
i t r cYl and er and cbisel op h t B e to be a
cro 0 is it the 11 for t e door i cn JOB )h i co shy
StXl10t i on h1s ark b ch Ove --s lado in t e 8C n 1 the
fi lre of trc 0 bo y rave a co oe
h l y B r a I ht t t of co t ntm nt anJ hu_
layin ab(ut 1 l i p that i di e te love joy in
h i t k 0 me y ho D hav been brl uc a r
mind r a the oorreot attit de to or l a ex m lified n t1e
Carpenter of t
St JOB h uted ao just Ju tice ere at
for ri _ht eouene or t a t ense ble of ern tu al virtue and
] ic~ is the I f ect 01 anatlfyin ce hereby
he I J 1 i renderod lea in to o e i ce this eneral
char ct rization e discerr in t e can at of St Jo eph oer tain
outstandi n irt GS ic d hi part i c larly t he ode 1
of or e r s
St Joseph 8
Falt~ in ad nd contdent e b lsal n to is ecr a a t a ll
time X the under1yin oharacte r ist i os of hi life Le t i t be
t he co and 0 ten el of God to acc t ary a hi pause
(1 2 ) 0 t he 110 in 1 and hiB del ic te
ou e to et hleh 0 t he order i B ad i n the dead sil nee
0 ni t to lit th t C1ild nd hi other d f ly~e
into y t (14) or t e ne e t t i n 0 t he 111 0 God to
a r i d tmiddot 0 the C il nd h i ot er 0 into t he land -L
oI Inrael ( ~ ) th r i never r nor oytent e bas i shy
t tion nor ex 1e ei on 0 l et bo t t he d ff ianltyI
r th task _od h ad kno DI y ill it i i e i t
c on I denoe r1 a l cr 1 0 bo t h middotty l he e
e t s I a incd the so i ou of D l d JTl i d s t
h uncertaint i e of i d 11y toil s -et nin t e yo e nd
I i ni n t he bu dar i the 10 e 00 i on i of Jon
nd alY
nd a t mo e I or f i d 11 ty I 0 e f i nd in thi lent
son of toil - ali es t the do e ic i et h d
i th lnrtu tr l ou at o here 01 t 0 ork hop lI i e l lt y to
Iry t1h i G espoused 1f ) i n her v rrin ity 1n h r motherhood
i n the ha y y9 r OI peaoeful family 11 e 1 eI ty t o J au i nf boy d yout hom h nd or hi ed a 1 o
Y t ho it h1e privil to oarreas to su~port t o 1nshy
st~lct aye even to cornman n to t r a i n into a oar pente r
even Ii ~ unto imsel i deli ty t o t he heavenl y tru t I c orrJllUnshy
icat ed to h i re by ne n e1 of od t o ot nd a ar d i nn over the
august my t eries of the I nca r natio d t he R dempt i on h ich
affe ct so profoundl y the i nterests of humani ty i n t i Ile and in
St Joseph 9
e t r ni ty IF i t lul n i e te ard o I hi lor t et
over his fam i ly to ive the their r of -at i n v e
s ea on II (16 ) oh i Jo e th on o~ avid t x ~Xoent er
of zaret
nd may e ot lc middotd into i lfe me re ae it i i it
ol~ l in t t be~ut iful ality 0 Jat i ence t~ t nee ary
nt 0 a euienee n f el i ty lch a ~et B or fi ce
all txi I bear blo An bo ill qu~Bti on he
enct l fic t i on 0 o e h I e life it it labours it cri shy
te orlO 9 by su-oe r bund nt lov of 0 h ob
vi ra ed i n hi 1 ht COU8 Boul ad JeB ary i s i an
h i hi olkqhop an t az 2ac place
i n 1 de rece e of hie bert r c in t r
i px hl~ ife n inj at Cal rend oy into a )irit
fter all ~ t ia 10 e ieh from la our
th t ick ri 1 i ft the irkeo I erie
U 1 t ~ne u lt ~ t a ell - Ubi ~tul non laborat t i
1 boratur 1 bor amatur shy
o TO JO
n so middot hr i etian Soul you t t tau in the iQst 0 the
eet in h ll sin turmoil of mod r lif P Re
t t i rres to aze upon tht t pi ctlre on t c b i n 11 10
portrays the industrio e yet eaceful Jo p i n i8 0_ h i p
t Nazare t Study every fa t t anctua y 0 do st ic
pe 0 nd in 1 t r it it can acr ted service r dered a
modes 1 0 lently yet 0 0 oelfully n so erfeotly
You r orks~op may be t he f aotory or the mi ll i h it ner ve
raok lyt h of ponder ou c i nelYi i t may b perc e i n the
st Joseph 10
dizzy he i hts of teat e1 k l e t o of the ne eat r i v 1 of the
to ex 0 Babe+ it may be 1 00 ted do i n t dan~ tlflin
cavern of Borne le hundred of feet bane th the surfaoe of
t earth or it may b b~h~nd - count r 1_ 1 nt 10 e t shy
ment tore or it ln -ir ed enol ur of tel te t Ii of
ome b noo1)or tio or in th exeontlve d - rtrnent or p i va t e
ofIice of i ant industry e profe ion nd occuoation
a rc e ion herel)y the desoendant of A m an va ar e
or]middotin out the universal e te 0 it labour nd toil ~ol t
hou e t ~~ t earth all the day of t~y l ifo (9 ) 011 111
l a our in vain an your toil ill i h 0 your i r t
even it ds out t h tl au of y TIl body f il t o
ap 1y t e p 11080 y of he C rpenter of
omiddott 1 )l y t at ~110 inju ~ice to ~
o ph Y u to You v ri 10 you 0 n ~~~
T i-all the I fu a or er17 e n at your co and y
di- i n deoree 1 are 01 ced under t e obli~ tion of toil
but th re is no d cr ee hioh conmele t he orleer to su it
to i nju t i ce or anel eve nt T 1 bour r i orthy of Il l
h i re ( 9 ) 1 t e div ine way of e re in tle 1i t to ju 4
co en tion n fair oondition of labour eit e1 ~ r l t
nor th h r c advocates or countenano ~e degradation a part
of the l ot OI ~an Bu even der ideal C0n ition t ere come
orne te of earinee a d de resei n loments he lh motives
f de out d Ie ve tie e irit of t or er de 01 te o It i
then tb t you need t picture of t Joseph P- t ron nd odel
of or ere to buoy you u bull
st 08e h 11
Learn then f 0 St Joemiddot to labour ith fa i t in ad nd
itb an humble iv sprit It i 0 k ick a inst
the 00 1(17) ill only ti t ore or tie
obst i n ey elin to thy ta k f i del i ty e en thou h t
t i iJ 8 the y be bitter ea on thy labour it love ot ify
thtgtm y nion itb 1od ke the rofit hI for etal 1ty by
oon8oratln leI t o 1 Flory II do 1 for t e lory 0 bull Gee I
(18) uoh discorrte t oule v li su fro the h nrt of m n -n
p a ce ou t elr ouJ coul t ey ut tt ~r
t ei r l i ve f er t t of t e 1 t 0 t 1e Rtxiarc B t
o )h ~n of av i d
Ther e t ron d in 0 r let hi 10 in a1
ith farvent 1 o ~
in u r 0 in our ed
And p aoe fo r ever more I bull
I t qu aetl
o
( ) Jo r 1 - 9 (a) Titus 2 1 3 (3) nti hon - uri loat i oq
(4 ) att 1 - 1 6 (5) V k 11 - 4 - (6) ltl tt 1 - I n middot (7 ) att XlII shy
55 (8 ) - 3 (9) en 111 - 17 (IO) xov ( 11 )I
Ln 11 - 5 (1 2) middotn 11 - _9 (U3) tt 1- - 24 middot (14 ) a t t 11shy
1 3 (If) att 1- ao ( 6 ) Luke nl - 4a j (17 ) Ao t a lX - 5
( 8 ) 1 Cor X - 31 (I e ) Lu X - 7
-b~~~ --~~ 7~
THE AI S OF CATHOLIC ACTI ON
Holy ~ame ~en we hail you as the very salt of our
catholic manhood Representatives of every station in life
thoug you be your lory rests not upon the lLsterial social
or political prestige of which you lliay boast but rather upon
your sterling ca~holicity which makes brothers of you ell
in t h e COKmon bond of a sturdy fait h a conEietently clean
life and an enthusiastic zeal for the
iCingdo of Jesus Christ IVh ose Sacred
revere
It is a particular privilege to participate in your
most impressive demonstration tecause you make it a I
solemn act of worsh ip in which you render public honor
and praise to the Holy Name of Go d ho is so little
recof~lJ i zed in t he publ ic 1 ife of our day Reco Qn izin ~t
as too fe~ io that we Bre passi g through a period of
retribution fo r our enerations exceEsee and extravagances
in t ne moral and economic order you ere dedic~tin~ to God
an act of puolic reparat ion for the hurden ot sin uncer
which hlli Bn ity is staggering ith t h e consciouBne s s of
fait h wh ich direct s you to look to God I 8 love and lercy
rat her tn n to hUITan po~er and ingenuit y ior the allevi 8t ion
of the evile _hich are sadde ning t e hearts of men you are
hopefully sentHng to heaven a ni ghty prayer that humanity
Iay SOOD 100- into the dawn of a better dov But an act
of wors~ i p would be incomplete without t ~le element of
2
thanks g iving After all our very depre~sion is proof by
antithesis that Go 6 has blessed UB end blessed UP of
America beyond the other namptions of the earth ~aterially
I e must not forget thiE lest we add to
our unwort i1iness t i1e guilt of iilgratit lde You do well to
render tnsn s g iving on an occaeion svch as t h is fo r God IS
innmrerable blessins poured out so lavishly upon our
c lUrc h our countr y an i our institutions Among t -lese
blessi ngs you have singled ou t one for eID hasis today God
wh ich 1I1e hail with rej oicing - Thatl11iay be thanked so
rea ds your pro gr a m for the great blessing s that have come
to our diocese and to t1e Ohurc1 of t hese United States
through tl-e wise and beneficent leadership of our beloved
Bishop in tbe past decade of years - For years we hAve
adfiired a nd founl1 inspiraticn in t 1e amiable claracter
unt iri g zeal and inexhaust 11)le energy o f ~rOilI ost
Reverend and beloved Bis ~ op You of Oleveland are b lessed
indeed in t t e ~ ift of shch a leader As for the Church
in thee LJni ted States of A cerica if t ~ ie s tory of Oat holic
r~ction in t _1is country is ever wri t ten no name iVill etand
out i n bolder relief or more glorious s _ lendor t hampn that
of your high priest and father Bis hop JCEeph Sc hr-erubs
ith you we t hank the Lord a nd p ray ~OEt fervently that
Cleveland and me rica may b e neLi t by h is [enius ~is
guidance and his labors for many years to come
Seeking 8 Prophet
That God may free t he wDrld from the perils of
3
economic depression hatre tislmderstanding and false
philosophy tnat are menacin lJ our civilization and culture
Thu s you deLine the purpo pe of t hi s Cat hoI ic Act ier Demonst ration
In t is you betray t he t il ougl1 ts w~ich dominEte your ass embly
t10Ug_ltS which in fact no asse J- bly of [ren foregat hered tOrlay
in any part of t l1e world can suppress wi t rlOut some unnatural
restraint The evile are too universal too omnipresent too
deep-rooted too painf~ l to ad~it even t he pretence of i g oring
t h em
All t he world is not only thinking talking a nd writing
ab out t is t ing called econo~ic depressi on it is a lso
awai t i ng wit h canst ernst iO[1 what ilay yet oe f a11 our civil i za t ion
-any ho are not pessimists see the handwritinv
of dooll on the wall rrelplessly and well ni gh ho peleesly all
t he wor ld is casting a bout for t h e nostrum wh ich will effect
t he lrag ic cu re f or t e sorcerer who will coax bac ~( over nigh t
the il luSive rite called Pro pe rit j Only t hree day s go
-eneva sent out t 11e Ile 8saPe t ~1at it s econ )) io COll1I1 i ttee can
agr e e on no sine-Ie cure-all for t he prevailing d ifficulties in
~ i ce co nm r ce and i ndus try Gove rnrrents a nd political
parties are tottering becau se t hey seem incapable of doing
or e t han orga niz ing nat io nel aIlc~ in terns t ional conferelces
creat ing conmi s 8ions and order ing surveys and invest i gat ions
in endless variety whose results seeI to be f e r the most part
illusory Captains of industry seem to have lost their skill
4
and t ile wi zardry with wh ich for two decades they have aTi-assed
lortuller in com-pariscn with which the wealth of 01010l or
Croesus are were ant h ills Ban]ers and fin EIlCiers confronted
wi t h t he st na t i e n of indus t ry 8nO co merce 8re pe rplexed
because tne irony of fate leaves them without a market for the
millions of dollars stored in their vaults e xcept for tne
OCC3 i onal 1 010caust on tne al tal of arunon t e stabilize some
le~d in_ worl d Dower Universlt y- f2c11ties scierlci~tE and
ph ilos op ere e_rryer te in re8earc f1 ork ltind surveys reve l no
way out of t ile labyrinth of eCO(lO r 1c 80ci21 ano t 0101 conshy
fusion into wh ic ~ they h ove helped not alittle to steer t h e
bullorld
In ti1e meant i rr e comJimnity c heste 80ci21 agencies
chari t ab1 2 organ izat i Ol1s and inst i tlt i f-llS Ere plannin~ a nd
s middot_ruggling a gainst de s perati o to raise tile fund nece ss ary
to relieve pypoundic a l soci al an -i moral misery in our homes end
to reHove t he evioe rices of de gradati cn from our streets and
t h orou ghf aree dur ing t he onco lr ing winter lhe world is
looking for leadersh i p and sigh i V for a p ro_ het ho lay
forecast a brighter era en divert t1l1m8nit y S cmlr~OJlj t he
IT iry jLu ~ elE of co(mu nism a d r a ical eociali sbull
Truly may e cry out with C-t John t h e Bapt ist There hath
stoo( one in t~e lli i6st of you whom you kno not - For nearly
a decade 01 years a9Iophet whose heart has been rac lced b y the
5
eestlessnese ami gravitatirlb trenrj of t he religiouE moral
anc soc ial I ife of the ~rorl ana whooe unerring unobscured
vi8i~n has been concentrated upon the t h ing s that Bre for t h e
peace of hUr anity has raised h is p r oph e t ic voice in sea on a na
out oi seas on in allocutions and writin r-r s ithout um er even
se Hd ing his mesea e to the end s of t h e eart by t le electrified
va ves of the a ir to warn ~ is ch ildren against t he mena c i g
portents o the ti e s and to call UDon the nations to r a lly to
the --= e f e lEe of t be very f oundations of c rieti an civill~ ation
~ ore 1ceenly than 811 ot~lers t il is prophet re c lizes t hat our
econo ic o reakda wn is a sy p ton rat her t ha t h e 6 i E ease The
u i ver s 1U80rder nes its root 8 in treason to Go and in t h e
f lout inc a t cnrist ian p rinc i ples o j D oral i ty in oontenpt for
socia l jUftice a lld c -1Clri t y i n eva rice 8middotel f isn ness a d lust
-- a ll tlle u f ly t e nt ie l e s of t e c ancer 0 g ross Iat er i a l i ~m
which holds t h e nations in ite rip
lirOI(j his lo f ty wat chtower flung h i gh upon t Ile impre gnable
Rock of Fet e r this holy se er se nds f ort h t h e r ally i nq cry
T_ e peace of Ch rist i the r e i g n of Christ ll bull Tth t h e su reness
o t e explie nced d i ag o s t icia1 W lose f i ngers a ve pl ay ed upon
the pul s e of hutlanity for nearly two t l1 0118 2nd years he diecerns
t e illala dy an p rescribes t te reme ciy - Pr yer Bec r i f ice and
a ct i on - 3t hmiddot lie Act ien - tnrou o-h t h e a1lc l icat ion of
c nrist ian prinelulee to all t ~e proble~ s o f li ~ e The world
maybe indis ~osed to accept his leadership beca~ Be he carries
shyo
not t oe sy b oIs of materi~liE~ on his scutcheon it may not
reec 1~0 to hi s rallyin~ cry because it i e ill p repared for
L h spiritual ideals but it it woul d Ieturn to st b ility
or(er and peace it must accept the recipe -Prayer sacrifice
and C thalic Acticn t h loug-h t ne application of CllIistian
principles to the problerr e of life ll prescribe i by t e Vic a r of
Jrist ~loriously r e i zr i ng over t ne Church of God t he Father
So extensive are t ne ramifications of Cat holic Action
W i cn a ct ually touch es and i nf lue ces every domain of hU~Bn
life anci its ani f ol d relations that a n exhaustive developlent
of its sc op e would be an i ff position uyon your tilli8 a nd patience
But since you hElve dedicated t h is ma _11i f icent demcnstrat ion to
Catholic Action you are entitled to know at least its rrajor
ai rrs as vi 8~ alize b y the Holy Fat ~er
Address ing t h e Int erna t ional Catho lic 0(1 en IS Leagll e in
Ro me t~o years ag o the Supreme Fontiff said Ce1thelic Action
as Fe Wi8~1 it 210 88 we heve frequently charccterized it is the
partiCIpation of the laity in the hierarcnical aposto l ate for
t r~l e deiels e c reli 2 ic u 8 and rnOT21 princirles for t l1 e development
of a 80un~ and ho leBo ~e social acticn under t j e ~uidance of the
h ierarc_y funct io n i ng out s ide and above all -poll tical -98rt ies
7
Be it e mphasized that Cgtholic Acticn is an invitation and
a 8UIlOns isslled to tte c8t101iC lElity to pcrticiprte in the
ayos tolic ministry of the hierarchy It ie an extensi on of
the sacard tampl office in the broad eenee in h ich t Peter
addresses t he l~ity as amp chosen generati2n a ~ingly priesthood
ilOly nati c n (I Petro -2 ) Th Holy Father exlains thi8
exalted co cept ~nOIe sDeci ically wren he deEcribes this lay
apostolate lias a ay and a leans which has come into being
throu~h t h e dispensati of divine ~race to the end tha t the
Ch ~ rch may call and in Dce those to follol the teachinf and the
law of t n e Gospel o might ot~er vrie e t h rough lack of priestly
inIlue ce fe] l a p rey to t ll e isrepreeent s t i one and de 8trllcti ve
efforts of disturoing a 1tators (Acta 1 8 28-38( )
Tru~ to its nartle a tholic Acti r n is charGcterize5 by its
universality 8U waning catholics of every station in life to
share ifl teiE g enuirle apoetolate a nd offerimr a bOLm less
liel t to the ze a l of t belaity for it i B way and a means
of which t h e hurch aV6ils itself to bring to the nations
~less ings of every kind (Acta 1~28-385) It is a masse d
forward movement of the ent ire catholic body hierarchy clergy
cn laity in t n e ir proper coordinat ion t c ir~ p iritall
human life a n its cO II~lex relationshipe wit1 tne Eo1l the
pO er the unction and t~e rule of Ohrists doctrlile and
8
Defend Religious and oral PrilCiples
The defense of the nation its constitution and interests
is tile first duty of a Jhysical army So the first function
of Catholic Action is the defenee 0f the princiles of religion
ane norali ty i h ich Christ pro lul gat ed and sealed with His
de~th ~ h o will deny the necessity of such a defense in the face
of skeptici m agnosticism irreligion and downri~ht atheism
which are sweeping like a tidal wave over the eart h At least
one government has declered an inferrlal warfare upon all reli gion
defying God s wrath with its unspeakable blasphe~ ies threatening
to tear to shreds every vestige of reli gious belief still
lingering in the heartE of ite enslaved su bjectE and forb idding
mothers to lisp the name of God or Christ to the children at
their knees The atheistic propaganda of Communism h s its
resources rophets and high priest s scattered thouhout Europe
and Ame rica sO~i i ng- the se6ds of e materialis far ro s ser and
more destructive than the capitalistic system which it aims to
supplant The divorce of reli CT ion from education in tne public
schools of OUT ovn country co r) lefented by t he undisguised anti shy
relig ious attitude of secular colleges and universities is
~orkin~ out logically in a descend i n_ course indicating a
di~inishinry reli g ious grasp in each succeeding eneration
indifference s kepticis iI-religion at he ism
vel chri stian churche s are speeding uo t he ~Jrocess of
dechr ist iani zat ion by re-5uc ing to mere s~eletons and shadows
9
their traditional beliefs by weakening or abro gating all
d iEc i ~)l ille and by adapt ing the ir moral code to the popular
whi m of t h e age That wonder that forty t housand non-cat Olic
churches are reported closed with their pulpits as silent a 8
t~e tombstones in t h e adjacent cerfeteries at wonder that a
leadin5 minister of a denomination wllOse statistician reported
ten thousa Eo churches wi t fJout a si ngle baptisJ1 last year
charg ed eli s chur ch v i t h s piritual suicide fI and sp i ritual
b irtb control Perhpas t here is h ere a relation ship between
the p hysic a l and t he spiritual order
As for the weakening of morality t here is no need of
nauseating t h is auoience 1i ith the u gly tale of viDlence -fl ~~ooo
crue a middotd l rrmoralltyen wncn t h e d~lly press p resents ln ~ jj-LH~~7 ~tW- -IW ~~ch~~~ NcI ~~ te ~25
ulllntelrupted serlals The lcker sh am Repor~na8 confirmed
t he nQst invinc ible sket ics of the enormous extent of lawlessness
in our land But it may be i mportant to cite expert testimony
imiddotor t h e fact t hat irrel i g ion and cr i rre are int i mately rela t ed
On June 15th Dr Brandl Folice Presi de nt of Vienna a id inter-oh
nat io nal aut h~i t T on c r i mi nolos y addressi ng t he Int er nat ional
Conlt ree of Reli ioll s PSYChOlOy 11 Vienna ma de t h is si p-nificant
state ent about juvenile crLTinele It is to be noted that
t heir attitude toward reli~ion definitely fixes t he deg ree of
t~ eir criminalit y If they have lost t he ir relig ion t hey a re
uore prone to COl ~it crime t an t hos e who ha ve p reserved some
reI i g i on In t he case of g rave CT i me s it i s founei almost
invariably t hat t e offe ers reli g ious feeli ng i~ either
wholly lost or strongly diTdnisned (Oath UeliS June 27 31)
America may well take heedl JMLdeg1~~~ 4-Ugt ~~
10
lhese conCiitions explain in part why t he TToly Fat~er setpound forth as
t be f irst s~)eciiic ai IT of Catholic Action IIt l~e defense of relig ious
and moral princi-oleE II Tne Catholic Church alone stand)firm a nd
i mrnOiralIe above t he ri s il2 t ide of reI i g ious unre st a nd amidst
t h e del~ge of moral decadence and corruption She not only
ga t ers her cnildren to her 8h e1 t e r ing prot ect ion but in
Oatholic Action s ~ e bids the~ to consecrate t~eir gifts of
tongJe and pen especially t he persuasive pOrer of a conei s tent
cat ~olic life to promul gate defeId and de r1onstrate to the
un-oel ievine loose living oft en 1 icent iOUE worldl ing s that
the Go s pel and the Decalogue contain t l e rule oi life w ich
alone g ives dignity to hu man existence and peace to restless
heFrt s
Sound Wn olesore Social Altion
-uch ot t he disorder and ttisery from wh ich hluanity is suffering
today ariseE from unsound p rinciples and theories regarding the
social order unde r wh ich men live Therefore the Hol y Fa t h er has
not only ma de the develo pment of a sound nd who lesome 80cial
action one of t~1e chief airllS of CRtholic Action but in his
recent encyclical entitled 1170rty Years After he has g iven to
the orld t 1e prinCip les End methods according to wh ich the social
order should be constitu ted and reconstructed
A fundamenta_ weakness in the efforts Dut forth to adjust
the present econorrdc and social dislocat ion is the drea m that
the old order is ri ght and sound and that nothing is lac~ing
b ut confi~ence to set the machinery of industry and com~erce in
11
--~~~~~~J Iqal
t1ot ion Geneva t ellSUS dat II psychol og ical U~ctor8 dOjlinate
the econoIr ic crieis t h rou hout t he worl d ( Sept 2AP World
~erampl~ ) Fs yct ology is play1n - its 9srt in the trag ic drama
0 worl d depression but a sk t h e man w o walk s t he streets
in searc_ of 2 j o-b or t h e fat her oo e ch il iren cry for
b read a d t 1ere is none to break to t hem or the far r er~~(L~
WhOE8 cred itors have dis iJossessed h bl o ecclUse tie failed to
(Leet hi S otliga t ions hether p eyc _ olog- ical facto~s dotl inated J--c~lt1J k~~~1-~ ~PL ~AL-~I t h eir inc ivLua l c1i8i8 The social strl ct lJ re and mac h inery
needs ~ore t~aG B p sycho log ical up turn or a superfic i al
repair job it needs a n ew pn ilosoph ic outlook a nd a t horough
reco nstru ction accord ing to the prinCiples cont a ined in or
log ically deduced from t ) e te a chings ot O111i st The r SJulation
of t he responsib ilities a rising from t he possession of p roperty
a nd weBl t ~~ t h e ordering of t he lllutual relat i m s1ips du t ies QA~4q~
and burden~ between t he state and its citizens between capit al
and lab or between t he e~ployer a nd t ~ e e p loyees between one
rank of huma n society a nd t h e ot il er fair c omp ensatioTl a mi the
e qu it a b le d i stri c_ti on of t he joint fruits of iIlvest iIent brains
and bran i r indust ry a gric11 l t ure a dd commerce are all vital
issues Libera l i and cap italism have met therr in t he spirit
of e zrat er ial ist ic philosoph y 821fi sl1ne ss anr avarice t lle
p resent e on Jic debacl e is t ile resu lt If we ould escas e ~
-~he ROPet cOllseque21ces of aei Z I of 80ci a1is and c o municom
vhose advocates are lJot ent i a1ly in our very midst then
gover l ents i imm cial inoustrial and c ommercial l eaders toshy
g etl e r it h t h e sooel advis e rs of t he l abo r i ng clrusep must
adoDt t he safe 6 i1t_ sounel Lidc le course mapp ed ou t by the
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
St Joseph 5
i nv i taticn to 11 that labo I are burdened to come and be
refr e hed by Him
I n bull Jo ph ne a m l d reco lt i on nd xaltat i on
f 1 bour The ost Hol y f r i nity sin e out t l-t i numb e and
obscure mechanic t be orne in a mo t extraordin 1y and int i mat e
annel a oci ted it t e most sublime y texie of t e
Incar ation d t e nedemptlon T e ternal F thar entrusts
to st Jo ph i 0 prer atives over i a beloved Son and
cor i a to 1m the ut y o ~ )rovid i n orne ustena c d
clotmiddot In or rOf ada an e as t ere aet for uman effort
ore blim nd insp1xin tas r The oly p i t of od t 1 e
I tern 1 e 0 tho ev r Ie ced Vir Di 1 ary inducts St
Jo e1M in 0 th i ner 0 t Becr to t e nc rnation 1 en-
t 11 t i El 0 S - b 1 it o an t 1e 0 i s
nroteotlon 0 e ix n at e before d d aft ~ the
ti 1 Y 0 t e v our see ntr ted to mortal
n olier an a more 00 ldenti_l p tiei tio i n t
m~ ~e 1e a Go~ he Son of rin n t he ilesh
paces i huan elf e i l i citly i t o the hands an keepi ng
of thi ru rrod ca e tel be t o u un him ls childi ove
and subri t in a hu il l y to 1 ut 0 1 1ty And nt
do i t h the and caDle to Tazaretl an a bj ct to t e (1 )
hen d i d He a hold the un i erae in t e 0110 of Hi
acoord eater 0 er or er onor to hu an bein
Such 1 the exaltati on or human labour aa illust r ated in
the car eer of at Josep an emIt t n in h ich every ollrer
has a 9 ~e nd fro i c h ev ry to i ler sho ld gat er ins 1rashy
tion d encour e nt Ho u 01 toil i s ever conte t i bIa
St J eph 6
i n t h eyes of ad even thou h tle arId ith iBt ur ted
~i 9 ion nd vain conc i pt y deepmiddotse the bro t h t 1s ended
ith t he er ep i r tio of hu ble toll and r ejeot the hand th t
h rd abour a c loused 1d rc che out of hape In St
Joaep1 e ve roo t r t Go set t e h i e t value mon
11 n or k an hoI s in onour t he Bon of toi ho folIo
t he ex~ I e of th i s
ODiL 0
1 or ~ Y 1c d 81 t 0 t 1 e ar t re u tl
r orifio d i of t fou d ver ir - orne to m n llnt l re
Ho c n it b otherrlso s ilce t e e te oe JronOllnce by d
J
in i 0 ov r over 301 en fO l all ti e- In t
0 t Y h t t hou br t ill tho r et rn o t l1 arth
( ) out f c t u t II h n h 19 ~ e
v i i n oJ fait or ri- in I e1 ion at t e just de crees
of 10 or i veloped in the dark ni ht of dee air t han the
eent nc ecomas dOlbly epre si d t yo r of l abour
crushi ng bea nes about our hOuldWi)s va e not
a ll en oh forelor eoul o t hrough i f i thout I i ht n
t l t hout hop in t hc lr he rt it vut a 1 e upon
eir i~ no 0 bitt r i t eir I a n 1 e en they
ive ~xpressio t o the ullan t hou ht hleh a it te t eir
mi nd
And huve e not on the ot er an sft en ~oo ed i to the
t he oabin nd tene e tot e poor onl y to vel ho mi d t
Burroun -in so e t itute of creat re co or t t ere oan e~ i t
pe ce ~ nd h0 1e and love Th day a r e i nd ed ero ded i t h ta il
St J os ph 7
and ere and t e nl ht are be ed by eary v i ils nd
the tel co ark don i all too t o me t the
demo ds of exi tence and t e re oneibi i t i e for t e f mi l y
and t 16 hOJ e t t ere 1 my t~r ous so ethin i n the
a t osphere 0 such h me hi en m es th n s di fferent If ou ~~~~~~~~~ ~ i i soern by it di~ I i ht ovef yon er on t e all
pri tot e of azare t T ere i ary at er p indle
clo i t ay b or t t se les m nt ov r
hi en t e 01 1ers ca t lot f ot of t he Cro e on t e
Hi of 0 vary I n t he forefround i 9 the BI- J esus ork in
i t r cYl and er and cbisel op h t B e to be a
cro 0 is it the 11 for t e door i cn JOB )h i co shy
StXl10t i on h1s ark b ch Ove --s lado in t e 8C n 1 the
fi lre of trc 0 bo y rave a co oe
h l y B r a I ht t t of co t ntm nt anJ hu_
layin ab(ut 1 l i p that i di e te love joy in
h i t k 0 me y ho D hav been brl uc a r
mind r a the oorreot attit de to or l a ex m lified n t1e
Carpenter of t
St JOB h uted ao just Ju tice ere at
for ri _ht eouene or t a t ense ble of ern tu al virtue and
] ic~ is the I f ect 01 anatlfyin ce hereby
he I J 1 i renderod lea in to o e i ce this eneral
char ct rization e discerr in t e can at of St Jo eph oer tain
outstandi n irt GS ic d hi part i c larly t he ode 1
of or e r s
St Joseph 8
Falt~ in ad nd contdent e b lsal n to is ecr a a t a ll
time X the under1yin oharacte r ist i os of hi life Le t i t be
t he co and 0 ten el of God to acc t ary a hi pause
(1 2 ) 0 t he 110 in 1 and hiB del ic te
ou e to et hleh 0 t he order i B ad i n the dead sil nee
0 ni t to lit th t C1ild nd hi other d f ly~e
into y t (14) or t e ne e t t i n 0 t he 111 0 God to
a r i d tmiddot 0 the C il nd h i ot er 0 into t he land -L
oI Inrael ( ~ ) th r i never r nor oytent e bas i shy
t tion nor ex 1e ei on 0 l et bo t t he d ff ianltyI
r th task _od h ad kno DI y ill it i i e i t
c on I denoe r1 a l cr 1 0 bo t h middotty l he e
e t s I a incd the so i ou of D l d JTl i d s t
h uncertaint i e of i d 11y toil s -et nin t e yo e nd
I i ni n t he bu dar i the 10 e 00 i on i of Jon
nd alY
nd a t mo e I or f i d 11 ty I 0 e f i nd in thi lent
son of toil - ali es t the do e ic i et h d
i th lnrtu tr l ou at o here 01 t 0 ork hop lI i e l lt y to
Iry t1h i G espoused 1f ) i n her v rrin ity 1n h r motherhood
i n the ha y y9 r OI peaoeful family 11 e 1 eI ty t o J au i nf boy d yout hom h nd or hi ed a 1 o
Y t ho it h1e privil to oarreas to su~port t o 1nshy
st~lct aye even to cornman n to t r a i n into a oar pente r
even Ii ~ unto imsel i deli ty t o t he heavenl y tru t I c orrJllUnshy
icat ed to h i re by ne n e1 of od t o ot nd a ar d i nn over the
august my t eries of the I nca r natio d t he R dempt i on h ich
affe ct so profoundl y the i nterests of humani ty i n t i Ile and in
St Joseph 9
e t r ni ty IF i t lul n i e te ard o I hi lor t et
over his fam i ly to ive the their r of -at i n v e
s ea on II (16 ) oh i Jo e th on o~ avid t x ~Xoent er
of zaret
nd may e ot lc middotd into i lfe me re ae it i i it
ol~ l in t t be~ut iful ality 0 Jat i ence t~ t nee ary
nt 0 a euienee n f el i ty lch a ~et B or fi ce
all txi I bear blo An bo ill qu~Bti on he
enct l fic t i on 0 o e h I e life it it labours it cri shy
te orlO 9 by su-oe r bund nt lov of 0 h ob
vi ra ed i n hi 1 ht COU8 Boul ad JeB ary i s i an
h i hi olkqhop an t az 2ac place
i n 1 de rece e of hie bert r c in t r
i px hl~ ife n inj at Cal rend oy into a )irit
fter all ~ t ia 10 e ieh from la our
th t ick ri 1 i ft the irkeo I erie
U 1 t ~ne u lt ~ t a ell - Ubi ~tul non laborat t i
1 boratur 1 bor amatur shy
o TO JO
n so middot hr i etian Soul you t t tau in the iQst 0 the
eet in h ll sin turmoil of mod r lif P Re
t t i rres to aze upon tht t pi ctlre on t c b i n 11 10
portrays the industrio e yet eaceful Jo p i n i8 0_ h i p
t Nazare t Study every fa t t anctua y 0 do st ic
pe 0 nd in 1 t r it it can acr ted service r dered a
modes 1 0 lently yet 0 0 oelfully n so erfeotly
You r orks~op may be t he f aotory or the mi ll i h it ner ve
raok lyt h of ponder ou c i nelYi i t may b perc e i n the
st Joseph 10
dizzy he i hts of teat e1 k l e t o of the ne eat r i v 1 of the
to ex 0 Babe+ it may be 1 00 ted do i n t dan~ tlflin
cavern of Borne le hundred of feet bane th the surfaoe of
t earth or it may b b~h~nd - count r 1_ 1 nt 10 e t shy
ment tore or it ln -ir ed enol ur of tel te t Ii of
ome b noo1)or tio or in th exeontlve d - rtrnent or p i va t e
ofIice of i ant industry e profe ion nd occuoation
a rc e ion herel)y the desoendant of A m an va ar e
or]middotin out the universal e te 0 it labour nd toil ~ol t
hou e t ~~ t earth all the day of t~y l ifo (9 ) 011 111
l a our in vain an your toil ill i h 0 your i r t
even it ds out t h tl au of y TIl body f il t o
ap 1y t e p 11080 y of he C rpenter of
omiddott 1 )l y t at ~110 inju ~ice to ~
o ph Y u to You v ri 10 you 0 n ~~~
T i-all the I fu a or er17 e n at your co and y
di- i n deoree 1 are 01 ced under t e obli~ tion of toil
but th re is no d cr ee hioh conmele t he orleer to su it
to i nju t i ce or anel eve nt T 1 bour r i orthy of Il l
h i re ( 9 ) 1 t e div ine way of e re in tle 1i t to ju 4
co en tion n fair oondition of labour eit e1 ~ r l t
nor th h r c advocates or countenano ~e degradation a part
of the l ot OI ~an Bu even der ideal C0n ition t ere come
orne te of earinee a d de resei n loments he lh motives
f de out d Ie ve tie e irit of t or er de 01 te o It i
then tb t you need t picture of t Joseph P- t ron nd odel
of or ere to buoy you u bull
st 08e h 11
Learn then f 0 St Joemiddot to labour ith fa i t in ad nd
itb an humble iv sprit It i 0 k ick a inst
the 00 1(17) ill only ti t ore or tie
obst i n ey elin to thy ta k f i del i ty e en thou h t
t i iJ 8 the y be bitter ea on thy labour it love ot ify
thtgtm y nion itb 1od ke the rofit hI for etal 1ty by
oon8oratln leI t o 1 Flory II do 1 for t e lory 0 bull Gee I
(18) uoh discorrte t oule v li su fro the h nrt of m n -n
p a ce ou t elr ouJ coul t ey ut tt ~r
t ei r l i ve f er t t of t e 1 t 0 t 1e Rtxiarc B t
o )h ~n of av i d
Ther e t ron d in 0 r let hi 10 in a1
ith farvent 1 o ~
in u r 0 in our ed
And p aoe fo r ever more I bull
I t qu aetl
o
( ) Jo r 1 - 9 (a) Titus 2 1 3 (3) nti hon - uri loat i oq
(4 ) att 1 - 1 6 (5) V k 11 - 4 - (6) ltl tt 1 - I n middot (7 ) att XlII shy
55 (8 ) - 3 (9) en 111 - 17 (IO) xov ( 11 )I
Ln 11 - 5 (1 2) middotn 11 - _9 (U3) tt 1- - 24 middot (14 ) a t t 11shy
1 3 (If) att 1- ao ( 6 ) Luke nl - 4a j (17 ) Ao t a lX - 5
( 8 ) 1 Cor X - 31 (I e ) Lu X - 7
-b~~~ --~~ 7~
THE AI S OF CATHOLIC ACTI ON
Holy ~ame ~en we hail you as the very salt of our
catholic manhood Representatives of every station in life
thoug you be your lory rests not upon the lLsterial social
or political prestige of which you lliay boast but rather upon
your sterling ca~holicity which makes brothers of you ell
in t h e COKmon bond of a sturdy fait h a conEietently clean
life and an enthusiastic zeal for the
iCingdo of Jesus Christ IVh ose Sacred
revere
It is a particular privilege to participate in your
most impressive demonstration tecause you make it a I
solemn act of worsh ip in which you render public honor
and praise to the Holy Name of Go d ho is so little
recof~lJ i zed in t he publ ic 1 ife of our day Reco Qn izin ~t
as too fe~ io that we Bre passi g through a period of
retribution fo r our enerations exceEsee and extravagances
in t ne moral and economic order you ere dedic~tin~ to God
an act of puolic reparat ion for the hurden ot sin uncer
which hlli Bn ity is staggering ith t h e consciouBne s s of
fait h wh ich direct s you to look to God I 8 love and lercy
rat her tn n to hUITan po~er and ingenuit y ior the allevi 8t ion
of the evile _hich are sadde ning t e hearts of men you are
hopefully sentHng to heaven a ni ghty prayer that humanity
Iay SOOD 100- into the dawn of a better dov But an act
of wors~ i p would be incomplete without t ~le element of
2
thanks g iving After all our very depre~sion is proof by
antithesis that Go 6 has blessed UB end blessed UP of
America beyond the other namptions of the earth ~aterially
I e must not forget thiE lest we add to
our unwort i1iness t i1e guilt of iilgratit lde You do well to
render tnsn s g iving on an occaeion svch as t h is fo r God IS
innmrerable blessins poured out so lavishly upon our
c lUrc h our countr y an i our institutions Among t -lese
blessi ngs you have singled ou t one for eID hasis today God
wh ich 1I1e hail with rej oicing - Thatl11iay be thanked so
rea ds your pro gr a m for the great blessing s that have come
to our diocese and to t1e Ohurc1 of t hese United States
through tl-e wise and beneficent leadership of our beloved
Bishop in tbe past decade of years - For years we hAve
adfiired a nd founl1 inspiraticn in t 1e amiable claracter
unt iri g zeal and inexhaust 11)le energy o f ~rOilI ost
Reverend and beloved Bis ~ op You of Oleveland are b lessed
indeed in t t e ~ ift of shch a leader As for the Church
in thee LJni ted States of A cerica if t ~ ie s tory of Oat holic
r~ction in t _1is country is ever wri t ten no name iVill etand
out i n bolder relief or more glorious s _ lendor t hampn that
of your high priest and father Bis hop JCEeph Sc hr-erubs
ith you we t hank the Lord a nd p ray ~OEt fervently that
Cleveland and me rica may b e neLi t by h is [enius ~is
guidance and his labors for many years to come
Seeking 8 Prophet
That God may free t he wDrld from the perils of
3
economic depression hatre tislmderstanding and false
philosophy tnat are menacin lJ our civilization and culture
Thu s you deLine the purpo pe of t hi s Cat hoI ic Act ier Demonst ration
In t is you betray t he t il ougl1 ts w~ich dominEte your ass embly
t10Ug_ltS which in fact no asse J- bly of [ren foregat hered tOrlay
in any part of t l1e world can suppress wi t rlOut some unnatural
restraint The evile are too universal too omnipresent too
deep-rooted too painf~ l to ad~it even t he pretence of i g oring
t h em
All t he world is not only thinking talking a nd writing
ab out t is t ing called econo~ic depressi on it is a lso
awai t i ng wit h canst ernst iO[1 what ilay yet oe f a11 our civil i za t ion
-any ho are not pessimists see the handwritinv
of dooll on the wall rrelplessly and well ni gh ho peleesly all
t he wor ld is casting a bout for t h e nostrum wh ich will effect
t he lrag ic cu re f or t e sorcerer who will coax bac ~( over nigh t
the il luSive rite called Pro pe rit j Only t hree day s go
-eneva sent out t 11e Ile 8saPe t ~1at it s econ )) io COll1I1 i ttee can
agr e e on no sine-Ie cure-all for t he prevailing d ifficulties in
~ i ce co nm r ce and i ndus try Gove rnrrents a nd political
parties are tottering becau se t hey seem incapable of doing
or e t han orga niz ing nat io nel aIlc~ in terns t ional conferelces
creat ing conmi s 8ions and order ing surveys and invest i gat ions
in endless variety whose results seeI to be f e r the most part
illusory Captains of industry seem to have lost their skill
4
and t ile wi zardry with wh ich for two decades they have aTi-assed
lortuller in com-pariscn with which the wealth of 01010l or
Croesus are were ant h ills Ban]ers and fin EIlCiers confronted
wi t h t he st na t i e n of indus t ry 8nO co merce 8re pe rplexed
because tne irony of fate leaves them without a market for the
millions of dollars stored in their vaults e xcept for tne
OCC3 i onal 1 010caust on tne al tal of arunon t e stabilize some
le~d in_ worl d Dower Universlt y- f2c11ties scierlci~tE and
ph ilos op ere e_rryer te in re8earc f1 ork ltind surveys reve l no
way out of t ile labyrinth of eCO(lO r 1c 80ci21 ano t 0101 conshy
fusion into wh ic ~ they h ove helped not alittle to steer t h e
bullorld
In ti1e meant i rr e comJimnity c heste 80ci21 agencies
chari t ab1 2 organ izat i Ol1s and inst i tlt i f-llS Ere plannin~ a nd
s middot_ruggling a gainst de s perati o to raise tile fund nece ss ary
to relieve pypoundic a l soci al an -i moral misery in our homes end
to reHove t he evioe rices of de gradati cn from our streets and
t h orou ghf aree dur ing t he onco lr ing winter lhe world is
looking for leadersh i p and sigh i V for a p ro_ het ho lay
forecast a brighter era en divert t1l1m8nit y S cmlr~OJlj t he
IT iry jLu ~ elE of co(mu nism a d r a ical eociali sbull
Truly may e cry out with C-t John t h e Bapt ist There hath
stoo( one in t~e lli i6st of you whom you kno not - For nearly
a decade 01 years a9Iophet whose heart has been rac lced b y the
5
eestlessnese ami gravitatirlb trenrj of t he religiouE moral
anc soc ial I ife of the ~rorl ana whooe unerring unobscured
vi8i~n has been concentrated upon the t h ing s that Bre for t h e
peace of hUr anity has raised h is p r oph e t ic voice in sea on a na
out oi seas on in allocutions and writin r-r s ithout um er even
se Hd ing his mesea e to the end s of t h e eart by t le electrified
va ves of the a ir to warn ~ is ch ildren against t he mena c i g
portents o the ti e s and to call UDon the nations to r a lly to
the --= e f e lEe of t be very f oundations of c rieti an civill~ ation
~ ore 1ceenly than 811 ot~lers t il is prophet re c lizes t hat our
econo ic o reakda wn is a sy p ton rat her t ha t h e 6 i E ease The
u i ver s 1U80rder nes its root 8 in treason to Go and in t h e
f lout inc a t cnrist ian p rinc i ples o j D oral i ty in oontenpt for
socia l jUftice a lld c -1Clri t y i n eva rice 8middotel f isn ness a d lust
-- a ll tlle u f ly t e nt ie l e s of t e c ancer 0 g ross Iat er i a l i ~m
which holds t h e nations in ite rip
lirOI(j his lo f ty wat chtower flung h i gh upon t Ile impre gnable
Rock of Fet e r this holy se er se nds f ort h t h e r ally i nq cry
T_ e peace of Ch rist i the r e i g n of Christ ll bull Tth t h e su reness
o t e explie nced d i ag o s t icia1 W lose f i ngers a ve pl ay ed upon
the pul s e of hutlanity for nearly two t l1 0118 2nd years he diecerns
t e illala dy an p rescribes t te reme ciy - Pr yer Bec r i f ice and
a ct i on - 3t hmiddot lie Act ien - tnrou o-h t h e a1lc l icat ion of
c nrist ian prinelulee to all t ~e proble~ s o f li ~ e The world
maybe indis ~osed to accept his leadership beca~ Be he carries
shyo
not t oe sy b oIs of materi~liE~ on his scutcheon it may not
reec 1~0 to hi s rallyin~ cry because it i e ill p repared for
L h spiritual ideals but it it woul d Ieturn to st b ility
or(er and peace it must accept the recipe -Prayer sacrifice
and C thalic Acticn t h loug-h t ne application of CllIistian
principles to the problerr e of life ll prescribe i by t e Vic a r of
Jrist ~loriously r e i zr i ng over t ne Church of God t he Father
So extensive are t ne ramifications of Cat holic Action
W i cn a ct ually touch es and i nf lue ces every domain of hU~Bn
life anci its ani f ol d relations that a n exhaustive developlent
of its sc op e would be an i ff position uyon your tilli8 a nd patience
But since you hElve dedicated t h is ma _11i f icent demcnstrat ion to
Catholic Action you are entitled to know at least its rrajor
ai rrs as vi 8~ alize b y the Holy Fat ~er
Address ing t h e Int erna t ional Catho lic 0(1 en IS Leagll e in
Ro me t~o years ag o the Supreme Fontiff said Ce1thelic Action
as Fe Wi8~1 it 210 88 we heve frequently charccterized it is the
partiCIpation of the laity in the hierarcnical aposto l ate for
t r~l e deiels e c reli 2 ic u 8 and rnOT21 princirles for t l1 e development
of a 80un~ and ho leBo ~e social acticn under t j e ~uidance of the
h ierarc_y funct io n i ng out s ide and above all -poll tical -98rt ies
7
Be it e mphasized that Cgtholic Acticn is an invitation and
a 8UIlOns isslled to tte c8t101iC lElity to pcrticiprte in the
ayos tolic ministry of the hierarchy It ie an extensi on of
the sacard tampl office in the broad eenee in h ich t Peter
addresses t he l~ity as amp chosen generati2n a ~ingly priesthood
ilOly nati c n (I Petro -2 ) Th Holy Father exlains thi8
exalted co cept ~nOIe sDeci ically wren he deEcribes this lay
apostolate lias a ay and a leans which has come into being
throu~h t h e dispensati of divine ~race to the end tha t the
Ch ~ rch may call and in Dce those to follol the teachinf and the
law of t n e Gospel o might ot~er vrie e t h rough lack of priestly
inIlue ce fe] l a p rey to t ll e isrepreeent s t i one and de 8trllcti ve
efforts of disturoing a 1tators (Acta 1 8 28-38( )
Tru~ to its nartle a tholic Acti r n is charGcterize5 by its
universality 8U waning catholics of every station in life to
share ifl teiE g enuirle apoetolate a nd offerimr a bOLm less
liel t to the ze a l of t belaity for it i B way and a means
of which t h e hurch aV6ils itself to bring to the nations
~less ings of every kind (Acta 1~28-385) It is a masse d
forward movement of the ent ire catholic body hierarchy clergy
cn laity in t n e ir proper coordinat ion t c ir~ p iritall
human life a n its cO II~lex relationshipe wit1 tne Eo1l the
pO er the unction and t~e rule of Ohrists doctrlile and
8
Defend Religious and oral PrilCiples
The defense of the nation its constitution and interests
is tile first duty of a Jhysical army So the first function
of Catholic Action is the defenee 0f the princiles of religion
ane norali ty i h ich Christ pro lul gat ed and sealed with His
de~th ~ h o will deny the necessity of such a defense in the face
of skeptici m agnosticism irreligion and downri~ht atheism
which are sweeping like a tidal wave over the eart h At least
one government has declered an inferrlal warfare upon all reli gion
defying God s wrath with its unspeakable blasphe~ ies threatening
to tear to shreds every vestige of reli gious belief still
lingering in the heartE of ite enslaved su bjectE and forb idding
mothers to lisp the name of God or Christ to the children at
their knees The atheistic propaganda of Communism h s its
resources rophets and high priest s scattered thouhout Europe
and Ame rica sO~i i ng- the se6ds of e materialis far ro s ser and
more destructive than the capitalistic system which it aims to
supplant The divorce of reli CT ion from education in tne public
schools of OUT ovn country co r) lefented by t he undisguised anti shy
relig ious attitude of secular colleges and universities is
~orkin~ out logically in a descend i n_ course indicating a
di~inishinry reli g ious grasp in each succeeding eneration
indifference s kepticis iI-religion at he ism
vel chri stian churche s are speeding uo t he ~Jrocess of
dechr ist iani zat ion by re-5uc ing to mere s~eletons and shadows
9
their traditional beliefs by weakening or abro gating all
d iEc i ~)l ille and by adapt ing the ir moral code to the popular
whi m of t h e age That wonder that forty t housand non-cat Olic
churches are reported closed with their pulpits as silent a 8
t~e tombstones in t h e adjacent cerfeteries at wonder that a
leadin5 minister of a denomination wllOse statistician reported
ten thousa Eo churches wi t fJout a si ngle baptisJ1 last year
charg ed eli s chur ch v i t h s piritual suicide fI and sp i ritual
b irtb control Perhpas t here is h ere a relation ship between
the p hysic a l and t he spiritual order
As for the weakening of morality t here is no need of
nauseating t h is auoience 1i ith the u gly tale of viDlence -fl ~~ooo
crue a middotd l rrmoralltyen wncn t h e d~lly press p resents ln ~ jj-LH~~7 ~tW- -IW ~~ch~~~ NcI ~~ te ~25
ulllntelrupted serlals The lcker sh am Repor~na8 confirmed
t he nQst invinc ible sket ics of the enormous extent of lawlessness
in our land But it may be i mportant to cite expert testimony
imiddotor t h e fact t hat irrel i g ion and cr i rre are int i mately rela t ed
On June 15th Dr Brandl Folice Presi de nt of Vienna a id inter-oh
nat io nal aut h~i t T on c r i mi nolos y addressi ng t he Int er nat ional
Conlt ree of Reli ioll s PSYChOlOy 11 Vienna ma de t h is si p-nificant
state ent about juvenile crLTinele It is to be noted that
t heir attitude toward reli~ion definitely fixes t he deg ree of
t~ eir criminalit y If they have lost t he ir relig ion t hey a re
uore prone to COl ~it crime t an t hos e who ha ve p reserved some
reI i g i on In t he case of g rave CT i me s it i s founei almost
invariably t hat t e offe ers reli g ious feeli ng i~ either
wholly lost or strongly diTdnisned (Oath UeliS June 27 31)
America may well take heedl JMLdeg1~~~ 4-Ugt ~~
10
lhese conCiitions explain in part why t he TToly Fat~er setpound forth as
t be f irst s~)eciiic ai IT of Catholic Action IIt l~e defense of relig ious
and moral princi-oleE II Tne Catholic Church alone stand)firm a nd
i mrnOiralIe above t he ri s il2 t ide of reI i g ious unre st a nd amidst
t h e del~ge of moral decadence and corruption She not only
ga t ers her cnildren to her 8h e1 t e r ing prot ect ion but in
Oatholic Action s ~ e bids the~ to consecrate t~eir gifts of
tongJe and pen especially t he persuasive pOrer of a conei s tent
cat ~olic life to promul gate defeId and de r1onstrate to the
un-oel ievine loose living oft en 1 icent iOUE worldl ing s that
the Go s pel and the Decalogue contain t l e rule oi life w ich
alone g ives dignity to hu man existence and peace to restless
heFrt s
Sound Wn olesore Social Altion
-uch ot t he disorder and ttisery from wh ich hluanity is suffering
today ariseE from unsound p rinciples and theories regarding the
social order unde r wh ich men live Therefore the Hol y Fa t h er has
not only ma de the develo pment of a sound nd who lesome 80cial
action one of t~1e chief airllS of CRtholic Action but in his
recent encyclical entitled 1170rty Years After he has g iven to
the orld t 1e prinCip les End methods according to wh ich the social
order should be constitu ted and reconstructed
A fundamenta_ weakness in the efforts Dut forth to adjust
the present econorrdc and social dislocat ion is the drea m that
the old order is ri ght and sound and that nothing is lac~ing
b ut confi~ence to set the machinery of industry and com~erce in
11
--~~~~~~J Iqal
t1ot ion Geneva t ellSUS dat II psychol og ical U~ctor8 dOjlinate
the econoIr ic crieis t h rou hout t he worl d ( Sept 2AP World
~erampl~ ) Fs yct ology is play1n - its 9srt in the trag ic drama
0 worl d depression but a sk t h e man w o walk s t he streets
in searc_ of 2 j o-b or t h e fat her oo e ch il iren cry for
b read a d t 1ere is none to break to t hem or the far r er~~(L~
WhOE8 cred itors have dis iJossessed h bl o ecclUse tie failed to
(Leet hi S otliga t ions hether p eyc _ olog- ical facto~s dotl inated J--c~lt1J k~~~1-~ ~PL ~AL-~I t h eir inc ivLua l c1i8i8 The social strl ct lJ re and mac h inery
needs ~ore t~aG B p sycho log ical up turn or a superfic i al
repair job it needs a n ew pn ilosoph ic outlook a nd a t horough
reco nstru ction accord ing to the prinCiples cont a ined in or
log ically deduced from t ) e te a chings ot O111i st The r SJulation
of t he responsib ilities a rising from t he possession of p roperty
a nd weBl t ~~ t h e ordering of t he lllutual relat i m s1ips du t ies QA~4q~
and burden~ between t he state and its citizens between capit al
and lab or between t he e~ployer a nd t ~ e e p loyees between one
rank of huma n society a nd t h e ot il er fair c omp ensatioTl a mi the
e qu it a b le d i stri c_ti on of t he joint fruits of iIlvest iIent brains
and bran i r indust ry a gric11 l t ure a dd commerce are all vital
issues Libera l i and cap italism have met therr in t he spirit
of e zrat er ial ist ic philosoph y 821fi sl1ne ss anr avarice t lle
p resent e on Jic debacl e is t ile resu lt If we ould escas e ~
-~he ROPet cOllseque21ces of aei Z I of 80ci a1is and c o municom
vhose advocates are lJot ent i a1ly in our very midst then
gover l ents i imm cial inoustrial and c ommercial l eaders toshy
g etl e r it h t h e sooel advis e rs of t he l abo r i ng clrusep must
adoDt t he safe 6 i1t_ sounel Lidc le course mapp ed ou t by the
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
St J eph 6
i n t h eyes of ad even thou h tle arId ith iBt ur ted
~i 9 ion nd vain conc i pt y deepmiddotse the bro t h t 1s ended
ith t he er ep i r tio of hu ble toll and r ejeot the hand th t
h rd abour a c loused 1d rc che out of hape In St
Joaep1 e ve roo t r t Go set t e h i e t value mon
11 n or k an hoI s in onour t he Bon of toi ho folIo
t he ex~ I e of th i s
ODiL 0
1 or ~ Y 1c d 81 t 0 t 1 e ar t re u tl
r orifio d i of t fou d ver ir - orne to m n llnt l re
Ho c n it b otherrlso s ilce t e e te oe JronOllnce by d
J
in i 0 ov r over 301 en fO l all ti e- In t
0 t Y h t t hou br t ill tho r et rn o t l1 arth
( ) out f c t u t II h n h 19 ~ e
v i i n oJ fait or ri- in I e1 ion at t e just de crees
of 10 or i veloped in the dark ni ht of dee air t han the
eent nc ecomas dOlbly epre si d t yo r of l abour
crushi ng bea nes about our hOuldWi)s va e not
a ll en oh forelor eoul o t hrough i f i thout I i ht n
t l t hout hop in t hc lr he rt it vut a 1 e upon
eir i~ no 0 bitt r i t eir I a n 1 e en they
ive ~xpressio t o the ullan t hou ht hleh a it te t eir
mi nd
And huve e not on the ot er an sft en ~oo ed i to the
t he oabin nd tene e tot e poor onl y to vel ho mi d t
Burroun -in so e t itute of creat re co or t t ere oan e~ i t
pe ce ~ nd h0 1e and love Th day a r e i nd ed ero ded i t h ta il
St J os ph 7
and ere and t e nl ht are be ed by eary v i ils nd
the tel co ark don i all too t o me t the
demo ds of exi tence and t e re oneibi i t i e for t e f mi l y
and t 16 hOJ e t t ere 1 my t~r ous so ethin i n the
a t osphere 0 such h me hi en m es th n s di fferent If ou ~~~~~~~~~ ~ i i soern by it di~ I i ht ovef yon er on t e all
pri tot e of azare t T ere i ary at er p indle
clo i t ay b or t t se les m nt ov r
hi en t e 01 1ers ca t lot f ot of t he Cro e on t e
Hi of 0 vary I n t he forefround i 9 the BI- J esus ork in
i t r cYl and er and cbisel op h t B e to be a
cro 0 is it the 11 for t e door i cn JOB )h i co shy
StXl10t i on h1s ark b ch Ove --s lado in t e 8C n 1 the
fi lre of trc 0 bo y rave a co oe
h l y B r a I ht t t of co t ntm nt anJ hu_
layin ab(ut 1 l i p that i di e te love joy in
h i t k 0 me y ho D hav been brl uc a r
mind r a the oorreot attit de to or l a ex m lified n t1e
Carpenter of t
St JOB h uted ao just Ju tice ere at
for ri _ht eouene or t a t ense ble of ern tu al virtue and
] ic~ is the I f ect 01 anatlfyin ce hereby
he I J 1 i renderod lea in to o e i ce this eneral
char ct rization e discerr in t e can at of St Jo eph oer tain
outstandi n irt GS ic d hi part i c larly t he ode 1
of or e r s
St Joseph 8
Falt~ in ad nd contdent e b lsal n to is ecr a a t a ll
time X the under1yin oharacte r ist i os of hi life Le t i t be
t he co and 0 ten el of God to acc t ary a hi pause
(1 2 ) 0 t he 110 in 1 and hiB del ic te
ou e to et hleh 0 t he order i B ad i n the dead sil nee
0 ni t to lit th t C1ild nd hi other d f ly~e
into y t (14) or t e ne e t t i n 0 t he 111 0 God to
a r i d tmiddot 0 the C il nd h i ot er 0 into t he land -L
oI Inrael ( ~ ) th r i never r nor oytent e bas i shy
t tion nor ex 1e ei on 0 l et bo t t he d ff ianltyI
r th task _od h ad kno DI y ill it i i e i t
c on I denoe r1 a l cr 1 0 bo t h middotty l he e
e t s I a incd the so i ou of D l d JTl i d s t
h uncertaint i e of i d 11y toil s -et nin t e yo e nd
I i ni n t he bu dar i the 10 e 00 i on i of Jon
nd alY
nd a t mo e I or f i d 11 ty I 0 e f i nd in thi lent
son of toil - ali es t the do e ic i et h d
i th lnrtu tr l ou at o here 01 t 0 ork hop lI i e l lt y to
Iry t1h i G espoused 1f ) i n her v rrin ity 1n h r motherhood
i n the ha y y9 r OI peaoeful family 11 e 1 eI ty t o J au i nf boy d yout hom h nd or hi ed a 1 o
Y t ho it h1e privil to oarreas to su~port t o 1nshy
st~lct aye even to cornman n to t r a i n into a oar pente r
even Ii ~ unto imsel i deli ty t o t he heavenl y tru t I c orrJllUnshy
icat ed to h i re by ne n e1 of od t o ot nd a ar d i nn over the
august my t eries of the I nca r natio d t he R dempt i on h ich
affe ct so profoundl y the i nterests of humani ty i n t i Ile and in
St Joseph 9
e t r ni ty IF i t lul n i e te ard o I hi lor t et
over his fam i ly to ive the their r of -at i n v e
s ea on II (16 ) oh i Jo e th on o~ avid t x ~Xoent er
of zaret
nd may e ot lc middotd into i lfe me re ae it i i it
ol~ l in t t be~ut iful ality 0 Jat i ence t~ t nee ary
nt 0 a euienee n f el i ty lch a ~et B or fi ce
all txi I bear blo An bo ill qu~Bti on he
enct l fic t i on 0 o e h I e life it it labours it cri shy
te orlO 9 by su-oe r bund nt lov of 0 h ob
vi ra ed i n hi 1 ht COU8 Boul ad JeB ary i s i an
h i hi olkqhop an t az 2ac place
i n 1 de rece e of hie bert r c in t r
i px hl~ ife n inj at Cal rend oy into a )irit
fter all ~ t ia 10 e ieh from la our
th t ick ri 1 i ft the irkeo I erie
U 1 t ~ne u lt ~ t a ell - Ubi ~tul non laborat t i
1 boratur 1 bor amatur shy
o TO JO
n so middot hr i etian Soul you t t tau in the iQst 0 the
eet in h ll sin turmoil of mod r lif P Re
t t i rres to aze upon tht t pi ctlre on t c b i n 11 10
portrays the industrio e yet eaceful Jo p i n i8 0_ h i p
t Nazare t Study every fa t t anctua y 0 do st ic
pe 0 nd in 1 t r it it can acr ted service r dered a
modes 1 0 lently yet 0 0 oelfully n so erfeotly
You r orks~op may be t he f aotory or the mi ll i h it ner ve
raok lyt h of ponder ou c i nelYi i t may b perc e i n the
st Joseph 10
dizzy he i hts of teat e1 k l e t o of the ne eat r i v 1 of the
to ex 0 Babe+ it may be 1 00 ted do i n t dan~ tlflin
cavern of Borne le hundred of feet bane th the surfaoe of
t earth or it may b b~h~nd - count r 1_ 1 nt 10 e t shy
ment tore or it ln -ir ed enol ur of tel te t Ii of
ome b noo1)or tio or in th exeontlve d - rtrnent or p i va t e
ofIice of i ant industry e profe ion nd occuoation
a rc e ion herel)y the desoendant of A m an va ar e
or]middotin out the universal e te 0 it labour nd toil ~ol t
hou e t ~~ t earth all the day of t~y l ifo (9 ) 011 111
l a our in vain an your toil ill i h 0 your i r t
even it ds out t h tl au of y TIl body f il t o
ap 1y t e p 11080 y of he C rpenter of
omiddott 1 )l y t at ~110 inju ~ice to ~
o ph Y u to You v ri 10 you 0 n ~~~
T i-all the I fu a or er17 e n at your co and y
di- i n deoree 1 are 01 ced under t e obli~ tion of toil
but th re is no d cr ee hioh conmele t he orleer to su it
to i nju t i ce or anel eve nt T 1 bour r i orthy of Il l
h i re ( 9 ) 1 t e div ine way of e re in tle 1i t to ju 4
co en tion n fair oondition of labour eit e1 ~ r l t
nor th h r c advocates or countenano ~e degradation a part
of the l ot OI ~an Bu even der ideal C0n ition t ere come
orne te of earinee a d de resei n loments he lh motives
f de out d Ie ve tie e irit of t or er de 01 te o It i
then tb t you need t picture of t Joseph P- t ron nd odel
of or ere to buoy you u bull
st 08e h 11
Learn then f 0 St Joemiddot to labour ith fa i t in ad nd
itb an humble iv sprit It i 0 k ick a inst
the 00 1(17) ill only ti t ore or tie
obst i n ey elin to thy ta k f i del i ty e en thou h t
t i iJ 8 the y be bitter ea on thy labour it love ot ify
thtgtm y nion itb 1od ke the rofit hI for etal 1ty by
oon8oratln leI t o 1 Flory II do 1 for t e lory 0 bull Gee I
(18) uoh discorrte t oule v li su fro the h nrt of m n -n
p a ce ou t elr ouJ coul t ey ut tt ~r
t ei r l i ve f er t t of t e 1 t 0 t 1e Rtxiarc B t
o )h ~n of av i d
Ther e t ron d in 0 r let hi 10 in a1
ith farvent 1 o ~
in u r 0 in our ed
And p aoe fo r ever more I bull
I t qu aetl
o
( ) Jo r 1 - 9 (a) Titus 2 1 3 (3) nti hon - uri loat i oq
(4 ) att 1 - 1 6 (5) V k 11 - 4 - (6) ltl tt 1 - I n middot (7 ) att XlII shy
55 (8 ) - 3 (9) en 111 - 17 (IO) xov ( 11 )I
Ln 11 - 5 (1 2) middotn 11 - _9 (U3) tt 1- - 24 middot (14 ) a t t 11shy
1 3 (If) att 1- ao ( 6 ) Luke nl - 4a j (17 ) Ao t a lX - 5
( 8 ) 1 Cor X - 31 (I e ) Lu X - 7
-b~~~ --~~ 7~
THE AI S OF CATHOLIC ACTI ON
Holy ~ame ~en we hail you as the very salt of our
catholic manhood Representatives of every station in life
thoug you be your lory rests not upon the lLsterial social
or political prestige of which you lliay boast but rather upon
your sterling ca~holicity which makes brothers of you ell
in t h e COKmon bond of a sturdy fait h a conEietently clean
life and an enthusiastic zeal for the
iCingdo of Jesus Christ IVh ose Sacred
revere
It is a particular privilege to participate in your
most impressive demonstration tecause you make it a I
solemn act of worsh ip in which you render public honor
and praise to the Holy Name of Go d ho is so little
recof~lJ i zed in t he publ ic 1 ife of our day Reco Qn izin ~t
as too fe~ io that we Bre passi g through a period of
retribution fo r our enerations exceEsee and extravagances
in t ne moral and economic order you ere dedic~tin~ to God
an act of puolic reparat ion for the hurden ot sin uncer
which hlli Bn ity is staggering ith t h e consciouBne s s of
fait h wh ich direct s you to look to God I 8 love and lercy
rat her tn n to hUITan po~er and ingenuit y ior the allevi 8t ion
of the evile _hich are sadde ning t e hearts of men you are
hopefully sentHng to heaven a ni ghty prayer that humanity
Iay SOOD 100- into the dawn of a better dov But an act
of wors~ i p would be incomplete without t ~le element of
2
thanks g iving After all our very depre~sion is proof by
antithesis that Go 6 has blessed UB end blessed UP of
America beyond the other namptions of the earth ~aterially
I e must not forget thiE lest we add to
our unwort i1iness t i1e guilt of iilgratit lde You do well to
render tnsn s g iving on an occaeion svch as t h is fo r God IS
innmrerable blessins poured out so lavishly upon our
c lUrc h our countr y an i our institutions Among t -lese
blessi ngs you have singled ou t one for eID hasis today God
wh ich 1I1e hail with rej oicing - Thatl11iay be thanked so
rea ds your pro gr a m for the great blessing s that have come
to our diocese and to t1e Ohurc1 of t hese United States
through tl-e wise and beneficent leadership of our beloved
Bishop in tbe past decade of years - For years we hAve
adfiired a nd founl1 inspiraticn in t 1e amiable claracter
unt iri g zeal and inexhaust 11)le energy o f ~rOilI ost
Reverend and beloved Bis ~ op You of Oleveland are b lessed
indeed in t t e ~ ift of shch a leader As for the Church
in thee LJni ted States of A cerica if t ~ ie s tory of Oat holic
r~ction in t _1is country is ever wri t ten no name iVill etand
out i n bolder relief or more glorious s _ lendor t hampn that
of your high priest and father Bis hop JCEeph Sc hr-erubs
ith you we t hank the Lord a nd p ray ~OEt fervently that
Cleveland and me rica may b e neLi t by h is [enius ~is
guidance and his labors for many years to come
Seeking 8 Prophet
That God may free t he wDrld from the perils of
3
economic depression hatre tislmderstanding and false
philosophy tnat are menacin lJ our civilization and culture
Thu s you deLine the purpo pe of t hi s Cat hoI ic Act ier Demonst ration
In t is you betray t he t il ougl1 ts w~ich dominEte your ass embly
t10Ug_ltS which in fact no asse J- bly of [ren foregat hered tOrlay
in any part of t l1e world can suppress wi t rlOut some unnatural
restraint The evile are too universal too omnipresent too
deep-rooted too painf~ l to ad~it even t he pretence of i g oring
t h em
All t he world is not only thinking talking a nd writing
ab out t is t ing called econo~ic depressi on it is a lso
awai t i ng wit h canst ernst iO[1 what ilay yet oe f a11 our civil i za t ion
-any ho are not pessimists see the handwritinv
of dooll on the wall rrelplessly and well ni gh ho peleesly all
t he wor ld is casting a bout for t h e nostrum wh ich will effect
t he lrag ic cu re f or t e sorcerer who will coax bac ~( over nigh t
the il luSive rite called Pro pe rit j Only t hree day s go
-eneva sent out t 11e Ile 8saPe t ~1at it s econ )) io COll1I1 i ttee can
agr e e on no sine-Ie cure-all for t he prevailing d ifficulties in
~ i ce co nm r ce and i ndus try Gove rnrrents a nd political
parties are tottering becau se t hey seem incapable of doing
or e t han orga niz ing nat io nel aIlc~ in terns t ional conferelces
creat ing conmi s 8ions and order ing surveys and invest i gat ions
in endless variety whose results seeI to be f e r the most part
illusory Captains of industry seem to have lost their skill
4
and t ile wi zardry with wh ich for two decades they have aTi-assed
lortuller in com-pariscn with which the wealth of 01010l or
Croesus are were ant h ills Ban]ers and fin EIlCiers confronted
wi t h t he st na t i e n of indus t ry 8nO co merce 8re pe rplexed
because tne irony of fate leaves them without a market for the
millions of dollars stored in their vaults e xcept for tne
OCC3 i onal 1 010caust on tne al tal of arunon t e stabilize some
le~d in_ worl d Dower Universlt y- f2c11ties scierlci~tE and
ph ilos op ere e_rryer te in re8earc f1 ork ltind surveys reve l no
way out of t ile labyrinth of eCO(lO r 1c 80ci21 ano t 0101 conshy
fusion into wh ic ~ they h ove helped not alittle to steer t h e
bullorld
In ti1e meant i rr e comJimnity c heste 80ci21 agencies
chari t ab1 2 organ izat i Ol1s and inst i tlt i f-llS Ere plannin~ a nd
s middot_ruggling a gainst de s perati o to raise tile fund nece ss ary
to relieve pypoundic a l soci al an -i moral misery in our homes end
to reHove t he evioe rices of de gradati cn from our streets and
t h orou ghf aree dur ing t he onco lr ing winter lhe world is
looking for leadersh i p and sigh i V for a p ro_ het ho lay
forecast a brighter era en divert t1l1m8nit y S cmlr~OJlj t he
IT iry jLu ~ elE of co(mu nism a d r a ical eociali sbull
Truly may e cry out with C-t John t h e Bapt ist There hath
stoo( one in t~e lli i6st of you whom you kno not - For nearly
a decade 01 years a9Iophet whose heart has been rac lced b y the
5
eestlessnese ami gravitatirlb trenrj of t he religiouE moral
anc soc ial I ife of the ~rorl ana whooe unerring unobscured
vi8i~n has been concentrated upon the t h ing s that Bre for t h e
peace of hUr anity has raised h is p r oph e t ic voice in sea on a na
out oi seas on in allocutions and writin r-r s ithout um er even
se Hd ing his mesea e to the end s of t h e eart by t le electrified
va ves of the a ir to warn ~ is ch ildren against t he mena c i g
portents o the ti e s and to call UDon the nations to r a lly to
the --= e f e lEe of t be very f oundations of c rieti an civill~ ation
~ ore 1ceenly than 811 ot~lers t il is prophet re c lizes t hat our
econo ic o reakda wn is a sy p ton rat her t ha t h e 6 i E ease The
u i ver s 1U80rder nes its root 8 in treason to Go and in t h e
f lout inc a t cnrist ian p rinc i ples o j D oral i ty in oontenpt for
socia l jUftice a lld c -1Clri t y i n eva rice 8middotel f isn ness a d lust
-- a ll tlle u f ly t e nt ie l e s of t e c ancer 0 g ross Iat er i a l i ~m
which holds t h e nations in ite rip
lirOI(j his lo f ty wat chtower flung h i gh upon t Ile impre gnable
Rock of Fet e r this holy se er se nds f ort h t h e r ally i nq cry
T_ e peace of Ch rist i the r e i g n of Christ ll bull Tth t h e su reness
o t e explie nced d i ag o s t icia1 W lose f i ngers a ve pl ay ed upon
the pul s e of hutlanity for nearly two t l1 0118 2nd years he diecerns
t e illala dy an p rescribes t te reme ciy - Pr yer Bec r i f ice and
a ct i on - 3t hmiddot lie Act ien - tnrou o-h t h e a1lc l icat ion of
c nrist ian prinelulee to all t ~e proble~ s o f li ~ e The world
maybe indis ~osed to accept his leadership beca~ Be he carries
shyo
not t oe sy b oIs of materi~liE~ on his scutcheon it may not
reec 1~0 to hi s rallyin~ cry because it i e ill p repared for
L h spiritual ideals but it it woul d Ieturn to st b ility
or(er and peace it must accept the recipe -Prayer sacrifice
and C thalic Acticn t h loug-h t ne application of CllIistian
principles to the problerr e of life ll prescribe i by t e Vic a r of
Jrist ~loriously r e i zr i ng over t ne Church of God t he Father
So extensive are t ne ramifications of Cat holic Action
W i cn a ct ually touch es and i nf lue ces every domain of hU~Bn
life anci its ani f ol d relations that a n exhaustive developlent
of its sc op e would be an i ff position uyon your tilli8 a nd patience
But since you hElve dedicated t h is ma _11i f icent demcnstrat ion to
Catholic Action you are entitled to know at least its rrajor
ai rrs as vi 8~ alize b y the Holy Fat ~er
Address ing t h e Int erna t ional Catho lic 0(1 en IS Leagll e in
Ro me t~o years ag o the Supreme Fontiff said Ce1thelic Action
as Fe Wi8~1 it 210 88 we heve frequently charccterized it is the
partiCIpation of the laity in the hierarcnical aposto l ate for
t r~l e deiels e c reli 2 ic u 8 and rnOT21 princirles for t l1 e development
of a 80un~ and ho leBo ~e social acticn under t j e ~uidance of the
h ierarc_y funct io n i ng out s ide and above all -poll tical -98rt ies
7
Be it e mphasized that Cgtholic Acticn is an invitation and
a 8UIlOns isslled to tte c8t101iC lElity to pcrticiprte in the
ayos tolic ministry of the hierarchy It ie an extensi on of
the sacard tampl office in the broad eenee in h ich t Peter
addresses t he l~ity as amp chosen generati2n a ~ingly priesthood
ilOly nati c n (I Petro -2 ) Th Holy Father exlains thi8
exalted co cept ~nOIe sDeci ically wren he deEcribes this lay
apostolate lias a ay and a leans which has come into being
throu~h t h e dispensati of divine ~race to the end tha t the
Ch ~ rch may call and in Dce those to follol the teachinf and the
law of t n e Gospel o might ot~er vrie e t h rough lack of priestly
inIlue ce fe] l a p rey to t ll e isrepreeent s t i one and de 8trllcti ve
efforts of disturoing a 1tators (Acta 1 8 28-38( )
Tru~ to its nartle a tholic Acti r n is charGcterize5 by its
universality 8U waning catholics of every station in life to
share ifl teiE g enuirle apoetolate a nd offerimr a bOLm less
liel t to the ze a l of t belaity for it i B way and a means
of which t h e hurch aV6ils itself to bring to the nations
~less ings of every kind (Acta 1~28-385) It is a masse d
forward movement of the ent ire catholic body hierarchy clergy
cn laity in t n e ir proper coordinat ion t c ir~ p iritall
human life a n its cO II~lex relationshipe wit1 tne Eo1l the
pO er the unction and t~e rule of Ohrists doctrlile and
8
Defend Religious and oral PrilCiples
The defense of the nation its constitution and interests
is tile first duty of a Jhysical army So the first function
of Catholic Action is the defenee 0f the princiles of religion
ane norali ty i h ich Christ pro lul gat ed and sealed with His
de~th ~ h o will deny the necessity of such a defense in the face
of skeptici m agnosticism irreligion and downri~ht atheism
which are sweeping like a tidal wave over the eart h At least
one government has declered an inferrlal warfare upon all reli gion
defying God s wrath with its unspeakable blasphe~ ies threatening
to tear to shreds every vestige of reli gious belief still
lingering in the heartE of ite enslaved su bjectE and forb idding
mothers to lisp the name of God or Christ to the children at
their knees The atheistic propaganda of Communism h s its
resources rophets and high priest s scattered thouhout Europe
and Ame rica sO~i i ng- the se6ds of e materialis far ro s ser and
more destructive than the capitalistic system which it aims to
supplant The divorce of reli CT ion from education in tne public
schools of OUT ovn country co r) lefented by t he undisguised anti shy
relig ious attitude of secular colleges and universities is
~orkin~ out logically in a descend i n_ course indicating a
di~inishinry reli g ious grasp in each succeeding eneration
indifference s kepticis iI-religion at he ism
vel chri stian churche s are speeding uo t he ~Jrocess of
dechr ist iani zat ion by re-5uc ing to mere s~eletons and shadows
9
their traditional beliefs by weakening or abro gating all
d iEc i ~)l ille and by adapt ing the ir moral code to the popular
whi m of t h e age That wonder that forty t housand non-cat Olic
churches are reported closed with their pulpits as silent a 8
t~e tombstones in t h e adjacent cerfeteries at wonder that a
leadin5 minister of a denomination wllOse statistician reported
ten thousa Eo churches wi t fJout a si ngle baptisJ1 last year
charg ed eli s chur ch v i t h s piritual suicide fI and sp i ritual
b irtb control Perhpas t here is h ere a relation ship between
the p hysic a l and t he spiritual order
As for the weakening of morality t here is no need of
nauseating t h is auoience 1i ith the u gly tale of viDlence -fl ~~ooo
crue a middotd l rrmoralltyen wncn t h e d~lly press p resents ln ~ jj-LH~~7 ~tW- -IW ~~ch~~~ NcI ~~ te ~25
ulllntelrupted serlals The lcker sh am Repor~na8 confirmed
t he nQst invinc ible sket ics of the enormous extent of lawlessness
in our land But it may be i mportant to cite expert testimony
imiddotor t h e fact t hat irrel i g ion and cr i rre are int i mately rela t ed
On June 15th Dr Brandl Folice Presi de nt of Vienna a id inter-oh
nat io nal aut h~i t T on c r i mi nolos y addressi ng t he Int er nat ional
Conlt ree of Reli ioll s PSYChOlOy 11 Vienna ma de t h is si p-nificant
state ent about juvenile crLTinele It is to be noted that
t heir attitude toward reli~ion definitely fixes t he deg ree of
t~ eir criminalit y If they have lost t he ir relig ion t hey a re
uore prone to COl ~it crime t an t hos e who ha ve p reserved some
reI i g i on In t he case of g rave CT i me s it i s founei almost
invariably t hat t e offe ers reli g ious feeli ng i~ either
wholly lost or strongly diTdnisned (Oath UeliS June 27 31)
America may well take heedl JMLdeg1~~~ 4-Ugt ~~
10
lhese conCiitions explain in part why t he TToly Fat~er setpound forth as
t be f irst s~)eciiic ai IT of Catholic Action IIt l~e defense of relig ious
and moral princi-oleE II Tne Catholic Church alone stand)firm a nd
i mrnOiralIe above t he ri s il2 t ide of reI i g ious unre st a nd amidst
t h e del~ge of moral decadence and corruption She not only
ga t ers her cnildren to her 8h e1 t e r ing prot ect ion but in
Oatholic Action s ~ e bids the~ to consecrate t~eir gifts of
tongJe and pen especially t he persuasive pOrer of a conei s tent
cat ~olic life to promul gate defeId and de r1onstrate to the
un-oel ievine loose living oft en 1 icent iOUE worldl ing s that
the Go s pel and the Decalogue contain t l e rule oi life w ich
alone g ives dignity to hu man existence and peace to restless
heFrt s
Sound Wn olesore Social Altion
-uch ot t he disorder and ttisery from wh ich hluanity is suffering
today ariseE from unsound p rinciples and theories regarding the
social order unde r wh ich men live Therefore the Hol y Fa t h er has
not only ma de the develo pment of a sound nd who lesome 80cial
action one of t~1e chief airllS of CRtholic Action but in his
recent encyclical entitled 1170rty Years After he has g iven to
the orld t 1e prinCip les End methods according to wh ich the social
order should be constitu ted and reconstructed
A fundamenta_ weakness in the efforts Dut forth to adjust
the present econorrdc and social dislocat ion is the drea m that
the old order is ri ght and sound and that nothing is lac~ing
b ut confi~ence to set the machinery of industry and com~erce in
11
--~~~~~~J Iqal
t1ot ion Geneva t ellSUS dat II psychol og ical U~ctor8 dOjlinate
the econoIr ic crieis t h rou hout t he worl d ( Sept 2AP World
~erampl~ ) Fs yct ology is play1n - its 9srt in the trag ic drama
0 worl d depression but a sk t h e man w o walk s t he streets
in searc_ of 2 j o-b or t h e fat her oo e ch il iren cry for
b read a d t 1ere is none to break to t hem or the far r er~~(L~
WhOE8 cred itors have dis iJossessed h bl o ecclUse tie failed to
(Leet hi S otliga t ions hether p eyc _ olog- ical facto~s dotl inated J--c~lt1J k~~~1-~ ~PL ~AL-~I t h eir inc ivLua l c1i8i8 The social strl ct lJ re and mac h inery
needs ~ore t~aG B p sycho log ical up turn or a superfic i al
repair job it needs a n ew pn ilosoph ic outlook a nd a t horough
reco nstru ction accord ing to the prinCiples cont a ined in or
log ically deduced from t ) e te a chings ot O111i st The r SJulation
of t he responsib ilities a rising from t he possession of p roperty
a nd weBl t ~~ t h e ordering of t he lllutual relat i m s1ips du t ies QA~4q~
and burden~ between t he state and its citizens between capit al
and lab or between t he e~ployer a nd t ~ e e p loyees between one
rank of huma n society a nd t h e ot il er fair c omp ensatioTl a mi the
e qu it a b le d i stri c_ti on of t he joint fruits of iIlvest iIent brains
and bran i r indust ry a gric11 l t ure a dd commerce are all vital
issues Libera l i and cap italism have met therr in t he spirit
of e zrat er ial ist ic philosoph y 821fi sl1ne ss anr avarice t lle
p resent e on Jic debacl e is t ile resu lt If we ould escas e ~
-~he ROPet cOllseque21ces of aei Z I of 80ci a1is and c o municom
vhose advocates are lJot ent i a1ly in our very midst then
gover l ents i imm cial inoustrial and c ommercial l eaders toshy
g etl e r it h t h e sooel advis e rs of t he l abo r i ng clrusep must
adoDt t he safe 6 i1t_ sounel Lidc le course mapp ed ou t by the
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
St J os ph 7
and ere and t e nl ht are be ed by eary v i ils nd
the tel co ark don i all too t o me t the
demo ds of exi tence and t e re oneibi i t i e for t e f mi l y
and t 16 hOJ e t t ere 1 my t~r ous so ethin i n the
a t osphere 0 such h me hi en m es th n s di fferent If ou ~~~~~~~~~ ~ i i soern by it di~ I i ht ovef yon er on t e all
pri tot e of azare t T ere i ary at er p indle
clo i t ay b or t t se les m nt ov r
hi en t e 01 1ers ca t lot f ot of t he Cro e on t e
Hi of 0 vary I n t he forefround i 9 the BI- J esus ork in
i t r cYl and er and cbisel op h t B e to be a
cro 0 is it the 11 for t e door i cn JOB )h i co shy
StXl10t i on h1s ark b ch Ove --s lado in t e 8C n 1 the
fi lre of trc 0 bo y rave a co oe
h l y B r a I ht t t of co t ntm nt anJ hu_
layin ab(ut 1 l i p that i di e te love joy in
h i t k 0 me y ho D hav been brl uc a r
mind r a the oorreot attit de to or l a ex m lified n t1e
Carpenter of t
St JOB h uted ao just Ju tice ere at
for ri _ht eouene or t a t ense ble of ern tu al virtue and
] ic~ is the I f ect 01 anatlfyin ce hereby
he I J 1 i renderod lea in to o e i ce this eneral
char ct rization e discerr in t e can at of St Jo eph oer tain
outstandi n irt GS ic d hi part i c larly t he ode 1
of or e r s
St Joseph 8
Falt~ in ad nd contdent e b lsal n to is ecr a a t a ll
time X the under1yin oharacte r ist i os of hi life Le t i t be
t he co and 0 ten el of God to acc t ary a hi pause
(1 2 ) 0 t he 110 in 1 and hiB del ic te
ou e to et hleh 0 t he order i B ad i n the dead sil nee
0 ni t to lit th t C1ild nd hi other d f ly~e
into y t (14) or t e ne e t t i n 0 t he 111 0 God to
a r i d tmiddot 0 the C il nd h i ot er 0 into t he land -L
oI Inrael ( ~ ) th r i never r nor oytent e bas i shy
t tion nor ex 1e ei on 0 l et bo t t he d ff ianltyI
r th task _od h ad kno DI y ill it i i e i t
c on I denoe r1 a l cr 1 0 bo t h middotty l he e
e t s I a incd the so i ou of D l d JTl i d s t
h uncertaint i e of i d 11y toil s -et nin t e yo e nd
I i ni n t he bu dar i the 10 e 00 i on i of Jon
nd alY
nd a t mo e I or f i d 11 ty I 0 e f i nd in thi lent
son of toil - ali es t the do e ic i et h d
i th lnrtu tr l ou at o here 01 t 0 ork hop lI i e l lt y to
Iry t1h i G espoused 1f ) i n her v rrin ity 1n h r motherhood
i n the ha y y9 r OI peaoeful family 11 e 1 eI ty t o J au i nf boy d yout hom h nd or hi ed a 1 o
Y t ho it h1e privil to oarreas to su~port t o 1nshy
st~lct aye even to cornman n to t r a i n into a oar pente r
even Ii ~ unto imsel i deli ty t o t he heavenl y tru t I c orrJllUnshy
icat ed to h i re by ne n e1 of od t o ot nd a ar d i nn over the
august my t eries of the I nca r natio d t he R dempt i on h ich
affe ct so profoundl y the i nterests of humani ty i n t i Ile and in
St Joseph 9
e t r ni ty IF i t lul n i e te ard o I hi lor t et
over his fam i ly to ive the their r of -at i n v e
s ea on II (16 ) oh i Jo e th on o~ avid t x ~Xoent er
of zaret
nd may e ot lc middotd into i lfe me re ae it i i it
ol~ l in t t be~ut iful ality 0 Jat i ence t~ t nee ary
nt 0 a euienee n f el i ty lch a ~et B or fi ce
all txi I bear blo An bo ill qu~Bti on he
enct l fic t i on 0 o e h I e life it it labours it cri shy
te orlO 9 by su-oe r bund nt lov of 0 h ob
vi ra ed i n hi 1 ht COU8 Boul ad JeB ary i s i an
h i hi olkqhop an t az 2ac place
i n 1 de rece e of hie bert r c in t r
i px hl~ ife n inj at Cal rend oy into a )irit
fter all ~ t ia 10 e ieh from la our
th t ick ri 1 i ft the irkeo I erie
U 1 t ~ne u lt ~ t a ell - Ubi ~tul non laborat t i
1 boratur 1 bor amatur shy
o TO JO
n so middot hr i etian Soul you t t tau in the iQst 0 the
eet in h ll sin turmoil of mod r lif P Re
t t i rres to aze upon tht t pi ctlre on t c b i n 11 10
portrays the industrio e yet eaceful Jo p i n i8 0_ h i p
t Nazare t Study every fa t t anctua y 0 do st ic
pe 0 nd in 1 t r it it can acr ted service r dered a
modes 1 0 lently yet 0 0 oelfully n so erfeotly
You r orks~op may be t he f aotory or the mi ll i h it ner ve
raok lyt h of ponder ou c i nelYi i t may b perc e i n the
st Joseph 10
dizzy he i hts of teat e1 k l e t o of the ne eat r i v 1 of the
to ex 0 Babe+ it may be 1 00 ted do i n t dan~ tlflin
cavern of Borne le hundred of feet bane th the surfaoe of
t earth or it may b b~h~nd - count r 1_ 1 nt 10 e t shy
ment tore or it ln -ir ed enol ur of tel te t Ii of
ome b noo1)or tio or in th exeontlve d - rtrnent or p i va t e
ofIice of i ant industry e profe ion nd occuoation
a rc e ion herel)y the desoendant of A m an va ar e
or]middotin out the universal e te 0 it labour nd toil ~ol t
hou e t ~~ t earth all the day of t~y l ifo (9 ) 011 111
l a our in vain an your toil ill i h 0 your i r t
even it ds out t h tl au of y TIl body f il t o
ap 1y t e p 11080 y of he C rpenter of
omiddott 1 )l y t at ~110 inju ~ice to ~
o ph Y u to You v ri 10 you 0 n ~~~
T i-all the I fu a or er17 e n at your co and y
di- i n deoree 1 are 01 ced under t e obli~ tion of toil
but th re is no d cr ee hioh conmele t he orleer to su it
to i nju t i ce or anel eve nt T 1 bour r i orthy of Il l
h i re ( 9 ) 1 t e div ine way of e re in tle 1i t to ju 4
co en tion n fair oondition of labour eit e1 ~ r l t
nor th h r c advocates or countenano ~e degradation a part
of the l ot OI ~an Bu even der ideal C0n ition t ere come
orne te of earinee a d de resei n loments he lh motives
f de out d Ie ve tie e irit of t or er de 01 te o It i
then tb t you need t picture of t Joseph P- t ron nd odel
of or ere to buoy you u bull
st 08e h 11
Learn then f 0 St Joemiddot to labour ith fa i t in ad nd
itb an humble iv sprit It i 0 k ick a inst
the 00 1(17) ill only ti t ore or tie
obst i n ey elin to thy ta k f i del i ty e en thou h t
t i iJ 8 the y be bitter ea on thy labour it love ot ify
thtgtm y nion itb 1od ke the rofit hI for etal 1ty by
oon8oratln leI t o 1 Flory II do 1 for t e lory 0 bull Gee I
(18) uoh discorrte t oule v li su fro the h nrt of m n -n
p a ce ou t elr ouJ coul t ey ut tt ~r
t ei r l i ve f er t t of t e 1 t 0 t 1e Rtxiarc B t
o )h ~n of av i d
Ther e t ron d in 0 r let hi 10 in a1
ith farvent 1 o ~
in u r 0 in our ed
And p aoe fo r ever more I bull
I t qu aetl
o
( ) Jo r 1 - 9 (a) Titus 2 1 3 (3) nti hon - uri loat i oq
(4 ) att 1 - 1 6 (5) V k 11 - 4 - (6) ltl tt 1 - I n middot (7 ) att XlII shy
55 (8 ) - 3 (9) en 111 - 17 (IO) xov ( 11 )I
Ln 11 - 5 (1 2) middotn 11 - _9 (U3) tt 1- - 24 middot (14 ) a t t 11shy
1 3 (If) att 1- ao ( 6 ) Luke nl - 4a j (17 ) Ao t a lX - 5
( 8 ) 1 Cor X - 31 (I e ) Lu X - 7
-b~~~ --~~ 7~
THE AI S OF CATHOLIC ACTI ON
Holy ~ame ~en we hail you as the very salt of our
catholic manhood Representatives of every station in life
thoug you be your lory rests not upon the lLsterial social
or political prestige of which you lliay boast but rather upon
your sterling ca~holicity which makes brothers of you ell
in t h e COKmon bond of a sturdy fait h a conEietently clean
life and an enthusiastic zeal for the
iCingdo of Jesus Christ IVh ose Sacred
revere
It is a particular privilege to participate in your
most impressive demonstration tecause you make it a I
solemn act of worsh ip in which you render public honor
and praise to the Holy Name of Go d ho is so little
recof~lJ i zed in t he publ ic 1 ife of our day Reco Qn izin ~t
as too fe~ io that we Bre passi g through a period of
retribution fo r our enerations exceEsee and extravagances
in t ne moral and economic order you ere dedic~tin~ to God
an act of puolic reparat ion for the hurden ot sin uncer
which hlli Bn ity is staggering ith t h e consciouBne s s of
fait h wh ich direct s you to look to God I 8 love and lercy
rat her tn n to hUITan po~er and ingenuit y ior the allevi 8t ion
of the evile _hich are sadde ning t e hearts of men you are
hopefully sentHng to heaven a ni ghty prayer that humanity
Iay SOOD 100- into the dawn of a better dov But an act
of wors~ i p would be incomplete without t ~le element of
2
thanks g iving After all our very depre~sion is proof by
antithesis that Go 6 has blessed UB end blessed UP of
America beyond the other namptions of the earth ~aterially
I e must not forget thiE lest we add to
our unwort i1iness t i1e guilt of iilgratit lde You do well to
render tnsn s g iving on an occaeion svch as t h is fo r God IS
innmrerable blessins poured out so lavishly upon our
c lUrc h our countr y an i our institutions Among t -lese
blessi ngs you have singled ou t one for eID hasis today God
wh ich 1I1e hail with rej oicing - Thatl11iay be thanked so
rea ds your pro gr a m for the great blessing s that have come
to our diocese and to t1e Ohurc1 of t hese United States
through tl-e wise and beneficent leadership of our beloved
Bishop in tbe past decade of years - For years we hAve
adfiired a nd founl1 inspiraticn in t 1e amiable claracter
unt iri g zeal and inexhaust 11)le energy o f ~rOilI ost
Reverend and beloved Bis ~ op You of Oleveland are b lessed
indeed in t t e ~ ift of shch a leader As for the Church
in thee LJni ted States of A cerica if t ~ ie s tory of Oat holic
r~ction in t _1is country is ever wri t ten no name iVill etand
out i n bolder relief or more glorious s _ lendor t hampn that
of your high priest and father Bis hop JCEeph Sc hr-erubs
ith you we t hank the Lord a nd p ray ~OEt fervently that
Cleveland and me rica may b e neLi t by h is [enius ~is
guidance and his labors for many years to come
Seeking 8 Prophet
That God may free t he wDrld from the perils of
3
economic depression hatre tislmderstanding and false
philosophy tnat are menacin lJ our civilization and culture
Thu s you deLine the purpo pe of t hi s Cat hoI ic Act ier Demonst ration
In t is you betray t he t il ougl1 ts w~ich dominEte your ass embly
t10Ug_ltS which in fact no asse J- bly of [ren foregat hered tOrlay
in any part of t l1e world can suppress wi t rlOut some unnatural
restraint The evile are too universal too omnipresent too
deep-rooted too painf~ l to ad~it even t he pretence of i g oring
t h em
All t he world is not only thinking talking a nd writing
ab out t is t ing called econo~ic depressi on it is a lso
awai t i ng wit h canst ernst iO[1 what ilay yet oe f a11 our civil i za t ion
-any ho are not pessimists see the handwritinv
of dooll on the wall rrelplessly and well ni gh ho peleesly all
t he wor ld is casting a bout for t h e nostrum wh ich will effect
t he lrag ic cu re f or t e sorcerer who will coax bac ~( over nigh t
the il luSive rite called Pro pe rit j Only t hree day s go
-eneva sent out t 11e Ile 8saPe t ~1at it s econ )) io COll1I1 i ttee can
agr e e on no sine-Ie cure-all for t he prevailing d ifficulties in
~ i ce co nm r ce and i ndus try Gove rnrrents a nd political
parties are tottering becau se t hey seem incapable of doing
or e t han orga niz ing nat io nel aIlc~ in terns t ional conferelces
creat ing conmi s 8ions and order ing surveys and invest i gat ions
in endless variety whose results seeI to be f e r the most part
illusory Captains of industry seem to have lost their skill
4
and t ile wi zardry with wh ich for two decades they have aTi-assed
lortuller in com-pariscn with which the wealth of 01010l or
Croesus are were ant h ills Ban]ers and fin EIlCiers confronted
wi t h t he st na t i e n of indus t ry 8nO co merce 8re pe rplexed
because tne irony of fate leaves them without a market for the
millions of dollars stored in their vaults e xcept for tne
OCC3 i onal 1 010caust on tne al tal of arunon t e stabilize some
le~d in_ worl d Dower Universlt y- f2c11ties scierlci~tE and
ph ilos op ere e_rryer te in re8earc f1 ork ltind surveys reve l no
way out of t ile labyrinth of eCO(lO r 1c 80ci21 ano t 0101 conshy
fusion into wh ic ~ they h ove helped not alittle to steer t h e
bullorld
In ti1e meant i rr e comJimnity c heste 80ci21 agencies
chari t ab1 2 organ izat i Ol1s and inst i tlt i f-llS Ere plannin~ a nd
s middot_ruggling a gainst de s perati o to raise tile fund nece ss ary
to relieve pypoundic a l soci al an -i moral misery in our homes end
to reHove t he evioe rices of de gradati cn from our streets and
t h orou ghf aree dur ing t he onco lr ing winter lhe world is
looking for leadersh i p and sigh i V for a p ro_ het ho lay
forecast a brighter era en divert t1l1m8nit y S cmlr~OJlj t he
IT iry jLu ~ elE of co(mu nism a d r a ical eociali sbull
Truly may e cry out with C-t John t h e Bapt ist There hath
stoo( one in t~e lli i6st of you whom you kno not - For nearly
a decade 01 years a9Iophet whose heart has been rac lced b y the
5
eestlessnese ami gravitatirlb trenrj of t he religiouE moral
anc soc ial I ife of the ~rorl ana whooe unerring unobscured
vi8i~n has been concentrated upon the t h ing s that Bre for t h e
peace of hUr anity has raised h is p r oph e t ic voice in sea on a na
out oi seas on in allocutions and writin r-r s ithout um er even
se Hd ing his mesea e to the end s of t h e eart by t le electrified
va ves of the a ir to warn ~ is ch ildren against t he mena c i g
portents o the ti e s and to call UDon the nations to r a lly to
the --= e f e lEe of t be very f oundations of c rieti an civill~ ation
~ ore 1ceenly than 811 ot~lers t il is prophet re c lizes t hat our
econo ic o reakda wn is a sy p ton rat her t ha t h e 6 i E ease The
u i ver s 1U80rder nes its root 8 in treason to Go and in t h e
f lout inc a t cnrist ian p rinc i ples o j D oral i ty in oontenpt for
socia l jUftice a lld c -1Clri t y i n eva rice 8middotel f isn ness a d lust
-- a ll tlle u f ly t e nt ie l e s of t e c ancer 0 g ross Iat er i a l i ~m
which holds t h e nations in ite rip
lirOI(j his lo f ty wat chtower flung h i gh upon t Ile impre gnable
Rock of Fet e r this holy se er se nds f ort h t h e r ally i nq cry
T_ e peace of Ch rist i the r e i g n of Christ ll bull Tth t h e su reness
o t e explie nced d i ag o s t icia1 W lose f i ngers a ve pl ay ed upon
the pul s e of hutlanity for nearly two t l1 0118 2nd years he diecerns
t e illala dy an p rescribes t te reme ciy - Pr yer Bec r i f ice and
a ct i on - 3t hmiddot lie Act ien - tnrou o-h t h e a1lc l icat ion of
c nrist ian prinelulee to all t ~e proble~ s o f li ~ e The world
maybe indis ~osed to accept his leadership beca~ Be he carries
shyo
not t oe sy b oIs of materi~liE~ on his scutcheon it may not
reec 1~0 to hi s rallyin~ cry because it i e ill p repared for
L h spiritual ideals but it it woul d Ieturn to st b ility
or(er and peace it must accept the recipe -Prayer sacrifice
and C thalic Acticn t h loug-h t ne application of CllIistian
principles to the problerr e of life ll prescribe i by t e Vic a r of
Jrist ~loriously r e i zr i ng over t ne Church of God t he Father
So extensive are t ne ramifications of Cat holic Action
W i cn a ct ually touch es and i nf lue ces every domain of hU~Bn
life anci its ani f ol d relations that a n exhaustive developlent
of its sc op e would be an i ff position uyon your tilli8 a nd patience
But since you hElve dedicated t h is ma _11i f icent demcnstrat ion to
Catholic Action you are entitled to know at least its rrajor
ai rrs as vi 8~ alize b y the Holy Fat ~er
Address ing t h e Int erna t ional Catho lic 0(1 en IS Leagll e in
Ro me t~o years ag o the Supreme Fontiff said Ce1thelic Action
as Fe Wi8~1 it 210 88 we heve frequently charccterized it is the
partiCIpation of the laity in the hierarcnical aposto l ate for
t r~l e deiels e c reli 2 ic u 8 and rnOT21 princirles for t l1 e development
of a 80un~ and ho leBo ~e social acticn under t j e ~uidance of the
h ierarc_y funct io n i ng out s ide and above all -poll tical -98rt ies
7
Be it e mphasized that Cgtholic Acticn is an invitation and
a 8UIlOns isslled to tte c8t101iC lElity to pcrticiprte in the
ayos tolic ministry of the hierarchy It ie an extensi on of
the sacard tampl office in the broad eenee in h ich t Peter
addresses t he l~ity as amp chosen generati2n a ~ingly priesthood
ilOly nati c n (I Petro -2 ) Th Holy Father exlains thi8
exalted co cept ~nOIe sDeci ically wren he deEcribes this lay
apostolate lias a ay and a leans which has come into being
throu~h t h e dispensati of divine ~race to the end tha t the
Ch ~ rch may call and in Dce those to follol the teachinf and the
law of t n e Gospel o might ot~er vrie e t h rough lack of priestly
inIlue ce fe] l a p rey to t ll e isrepreeent s t i one and de 8trllcti ve
efforts of disturoing a 1tators (Acta 1 8 28-38( )
Tru~ to its nartle a tholic Acti r n is charGcterize5 by its
universality 8U waning catholics of every station in life to
share ifl teiE g enuirle apoetolate a nd offerimr a bOLm less
liel t to the ze a l of t belaity for it i B way and a means
of which t h e hurch aV6ils itself to bring to the nations
~less ings of every kind (Acta 1~28-385) It is a masse d
forward movement of the ent ire catholic body hierarchy clergy
cn laity in t n e ir proper coordinat ion t c ir~ p iritall
human life a n its cO II~lex relationshipe wit1 tne Eo1l the
pO er the unction and t~e rule of Ohrists doctrlile and
8
Defend Religious and oral PrilCiples
The defense of the nation its constitution and interests
is tile first duty of a Jhysical army So the first function
of Catholic Action is the defenee 0f the princiles of religion
ane norali ty i h ich Christ pro lul gat ed and sealed with His
de~th ~ h o will deny the necessity of such a defense in the face
of skeptici m agnosticism irreligion and downri~ht atheism
which are sweeping like a tidal wave over the eart h At least
one government has declered an inferrlal warfare upon all reli gion
defying God s wrath with its unspeakable blasphe~ ies threatening
to tear to shreds every vestige of reli gious belief still
lingering in the heartE of ite enslaved su bjectE and forb idding
mothers to lisp the name of God or Christ to the children at
their knees The atheistic propaganda of Communism h s its
resources rophets and high priest s scattered thouhout Europe
and Ame rica sO~i i ng- the se6ds of e materialis far ro s ser and
more destructive than the capitalistic system which it aims to
supplant The divorce of reli CT ion from education in tne public
schools of OUT ovn country co r) lefented by t he undisguised anti shy
relig ious attitude of secular colleges and universities is
~orkin~ out logically in a descend i n_ course indicating a
di~inishinry reli g ious grasp in each succeeding eneration
indifference s kepticis iI-religion at he ism
vel chri stian churche s are speeding uo t he ~Jrocess of
dechr ist iani zat ion by re-5uc ing to mere s~eletons and shadows
9
their traditional beliefs by weakening or abro gating all
d iEc i ~)l ille and by adapt ing the ir moral code to the popular
whi m of t h e age That wonder that forty t housand non-cat Olic
churches are reported closed with their pulpits as silent a 8
t~e tombstones in t h e adjacent cerfeteries at wonder that a
leadin5 minister of a denomination wllOse statistician reported
ten thousa Eo churches wi t fJout a si ngle baptisJ1 last year
charg ed eli s chur ch v i t h s piritual suicide fI and sp i ritual
b irtb control Perhpas t here is h ere a relation ship between
the p hysic a l and t he spiritual order
As for the weakening of morality t here is no need of
nauseating t h is auoience 1i ith the u gly tale of viDlence -fl ~~ooo
crue a middotd l rrmoralltyen wncn t h e d~lly press p resents ln ~ jj-LH~~7 ~tW- -IW ~~ch~~~ NcI ~~ te ~25
ulllntelrupted serlals The lcker sh am Repor~na8 confirmed
t he nQst invinc ible sket ics of the enormous extent of lawlessness
in our land But it may be i mportant to cite expert testimony
imiddotor t h e fact t hat irrel i g ion and cr i rre are int i mately rela t ed
On June 15th Dr Brandl Folice Presi de nt of Vienna a id inter-oh
nat io nal aut h~i t T on c r i mi nolos y addressi ng t he Int er nat ional
Conlt ree of Reli ioll s PSYChOlOy 11 Vienna ma de t h is si p-nificant
state ent about juvenile crLTinele It is to be noted that
t heir attitude toward reli~ion definitely fixes t he deg ree of
t~ eir criminalit y If they have lost t he ir relig ion t hey a re
uore prone to COl ~it crime t an t hos e who ha ve p reserved some
reI i g i on In t he case of g rave CT i me s it i s founei almost
invariably t hat t e offe ers reli g ious feeli ng i~ either
wholly lost or strongly diTdnisned (Oath UeliS June 27 31)
America may well take heedl JMLdeg1~~~ 4-Ugt ~~
10
lhese conCiitions explain in part why t he TToly Fat~er setpound forth as
t be f irst s~)eciiic ai IT of Catholic Action IIt l~e defense of relig ious
and moral princi-oleE II Tne Catholic Church alone stand)firm a nd
i mrnOiralIe above t he ri s il2 t ide of reI i g ious unre st a nd amidst
t h e del~ge of moral decadence and corruption She not only
ga t ers her cnildren to her 8h e1 t e r ing prot ect ion but in
Oatholic Action s ~ e bids the~ to consecrate t~eir gifts of
tongJe and pen especially t he persuasive pOrer of a conei s tent
cat ~olic life to promul gate defeId and de r1onstrate to the
un-oel ievine loose living oft en 1 icent iOUE worldl ing s that
the Go s pel and the Decalogue contain t l e rule oi life w ich
alone g ives dignity to hu man existence and peace to restless
heFrt s
Sound Wn olesore Social Altion
-uch ot t he disorder and ttisery from wh ich hluanity is suffering
today ariseE from unsound p rinciples and theories regarding the
social order unde r wh ich men live Therefore the Hol y Fa t h er has
not only ma de the develo pment of a sound nd who lesome 80cial
action one of t~1e chief airllS of CRtholic Action but in his
recent encyclical entitled 1170rty Years After he has g iven to
the orld t 1e prinCip les End methods according to wh ich the social
order should be constitu ted and reconstructed
A fundamenta_ weakness in the efforts Dut forth to adjust
the present econorrdc and social dislocat ion is the drea m that
the old order is ri ght and sound and that nothing is lac~ing
b ut confi~ence to set the machinery of industry and com~erce in
11
--~~~~~~J Iqal
t1ot ion Geneva t ellSUS dat II psychol og ical U~ctor8 dOjlinate
the econoIr ic crieis t h rou hout t he worl d ( Sept 2AP World
~erampl~ ) Fs yct ology is play1n - its 9srt in the trag ic drama
0 worl d depression but a sk t h e man w o walk s t he streets
in searc_ of 2 j o-b or t h e fat her oo e ch il iren cry for
b read a d t 1ere is none to break to t hem or the far r er~~(L~
WhOE8 cred itors have dis iJossessed h bl o ecclUse tie failed to
(Leet hi S otliga t ions hether p eyc _ olog- ical facto~s dotl inated J--c~lt1J k~~~1-~ ~PL ~AL-~I t h eir inc ivLua l c1i8i8 The social strl ct lJ re and mac h inery
needs ~ore t~aG B p sycho log ical up turn or a superfic i al
repair job it needs a n ew pn ilosoph ic outlook a nd a t horough
reco nstru ction accord ing to the prinCiples cont a ined in or
log ically deduced from t ) e te a chings ot O111i st The r SJulation
of t he responsib ilities a rising from t he possession of p roperty
a nd weBl t ~~ t h e ordering of t he lllutual relat i m s1ips du t ies QA~4q~
and burden~ between t he state and its citizens between capit al
and lab or between t he e~ployer a nd t ~ e e p loyees between one
rank of huma n society a nd t h e ot il er fair c omp ensatioTl a mi the
e qu it a b le d i stri c_ti on of t he joint fruits of iIlvest iIent brains
and bran i r indust ry a gric11 l t ure a dd commerce are all vital
issues Libera l i and cap italism have met therr in t he spirit
of e zrat er ial ist ic philosoph y 821fi sl1ne ss anr avarice t lle
p resent e on Jic debacl e is t ile resu lt If we ould escas e ~
-~he ROPet cOllseque21ces of aei Z I of 80ci a1is and c o municom
vhose advocates are lJot ent i a1ly in our very midst then
gover l ents i imm cial inoustrial and c ommercial l eaders toshy
g etl e r it h t h e sooel advis e rs of t he l abo r i ng clrusep must
adoDt t he safe 6 i1t_ sounel Lidc le course mapp ed ou t by the
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
St Joseph 8
Falt~ in ad nd contdent e b lsal n to is ecr a a t a ll
time X the under1yin oharacte r ist i os of hi life Le t i t be
t he co and 0 ten el of God to acc t ary a hi pause
(1 2 ) 0 t he 110 in 1 and hiB del ic te
ou e to et hleh 0 t he order i B ad i n the dead sil nee
0 ni t to lit th t C1ild nd hi other d f ly~e
into y t (14) or t e ne e t t i n 0 t he 111 0 God to
a r i d tmiddot 0 the C il nd h i ot er 0 into t he land -L
oI Inrael ( ~ ) th r i never r nor oytent e bas i shy
t tion nor ex 1e ei on 0 l et bo t t he d ff ianltyI
r th task _od h ad kno DI y ill it i i e i t
c on I denoe r1 a l cr 1 0 bo t h middotty l he e
e t s I a incd the so i ou of D l d JTl i d s t
h uncertaint i e of i d 11y toil s -et nin t e yo e nd
I i ni n t he bu dar i the 10 e 00 i on i of Jon
nd alY
nd a t mo e I or f i d 11 ty I 0 e f i nd in thi lent
son of toil - ali es t the do e ic i et h d
i th lnrtu tr l ou at o here 01 t 0 ork hop lI i e l lt y to
Iry t1h i G espoused 1f ) i n her v rrin ity 1n h r motherhood
i n the ha y y9 r OI peaoeful family 11 e 1 eI ty t o J au i nf boy d yout hom h nd or hi ed a 1 o
Y t ho it h1e privil to oarreas to su~port t o 1nshy
st~lct aye even to cornman n to t r a i n into a oar pente r
even Ii ~ unto imsel i deli ty t o t he heavenl y tru t I c orrJllUnshy
icat ed to h i re by ne n e1 of od t o ot nd a ar d i nn over the
august my t eries of the I nca r natio d t he R dempt i on h ich
affe ct so profoundl y the i nterests of humani ty i n t i Ile and in
St Joseph 9
e t r ni ty IF i t lul n i e te ard o I hi lor t et
over his fam i ly to ive the their r of -at i n v e
s ea on II (16 ) oh i Jo e th on o~ avid t x ~Xoent er
of zaret
nd may e ot lc middotd into i lfe me re ae it i i it
ol~ l in t t be~ut iful ality 0 Jat i ence t~ t nee ary
nt 0 a euienee n f el i ty lch a ~et B or fi ce
all txi I bear blo An bo ill qu~Bti on he
enct l fic t i on 0 o e h I e life it it labours it cri shy
te orlO 9 by su-oe r bund nt lov of 0 h ob
vi ra ed i n hi 1 ht COU8 Boul ad JeB ary i s i an
h i hi olkqhop an t az 2ac place
i n 1 de rece e of hie bert r c in t r
i px hl~ ife n inj at Cal rend oy into a )irit
fter all ~ t ia 10 e ieh from la our
th t ick ri 1 i ft the irkeo I erie
U 1 t ~ne u lt ~ t a ell - Ubi ~tul non laborat t i
1 boratur 1 bor amatur shy
o TO JO
n so middot hr i etian Soul you t t tau in the iQst 0 the
eet in h ll sin turmoil of mod r lif P Re
t t i rres to aze upon tht t pi ctlre on t c b i n 11 10
portrays the industrio e yet eaceful Jo p i n i8 0_ h i p
t Nazare t Study every fa t t anctua y 0 do st ic
pe 0 nd in 1 t r it it can acr ted service r dered a
modes 1 0 lently yet 0 0 oelfully n so erfeotly
You r orks~op may be t he f aotory or the mi ll i h it ner ve
raok lyt h of ponder ou c i nelYi i t may b perc e i n the
st Joseph 10
dizzy he i hts of teat e1 k l e t o of the ne eat r i v 1 of the
to ex 0 Babe+ it may be 1 00 ted do i n t dan~ tlflin
cavern of Borne le hundred of feet bane th the surfaoe of
t earth or it may b b~h~nd - count r 1_ 1 nt 10 e t shy
ment tore or it ln -ir ed enol ur of tel te t Ii of
ome b noo1)or tio or in th exeontlve d - rtrnent or p i va t e
ofIice of i ant industry e profe ion nd occuoation
a rc e ion herel)y the desoendant of A m an va ar e
or]middotin out the universal e te 0 it labour nd toil ~ol t
hou e t ~~ t earth all the day of t~y l ifo (9 ) 011 111
l a our in vain an your toil ill i h 0 your i r t
even it ds out t h tl au of y TIl body f il t o
ap 1y t e p 11080 y of he C rpenter of
omiddott 1 )l y t at ~110 inju ~ice to ~
o ph Y u to You v ri 10 you 0 n ~~~
T i-all the I fu a or er17 e n at your co and y
di- i n deoree 1 are 01 ced under t e obli~ tion of toil
but th re is no d cr ee hioh conmele t he orleer to su it
to i nju t i ce or anel eve nt T 1 bour r i orthy of Il l
h i re ( 9 ) 1 t e div ine way of e re in tle 1i t to ju 4
co en tion n fair oondition of labour eit e1 ~ r l t
nor th h r c advocates or countenano ~e degradation a part
of the l ot OI ~an Bu even der ideal C0n ition t ere come
orne te of earinee a d de resei n loments he lh motives
f de out d Ie ve tie e irit of t or er de 01 te o It i
then tb t you need t picture of t Joseph P- t ron nd odel
of or ere to buoy you u bull
st 08e h 11
Learn then f 0 St Joemiddot to labour ith fa i t in ad nd
itb an humble iv sprit It i 0 k ick a inst
the 00 1(17) ill only ti t ore or tie
obst i n ey elin to thy ta k f i del i ty e en thou h t
t i iJ 8 the y be bitter ea on thy labour it love ot ify
thtgtm y nion itb 1od ke the rofit hI for etal 1ty by
oon8oratln leI t o 1 Flory II do 1 for t e lory 0 bull Gee I
(18) uoh discorrte t oule v li su fro the h nrt of m n -n
p a ce ou t elr ouJ coul t ey ut tt ~r
t ei r l i ve f er t t of t e 1 t 0 t 1e Rtxiarc B t
o )h ~n of av i d
Ther e t ron d in 0 r let hi 10 in a1
ith farvent 1 o ~
in u r 0 in our ed
And p aoe fo r ever more I bull
I t qu aetl
o
( ) Jo r 1 - 9 (a) Titus 2 1 3 (3) nti hon - uri loat i oq
(4 ) att 1 - 1 6 (5) V k 11 - 4 - (6) ltl tt 1 - I n middot (7 ) att XlII shy
55 (8 ) - 3 (9) en 111 - 17 (IO) xov ( 11 )I
Ln 11 - 5 (1 2) middotn 11 - _9 (U3) tt 1- - 24 middot (14 ) a t t 11shy
1 3 (If) att 1- ao ( 6 ) Luke nl - 4a j (17 ) Ao t a lX - 5
( 8 ) 1 Cor X - 31 (I e ) Lu X - 7
-b~~~ --~~ 7~
THE AI S OF CATHOLIC ACTI ON
Holy ~ame ~en we hail you as the very salt of our
catholic manhood Representatives of every station in life
thoug you be your lory rests not upon the lLsterial social
or political prestige of which you lliay boast but rather upon
your sterling ca~holicity which makes brothers of you ell
in t h e COKmon bond of a sturdy fait h a conEietently clean
life and an enthusiastic zeal for the
iCingdo of Jesus Christ IVh ose Sacred
revere
It is a particular privilege to participate in your
most impressive demonstration tecause you make it a I
solemn act of worsh ip in which you render public honor
and praise to the Holy Name of Go d ho is so little
recof~lJ i zed in t he publ ic 1 ife of our day Reco Qn izin ~t
as too fe~ io that we Bre passi g through a period of
retribution fo r our enerations exceEsee and extravagances
in t ne moral and economic order you ere dedic~tin~ to God
an act of puolic reparat ion for the hurden ot sin uncer
which hlli Bn ity is staggering ith t h e consciouBne s s of
fait h wh ich direct s you to look to God I 8 love and lercy
rat her tn n to hUITan po~er and ingenuit y ior the allevi 8t ion
of the evile _hich are sadde ning t e hearts of men you are
hopefully sentHng to heaven a ni ghty prayer that humanity
Iay SOOD 100- into the dawn of a better dov But an act
of wors~ i p would be incomplete without t ~le element of
2
thanks g iving After all our very depre~sion is proof by
antithesis that Go 6 has blessed UB end blessed UP of
America beyond the other namptions of the earth ~aterially
I e must not forget thiE lest we add to
our unwort i1iness t i1e guilt of iilgratit lde You do well to
render tnsn s g iving on an occaeion svch as t h is fo r God IS
innmrerable blessins poured out so lavishly upon our
c lUrc h our countr y an i our institutions Among t -lese
blessi ngs you have singled ou t one for eID hasis today God
wh ich 1I1e hail with rej oicing - Thatl11iay be thanked so
rea ds your pro gr a m for the great blessing s that have come
to our diocese and to t1e Ohurc1 of t hese United States
through tl-e wise and beneficent leadership of our beloved
Bishop in tbe past decade of years - For years we hAve
adfiired a nd founl1 inspiraticn in t 1e amiable claracter
unt iri g zeal and inexhaust 11)le energy o f ~rOilI ost
Reverend and beloved Bis ~ op You of Oleveland are b lessed
indeed in t t e ~ ift of shch a leader As for the Church
in thee LJni ted States of A cerica if t ~ ie s tory of Oat holic
r~ction in t _1is country is ever wri t ten no name iVill etand
out i n bolder relief or more glorious s _ lendor t hampn that
of your high priest and father Bis hop JCEeph Sc hr-erubs
ith you we t hank the Lord a nd p ray ~OEt fervently that
Cleveland and me rica may b e neLi t by h is [enius ~is
guidance and his labors for many years to come
Seeking 8 Prophet
That God may free t he wDrld from the perils of
3
economic depression hatre tislmderstanding and false
philosophy tnat are menacin lJ our civilization and culture
Thu s you deLine the purpo pe of t hi s Cat hoI ic Act ier Demonst ration
In t is you betray t he t il ougl1 ts w~ich dominEte your ass embly
t10Ug_ltS which in fact no asse J- bly of [ren foregat hered tOrlay
in any part of t l1e world can suppress wi t rlOut some unnatural
restraint The evile are too universal too omnipresent too
deep-rooted too painf~ l to ad~it even t he pretence of i g oring
t h em
All t he world is not only thinking talking a nd writing
ab out t is t ing called econo~ic depressi on it is a lso
awai t i ng wit h canst ernst iO[1 what ilay yet oe f a11 our civil i za t ion
-any ho are not pessimists see the handwritinv
of dooll on the wall rrelplessly and well ni gh ho peleesly all
t he wor ld is casting a bout for t h e nostrum wh ich will effect
t he lrag ic cu re f or t e sorcerer who will coax bac ~( over nigh t
the il luSive rite called Pro pe rit j Only t hree day s go
-eneva sent out t 11e Ile 8saPe t ~1at it s econ )) io COll1I1 i ttee can
agr e e on no sine-Ie cure-all for t he prevailing d ifficulties in
~ i ce co nm r ce and i ndus try Gove rnrrents a nd political
parties are tottering becau se t hey seem incapable of doing
or e t han orga niz ing nat io nel aIlc~ in terns t ional conferelces
creat ing conmi s 8ions and order ing surveys and invest i gat ions
in endless variety whose results seeI to be f e r the most part
illusory Captains of industry seem to have lost their skill
4
and t ile wi zardry with wh ich for two decades they have aTi-assed
lortuller in com-pariscn with which the wealth of 01010l or
Croesus are were ant h ills Ban]ers and fin EIlCiers confronted
wi t h t he st na t i e n of indus t ry 8nO co merce 8re pe rplexed
because tne irony of fate leaves them without a market for the
millions of dollars stored in their vaults e xcept for tne
OCC3 i onal 1 010caust on tne al tal of arunon t e stabilize some
le~d in_ worl d Dower Universlt y- f2c11ties scierlci~tE and
ph ilos op ere e_rryer te in re8earc f1 ork ltind surveys reve l no
way out of t ile labyrinth of eCO(lO r 1c 80ci21 ano t 0101 conshy
fusion into wh ic ~ they h ove helped not alittle to steer t h e
bullorld
In ti1e meant i rr e comJimnity c heste 80ci21 agencies
chari t ab1 2 organ izat i Ol1s and inst i tlt i f-llS Ere plannin~ a nd
s middot_ruggling a gainst de s perati o to raise tile fund nece ss ary
to relieve pypoundic a l soci al an -i moral misery in our homes end
to reHove t he evioe rices of de gradati cn from our streets and
t h orou ghf aree dur ing t he onco lr ing winter lhe world is
looking for leadersh i p and sigh i V for a p ro_ het ho lay
forecast a brighter era en divert t1l1m8nit y S cmlr~OJlj t he
IT iry jLu ~ elE of co(mu nism a d r a ical eociali sbull
Truly may e cry out with C-t John t h e Bapt ist There hath
stoo( one in t~e lli i6st of you whom you kno not - For nearly
a decade 01 years a9Iophet whose heart has been rac lced b y the
5
eestlessnese ami gravitatirlb trenrj of t he religiouE moral
anc soc ial I ife of the ~rorl ana whooe unerring unobscured
vi8i~n has been concentrated upon the t h ing s that Bre for t h e
peace of hUr anity has raised h is p r oph e t ic voice in sea on a na
out oi seas on in allocutions and writin r-r s ithout um er even
se Hd ing his mesea e to the end s of t h e eart by t le electrified
va ves of the a ir to warn ~ is ch ildren against t he mena c i g
portents o the ti e s and to call UDon the nations to r a lly to
the --= e f e lEe of t be very f oundations of c rieti an civill~ ation
~ ore 1ceenly than 811 ot~lers t il is prophet re c lizes t hat our
econo ic o reakda wn is a sy p ton rat her t ha t h e 6 i E ease The
u i ver s 1U80rder nes its root 8 in treason to Go and in t h e
f lout inc a t cnrist ian p rinc i ples o j D oral i ty in oontenpt for
socia l jUftice a lld c -1Clri t y i n eva rice 8middotel f isn ness a d lust
-- a ll tlle u f ly t e nt ie l e s of t e c ancer 0 g ross Iat er i a l i ~m
which holds t h e nations in ite rip
lirOI(j his lo f ty wat chtower flung h i gh upon t Ile impre gnable
Rock of Fet e r this holy se er se nds f ort h t h e r ally i nq cry
T_ e peace of Ch rist i the r e i g n of Christ ll bull Tth t h e su reness
o t e explie nced d i ag o s t icia1 W lose f i ngers a ve pl ay ed upon
the pul s e of hutlanity for nearly two t l1 0118 2nd years he diecerns
t e illala dy an p rescribes t te reme ciy - Pr yer Bec r i f ice and
a ct i on - 3t hmiddot lie Act ien - tnrou o-h t h e a1lc l icat ion of
c nrist ian prinelulee to all t ~e proble~ s o f li ~ e The world
maybe indis ~osed to accept his leadership beca~ Be he carries
shyo
not t oe sy b oIs of materi~liE~ on his scutcheon it may not
reec 1~0 to hi s rallyin~ cry because it i e ill p repared for
L h spiritual ideals but it it woul d Ieturn to st b ility
or(er and peace it must accept the recipe -Prayer sacrifice
and C thalic Acticn t h loug-h t ne application of CllIistian
principles to the problerr e of life ll prescribe i by t e Vic a r of
Jrist ~loriously r e i zr i ng over t ne Church of God t he Father
So extensive are t ne ramifications of Cat holic Action
W i cn a ct ually touch es and i nf lue ces every domain of hU~Bn
life anci its ani f ol d relations that a n exhaustive developlent
of its sc op e would be an i ff position uyon your tilli8 a nd patience
But since you hElve dedicated t h is ma _11i f icent demcnstrat ion to
Catholic Action you are entitled to know at least its rrajor
ai rrs as vi 8~ alize b y the Holy Fat ~er
Address ing t h e Int erna t ional Catho lic 0(1 en IS Leagll e in
Ro me t~o years ag o the Supreme Fontiff said Ce1thelic Action
as Fe Wi8~1 it 210 88 we heve frequently charccterized it is the
partiCIpation of the laity in the hierarcnical aposto l ate for
t r~l e deiels e c reli 2 ic u 8 and rnOT21 princirles for t l1 e development
of a 80un~ and ho leBo ~e social acticn under t j e ~uidance of the
h ierarc_y funct io n i ng out s ide and above all -poll tical -98rt ies
7
Be it e mphasized that Cgtholic Acticn is an invitation and
a 8UIlOns isslled to tte c8t101iC lElity to pcrticiprte in the
ayos tolic ministry of the hierarchy It ie an extensi on of
the sacard tampl office in the broad eenee in h ich t Peter
addresses t he l~ity as amp chosen generati2n a ~ingly priesthood
ilOly nati c n (I Petro -2 ) Th Holy Father exlains thi8
exalted co cept ~nOIe sDeci ically wren he deEcribes this lay
apostolate lias a ay and a leans which has come into being
throu~h t h e dispensati of divine ~race to the end tha t the
Ch ~ rch may call and in Dce those to follol the teachinf and the
law of t n e Gospel o might ot~er vrie e t h rough lack of priestly
inIlue ce fe] l a p rey to t ll e isrepreeent s t i one and de 8trllcti ve
efforts of disturoing a 1tators (Acta 1 8 28-38( )
Tru~ to its nartle a tholic Acti r n is charGcterize5 by its
universality 8U waning catholics of every station in life to
share ifl teiE g enuirle apoetolate a nd offerimr a bOLm less
liel t to the ze a l of t belaity for it i B way and a means
of which t h e hurch aV6ils itself to bring to the nations
~less ings of every kind (Acta 1~28-385) It is a masse d
forward movement of the ent ire catholic body hierarchy clergy
cn laity in t n e ir proper coordinat ion t c ir~ p iritall
human life a n its cO II~lex relationshipe wit1 tne Eo1l the
pO er the unction and t~e rule of Ohrists doctrlile and
8
Defend Religious and oral PrilCiples
The defense of the nation its constitution and interests
is tile first duty of a Jhysical army So the first function
of Catholic Action is the defenee 0f the princiles of religion
ane norali ty i h ich Christ pro lul gat ed and sealed with His
de~th ~ h o will deny the necessity of such a defense in the face
of skeptici m agnosticism irreligion and downri~ht atheism
which are sweeping like a tidal wave over the eart h At least
one government has declered an inferrlal warfare upon all reli gion
defying God s wrath with its unspeakable blasphe~ ies threatening
to tear to shreds every vestige of reli gious belief still
lingering in the heartE of ite enslaved su bjectE and forb idding
mothers to lisp the name of God or Christ to the children at
their knees The atheistic propaganda of Communism h s its
resources rophets and high priest s scattered thouhout Europe
and Ame rica sO~i i ng- the se6ds of e materialis far ro s ser and
more destructive than the capitalistic system which it aims to
supplant The divorce of reli CT ion from education in tne public
schools of OUT ovn country co r) lefented by t he undisguised anti shy
relig ious attitude of secular colleges and universities is
~orkin~ out logically in a descend i n_ course indicating a
di~inishinry reli g ious grasp in each succeeding eneration
indifference s kepticis iI-religion at he ism
vel chri stian churche s are speeding uo t he ~Jrocess of
dechr ist iani zat ion by re-5uc ing to mere s~eletons and shadows
9
their traditional beliefs by weakening or abro gating all
d iEc i ~)l ille and by adapt ing the ir moral code to the popular
whi m of t h e age That wonder that forty t housand non-cat Olic
churches are reported closed with their pulpits as silent a 8
t~e tombstones in t h e adjacent cerfeteries at wonder that a
leadin5 minister of a denomination wllOse statistician reported
ten thousa Eo churches wi t fJout a si ngle baptisJ1 last year
charg ed eli s chur ch v i t h s piritual suicide fI and sp i ritual
b irtb control Perhpas t here is h ere a relation ship between
the p hysic a l and t he spiritual order
As for the weakening of morality t here is no need of
nauseating t h is auoience 1i ith the u gly tale of viDlence -fl ~~ooo
crue a middotd l rrmoralltyen wncn t h e d~lly press p resents ln ~ jj-LH~~7 ~tW- -IW ~~ch~~~ NcI ~~ te ~25
ulllntelrupted serlals The lcker sh am Repor~na8 confirmed
t he nQst invinc ible sket ics of the enormous extent of lawlessness
in our land But it may be i mportant to cite expert testimony
imiddotor t h e fact t hat irrel i g ion and cr i rre are int i mately rela t ed
On June 15th Dr Brandl Folice Presi de nt of Vienna a id inter-oh
nat io nal aut h~i t T on c r i mi nolos y addressi ng t he Int er nat ional
Conlt ree of Reli ioll s PSYChOlOy 11 Vienna ma de t h is si p-nificant
state ent about juvenile crLTinele It is to be noted that
t heir attitude toward reli~ion definitely fixes t he deg ree of
t~ eir criminalit y If they have lost t he ir relig ion t hey a re
uore prone to COl ~it crime t an t hos e who ha ve p reserved some
reI i g i on In t he case of g rave CT i me s it i s founei almost
invariably t hat t e offe ers reli g ious feeli ng i~ either
wholly lost or strongly diTdnisned (Oath UeliS June 27 31)
America may well take heedl JMLdeg1~~~ 4-Ugt ~~
10
lhese conCiitions explain in part why t he TToly Fat~er setpound forth as
t be f irst s~)eciiic ai IT of Catholic Action IIt l~e defense of relig ious
and moral princi-oleE II Tne Catholic Church alone stand)firm a nd
i mrnOiralIe above t he ri s il2 t ide of reI i g ious unre st a nd amidst
t h e del~ge of moral decadence and corruption She not only
ga t ers her cnildren to her 8h e1 t e r ing prot ect ion but in
Oatholic Action s ~ e bids the~ to consecrate t~eir gifts of
tongJe and pen especially t he persuasive pOrer of a conei s tent
cat ~olic life to promul gate defeId and de r1onstrate to the
un-oel ievine loose living oft en 1 icent iOUE worldl ing s that
the Go s pel and the Decalogue contain t l e rule oi life w ich
alone g ives dignity to hu man existence and peace to restless
heFrt s
Sound Wn olesore Social Altion
-uch ot t he disorder and ttisery from wh ich hluanity is suffering
today ariseE from unsound p rinciples and theories regarding the
social order unde r wh ich men live Therefore the Hol y Fa t h er has
not only ma de the develo pment of a sound nd who lesome 80cial
action one of t~1e chief airllS of CRtholic Action but in his
recent encyclical entitled 1170rty Years After he has g iven to
the orld t 1e prinCip les End methods according to wh ich the social
order should be constitu ted and reconstructed
A fundamenta_ weakness in the efforts Dut forth to adjust
the present econorrdc and social dislocat ion is the drea m that
the old order is ri ght and sound and that nothing is lac~ing
b ut confi~ence to set the machinery of industry and com~erce in
11
--~~~~~~J Iqal
t1ot ion Geneva t ellSUS dat II psychol og ical U~ctor8 dOjlinate
the econoIr ic crieis t h rou hout t he worl d ( Sept 2AP World
~erampl~ ) Fs yct ology is play1n - its 9srt in the trag ic drama
0 worl d depression but a sk t h e man w o walk s t he streets
in searc_ of 2 j o-b or t h e fat her oo e ch il iren cry for
b read a d t 1ere is none to break to t hem or the far r er~~(L~
WhOE8 cred itors have dis iJossessed h bl o ecclUse tie failed to
(Leet hi S otliga t ions hether p eyc _ olog- ical facto~s dotl inated J--c~lt1J k~~~1-~ ~PL ~AL-~I t h eir inc ivLua l c1i8i8 The social strl ct lJ re and mac h inery
needs ~ore t~aG B p sycho log ical up turn or a superfic i al
repair job it needs a n ew pn ilosoph ic outlook a nd a t horough
reco nstru ction accord ing to the prinCiples cont a ined in or
log ically deduced from t ) e te a chings ot O111i st The r SJulation
of t he responsib ilities a rising from t he possession of p roperty
a nd weBl t ~~ t h e ordering of t he lllutual relat i m s1ips du t ies QA~4q~
and burden~ between t he state and its citizens between capit al
and lab or between t he e~ployer a nd t ~ e e p loyees between one
rank of huma n society a nd t h e ot il er fair c omp ensatioTl a mi the
e qu it a b le d i stri c_ti on of t he joint fruits of iIlvest iIent brains
and bran i r indust ry a gric11 l t ure a dd commerce are all vital
issues Libera l i and cap italism have met therr in t he spirit
of e zrat er ial ist ic philosoph y 821fi sl1ne ss anr avarice t lle
p resent e on Jic debacl e is t ile resu lt If we ould escas e ~
-~he ROPet cOllseque21ces of aei Z I of 80ci a1is and c o municom
vhose advocates are lJot ent i a1ly in our very midst then
gover l ents i imm cial inoustrial and c ommercial l eaders toshy
g etl e r it h t h e sooel advis e rs of t he l abo r i ng clrusep must
adoDt t he safe 6 i1t_ sounel Lidc le course mapp ed ou t by the
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
St Joseph 9
e t r ni ty IF i t lul n i e te ard o I hi lor t et
over his fam i ly to ive the their r of -at i n v e
s ea on II (16 ) oh i Jo e th on o~ avid t x ~Xoent er
of zaret
nd may e ot lc middotd into i lfe me re ae it i i it
ol~ l in t t be~ut iful ality 0 Jat i ence t~ t nee ary
nt 0 a euienee n f el i ty lch a ~et B or fi ce
all txi I bear blo An bo ill qu~Bti on he
enct l fic t i on 0 o e h I e life it it labours it cri shy
te orlO 9 by su-oe r bund nt lov of 0 h ob
vi ra ed i n hi 1 ht COU8 Boul ad JeB ary i s i an
h i hi olkqhop an t az 2ac place
i n 1 de rece e of hie bert r c in t r
i px hl~ ife n inj at Cal rend oy into a )irit
fter all ~ t ia 10 e ieh from la our
th t ick ri 1 i ft the irkeo I erie
U 1 t ~ne u lt ~ t a ell - Ubi ~tul non laborat t i
1 boratur 1 bor amatur shy
o TO JO
n so middot hr i etian Soul you t t tau in the iQst 0 the
eet in h ll sin turmoil of mod r lif P Re
t t i rres to aze upon tht t pi ctlre on t c b i n 11 10
portrays the industrio e yet eaceful Jo p i n i8 0_ h i p
t Nazare t Study every fa t t anctua y 0 do st ic
pe 0 nd in 1 t r it it can acr ted service r dered a
modes 1 0 lently yet 0 0 oelfully n so erfeotly
You r orks~op may be t he f aotory or the mi ll i h it ner ve
raok lyt h of ponder ou c i nelYi i t may b perc e i n the
st Joseph 10
dizzy he i hts of teat e1 k l e t o of the ne eat r i v 1 of the
to ex 0 Babe+ it may be 1 00 ted do i n t dan~ tlflin
cavern of Borne le hundred of feet bane th the surfaoe of
t earth or it may b b~h~nd - count r 1_ 1 nt 10 e t shy
ment tore or it ln -ir ed enol ur of tel te t Ii of
ome b noo1)or tio or in th exeontlve d - rtrnent or p i va t e
ofIice of i ant industry e profe ion nd occuoation
a rc e ion herel)y the desoendant of A m an va ar e
or]middotin out the universal e te 0 it labour nd toil ~ol t
hou e t ~~ t earth all the day of t~y l ifo (9 ) 011 111
l a our in vain an your toil ill i h 0 your i r t
even it ds out t h tl au of y TIl body f il t o
ap 1y t e p 11080 y of he C rpenter of
omiddott 1 )l y t at ~110 inju ~ice to ~
o ph Y u to You v ri 10 you 0 n ~~~
T i-all the I fu a or er17 e n at your co and y
di- i n deoree 1 are 01 ced under t e obli~ tion of toil
but th re is no d cr ee hioh conmele t he orleer to su it
to i nju t i ce or anel eve nt T 1 bour r i orthy of Il l
h i re ( 9 ) 1 t e div ine way of e re in tle 1i t to ju 4
co en tion n fair oondition of labour eit e1 ~ r l t
nor th h r c advocates or countenano ~e degradation a part
of the l ot OI ~an Bu even der ideal C0n ition t ere come
orne te of earinee a d de resei n loments he lh motives
f de out d Ie ve tie e irit of t or er de 01 te o It i
then tb t you need t picture of t Joseph P- t ron nd odel
of or ere to buoy you u bull
st 08e h 11
Learn then f 0 St Joemiddot to labour ith fa i t in ad nd
itb an humble iv sprit It i 0 k ick a inst
the 00 1(17) ill only ti t ore or tie
obst i n ey elin to thy ta k f i del i ty e en thou h t
t i iJ 8 the y be bitter ea on thy labour it love ot ify
thtgtm y nion itb 1od ke the rofit hI for etal 1ty by
oon8oratln leI t o 1 Flory II do 1 for t e lory 0 bull Gee I
(18) uoh discorrte t oule v li su fro the h nrt of m n -n
p a ce ou t elr ouJ coul t ey ut tt ~r
t ei r l i ve f er t t of t e 1 t 0 t 1e Rtxiarc B t
o )h ~n of av i d
Ther e t ron d in 0 r let hi 10 in a1
ith farvent 1 o ~
in u r 0 in our ed
And p aoe fo r ever more I bull
I t qu aetl
o
( ) Jo r 1 - 9 (a) Titus 2 1 3 (3) nti hon - uri loat i oq
(4 ) att 1 - 1 6 (5) V k 11 - 4 - (6) ltl tt 1 - I n middot (7 ) att XlII shy
55 (8 ) - 3 (9) en 111 - 17 (IO) xov ( 11 )I
Ln 11 - 5 (1 2) middotn 11 - _9 (U3) tt 1- - 24 middot (14 ) a t t 11shy
1 3 (If) att 1- ao ( 6 ) Luke nl - 4a j (17 ) Ao t a lX - 5
( 8 ) 1 Cor X - 31 (I e ) Lu X - 7
-b~~~ --~~ 7~
THE AI S OF CATHOLIC ACTI ON
Holy ~ame ~en we hail you as the very salt of our
catholic manhood Representatives of every station in life
thoug you be your lory rests not upon the lLsterial social
or political prestige of which you lliay boast but rather upon
your sterling ca~holicity which makes brothers of you ell
in t h e COKmon bond of a sturdy fait h a conEietently clean
life and an enthusiastic zeal for the
iCingdo of Jesus Christ IVh ose Sacred
revere
It is a particular privilege to participate in your
most impressive demonstration tecause you make it a I
solemn act of worsh ip in which you render public honor
and praise to the Holy Name of Go d ho is so little
recof~lJ i zed in t he publ ic 1 ife of our day Reco Qn izin ~t
as too fe~ io that we Bre passi g through a period of
retribution fo r our enerations exceEsee and extravagances
in t ne moral and economic order you ere dedic~tin~ to God
an act of puolic reparat ion for the hurden ot sin uncer
which hlli Bn ity is staggering ith t h e consciouBne s s of
fait h wh ich direct s you to look to God I 8 love and lercy
rat her tn n to hUITan po~er and ingenuit y ior the allevi 8t ion
of the evile _hich are sadde ning t e hearts of men you are
hopefully sentHng to heaven a ni ghty prayer that humanity
Iay SOOD 100- into the dawn of a better dov But an act
of wors~ i p would be incomplete without t ~le element of
2
thanks g iving After all our very depre~sion is proof by
antithesis that Go 6 has blessed UB end blessed UP of
America beyond the other namptions of the earth ~aterially
I e must not forget thiE lest we add to
our unwort i1iness t i1e guilt of iilgratit lde You do well to
render tnsn s g iving on an occaeion svch as t h is fo r God IS
innmrerable blessins poured out so lavishly upon our
c lUrc h our countr y an i our institutions Among t -lese
blessi ngs you have singled ou t one for eID hasis today God
wh ich 1I1e hail with rej oicing - Thatl11iay be thanked so
rea ds your pro gr a m for the great blessing s that have come
to our diocese and to t1e Ohurc1 of t hese United States
through tl-e wise and beneficent leadership of our beloved
Bishop in tbe past decade of years - For years we hAve
adfiired a nd founl1 inspiraticn in t 1e amiable claracter
unt iri g zeal and inexhaust 11)le energy o f ~rOilI ost
Reverend and beloved Bis ~ op You of Oleveland are b lessed
indeed in t t e ~ ift of shch a leader As for the Church
in thee LJni ted States of A cerica if t ~ ie s tory of Oat holic
r~ction in t _1is country is ever wri t ten no name iVill etand
out i n bolder relief or more glorious s _ lendor t hampn that
of your high priest and father Bis hop JCEeph Sc hr-erubs
ith you we t hank the Lord a nd p ray ~OEt fervently that
Cleveland and me rica may b e neLi t by h is [enius ~is
guidance and his labors for many years to come
Seeking 8 Prophet
That God may free t he wDrld from the perils of
3
economic depression hatre tislmderstanding and false
philosophy tnat are menacin lJ our civilization and culture
Thu s you deLine the purpo pe of t hi s Cat hoI ic Act ier Demonst ration
In t is you betray t he t il ougl1 ts w~ich dominEte your ass embly
t10Ug_ltS which in fact no asse J- bly of [ren foregat hered tOrlay
in any part of t l1e world can suppress wi t rlOut some unnatural
restraint The evile are too universal too omnipresent too
deep-rooted too painf~ l to ad~it even t he pretence of i g oring
t h em
All t he world is not only thinking talking a nd writing
ab out t is t ing called econo~ic depressi on it is a lso
awai t i ng wit h canst ernst iO[1 what ilay yet oe f a11 our civil i za t ion
-any ho are not pessimists see the handwritinv
of dooll on the wall rrelplessly and well ni gh ho peleesly all
t he wor ld is casting a bout for t h e nostrum wh ich will effect
t he lrag ic cu re f or t e sorcerer who will coax bac ~( over nigh t
the il luSive rite called Pro pe rit j Only t hree day s go
-eneva sent out t 11e Ile 8saPe t ~1at it s econ )) io COll1I1 i ttee can
agr e e on no sine-Ie cure-all for t he prevailing d ifficulties in
~ i ce co nm r ce and i ndus try Gove rnrrents a nd political
parties are tottering becau se t hey seem incapable of doing
or e t han orga niz ing nat io nel aIlc~ in terns t ional conferelces
creat ing conmi s 8ions and order ing surveys and invest i gat ions
in endless variety whose results seeI to be f e r the most part
illusory Captains of industry seem to have lost their skill
4
and t ile wi zardry with wh ich for two decades they have aTi-assed
lortuller in com-pariscn with which the wealth of 01010l or
Croesus are were ant h ills Ban]ers and fin EIlCiers confronted
wi t h t he st na t i e n of indus t ry 8nO co merce 8re pe rplexed
because tne irony of fate leaves them without a market for the
millions of dollars stored in their vaults e xcept for tne
OCC3 i onal 1 010caust on tne al tal of arunon t e stabilize some
le~d in_ worl d Dower Universlt y- f2c11ties scierlci~tE and
ph ilos op ere e_rryer te in re8earc f1 ork ltind surveys reve l no
way out of t ile labyrinth of eCO(lO r 1c 80ci21 ano t 0101 conshy
fusion into wh ic ~ they h ove helped not alittle to steer t h e
bullorld
In ti1e meant i rr e comJimnity c heste 80ci21 agencies
chari t ab1 2 organ izat i Ol1s and inst i tlt i f-llS Ere plannin~ a nd
s middot_ruggling a gainst de s perati o to raise tile fund nece ss ary
to relieve pypoundic a l soci al an -i moral misery in our homes end
to reHove t he evioe rices of de gradati cn from our streets and
t h orou ghf aree dur ing t he onco lr ing winter lhe world is
looking for leadersh i p and sigh i V for a p ro_ het ho lay
forecast a brighter era en divert t1l1m8nit y S cmlr~OJlj t he
IT iry jLu ~ elE of co(mu nism a d r a ical eociali sbull
Truly may e cry out with C-t John t h e Bapt ist There hath
stoo( one in t~e lli i6st of you whom you kno not - For nearly
a decade 01 years a9Iophet whose heart has been rac lced b y the
5
eestlessnese ami gravitatirlb trenrj of t he religiouE moral
anc soc ial I ife of the ~rorl ana whooe unerring unobscured
vi8i~n has been concentrated upon the t h ing s that Bre for t h e
peace of hUr anity has raised h is p r oph e t ic voice in sea on a na
out oi seas on in allocutions and writin r-r s ithout um er even
se Hd ing his mesea e to the end s of t h e eart by t le electrified
va ves of the a ir to warn ~ is ch ildren against t he mena c i g
portents o the ti e s and to call UDon the nations to r a lly to
the --= e f e lEe of t be very f oundations of c rieti an civill~ ation
~ ore 1ceenly than 811 ot~lers t il is prophet re c lizes t hat our
econo ic o reakda wn is a sy p ton rat her t ha t h e 6 i E ease The
u i ver s 1U80rder nes its root 8 in treason to Go and in t h e
f lout inc a t cnrist ian p rinc i ples o j D oral i ty in oontenpt for
socia l jUftice a lld c -1Clri t y i n eva rice 8middotel f isn ness a d lust
-- a ll tlle u f ly t e nt ie l e s of t e c ancer 0 g ross Iat er i a l i ~m
which holds t h e nations in ite rip
lirOI(j his lo f ty wat chtower flung h i gh upon t Ile impre gnable
Rock of Fet e r this holy se er se nds f ort h t h e r ally i nq cry
T_ e peace of Ch rist i the r e i g n of Christ ll bull Tth t h e su reness
o t e explie nced d i ag o s t icia1 W lose f i ngers a ve pl ay ed upon
the pul s e of hutlanity for nearly two t l1 0118 2nd years he diecerns
t e illala dy an p rescribes t te reme ciy - Pr yer Bec r i f ice and
a ct i on - 3t hmiddot lie Act ien - tnrou o-h t h e a1lc l icat ion of
c nrist ian prinelulee to all t ~e proble~ s o f li ~ e The world
maybe indis ~osed to accept his leadership beca~ Be he carries
shyo
not t oe sy b oIs of materi~liE~ on his scutcheon it may not
reec 1~0 to hi s rallyin~ cry because it i e ill p repared for
L h spiritual ideals but it it woul d Ieturn to st b ility
or(er and peace it must accept the recipe -Prayer sacrifice
and C thalic Acticn t h loug-h t ne application of CllIistian
principles to the problerr e of life ll prescribe i by t e Vic a r of
Jrist ~loriously r e i zr i ng over t ne Church of God t he Father
So extensive are t ne ramifications of Cat holic Action
W i cn a ct ually touch es and i nf lue ces every domain of hU~Bn
life anci its ani f ol d relations that a n exhaustive developlent
of its sc op e would be an i ff position uyon your tilli8 a nd patience
But since you hElve dedicated t h is ma _11i f icent demcnstrat ion to
Catholic Action you are entitled to know at least its rrajor
ai rrs as vi 8~ alize b y the Holy Fat ~er
Address ing t h e Int erna t ional Catho lic 0(1 en IS Leagll e in
Ro me t~o years ag o the Supreme Fontiff said Ce1thelic Action
as Fe Wi8~1 it 210 88 we heve frequently charccterized it is the
partiCIpation of the laity in the hierarcnical aposto l ate for
t r~l e deiels e c reli 2 ic u 8 and rnOT21 princirles for t l1 e development
of a 80un~ and ho leBo ~e social acticn under t j e ~uidance of the
h ierarc_y funct io n i ng out s ide and above all -poll tical -98rt ies
7
Be it e mphasized that Cgtholic Acticn is an invitation and
a 8UIlOns isslled to tte c8t101iC lElity to pcrticiprte in the
ayos tolic ministry of the hierarchy It ie an extensi on of
the sacard tampl office in the broad eenee in h ich t Peter
addresses t he l~ity as amp chosen generati2n a ~ingly priesthood
ilOly nati c n (I Petro -2 ) Th Holy Father exlains thi8
exalted co cept ~nOIe sDeci ically wren he deEcribes this lay
apostolate lias a ay and a leans which has come into being
throu~h t h e dispensati of divine ~race to the end tha t the
Ch ~ rch may call and in Dce those to follol the teachinf and the
law of t n e Gospel o might ot~er vrie e t h rough lack of priestly
inIlue ce fe] l a p rey to t ll e isrepreeent s t i one and de 8trllcti ve
efforts of disturoing a 1tators (Acta 1 8 28-38( )
Tru~ to its nartle a tholic Acti r n is charGcterize5 by its
universality 8U waning catholics of every station in life to
share ifl teiE g enuirle apoetolate a nd offerimr a bOLm less
liel t to the ze a l of t belaity for it i B way and a means
of which t h e hurch aV6ils itself to bring to the nations
~less ings of every kind (Acta 1~28-385) It is a masse d
forward movement of the ent ire catholic body hierarchy clergy
cn laity in t n e ir proper coordinat ion t c ir~ p iritall
human life a n its cO II~lex relationshipe wit1 tne Eo1l the
pO er the unction and t~e rule of Ohrists doctrlile and
8
Defend Religious and oral PrilCiples
The defense of the nation its constitution and interests
is tile first duty of a Jhysical army So the first function
of Catholic Action is the defenee 0f the princiles of religion
ane norali ty i h ich Christ pro lul gat ed and sealed with His
de~th ~ h o will deny the necessity of such a defense in the face
of skeptici m agnosticism irreligion and downri~ht atheism
which are sweeping like a tidal wave over the eart h At least
one government has declered an inferrlal warfare upon all reli gion
defying God s wrath with its unspeakable blasphe~ ies threatening
to tear to shreds every vestige of reli gious belief still
lingering in the heartE of ite enslaved su bjectE and forb idding
mothers to lisp the name of God or Christ to the children at
their knees The atheistic propaganda of Communism h s its
resources rophets and high priest s scattered thouhout Europe
and Ame rica sO~i i ng- the se6ds of e materialis far ro s ser and
more destructive than the capitalistic system which it aims to
supplant The divorce of reli CT ion from education in tne public
schools of OUT ovn country co r) lefented by t he undisguised anti shy
relig ious attitude of secular colleges and universities is
~orkin~ out logically in a descend i n_ course indicating a
di~inishinry reli g ious grasp in each succeeding eneration
indifference s kepticis iI-religion at he ism
vel chri stian churche s are speeding uo t he ~Jrocess of
dechr ist iani zat ion by re-5uc ing to mere s~eletons and shadows
9
their traditional beliefs by weakening or abro gating all
d iEc i ~)l ille and by adapt ing the ir moral code to the popular
whi m of t h e age That wonder that forty t housand non-cat Olic
churches are reported closed with their pulpits as silent a 8
t~e tombstones in t h e adjacent cerfeteries at wonder that a
leadin5 minister of a denomination wllOse statistician reported
ten thousa Eo churches wi t fJout a si ngle baptisJ1 last year
charg ed eli s chur ch v i t h s piritual suicide fI and sp i ritual
b irtb control Perhpas t here is h ere a relation ship between
the p hysic a l and t he spiritual order
As for the weakening of morality t here is no need of
nauseating t h is auoience 1i ith the u gly tale of viDlence -fl ~~ooo
crue a middotd l rrmoralltyen wncn t h e d~lly press p resents ln ~ jj-LH~~7 ~tW- -IW ~~ch~~~ NcI ~~ te ~25
ulllntelrupted serlals The lcker sh am Repor~na8 confirmed
t he nQst invinc ible sket ics of the enormous extent of lawlessness
in our land But it may be i mportant to cite expert testimony
imiddotor t h e fact t hat irrel i g ion and cr i rre are int i mately rela t ed
On June 15th Dr Brandl Folice Presi de nt of Vienna a id inter-oh
nat io nal aut h~i t T on c r i mi nolos y addressi ng t he Int er nat ional
Conlt ree of Reli ioll s PSYChOlOy 11 Vienna ma de t h is si p-nificant
state ent about juvenile crLTinele It is to be noted that
t heir attitude toward reli~ion definitely fixes t he deg ree of
t~ eir criminalit y If they have lost t he ir relig ion t hey a re
uore prone to COl ~it crime t an t hos e who ha ve p reserved some
reI i g i on In t he case of g rave CT i me s it i s founei almost
invariably t hat t e offe ers reli g ious feeli ng i~ either
wholly lost or strongly diTdnisned (Oath UeliS June 27 31)
America may well take heedl JMLdeg1~~~ 4-Ugt ~~
10
lhese conCiitions explain in part why t he TToly Fat~er setpound forth as
t be f irst s~)eciiic ai IT of Catholic Action IIt l~e defense of relig ious
and moral princi-oleE II Tne Catholic Church alone stand)firm a nd
i mrnOiralIe above t he ri s il2 t ide of reI i g ious unre st a nd amidst
t h e del~ge of moral decadence and corruption She not only
ga t ers her cnildren to her 8h e1 t e r ing prot ect ion but in
Oatholic Action s ~ e bids the~ to consecrate t~eir gifts of
tongJe and pen especially t he persuasive pOrer of a conei s tent
cat ~olic life to promul gate defeId and de r1onstrate to the
un-oel ievine loose living oft en 1 icent iOUE worldl ing s that
the Go s pel and the Decalogue contain t l e rule oi life w ich
alone g ives dignity to hu man existence and peace to restless
heFrt s
Sound Wn olesore Social Altion
-uch ot t he disorder and ttisery from wh ich hluanity is suffering
today ariseE from unsound p rinciples and theories regarding the
social order unde r wh ich men live Therefore the Hol y Fa t h er has
not only ma de the develo pment of a sound nd who lesome 80cial
action one of t~1e chief airllS of CRtholic Action but in his
recent encyclical entitled 1170rty Years After he has g iven to
the orld t 1e prinCip les End methods according to wh ich the social
order should be constitu ted and reconstructed
A fundamenta_ weakness in the efforts Dut forth to adjust
the present econorrdc and social dislocat ion is the drea m that
the old order is ri ght and sound and that nothing is lac~ing
b ut confi~ence to set the machinery of industry and com~erce in
11
--~~~~~~J Iqal
t1ot ion Geneva t ellSUS dat II psychol og ical U~ctor8 dOjlinate
the econoIr ic crieis t h rou hout t he worl d ( Sept 2AP World
~erampl~ ) Fs yct ology is play1n - its 9srt in the trag ic drama
0 worl d depression but a sk t h e man w o walk s t he streets
in searc_ of 2 j o-b or t h e fat her oo e ch il iren cry for
b read a d t 1ere is none to break to t hem or the far r er~~(L~
WhOE8 cred itors have dis iJossessed h bl o ecclUse tie failed to
(Leet hi S otliga t ions hether p eyc _ olog- ical facto~s dotl inated J--c~lt1J k~~~1-~ ~PL ~AL-~I t h eir inc ivLua l c1i8i8 The social strl ct lJ re and mac h inery
needs ~ore t~aG B p sycho log ical up turn or a superfic i al
repair job it needs a n ew pn ilosoph ic outlook a nd a t horough
reco nstru ction accord ing to the prinCiples cont a ined in or
log ically deduced from t ) e te a chings ot O111i st The r SJulation
of t he responsib ilities a rising from t he possession of p roperty
a nd weBl t ~~ t h e ordering of t he lllutual relat i m s1ips du t ies QA~4q~
and burden~ between t he state and its citizens between capit al
and lab or between t he e~ployer a nd t ~ e e p loyees between one
rank of huma n society a nd t h e ot il er fair c omp ensatioTl a mi the
e qu it a b le d i stri c_ti on of t he joint fruits of iIlvest iIent brains
and bran i r indust ry a gric11 l t ure a dd commerce are all vital
issues Libera l i and cap italism have met therr in t he spirit
of e zrat er ial ist ic philosoph y 821fi sl1ne ss anr avarice t lle
p resent e on Jic debacl e is t ile resu lt If we ould escas e ~
-~he ROPet cOllseque21ces of aei Z I of 80ci a1is and c o municom
vhose advocates are lJot ent i a1ly in our very midst then
gover l ents i imm cial inoustrial and c ommercial l eaders toshy
g etl e r it h t h e sooel advis e rs of t he l abo r i ng clrusep must
adoDt t he safe 6 i1t_ sounel Lidc le course mapp ed ou t by the
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
st Joseph 10
dizzy he i hts of teat e1 k l e t o of the ne eat r i v 1 of the
to ex 0 Babe+ it may be 1 00 ted do i n t dan~ tlflin
cavern of Borne le hundred of feet bane th the surfaoe of
t earth or it may b b~h~nd - count r 1_ 1 nt 10 e t shy
ment tore or it ln -ir ed enol ur of tel te t Ii of
ome b noo1)or tio or in th exeontlve d - rtrnent or p i va t e
ofIice of i ant industry e profe ion nd occuoation
a rc e ion herel)y the desoendant of A m an va ar e
or]middotin out the universal e te 0 it labour nd toil ~ol t
hou e t ~~ t earth all the day of t~y l ifo (9 ) 011 111
l a our in vain an your toil ill i h 0 your i r t
even it ds out t h tl au of y TIl body f il t o
ap 1y t e p 11080 y of he C rpenter of
omiddott 1 )l y t at ~110 inju ~ice to ~
o ph Y u to You v ri 10 you 0 n ~~~
T i-all the I fu a or er17 e n at your co and y
di- i n deoree 1 are 01 ced under t e obli~ tion of toil
but th re is no d cr ee hioh conmele t he orleer to su it
to i nju t i ce or anel eve nt T 1 bour r i orthy of Il l
h i re ( 9 ) 1 t e div ine way of e re in tle 1i t to ju 4
co en tion n fair oondition of labour eit e1 ~ r l t
nor th h r c advocates or countenano ~e degradation a part
of the l ot OI ~an Bu even der ideal C0n ition t ere come
orne te of earinee a d de resei n loments he lh motives
f de out d Ie ve tie e irit of t or er de 01 te o It i
then tb t you need t picture of t Joseph P- t ron nd odel
of or ere to buoy you u bull
st 08e h 11
Learn then f 0 St Joemiddot to labour ith fa i t in ad nd
itb an humble iv sprit It i 0 k ick a inst
the 00 1(17) ill only ti t ore or tie
obst i n ey elin to thy ta k f i del i ty e en thou h t
t i iJ 8 the y be bitter ea on thy labour it love ot ify
thtgtm y nion itb 1od ke the rofit hI for etal 1ty by
oon8oratln leI t o 1 Flory II do 1 for t e lory 0 bull Gee I
(18) uoh discorrte t oule v li su fro the h nrt of m n -n
p a ce ou t elr ouJ coul t ey ut tt ~r
t ei r l i ve f er t t of t e 1 t 0 t 1e Rtxiarc B t
o )h ~n of av i d
Ther e t ron d in 0 r let hi 10 in a1
ith farvent 1 o ~
in u r 0 in our ed
And p aoe fo r ever more I bull
I t qu aetl
o
( ) Jo r 1 - 9 (a) Titus 2 1 3 (3) nti hon - uri loat i oq
(4 ) att 1 - 1 6 (5) V k 11 - 4 - (6) ltl tt 1 - I n middot (7 ) att XlII shy
55 (8 ) - 3 (9) en 111 - 17 (IO) xov ( 11 )I
Ln 11 - 5 (1 2) middotn 11 - _9 (U3) tt 1- - 24 middot (14 ) a t t 11shy
1 3 (If) att 1- ao ( 6 ) Luke nl - 4a j (17 ) Ao t a lX - 5
( 8 ) 1 Cor X - 31 (I e ) Lu X - 7
-b~~~ --~~ 7~
THE AI S OF CATHOLIC ACTI ON
Holy ~ame ~en we hail you as the very salt of our
catholic manhood Representatives of every station in life
thoug you be your lory rests not upon the lLsterial social
or political prestige of which you lliay boast but rather upon
your sterling ca~holicity which makes brothers of you ell
in t h e COKmon bond of a sturdy fait h a conEietently clean
life and an enthusiastic zeal for the
iCingdo of Jesus Christ IVh ose Sacred
revere
It is a particular privilege to participate in your
most impressive demonstration tecause you make it a I
solemn act of worsh ip in which you render public honor
and praise to the Holy Name of Go d ho is so little
recof~lJ i zed in t he publ ic 1 ife of our day Reco Qn izin ~t
as too fe~ io that we Bre passi g through a period of
retribution fo r our enerations exceEsee and extravagances
in t ne moral and economic order you ere dedic~tin~ to God
an act of puolic reparat ion for the hurden ot sin uncer
which hlli Bn ity is staggering ith t h e consciouBne s s of
fait h wh ich direct s you to look to God I 8 love and lercy
rat her tn n to hUITan po~er and ingenuit y ior the allevi 8t ion
of the evile _hich are sadde ning t e hearts of men you are
hopefully sentHng to heaven a ni ghty prayer that humanity
Iay SOOD 100- into the dawn of a better dov But an act
of wors~ i p would be incomplete without t ~le element of
2
thanks g iving After all our very depre~sion is proof by
antithesis that Go 6 has blessed UB end blessed UP of
America beyond the other namptions of the earth ~aterially
I e must not forget thiE lest we add to
our unwort i1iness t i1e guilt of iilgratit lde You do well to
render tnsn s g iving on an occaeion svch as t h is fo r God IS
innmrerable blessins poured out so lavishly upon our
c lUrc h our countr y an i our institutions Among t -lese
blessi ngs you have singled ou t one for eID hasis today God
wh ich 1I1e hail with rej oicing - Thatl11iay be thanked so
rea ds your pro gr a m for the great blessing s that have come
to our diocese and to t1e Ohurc1 of t hese United States
through tl-e wise and beneficent leadership of our beloved
Bishop in tbe past decade of years - For years we hAve
adfiired a nd founl1 inspiraticn in t 1e amiable claracter
unt iri g zeal and inexhaust 11)le energy o f ~rOilI ost
Reverend and beloved Bis ~ op You of Oleveland are b lessed
indeed in t t e ~ ift of shch a leader As for the Church
in thee LJni ted States of A cerica if t ~ ie s tory of Oat holic
r~ction in t _1is country is ever wri t ten no name iVill etand
out i n bolder relief or more glorious s _ lendor t hampn that
of your high priest and father Bis hop JCEeph Sc hr-erubs
ith you we t hank the Lord a nd p ray ~OEt fervently that
Cleveland and me rica may b e neLi t by h is [enius ~is
guidance and his labors for many years to come
Seeking 8 Prophet
That God may free t he wDrld from the perils of
3
economic depression hatre tislmderstanding and false
philosophy tnat are menacin lJ our civilization and culture
Thu s you deLine the purpo pe of t hi s Cat hoI ic Act ier Demonst ration
In t is you betray t he t il ougl1 ts w~ich dominEte your ass embly
t10Ug_ltS which in fact no asse J- bly of [ren foregat hered tOrlay
in any part of t l1e world can suppress wi t rlOut some unnatural
restraint The evile are too universal too omnipresent too
deep-rooted too painf~ l to ad~it even t he pretence of i g oring
t h em
All t he world is not only thinking talking a nd writing
ab out t is t ing called econo~ic depressi on it is a lso
awai t i ng wit h canst ernst iO[1 what ilay yet oe f a11 our civil i za t ion
-any ho are not pessimists see the handwritinv
of dooll on the wall rrelplessly and well ni gh ho peleesly all
t he wor ld is casting a bout for t h e nostrum wh ich will effect
t he lrag ic cu re f or t e sorcerer who will coax bac ~( over nigh t
the il luSive rite called Pro pe rit j Only t hree day s go
-eneva sent out t 11e Ile 8saPe t ~1at it s econ )) io COll1I1 i ttee can
agr e e on no sine-Ie cure-all for t he prevailing d ifficulties in
~ i ce co nm r ce and i ndus try Gove rnrrents a nd political
parties are tottering becau se t hey seem incapable of doing
or e t han orga niz ing nat io nel aIlc~ in terns t ional conferelces
creat ing conmi s 8ions and order ing surveys and invest i gat ions
in endless variety whose results seeI to be f e r the most part
illusory Captains of industry seem to have lost their skill
4
and t ile wi zardry with wh ich for two decades they have aTi-assed
lortuller in com-pariscn with which the wealth of 01010l or
Croesus are were ant h ills Ban]ers and fin EIlCiers confronted
wi t h t he st na t i e n of indus t ry 8nO co merce 8re pe rplexed
because tne irony of fate leaves them without a market for the
millions of dollars stored in their vaults e xcept for tne
OCC3 i onal 1 010caust on tne al tal of arunon t e stabilize some
le~d in_ worl d Dower Universlt y- f2c11ties scierlci~tE and
ph ilos op ere e_rryer te in re8earc f1 ork ltind surveys reve l no
way out of t ile labyrinth of eCO(lO r 1c 80ci21 ano t 0101 conshy
fusion into wh ic ~ they h ove helped not alittle to steer t h e
bullorld
In ti1e meant i rr e comJimnity c heste 80ci21 agencies
chari t ab1 2 organ izat i Ol1s and inst i tlt i f-llS Ere plannin~ a nd
s middot_ruggling a gainst de s perati o to raise tile fund nece ss ary
to relieve pypoundic a l soci al an -i moral misery in our homes end
to reHove t he evioe rices of de gradati cn from our streets and
t h orou ghf aree dur ing t he onco lr ing winter lhe world is
looking for leadersh i p and sigh i V for a p ro_ het ho lay
forecast a brighter era en divert t1l1m8nit y S cmlr~OJlj t he
IT iry jLu ~ elE of co(mu nism a d r a ical eociali sbull
Truly may e cry out with C-t John t h e Bapt ist There hath
stoo( one in t~e lli i6st of you whom you kno not - For nearly
a decade 01 years a9Iophet whose heart has been rac lced b y the
5
eestlessnese ami gravitatirlb trenrj of t he religiouE moral
anc soc ial I ife of the ~rorl ana whooe unerring unobscured
vi8i~n has been concentrated upon the t h ing s that Bre for t h e
peace of hUr anity has raised h is p r oph e t ic voice in sea on a na
out oi seas on in allocutions and writin r-r s ithout um er even
se Hd ing his mesea e to the end s of t h e eart by t le electrified
va ves of the a ir to warn ~ is ch ildren against t he mena c i g
portents o the ti e s and to call UDon the nations to r a lly to
the --= e f e lEe of t be very f oundations of c rieti an civill~ ation
~ ore 1ceenly than 811 ot~lers t il is prophet re c lizes t hat our
econo ic o reakda wn is a sy p ton rat her t ha t h e 6 i E ease The
u i ver s 1U80rder nes its root 8 in treason to Go and in t h e
f lout inc a t cnrist ian p rinc i ples o j D oral i ty in oontenpt for
socia l jUftice a lld c -1Clri t y i n eva rice 8middotel f isn ness a d lust
-- a ll tlle u f ly t e nt ie l e s of t e c ancer 0 g ross Iat er i a l i ~m
which holds t h e nations in ite rip
lirOI(j his lo f ty wat chtower flung h i gh upon t Ile impre gnable
Rock of Fet e r this holy se er se nds f ort h t h e r ally i nq cry
T_ e peace of Ch rist i the r e i g n of Christ ll bull Tth t h e su reness
o t e explie nced d i ag o s t icia1 W lose f i ngers a ve pl ay ed upon
the pul s e of hutlanity for nearly two t l1 0118 2nd years he diecerns
t e illala dy an p rescribes t te reme ciy - Pr yer Bec r i f ice and
a ct i on - 3t hmiddot lie Act ien - tnrou o-h t h e a1lc l icat ion of
c nrist ian prinelulee to all t ~e proble~ s o f li ~ e The world
maybe indis ~osed to accept his leadership beca~ Be he carries
shyo
not t oe sy b oIs of materi~liE~ on his scutcheon it may not
reec 1~0 to hi s rallyin~ cry because it i e ill p repared for
L h spiritual ideals but it it woul d Ieturn to st b ility
or(er and peace it must accept the recipe -Prayer sacrifice
and C thalic Acticn t h loug-h t ne application of CllIistian
principles to the problerr e of life ll prescribe i by t e Vic a r of
Jrist ~loriously r e i zr i ng over t ne Church of God t he Father
So extensive are t ne ramifications of Cat holic Action
W i cn a ct ually touch es and i nf lue ces every domain of hU~Bn
life anci its ani f ol d relations that a n exhaustive developlent
of its sc op e would be an i ff position uyon your tilli8 a nd patience
But since you hElve dedicated t h is ma _11i f icent demcnstrat ion to
Catholic Action you are entitled to know at least its rrajor
ai rrs as vi 8~ alize b y the Holy Fat ~er
Address ing t h e Int erna t ional Catho lic 0(1 en IS Leagll e in
Ro me t~o years ag o the Supreme Fontiff said Ce1thelic Action
as Fe Wi8~1 it 210 88 we heve frequently charccterized it is the
partiCIpation of the laity in the hierarcnical aposto l ate for
t r~l e deiels e c reli 2 ic u 8 and rnOT21 princirles for t l1 e development
of a 80un~ and ho leBo ~e social acticn under t j e ~uidance of the
h ierarc_y funct io n i ng out s ide and above all -poll tical -98rt ies
7
Be it e mphasized that Cgtholic Acticn is an invitation and
a 8UIlOns isslled to tte c8t101iC lElity to pcrticiprte in the
ayos tolic ministry of the hierarchy It ie an extensi on of
the sacard tampl office in the broad eenee in h ich t Peter
addresses t he l~ity as amp chosen generati2n a ~ingly priesthood
ilOly nati c n (I Petro -2 ) Th Holy Father exlains thi8
exalted co cept ~nOIe sDeci ically wren he deEcribes this lay
apostolate lias a ay and a leans which has come into being
throu~h t h e dispensati of divine ~race to the end tha t the
Ch ~ rch may call and in Dce those to follol the teachinf and the
law of t n e Gospel o might ot~er vrie e t h rough lack of priestly
inIlue ce fe] l a p rey to t ll e isrepreeent s t i one and de 8trllcti ve
efforts of disturoing a 1tators (Acta 1 8 28-38( )
Tru~ to its nartle a tholic Acti r n is charGcterize5 by its
universality 8U waning catholics of every station in life to
share ifl teiE g enuirle apoetolate a nd offerimr a bOLm less
liel t to the ze a l of t belaity for it i B way and a means
of which t h e hurch aV6ils itself to bring to the nations
~less ings of every kind (Acta 1~28-385) It is a masse d
forward movement of the ent ire catholic body hierarchy clergy
cn laity in t n e ir proper coordinat ion t c ir~ p iritall
human life a n its cO II~lex relationshipe wit1 tne Eo1l the
pO er the unction and t~e rule of Ohrists doctrlile and
8
Defend Religious and oral PrilCiples
The defense of the nation its constitution and interests
is tile first duty of a Jhysical army So the first function
of Catholic Action is the defenee 0f the princiles of religion
ane norali ty i h ich Christ pro lul gat ed and sealed with His
de~th ~ h o will deny the necessity of such a defense in the face
of skeptici m agnosticism irreligion and downri~ht atheism
which are sweeping like a tidal wave over the eart h At least
one government has declered an inferrlal warfare upon all reli gion
defying God s wrath with its unspeakable blasphe~ ies threatening
to tear to shreds every vestige of reli gious belief still
lingering in the heartE of ite enslaved su bjectE and forb idding
mothers to lisp the name of God or Christ to the children at
their knees The atheistic propaganda of Communism h s its
resources rophets and high priest s scattered thouhout Europe
and Ame rica sO~i i ng- the se6ds of e materialis far ro s ser and
more destructive than the capitalistic system which it aims to
supplant The divorce of reli CT ion from education in tne public
schools of OUT ovn country co r) lefented by t he undisguised anti shy
relig ious attitude of secular colleges and universities is
~orkin~ out logically in a descend i n_ course indicating a
di~inishinry reli g ious grasp in each succeeding eneration
indifference s kepticis iI-religion at he ism
vel chri stian churche s are speeding uo t he ~Jrocess of
dechr ist iani zat ion by re-5uc ing to mere s~eletons and shadows
9
their traditional beliefs by weakening or abro gating all
d iEc i ~)l ille and by adapt ing the ir moral code to the popular
whi m of t h e age That wonder that forty t housand non-cat Olic
churches are reported closed with their pulpits as silent a 8
t~e tombstones in t h e adjacent cerfeteries at wonder that a
leadin5 minister of a denomination wllOse statistician reported
ten thousa Eo churches wi t fJout a si ngle baptisJ1 last year
charg ed eli s chur ch v i t h s piritual suicide fI and sp i ritual
b irtb control Perhpas t here is h ere a relation ship between
the p hysic a l and t he spiritual order
As for the weakening of morality t here is no need of
nauseating t h is auoience 1i ith the u gly tale of viDlence -fl ~~ooo
crue a middotd l rrmoralltyen wncn t h e d~lly press p resents ln ~ jj-LH~~7 ~tW- -IW ~~ch~~~ NcI ~~ te ~25
ulllntelrupted serlals The lcker sh am Repor~na8 confirmed
t he nQst invinc ible sket ics of the enormous extent of lawlessness
in our land But it may be i mportant to cite expert testimony
imiddotor t h e fact t hat irrel i g ion and cr i rre are int i mately rela t ed
On June 15th Dr Brandl Folice Presi de nt of Vienna a id inter-oh
nat io nal aut h~i t T on c r i mi nolos y addressi ng t he Int er nat ional
Conlt ree of Reli ioll s PSYChOlOy 11 Vienna ma de t h is si p-nificant
state ent about juvenile crLTinele It is to be noted that
t heir attitude toward reli~ion definitely fixes t he deg ree of
t~ eir criminalit y If they have lost t he ir relig ion t hey a re
uore prone to COl ~it crime t an t hos e who ha ve p reserved some
reI i g i on In t he case of g rave CT i me s it i s founei almost
invariably t hat t e offe ers reli g ious feeli ng i~ either
wholly lost or strongly diTdnisned (Oath UeliS June 27 31)
America may well take heedl JMLdeg1~~~ 4-Ugt ~~
10
lhese conCiitions explain in part why t he TToly Fat~er setpound forth as
t be f irst s~)eciiic ai IT of Catholic Action IIt l~e defense of relig ious
and moral princi-oleE II Tne Catholic Church alone stand)firm a nd
i mrnOiralIe above t he ri s il2 t ide of reI i g ious unre st a nd amidst
t h e del~ge of moral decadence and corruption She not only
ga t ers her cnildren to her 8h e1 t e r ing prot ect ion but in
Oatholic Action s ~ e bids the~ to consecrate t~eir gifts of
tongJe and pen especially t he persuasive pOrer of a conei s tent
cat ~olic life to promul gate defeId and de r1onstrate to the
un-oel ievine loose living oft en 1 icent iOUE worldl ing s that
the Go s pel and the Decalogue contain t l e rule oi life w ich
alone g ives dignity to hu man existence and peace to restless
heFrt s
Sound Wn olesore Social Altion
-uch ot t he disorder and ttisery from wh ich hluanity is suffering
today ariseE from unsound p rinciples and theories regarding the
social order unde r wh ich men live Therefore the Hol y Fa t h er has
not only ma de the develo pment of a sound nd who lesome 80cial
action one of t~1e chief airllS of CRtholic Action but in his
recent encyclical entitled 1170rty Years After he has g iven to
the orld t 1e prinCip les End methods according to wh ich the social
order should be constitu ted and reconstructed
A fundamenta_ weakness in the efforts Dut forth to adjust
the present econorrdc and social dislocat ion is the drea m that
the old order is ri ght and sound and that nothing is lac~ing
b ut confi~ence to set the machinery of industry and com~erce in
11
--~~~~~~J Iqal
t1ot ion Geneva t ellSUS dat II psychol og ical U~ctor8 dOjlinate
the econoIr ic crieis t h rou hout t he worl d ( Sept 2AP World
~erampl~ ) Fs yct ology is play1n - its 9srt in the trag ic drama
0 worl d depression but a sk t h e man w o walk s t he streets
in searc_ of 2 j o-b or t h e fat her oo e ch il iren cry for
b read a d t 1ere is none to break to t hem or the far r er~~(L~
WhOE8 cred itors have dis iJossessed h bl o ecclUse tie failed to
(Leet hi S otliga t ions hether p eyc _ olog- ical facto~s dotl inated J--c~lt1J k~~~1-~ ~PL ~AL-~I t h eir inc ivLua l c1i8i8 The social strl ct lJ re and mac h inery
needs ~ore t~aG B p sycho log ical up turn or a superfic i al
repair job it needs a n ew pn ilosoph ic outlook a nd a t horough
reco nstru ction accord ing to the prinCiples cont a ined in or
log ically deduced from t ) e te a chings ot O111i st The r SJulation
of t he responsib ilities a rising from t he possession of p roperty
a nd weBl t ~~ t h e ordering of t he lllutual relat i m s1ips du t ies QA~4q~
and burden~ between t he state and its citizens between capit al
and lab or between t he e~ployer a nd t ~ e e p loyees between one
rank of huma n society a nd t h e ot il er fair c omp ensatioTl a mi the
e qu it a b le d i stri c_ti on of t he joint fruits of iIlvest iIent brains
and bran i r indust ry a gric11 l t ure a dd commerce are all vital
issues Libera l i and cap italism have met therr in t he spirit
of e zrat er ial ist ic philosoph y 821fi sl1ne ss anr avarice t lle
p resent e on Jic debacl e is t ile resu lt If we ould escas e ~
-~he ROPet cOllseque21ces of aei Z I of 80ci a1is and c o municom
vhose advocates are lJot ent i a1ly in our very midst then
gover l ents i imm cial inoustrial and c ommercial l eaders toshy
g etl e r it h t h e sooel advis e rs of t he l abo r i ng clrusep must
adoDt t he safe 6 i1t_ sounel Lidc le course mapp ed ou t by the
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
st 08e h 11
Learn then f 0 St Joemiddot to labour ith fa i t in ad nd
itb an humble iv sprit It i 0 k ick a inst
the 00 1(17) ill only ti t ore or tie
obst i n ey elin to thy ta k f i del i ty e en thou h t
t i iJ 8 the y be bitter ea on thy labour it love ot ify
thtgtm y nion itb 1od ke the rofit hI for etal 1ty by
oon8oratln leI t o 1 Flory II do 1 for t e lory 0 bull Gee I
(18) uoh discorrte t oule v li su fro the h nrt of m n -n
p a ce ou t elr ouJ coul t ey ut tt ~r
t ei r l i ve f er t t of t e 1 t 0 t 1e Rtxiarc B t
o )h ~n of av i d
Ther e t ron d in 0 r let hi 10 in a1
ith farvent 1 o ~
in u r 0 in our ed
And p aoe fo r ever more I bull
I t qu aetl
o
( ) Jo r 1 - 9 (a) Titus 2 1 3 (3) nti hon - uri loat i oq
(4 ) att 1 - 1 6 (5) V k 11 - 4 - (6) ltl tt 1 - I n middot (7 ) att XlII shy
55 (8 ) - 3 (9) en 111 - 17 (IO) xov ( 11 )I
Ln 11 - 5 (1 2) middotn 11 - _9 (U3) tt 1- - 24 middot (14 ) a t t 11shy
1 3 (If) att 1- ao ( 6 ) Luke nl - 4a j (17 ) Ao t a lX - 5
( 8 ) 1 Cor X - 31 (I e ) Lu X - 7
-b~~~ --~~ 7~
THE AI S OF CATHOLIC ACTI ON
Holy ~ame ~en we hail you as the very salt of our
catholic manhood Representatives of every station in life
thoug you be your lory rests not upon the lLsterial social
or political prestige of which you lliay boast but rather upon
your sterling ca~holicity which makes brothers of you ell
in t h e COKmon bond of a sturdy fait h a conEietently clean
life and an enthusiastic zeal for the
iCingdo of Jesus Christ IVh ose Sacred
revere
It is a particular privilege to participate in your
most impressive demonstration tecause you make it a I
solemn act of worsh ip in which you render public honor
and praise to the Holy Name of Go d ho is so little
recof~lJ i zed in t he publ ic 1 ife of our day Reco Qn izin ~t
as too fe~ io that we Bre passi g through a period of
retribution fo r our enerations exceEsee and extravagances
in t ne moral and economic order you ere dedic~tin~ to God
an act of puolic reparat ion for the hurden ot sin uncer
which hlli Bn ity is staggering ith t h e consciouBne s s of
fait h wh ich direct s you to look to God I 8 love and lercy
rat her tn n to hUITan po~er and ingenuit y ior the allevi 8t ion
of the evile _hich are sadde ning t e hearts of men you are
hopefully sentHng to heaven a ni ghty prayer that humanity
Iay SOOD 100- into the dawn of a better dov But an act
of wors~ i p would be incomplete without t ~le element of
2
thanks g iving After all our very depre~sion is proof by
antithesis that Go 6 has blessed UB end blessed UP of
America beyond the other namptions of the earth ~aterially
I e must not forget thiE lest we add to
our unwort i1iness t i1e guilt of iilgratit lde You do well to
render tnsn s g iving on an occaeion svch as t h is fo r God IS
innmrerable blessins poured out so lavishly upon our
c lUrc h our countr y an i our institutions Among t -lese
blessi ngs you have singled ou t one for eID hasis today God
wh ich 1I1e hail with rej oicing - Thatl11iay be thanked so
rea ds your pro gr a m for the great blessing s that have come
to our diocese and to t1e Ohurc1 of t hese United States
through tl-e wise and beneficent leadership of our beloved
Bishop in tbe past decade of years - For years we hAve
adfiired a nd founl1 inspiraticn in t 1e amiable claracter
unt iri g zeal and inexhaust 11)le energy o f ~rOilI ost
Reverend and beloved Bis ~ op You of Oleveland are b lessed
indeed in t t e ~ ift of shch a leader As for the Church
in thee LJni ted States of A cerica if t ~ ie s tory of Oat holic
r~ction in t _1is country is ever wri t ten no name iVill etand
out i n bolder relief or more glorious s _ lendor t hampn that
of your high priest and father Bis hop JCEeph Sc hr-erubs
ith you we t hank the Lord a nd p ray ~OEt fervently that
Cleveland and me rica may b e neLi t by h is [enius ~is
guidance and his labors for many years to come
Seeking 8 Prophet
That God may free t he wDrld from the perils of
3
economic depression hatre tislmderstanding and false
philosophy tnat are menacin lJ our civilization and culture
Thu s you deLine the purpo pe of t hi s Cat hoI ic Act ier Demonst ration
In t is you betray t he t il ougl1 ts w~ich dominEte your ass embly
t10Ug_ltS which in fact no asse J- bly of [ren foregat hered tOrlay
in any part of t l1e world can suppress wi t rlOut some unnatural
restraint The evile are too universal too omnipresent too
deep-rooted too painf~ l to ad~it even t he pretence of i g oring
t h em
All t he world is not only thinking talking a nd writing
ab out t is t ing called econo~ic depressi on it is a lso
awai t i ng wit h canst ernst iO[1 what ilay yet oe f a11 our civil i za t ion
-any ho are not pessimists see the handwritinv
of dooll on the wall rrelplessly and well ni gh ho peleesly all
t he wor ld is casting a bout for t h e nostrum wh ich will effect
t he lrag ic cu re f or t e sorcerer who will coax bac ~( over nigh t
the il luSive rite called Pro pe rit j Only t hree day s go
-eneva sent out t 11e Ile 8saPe t ~1at it s econ )) io COll1I1 i ttee can
agr e e on no sine-Ie cure-all for t he prevailing d ifficulties in
~ i ce co nm r ce and i ndus try Gove rnrrents a nd political
parties are tottering becau se t hey seem incapable of doing
or e t han orga niz ing nat io nel aIlc~ in terns t ional conferelces
creat ing conmi s 8ions and order ing surveys and invest i gat ions
in endless variety whose results seeI to be f e r the most part
illusory Captains of industry seem to have lost their skill
4
and t ile wi zardry with wh ich for two decades they have aTi-assed
lortuller in com-pariscn with which the wealth of 01010l or
Croesus are were ant h ills Ban]ers and fin EIlCiers confronted
wi t h t he st na t i e n of indus t ry 8nO co merce 8re pe rplexed
because tne irony of fate leaves them without a market for the
millions of dollars stored in their vaults e xcept for tne
OCC3 i onal 1 010caust on tne al tal of arunon t e stabilize some
le~d in_ worl d Dower Universlt y- f2c11ties scierlci~tE and
ph ilos op ere e_rryer te in re8earc f1 ork ltind surveys reve l no
way out of t ile labyrinth of eCO(lO r 1c 80ci21 ano t 0101 conshy
fusion into wh ic ~ they h ove helped not alittle to steer t h e
bullorld
In ti1e meant i rr e comJimnity c heste 80ci21 agencies
chari t ab1 2 organ izat i Ol1s and inst i tlt i f-llS Ere plannin~ a nd
s middot_ruggling a gainst de s perati o to raise tile fund nece ss ary
to relieve pypoundic a l soci al an -i moral misery in our homes end
to reHove t he evioe rices of de gradati cn from our streets and
t h orou ghf aree dur ing t he onco lr ing winter lhe world is
looking for leadersh i p and sigh i V for a p ro_ het ho lay
forecast a brighter era en divert t1l1m8nit y S cmlr~OJlj t he
IT iry jLu ~ elE of co(mu nism a d r a ical eociali sbull
Truly may e cry out with C-t John t h e Bapt ist There hath
stoo( one in t~e lli i6st of you whom you kno not - For nearly
a decade 01 years a9Iophet whose heart has been rac lced b y the
5
eestlessnese ami gravitatirlb trenrj of t he religiouE moral
anc soc ial I ife of the ~rorl ana whooe unerring unobscured
vi8i~n has been concentrated upon the t h ing s that Bre for t h e
peace of hUr anity has raised h is p r oph e t ic voice in sea on a na
out oi seas on in allocutions and writin r-r s ithout um er even
se Hd ing his mesea e to the end s of t h e eart by t le electrified
va ves of the a ir to warn ~ is ch ildren against t he mena c i g
portents o the ti e s and to call UDon the nations to r a lly to
the --= e f e lEe of t be very f oundations of c rieti an civill~ ation
~ ore 1ceenly than 811 ot~lers t il is prophet re c lizes t hat our
econo ic o reakda wn is a sy p ton rat her t ha t h e 6 i E ease The
u i ver s 1U80rder nes its root 8 in treason to Go and in t h e
f lout inc a t cnrist ian p rinc i ples o j D oral i ty in oontenpt for
socia l jUftice a lld c -1Clri t y i n eva rice 8middotel f isn ness a d lust
-- a ll tlle u f ly t e nt ie l e s of t e c ancer 0 g ross Iat er i a l i ~m
which holds t h e nations in ite rip
lirOI(j his lo f ty wat chtower flung h i gh upon t Ile impre gnable
Rock of Fet e r this holy se er se nds f ort h t h e r ally i nq cry
T_ e peace of Ch rist i the r e i g n of Christ ll bull Tth t h e su reness
o t e explie nced d i ag o s t icia1 W lose f i ngers a ve pl ay ed upon
the pul s e of hutlanity for nearly two t l1 0118 2nd years he diecerns
t e illala dy an p rescribes t te reme ciy - Pr yer Bec r i f ice and
a ct i on - 3t hmiddot lie Act ien - tnrou o-h t h e a1lc l icat ion of
c nrist ian prinelulee to all t ~e proble~ s o f li ~ e The world
maybe indis ~osed to accept his leadership beca~ Be he carries
shyo
not t oe sy b oIs of materi~liE~ on his scutcheon it may not
reec 1~0 to hi s rallyin~ cry because it i e ill p repared for
L h spiritual ideals but it it woul d Ieturn to st b ility
or(er and peace it must accept the recipe -Prayer sacrifice
and C thalic Acticn t h loug-h t ne application of CllIistian
principles to the problerr e of life ll prescribe i by t e Vic a r of
Jrist ~loriously r e i zr i ng over t ne Church of God t he Father
So extensive are t ne ramifications of Cat holic Action
W i cn a ct ually touch es and i nf lue ces every domain of hU~Bn
life anci its ani f ol d relations that a n exhaustive developlent
of its sc op e would be an i ff position uyon your tilli8 a nd patience
But since you hElve dedicated t h is ma _11i f icent demcnstrat ion to
Catholic Action you are entitled to know at least its rrajor
ai rrs as vi 8~ alize b y the Holy Fat ~er
Address ing t h e Int erna t ional Catho lic 0(1 en IS Leagll e in
Ro me t~o years ag o the Supreme Fontiff said Ce1thelic Action
as Fe Wi8~1 it 210 88 we heve frequently charccterized it is the
partiCIpation of the laity in the hierarcnical aposto l ate for
t r~l e deiels e c reli 2 ic u 8 and rnOT21 princirles for t l1 e development
of a 80un~ and ho leBo ~e social acticn under t j e ~uidance of the
h ierarc_y funct io n i ng out s ide and above all -poll tical -98rt ies
7
Be it e mphasized that Cgtholic Acticn is an invitation and
a 8UIlOns isslled to tte c8t101iC lElity to pcrticiprte in the
ayos tolic ministry of the hierarchy It ie an extensi on of
the sacard tampl office in the broad eenee in h ich t Peter
addresses t he l~ity as amp chosen generati2n a ~ingly priesthood
ilOly nati c n (I Petro -2 ) Th Holy Father exlains thi8
exalted co cept ~nOIe sDeci ically wren he deEcribes this lay
apostolate lias a ay and a leans which has come into being
throu~h t h e dispensati of divine ~race to the end tha t the
Ch ~ rch may call and in Dce those to follol the teachinf and the
law of t n e Gospel o might ot~er vrie e t h rough lack of priestly
inIlue ce fe] l a p rey to t ll e isrepreeent s t i one and de 8trllcti ve
efforts of disturoing a 1tators (Acta 1 8 28-38( )
Tru~ to its nartle a tholic Acti r n is charGcterize5 by its
universality 8U waning catholics of every station in life to
share ifl teiE g enuirle apoetolate a nd offerimr a bOLm less
liel t to the ze a l of t belaity for it i B way and a means
of which t h e hurch aV6ils itself to bring to the nations
~less ings of every kind (Acta 1~28-385) It is a masse d
forward movement of the ent ire catholic body hierarchy clergy
cn laity in t n e ir proper coordinat ion t c ir~ p iritall
human life a n its cO II~lex relationshipe wit1 tne Eo1l the
pO er the unction and t~e rule of Ohrists doctrlile and
8
Defend Religious and oral PrilCiples
The defense of the nation its constitution and interests
is tile first duty of a Jhysical army So the first function
of Catholic Action is the defenee 0f the princiles of religion
ane norali ty i h ich Christ pro lul gat ed and sealed with His
de~th ~ h o will deny the necessity of such a defense in the face
of skeptici m agnosticism irreligion and downri~ht atheism
which are sweeping like a tidal wave over the eart h At least
one government has declered an inferrlal warfare upon all reli gion
defying God s wrath with its unspeakable blasphe~ ies threatening
to tear to shreds every vestige of reli gious belief still
lingering in the heartE of ite enslaved su bjectE and forb idding
mothers to lisp the name of God or Christ to the children at
their knees The atheistic propaganda of Communism h s its
resources rophets and high priest s scattered thouhout Europe
and Ame rica sO~i i ng- the se6ds of e materialis far ro s ser and
more destructive than the capitalistic system which it aims to
supplant The divorce of reli CT ion from education in tne public
schools of OUT ovn country co r) lefented by t he undisguised anti shy
relig ious attitude of secular colleges and universities is
~orkin~ out logically in a descend i n_ course indicating a
di~inishinry reli g ious grasp in each succeeding eneration
indifference s kepticis iI-religion at he ism
vel chri stian churche s are speeding uo t he ~Jrocess of
dechr ist iani zat ion by re-5uc ing to mere s~eletons and shadows
9
their traditional beliefs by weakening or abro gating all
d iEc i ~)l ille and by adapt ing the ir moral code to the popular
whi m of t h e age That wonder that forty t housand non-cat Olic
churches are reported closed with their pulpits as silent a 8
t~e tombstones in t h e adjacent cerfeteries at wonder that a
leadin5 minister of a denomination wllOse statistician reported
ten thousa Eo churches wi t fJout a si ngle baptisJ1 last year
charg ed eli s chur ch v i t h s piritual suicide fI and sp i ritual
b irtb control Perhpas t here is h ere a relation ship between
the p hysic a l and t he spiritual order
As for the weakening of morality t here is no need of
nauseating t h is auoience 1i ith the u gly tale of viDlence -fl ~~ooo
crue a middotd l rrmoralltyen wncn t h e d~lly press p resents ln ~ jj-LH~~7 ~tW- -IW ~~ch~~~ NcI ~~ te ~25
ulllntelrupted serlals The lcker sh am Repor~na8 confirmed
t he nQst invinc ible sket ics of the enormous extent of lawlessness
in our land But it may be i mportant to cite expert testimony
imiddotor t h e fact t hat irrel i g ion and cr i rre are int i mately rela t ed
On June 15th Dr Brandl Folice Presi de nt of Vienna a id inter-oh
nat io nal aut h~i t T on c r i mi nolos y addressi ng t he Int er nat ional
Conlt ree of Reli ioll s PSYChOlOy 11 Vienna ma de t h is si p-nificant
state ent about juvenile crLTinele It is to be noted that
t heir attitude toward reli~ion definitely fixes t he deg ree of
t~ eir criminalit y If they have lost t he ir relig ion t hey a re
uore prone to COl ~it crime t an t hos e who ha ve p reserved some
reI i g i on In t he case of g rave CT i me s it i s founei almost
invariably t hat t e offe ers reli g ious feeli ng i~ either
wholly lost or strongly diTdnisned (Oath UeliS June 27 31)
America may well take heedl JMLdeg1~~~ 4-Ugt ~~
10
lhese conCiitions explain in part why t he TToly Fat~er setpound forth as
t be f irst s~)eciiic ai IT of Catholic Action IIt l~e defense of relig ious
and moral princi-oleE II Tne Catholic Church alone stand)firm a nd
i mrnOiralIe above t he ri s il2 t ide of reI i g ious unre st a nd amidst
t h e del~ge of moral decadence and corruption She not only
ga t ers her cnildren to her 8h e1 t e r ing prot ect ion but in
Oatholic Action s ~ e bids the~ to consecrate t~eir gifts of
tongJe and pen especially t he persuasive pOrer of a conei s tent
cat ~olic life to promul gate defeId and de r1onstrate to the
un-oel ievine loose living oft en 1 icent iOUE worldl ing s that
the Go s pel and the Decalogue contain t l e rule oi life w ich
alone g ives dignity to hu man existence and peace to restless
heFrt s
Sound Wn olesore Social Altion
-uch ot t he disorder and ttisery from wh ich hluanity is suffering
today ariseE from unsound p rinciples and theories regarding the
social order unde r wh ich men live Therefore the Hol y Fa t h er has
not only ma de the develo pment of a sound nd who lesome 80cial
action one of t~1e chief airllS of CRtholic Action but in his
recent encyclical entitled 1170rty Years After he has g iven to
the orld t 1e prinCip les End methods according to wh ich the social
order should be constitu ted and reconstructed
A fundamenta_ weakness in the efforts Dut forth to adjust
the present econorrdc and social dislocat ion is the drea m that
the old order is ri ght and sound and that nothing is lac~ing
b ut confi~ence to set the machinery of industry and com~erce in
11
--~~~~~~J Iqal
t1ot ion Geneva t ellSUS dat II psychol og ical U~ctor8 dOjlinate
the econoIr ic crieis t h rou hout t he worl d ( Sept 2AP World
~erampl~ ) Fs yct ology is play1n - its 9srt in the trag ic drama
0 worl d depression but a sk t h e man w o walk s t he streets
in searc_ of 2 j o-b or t h e fat her oo e ch il iren cry for
b read a d t 1ere is none to break to t hem or the far r er~~(L~
WhOE8 cred itors have dis iJossessed h bl o ecclUse tie failed to
(Leet hi S otliga t ions hether p eyc _ olog- ical facto~s dotl inated J--c~lt1J k~~~1-~ ~PL ~AL-~I t h eir inc ivLua l c1i8i8 The social strl ct lJ re and mac h inery
needs ~ore t~aG B p sycho log ical up turn or a superfic i al
repair job it needs a n ew pn ilosoph ic outlook a nd a t horough
reco nstru ction accord ing to the prinCiples cont a ined in or
log ically deduced from t ) e te a chings ot O111i st The r SJulation
of t he responsib ilities a rising from t he possession of p roperty
a nd weBl t ~~ t h e ordering of t he lllutual relat i m s1ips du t ies QA~4q~
and burden~ between t he state and its citizens between capit al
and lab or between t he e~ployer a nd t ~ e e p loyees between one
rank of huma n society a nd t h e ot il er fair c omp ensatioTl a mi the
e qu it a b le d i stri c_ti on of t he joint fruits of iIlvest iIent brains
and bran i r indust ry a gric11 l t ure a dd commerce are all vital
issues Libera l i and cap italism have met therr in t he spirit
of e zrat er ial ist ic philosoph y 821fi sl1ne ss anr avarice t lle
p resent e on Jic debacl e is t ile resu lt If we ould escas e ~
-~he ROPet cOllseque21ces of aei Z I of 80ci a1is and c o municom
vhose advocates are lJot ent i a1ly in our very midst then
gover l ents i imm cial inoustrial and c ommercial l eaders toshy
g etl e r it h t h e sooel advis e rs of t he l abo r i ng clrusep must
adoDt t he safe 6 i1t_ sounel Lidc le course mapp ed ou t by the
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
-b~~~ --~~ 7~
THE AI S OF CATHOLIC ACTI ON
Holy ~ame ~en we hail you as the very salt of our
catholic manhood Representatives of every station in life
thoug you be your lory rests not upon the lLsterial social
or political prestige of which you lliay boast but rather upon
your sterling ca~holicity which makes brothers of you ell
in t h e COKmon bond of a sturdy fait h a conEietently clean
life and an enthusiastic zeal for the
iCingdo of Jesus Christ IVh ose Sacred
revere
It is a particular privilege to participate in your
most impressive demonstration tecause you make it a I
solemn act of worsh ip in which you render public honor
and praise to the Holy Name of Go d ho is so little
recof~lJ i zed in t he publ ic 1 ife of our day Reco Qn izin ~t
as too fe~ io that we Bre passi g through a period of
retribution fo r our enerations exceEsee and extravagances
in t ne moral and economic order you ere dedic~tin~ to God
an act of puolic reparat ion for the hurden ot sin uncer
which hlli Bn ity is staggering ith t h e consciouBne s s of
fait h wh ich direct s you to look to God I 8 love and lercy
rat her tn n to hUITan po~er and ingenuit y ior the allevi 8t ion
of the evile _hich are sadde ning t e hearts of men you are
hopefully sentHng to heaven a ni ghty prayer that humanity
Iay SOOD 100- into the dawn of a better dov But an act
of wors~ i p would be incomplete without t ~le element of
2
thanks g iving After all our very depre~sion is proof by
antithesis that Go 6 has blessed UB end blessed UP of
America beyond the other namptions of the earth ~aterially
I e must not forget thiE lest we add to
our unwort i1iness t i1e guilt of iilgratit lde You do well to
render tnsn s g iving on an occaeion svch as t h is fo r God IS
innmrerable blessins poured out so lavishly upon our
c lUrc h our countr y an i our institutions Among t -lese
blessi ngs you have singled ou t one for eID hasis today God
wh ich 1I1e hail with rej oicing - Thatl11iay be thanked so
rea ds your pro gr a m for the great blessing s that have come
to our diocese and to t1e Ohurc1 of t hese United States
through tl-e wise and beneficent leadership of our beloved
Bishop in tbe past decade of years - For years we hAve
adfiired a nd founl1 inspiraticn in t 1e amiable claracter
unt iri g zeal and inexhaust 11)le energy o f ~rOilI ost
Reverend and beloved Bis ~ op You of Oleveland are b lessed
indeed in t t e ~ ift of shch a leader As for the Church
in thee LJni ted States of A cerica if t ~ ie s tory of Oat holic
r~ction in t _1is country is ever wri t ten no name iVill etand
out i n bolder relief or more glorious s _ lendor t hampn that
of your high priest and father Bis hop JCEeph Sc hr-erubs
ith you we t hank the Lord a nd p ray ~OEt fervently that
Cleveland and me rica may b e neLi t by h is [enius ~is
guidance and his labors for many years to come
Seeking 8 Prophet
That God may free t he wDrld from the perils of
3
economic depression hatre tislmderstanding and false
philosophy tnat are menacin lJ our civilization and culture
Thu s you deLine the purpo pe of t hi s Cat hoI ic Act ier Demonst ration
In t is you betray t he t il ougl1 ts w~ich dominEte your ass embly
t10Ug_ltS which in fact no asse J- bly of [ren foregat hered tOrlay
in any part of t l1e world can suppress wi t rlOut some unnatural
restraint The evile are too universal too omnipresent too
deep-rooted too painf~ l to ad~it even t he pretence of i g oring
t h em
All t he world is not only thinking talking a nd writing
ab out t is t ing called econo~ic depressi on it is a lso
awai t i ng wit h canst ernst iO[1 what ilay yet oe f a11 our civil i za t ion
-any ho are not pessimists see the handwritinv
of dooll on the wall rrelplessly and well ni gh ho peleesly all
t he wor ld is casting a bout for t h e nostrum wh ich will effect
t he lrag ic cu re f or t e sorcerer who will coax bac ~( over nigh t
the il luSive rite called Pro pe rit j Only t hree day s go
-eneva sent out t 11e Ile 8saPe t ~1at it s econ )) io COll1I1 i ttee can
agr e e on no sine-Ie cure-all for t he prevailing d ifficulties in
~ i ce co nm r ce and i ndus try Gove rnrrents a nd political
parties are tottering becau se t hey seem incapable of doing
or e t han orga niz ing nat io nel aIlc~ in terns t ional conferelces
creat ing conmi s 8ions and order ing surveys and invest i gat ions
in endless variety whose results seeI to be f e r the most part
illusory Captains of industry seem to have lost their skill
4
and t ile wi zardry with wh ich for two decades they have aTi-assed
lortuller in com-pariscn with which the wealth of 01010l or
Croesus are were ant h ills Ban]ers and fin EIlCiers confronted
wi t h t he st na t i e n of indus t ry 8nO co merce 8re pe rplexed
because tne irony of fate leaves them without a market for the
millions of dollars stored in their vaults e xcept for tne
OCC3 i onal 1 010caust on tne al tal of arunon t e stabilize some
le~d in_ worl d Dower Universlt y- f2c11ties scierlci~tE and
ph ilos op ere e_rryer te in re8earc f1 ork ltind surveys reve l no
way out of t ile labyrinth of eCO(lO r 1c 80ci21 ano t 0101 conshy
fusion into wh ic ~ they h ove helped not alittle to steer t h e
bullorld
In ti1e meant i rr e comJimnity c heste 80ci21 agencies
chari t ab1 2 organ izat i Ol1s and inst i tlt i f-llS Ere plannin~ a nd
s middot_ruggling a gainst de s perati o to raise tile fund nece ss ary
to relieve pypoundic a l soci al an -i moral misery in our homes end
to reHove t he evioe rices of de gradati cn from our streets and
t h orou ghf aree dur ing t he onco lr ing winter lhe world is
looking for leadersh i p and sigh i V for a p ro_ het ho lay
forecast a brighter era en divert t1l1m8nit y S cmlr~OJlj t he
IT iry jLu ~ elE of co(mu nism a d r a ical eociali sbull
Truly may e cry out with C-t John t h e Bapt ist There hath
stoo( one in t~e lli i6st of you whom you kno not - For nearly
a decade 01 years a9Iophet whose heart has been rac lced b y the
5
eestlessnese ami gravitatirlb trenrj of t he religiouE moral
anc soc ial I ife of the ~rorl ana whooe unerring unobscured
vi8i~n has been concentrated upon the t h ing s that Bre for t h e
peace of hUr anity has raised h is p r oph e t ic voice in sea on a na
out oi seas on in allocutions and writin r-r s ithout um er even
se Hd ing his mesea e to the end s of t h e eart by t le electrified
va ves of the a ir to warn ~ is ch ildren against t he mena c i g
portents o the ti e s and to call UDon the nations to r a lly to
the --= e f e lEe of t be very f oundations of c rieti an civill~ ation
~ ore 1ceenly than 811 ot~lers t il is prophet re c lizes t hat our
econo ic o reakda wn is a sy p ton rat her t ha t h e 6 i E ease The
u i ver s 1U80rder nes its root 8 in treason to Go and in t h e
f lout inc a t cnrist ian p rinc i ples o j D oral i ty in oontenpt for
socia l jUftice a lld c -1Clri t y i n eva rice 8middotel f isn ness a d lust
-- a ll tlle u f ly t e nt ie l e s of t e c ancer 0 g ross Iat er i a l i ~m
which holds t h e nations in ite rip
lirOI(j his lo f ty wat chtower flung h i gh upon t Ile impre gnable
Rock of Fet e r this holy se er se nds f ort h t h e r ally i nq cry
T_ e peace of Ch rist i the r e i g n of Christ ll bull Tth t h e su reness
o t e explie nced d i ag o s t icia1 W lose f i ngers a ve pl ay ed upon
the pul s e of hutlanity for nearly two t l1 0118 2nd years he diecerns
t e illala dy an p rescribes t te reme ciy - Pr yer Bec r i f ice and
a ct i on - 3t hmiddot lie Act ien - tnrou o-h t h e a1lc l icat ion of
c nrist ian prinelulee to all t ~e proble~ s o f li ~ e The world
maybe indis ~osed to accept his leadership beca~ Be he carries
shyo
not t oe sy b oIs of materi~liE~ on his scutcheon it may not
reec 1~0 to hi s rallyin~ cry because it i e ill p repared for
L h spiritual ideals but it it woul d Ieturn to st b ility
or(er and peace it must accept the recipe -Prayer sacrifice
and C thalic Acticn t h loug-h t ne application of CllIistian
principles to the problerr e of life ll prescribe i by t e Vic a r of
Jrist ~loriously r e i zr i ng over t ne Church of God t he Father
So extensive are t ne ramifications of Cat holic Action
W i cn a ct ually touch es and i nf lue ces every domain of hU~Bn
life anci its ani f ol d relations that a n exhaustive developlent
of its sc op e would be an i ff position uyon your tilli8 a nd patience
But since you hElve dedicated t h is ma _11i f icent demcnstrat ion to
Catholic Action you are entitled to know at least its rrajor
ai rrs as vi 8~ alize b y the Holy Fat ~er
Address ing t h e Int erna t ional Catho lic 0(1 en IS Leagll e in
Ro me t~o years ag o the Supreme Fontiff said Ce1thelic Action
as Fe Wi8~1 it 210 88 we heve frequently charccterized it is the
partiCIpation of the laity in the hierarcnical aposto l ate for
t r~l e deiels e c reli 2 ic u 8 and rnOT21 princirles for t l1 e development
of a 80un~ and ho leBo ~e social acticn under t j e ~uidance of the
h ierarc_y funct io n i ng out s ide and above all -poll tical -98rt ies
7
Be it e mphasized that Cgtholic Acticn is an invitation and
a 8UIlOns isslled to tte c8t101iC lElity to pcrticiprte in the
ayos tolic ministry of the hierarchy It ie an extensi on of
the sacard tampl office in the broad eenee in h ich t Peter
addresses t he l~ity as amp chosen generati2n a ~ingly priesthood
ilOly nati c n (I Petro -2 ) Th Holy Father exlains thi8
exalted co cept ~nOIe sDeci ically wren he deEcribes this lay
apostolate lias a ay and a leans which has come into being
throu~h t h e dispensati of divine ~race to the end tha t the
Ch ~ rch may call and in Dce those to follol the teachinf and the
law of t n e Gospel o might ot~er vrie e t h rough lack of priestly
inIlue ce fe] l a p rey to t ll e isrepreeent s t i one and de 8trllcti ve
efforts of disturoing a 1tators (Acta 1 8 28-38( )
Tru~ to its nartle a tholic Acti r n is charGcterize5 by its
universality 8U waning catholics of every station in life to
share ifl teiE g enuirle apoetolate a nd offerimr a bOLm less
liel t to the ze a l of t belaity for it i B way and a means
of which t h e hurch aV6ils itself to bring to the nations
~less ings of every kind (Acta 1~28-385) It is a masse d
forward movement of the ent ire catholic body hierarchy clergy
cn laity in t n e ir proper coordinat ion t c ir~ p iritall
human life a n its cO II~lex relationshipe wit1 tne Eo1l the
pO er the unction and t~e rule of Ohrists doctrlile and
8
Defend Religious and oral PrilCiples
The defense of the nation its constitution and interests
is tile first duty of a Jhysical army So the first function
of Catholic Action is the defenee 0f the princiles of religion
ane norali ty i h ich Christ pro lul gat ed and sealed with His
de~th ~ h o will deny the necessity of such a defense in the face
of skeptici m agnosticism irreligion and downri~ht atheism
which are sweeping like a tidal wave over the eart h At least
one government has declered an inferrlal warfare upon all reli gion
defying God s wrath with its unspeakable blasphe~ ies threatening
to tear to shreds every vestige of reli gious belief still
lingering in the heartE of ite enslaved su bjectE and forb idding
mothers to lisp the name of God or Christ to the children at
their knees The atheistic propaganda of Communism h s its
resources rophets and high priest s scattered thouhout Europe
and Ame rica sO~i i ng- the se6ds of e materialis far ro s ser and
more destructive than the capitalistic system which it aims to
supplant The divorce of reli CT ion from education in tne public
schools of OUT ovn country co r) lefented by t he undisguised anti shy
relig ious attitude of secular colleges and universities is
~orkin~ out logically in a descend i n_ course indicating a
di~inishinry reli g ious grasp in each succeeding eneration
indifference s kepticis iI-religion at he ism
vel chri stian churche s are speeding uo t he ~Jrocess of
dechr ist iani zat ion by re-5uc ing to mere s~eletons and shadows
9
their traditional beliefs by weakening or abro gating all
d iEc i ~)l ille and by adapt ing the ir moral code to the popular
whi m of t h e age That wonder that forty t housand non-cat Olic
churches are reported closed with their pulpits as silent a 8
t~e tombstones in t h e adjacent cerfeteries at wonder that a
leadin5 minister of a denomination wllOse statistician reported
ten thousa Eo churches wi t fJout a si ngle baptisJ1 last year
charg ed eli s chur ch v i t h s piritual suicide fI and sp i ritual
b irtb control Perhpas t here is h ere a relation ship between
the p hysic a l and t he spiritual order
As for the weakening of morality t here is no need of
nauseating t h is auoience 1i ith the u gly tale of viDlence -fl ~~ooo
crue a middotd l rrmoralltyen wncn t h e d~lly press p resents ln ~ jj-LH~~7 ~tW- -IW ~~ch~~~ NcI ~~ te ~25
ulllntelrupted serlals The lcker sh am Repor~na8 confirmed
t he nQst invinc ible sket ics of the enormous extent of lawlessness
in our land But it may be i mportant to cite expert testimony
imiddotor t h e fact t hat irrel i g ion and cr i rre are int i mately rela t ed
On June 15th Dr Brandl Folice Presi de nt of Vienna a id inter-oh
nat io nal aut h~i t T on c r i mi nolos y addressi ng t he Int er nat ional
Conlt ree of Reli ioll s PSYChOlOy 11 Vienna ma de t h is si p-nificant
state ent about juvenile crLTinele It is to be noted that
t heir attitude toward reli~ion definitely fixes t he deg ree of
t~ eir criminalit y If they have lost t he ir relig ion t hey a re
uore prone to COl ~it crime t an t hos e who ha ve p reserved some
reI i g i on In t he case of g rave CT i me s it i s founei almost
invariably t hat t e offe ers reli g ious feeli ng i~ either
wholly lost or strongly diTdnisned (Oath UeliS June 27 31)
America may well take heedl JMLdeg1~~~ 4-Ugt ~~
10
lhese conCiitions explain in part why t he TToly Fat~er setpound forth as
t be f irst s~)eciiic ai IT of Catholic Action IIt l~e defense of relig ious
and moral princi-oleE II Tne Catholic Church alone stand)firm a nd
i mrnOiralIe above t he ri s il2 t ide of reI i g ious unre st a nd amidst
t h e del~ge of moral decadence and corruption She not only
ga t ers her cnildren to her 8h e1 t e r ing prot ect ion but in
Oatholic Action s ~ e bids the~ to consecrate t~eir gifts of
tongJe and pen especially t he persuasive pOrer of a conei s tent
cat ~olic life to promul gate defeId and de r1onstrate to the
un-oel ievine loose living oft en 1 icent iOUE worldl ing s that
the Go s pel and the Decalogue contain t l e rule oi life w ich
alone g ives dignity to hu man existence and peace to restless
heFrt s
Sound Wn olesore Social Altion
-uch ot t he disorder and ttisery from wh ich hluanity is suffering
today ariseE from unsound p rinciples and theories regarding the
social order unde r wh ich men live Therefore the Hol y Fa t h er has
not only ma de the develo pment of a sound nd who lesome 80cial
action one of t~1e chief airllS of CRtholic Action but in his
recent encyclical entitled 1170rty Years After he has g iven to
the orld t 1e prinCip les End methods according to wh ich the social
order should be constitu ted and reconstructed
A fundamenta_ weakness in the efforts Dut forth to adjust
the present econorrdc and social dislocat ion is the drea m that
the old order is ri ght and sound and that nothing is lac~ing
b ut confi~ence to set the machinery of industry and com~erce in
11
--~~~~~~J Iqal
t1ot ion Geneva t ellSUS dat II psychol og ical U~ctor8 dOjlinate
the econoIr ic crieis t h rou hout t he worl d ( Sept 2AP World
~erampl~ ) Fs yct ology is play1n - its 9srt in the trag ic drama
0 worl d depression but a sk t h e man w o walk s t he streets
in searc_ of 2 j o-b or t h e fat her oo e ch il iren cry for
b read a d t 1ere is none to break to t hem or the far r er~~(L~
WhOE8 cred itors have dis iJossessed h bl o ecclUse tie failed to
(Leet hi S otliga t ions hether p eyc _ olog- ical facto~s dotl inated J--c~lt1J k~~~1-~ ~PL ~AL-~I t h eir inc ivLua l c1i8i8 The social strl ct lJ re and mac h inery
needs ~ore t~aG B p sycho log ical up turn or a superfic i al
repair job it needs a n ew pn ilosoph ic outlook a nd a t horough
reco nstru ction accord ing to the prinCiples cont a ined in or
log ically deduced from t ) e te a chings ot O111i st The r SJulation
of t he responsib ilities a rising from t he possession of p roperty
a nd weBl t ~~ t h e ordering of t he lllutual relat i m s1ips du t ies QA~4q~
and burden~ between t he state and its citizens between capit al
and lab or between t he e~ployer a nd t ~ e e p loyees between one
rank of huma n society a nd t h e ot il er fair c omp ensatioTl a mi the
e qu it a b le d i stri c_ti on of t he joint fruits of iIlvest iIent brains
and bran i r indust ry a gric11 l t ure a dd commerce are all vital
issues Libera l i and cap italism have met therr in t he spirit
of e zrat er ial ist ic philosoph y 821fi sl1ne ss anr avarice t lle
p resent e on Jic debacl e is t ile resu lt If we ould escas e ~
-~he ROPet cOllseque21ces of aei Z I of 80ci a1is and c o municom
vhose advocates are lJot ent i a1ly in our very midst then
gover l ents i imm cial inoustrial and c ommercial l eaders toshy
g etl e r it h t h e sooel advis e rs of t he l abo r i ng clrusep must
adoDt t he safe 6 i1t_ sounel Lidc le course mapp ed ou t by the
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
2
thanks g iving After all our very depre~sion is proof by
antithesis that Go 6 has blessed UB end blessed UP of
America beyond the other namptions of the earth ~aterially
I e must not forget thiE lest we add to
our unwort i1iness t i1e guilt of iilgratit lde You do well to
render tnsn s g iving on an occaeion svch as t h is fo r God IS
innmrerable blessins poured out so lavishly upon our
c lUrc h our countr y an i our institutions Among t -lese
blessi ngs you have singled ou t one for eID hasis today God
wh ich 1I1e hail with rej oicing - Thatl11iay be thanked so
rea ds your pro gr a m for the great blessing s that have come
to our diocese and to t1e Ohurc1 of t hese United States
through tl-e wise and beneficent leadership of our beloved
Bishop in tbe past decade of years - For years we hAve
adfiired a nd founl1 inspiraticn in t 1e amiable claracter
unt iri g zeal and inexhaust 11)le energy o f ~rOilI ost
Reverend and beloved Bis ~ op You of Oleveland are b lessed
indeed in t t e ~ ift of shch a leader As for the Church
in thee LJni ted States of A cerica if t ~ ie s tory of Oat holic
r~ction in t _1is country is ever wri t ten no name iVill etand
out i n bolder relief or more glorious s _ lendor t hampn that
of your high priest and father Bis hop JCEeph Sc hr-erubs
ith you we t hank the Lord a nd p ray ~OEt fervently that
Cleveland and me rica may b e neLi t by h is [enius ~is
guidance and his labors for many years to come
Seeking 8 Prophet
That God may free t he wDrld from the perils of
3
economic depression hatre tislmderstanding and false
philosophy tnat are menacin lJ our civilization and culture
Thu s you deLine the purpo pe of t hi s Cat hoI ic Act ier Demonst ration
In t is you betray t he t il ougl1 ts w~ich dominEte your ass embly
t10Ug_ltS which in fact no asse J- bly of [ren foregat hered tOrlay
in any part of t l1e world can suppress wi t rlOut some unnatural
restraint The evile are too universal too omnipresent too
deep-rooted too painf~ l to ad~it even t he pretence of i g oring
t h em
All t he world is not only thinking talking a nd writing
ab out t is t ing called econo~ic depressi on it is a lso
awai t i ng wit h canst ernst iO[1 what ilay yet oe f a11 our civil i za t ion
-any ho are not pessimists see the handwritinv
of dooll on the wall rrelplessly and well ni gh ho peleesly all
t he wor ld is casting a bout for t h e nostrum wh ich will effect
t he lrag ic cu re f or t e sorcerer who will coax bac ~( over nigh t
the il luSive rite called Pro pe rit j Only t hree day s go
-eneva sent out t 11e Ile 8saPe t ~1at it s econ )) io COll1I1 i ttee can
agr e e on no sine-Ie cure-all for t he prevailing d ifficulties in
~ i ce co nm r ce and i ndus try Gove rnrrents a nd political
parties are tottering becau se t hey seem incapable of doing
or e t han orga niz ing nat io nel aIlc~ in terns t ional conferelces
creat ing conmi s 8ions and order ing surveys and invest i gat ions
in endless variety whose results seeI to be f e r the most part
illusory Captains of industry seem to have lost their skill
4
and t ile wi zardry with wh ich for two decades they have aTi-assed
lortuller in com-pariscn with which the wealth of 01010l or
Croesus are were ant h ills Ban]ers and fin EIlCiers confronted
wi t h t he st na t i e n of indus t ry 8nO co merce 8re pe rplexed
because tne irony of fate leaves them without a market for the
millions of dollars stored in their vaults e xcept for tne
OCC3 i onal 1 010caust on tne al tal of arunon t e stabilize some
le~d in_ worl d Dower Universlt y- f2c11ties scierlci~tE and
ph ilos op ere e_rryer te in re8earc f1 ork ltind surveys reve l no
way out of t ile labyrinth of eCO(lO r 1c 80ci21 ano t 0101 conshy
fusion into wh ic ~ they h ove helped not alittle to steer t h e
bullorld
In ti1e meant i rr e comJimnity c heste 80ci21 agencies
chari t ab1 2 organ izat i Ol1s and inst i tlt i f-llS Ere plannin~ a nd
s middot_ruggling a gainst de s perati o to raise tile fund nece ss ary
to relieve pypoundic a l soci al an -i moral misery in our homes end
to reHove t he evioe rices of de gradati cn from our streets and
t h orou ghf aree dur ing t he onco lr ing winter lhe world is
looking for leadersh i p and sigh i V for a p ro_ het ho lay
forecast a brighter era en divert t1l1m8nit y S cmlr~OJlj t he
IT iry jLu ~ elE of co(mu nism a d r a ical eociali sbull
Truly may e cry out with C-t John t h e Bapt ist There hath
stoo( one in t~e lli i6st of you whom you kno not - For nearly
a decade 01 years a9Iophet whose heart has been rac lced b y the
5
eestlessnese ami gravitatirlb trenrj of t he religiouE moral
anc soc ial I ife of the ~rorl ana whooe unerring unobscured
vi8i~n has been concentrated upon the t h ing s that Bre for t h e
peace of hUr anity has raised h is p r oph e t ic voice in sea on a na
out oi seas on in allocutions and writin r-r s ithout um er even
se Hd ing his mesea e to the end s of t h e eart by t le electrified
va ves of the a ir to warn ~ is ch ildren against t he mena c i g
portents o the ti e s and to call UDon the nations to r a lly to
the --= e f e lEe of t be very f oundations of c rieti an civill~ ation
~ ore 1ceenly than 811 ot~lers t il is prophet re c lizes t hat our
econo ic o reakda wn is a sy p ton rat her t ha t h e 6 i E ease The
u i ver s 1U80rder nes its root 8 in treason to Go and in t h e
f lout inc a t cnrist ian p rinc i ples o j D oral i ty in oontenpt for
socia l jUftice a lld c -1Clri t y i n eva rice 8middotel f isn ness a d lust
-- a ll tlle u f ly t e nt ie l e s of t e c ancer 0 g ross Iat er i a l i ~m
which holds t h e nations in ite rip
lirOI(j his lo f ty wat chtower flung h i gh upon t Ile impre gnable
Rock of Fet e r this holy se er se nds f ort h t h e r ally i nq cry
T_ e peace of Ch rist i the r e i g n of Christ ll bull Tth t h e su reness
o t e explie nced d i ag o s t icia1 W lose f i ngers a ve pl ay ed upon
the pul s e of hutlanity for nearly two t l1 0118 2nd years he diecerns
t e illala dy an p rescribes t te reme ciy - Pr yer Bec r i f ice and
a ct i on - 3t hmiddot lie Act ien - tnrou o-h t h e a1lc l icat ion of
c nrist ian prinelulee to all t ~e proble~ s o f li ~ e The world
maybe indis ~osed to accept his leadership beca~ Be he carries
shyo
not t oe sy b oIs of materi~liE~ on his scutcheon it may not
reec 1~0 to hi s rallyin~ cry because it i e ill p repared for
L h spiritual ideals but it it woul d Ieturn to st b ility
or(er and peace it must accept the recipe -Prayer sacrifice
and C thalic Acticn t h loug-h t ne application of CllIistian
principles to the problerr e of life ll prescribe i by t e Vic a r of
Jrist ~loriously r e i zr i ng over t ne Church of God t he Father
So extensive are t ne ramifications of Cat holic Action
W i cn a ct ually touch es and i nf lue ces every domain of hU~Bn
life anci its ani f ol d relations that a n exhaustive developlent
of its sc op e would be an i ff position uyon your tilli8 a nd patience
But since you hElve dedicated t h is ma _11i f icent demcnstrat ion to
Catholic Action you are entitled to know at least its rrajor
ai rrs as vi 8~ alize b y the Holy Fat ~er
Address ing t h e Int erna t ional Catho lic 0(1 en IS Leagll e in
Ro me t~o years ag o the Supreme Fontiff said Ce1thelic Action
as Fe Wi8~1 it 210 88 we heve frequently charccterized it is the
partiCIpation of the laity in the hierarcnical aposto l ate for
t r~l e deiels e c reli 2 ic u 8 and rnOT21 princirles for t l1 e development
of a 80un~ and ho leBo ~e social acticn under t j e ~uidance of the
h ierarc_y funct io n i ng out s ide and above all -poll tical -98rt ies
7
Be it e mphasized that Cgtholic Acticn is an invitation and
a 8UIlOns isslled to tte c8t101iC lElity to pcrticiprte in the
ayos tolic ministry of the hierarchy It ie an extensi on of
the sacard tampl office in the broad eenee in h ich t Peter
addresses t he l~ity as amp chosen generati2n a ~ingly priesthood
ilOly nati c n (I Petro -2 ) Th Holy Father exlains thi8
exalted co cept ~nOIe sDeci ically wren he deEcribes this lay
apostolate lias a ay and a leans which has come into being
throu~h t h e dispensati of divine ~race to the end tha t the
Ch ~ rch may call and in Dce those to follol the teachinf and the
law of t n e Gospel o might ot~er vrie e t h rough lack of priestly
inIlue ce fe] l a p rey to t ll e isrepreeent s t i one and de 8trllcti ve
efforts of disturoing a 1tators (Acta 1 8 28-38( )
Tru~ to its nartle a tholic Acti r n is charGcterize5 by its
universality 8U waning catholics of every station in life to
share ifl teiE g enuirle apoetolate a nd offerimr a bOLm less
liel t to the ze a l of t belaity for it i B way and a means
of which t h e hurch aV6ils itself to bring to the nations
~less ings of every kind (Acta 1~28-385) It is a masse d
forward movement of the ent ire catholic body hierarchy clergy
cn laity in t n e ir proper coordinat ion t c ir~ p iritall
human life a n its cO II~lex relationshipe wit1 tne Eo1l the
pO er the unction and t~e rule of Ohrists doctrlile and
8
Defend Religious and oral PrilCiples
The defense of the nation its constitution and interests
is tile first duty of a Jhysical army So the first function
of Catholic Action is the defenee 0f the princiles of religion
ane norali ty i h ich Christ pro lul gat ed and sealed with His
de~th ~ h o will deny the necessity of such a defense in the face
of skeptici m agnosticism irreligion and downri~ht atheism
which are sweeping like a tidal wave over the eart h At least
one government has declered an inferrlal warfare upon all reli gion
defying God s wrath with its unspeakable blasphe~ ies threatening
to tear to shreds every vestige of reli gious belief still
lingering in the heartE of ite enslaved su bjectE and forb idding
mothers to lisp the name of God or Christ to the children at
their knees The atheistic propaganda of Communism h s its
resources rophets and high priest s scattered thouhout Europe
and Ame rica sO~i i ng- the se6ds of e materialis far ro s ser and
more destructive than the capitalistic system which it aims to
supplant The divorce of reli CT ion from education in tne public
schools of OUT ovn country co r) lefented by t he undisguised anti shy
relig ious attitude of secular colleges and universities is
~orkin~ out logically in a descend i n_ course indicating a
di~inishinry reli g ious grasp in each succeeding eneration
indifference s kepticis iI-religion at he ism
vel chri stian churche s are speeding uo t he ~Jrocess of
dechr ist iani zat ion by re-5uc ing to mere s~eletons and shadows
9
their traditional beliefs by weakening or abro gating all
d iEc i ~)l ille and by adapt ing the ir moral code to the popular
whi m of t h e age That wonder that forty t housand non-cat Olic
churches are reported closed with their pulpits as silent a 8
t~e tombstones in t h e adjacent cerfeteries at wonder that a
leadin5 minister of a denomination wllOse statistician reported
ten thousa Eo churches wi t fJout a si ngle baptisJ1 last year
charg ed eli s chur ch v i t h s piritual suicide fI and sp i ritual
b irtb control Perhpas t here is h ere a relation ship between
the p hysic a l and t he spiritual order
As for the weakening of morality t here is no need of
nauseating t h is auoience 1i ith the u gly tale of viDlence -fl ~~ooo
crue a middotd l rrmoralltyen wncn t h e d~lly press p resents ln ~ jj-LH~~7 ~tW- -IW ~~ch~~~ NcI ~~ te ~25
ulllntelrupted serlals The lcker sh am Repor~na8 confirmed
t he nQst invinc ible sket ics of the enormous extent of lawlessness
in our land But it may be i mportant to cite expert testimony
imiddotor t h e fact t hat irrel i g ion and cr i rre are int i mately rela t ed
On June 15th Dr Brandl Folice Presi de nt of Vienna a id inter-oh
nat io nal aut h~i t T on c r i mi nolos y addressi ng t he Int er nat ional
Conlt ree of Reli ioll s PSYChOlOy 11 Vienna ma de t h is si p-nificant
state ent about juvenile crLTinele It is to be noted that
t heir attitude toward reli~ion definitely fixes t he deg ree of
t~ eir criminalit y If they have lost t he ir relig ion t hey a re
uore prone to COl ~it crime t an t hos e who ha ve p reserved some
reI i g i on In t he case of g rave CT i me s it i s founei almost
invariably t hat t e offe ers reli g ious feeli ng i~ either
wholly lost or strongly diTdnisned (Oath UeliS June 27 31)
America may well take heedl JMLdeg1~~~ 4-Ugt ~~
10
lhese conCiitions explain in part why t he TToly Fat~er setpound forth as
t be f irst s~)eciiic ai IT of Catholic Action IIt l~e defense of relig ious
and moral princi-oleE II Tne Catholic Church alone stand)firm a nd
i mrnOiralIe above t he ri s il2 t ide of reI i g ious unre st a nd amidst
t h e del~ge of moral decadence and corruption She not only
ga t ers her cnildren to her 8h e1 t e r ing prot ect ion but in
Oatholic Action s ~ e bids the~ to consecrate t~eir gifts of
tongJe and pen especially t he persuasive pOrer of a conei s tent
cat ~olic life to promul gate defeId and de r1onstrate to the
un-oel ievine loose living oft en 1 icent iOUE worldl ing s that
the Go s pel and the Decalogue contain t l e rule oi life w ich
alone g ives dignity to hu man existence and peace to restless
heFrt s
Sound Wn olesore Social Altion
-uch ot t he disorder and ttisery from wh ich hluanity is suffering
today ariseE from unsound p rinciples and theories regarding the
social order unde r wh ich men live Therefore the Hol y Fa t h er has
not only ma de the develo pment of a sound nd who lesome 80cial
action one of t~1e chief airllS of CRtholic Action but in his
recent encyclical entitled 1170rty Years After he has g iven to
the orld t 1e prinCip les End methods according to wh ich the social
order should be constitu ted and reconstructed
A fundamenta_ weakness in the efforts Dut forth to adjust
the present econorrdc and social dislocat ion is the drea m that
the old order is ri ght and sound and that nothing is lac~ing
b ut confi~ence to set the machinery of industry and com~erce in
11
--~~~~~~J Iqal
t1ot ion Geneva t ellSUS dat II psychol og ical U~ctor8 dOjlinate
the econoIr ic crieis t h rou hout t he worl d ( Sept 2AP World
~erampl~ ) Fs yct ology is play1n - its 9srt in the trag ic drama
0 worl d depression but a sk t h e man w o walk s t he streets
in searc_ of 2 j o-b or t h e fat her oo e ch il iren cry for
b read a d t 1ere is none to break to t hem or the far r er~~(L~
WhOE8 cred itors have dis iJossessed h bl o ecclUse tie failed to
(Leet hi S otliga t ions hether p eyc _ olog- ical facto~s dotl inated J--c~lt1J k~~~1-~ ~PL ~AL-~I t h eir inc ivLua l c1i8i8 The social strl ct lJ re and mac h inery
needs ~ore t~aG B p sycho log ical up turn or a superfic i al
repair job it needs a n ew pn ilosoph ic outlook a nd a t horough
reco nstru ction accord ing to the prinCiples cont a ined in or
log ically deduced from t ) e te a chings ot O111i st The r SJulation
of t he responsib ilities a rising from t he possession of p roperty
a nd weBl t ~~ t h e ordering of t he lllutual relat i m s1ips du t ies QA~4q~
and burden~ between t he state and its citizens between capit al
and lab or between t he e~ployer a nd t ~ e e p loyees between one
rank of huma n society a nd t h e ot il er fair c omp ensatioTl a mi the
e qu it a b le d i stri c_ti on of t he joint fruits of iIlvest iIent brains
and bran i r indust ry a gric11 l t ure a dd commerce are all vital
issues Libera l i and cap italism have met therr in t he spirit
of e zrat er ial ist ic philosoph y 821fi sl1ne ss anr avarice t lle
p resent e on Jic debacl e is t ile resu lt If we ould escas e ~
-~he ROPet cOllseque21ces of aei Z I of 80ci a1is and c o municom
vhose advocates are lJot ent i a1ly in our very midst then
gover l ents i imm cial inoustrial and c ommercial l eaders toshy
g etl e r it h t h e sooel advis e rs of t he l abo r i ng clrusep must
adoDt t he safe 6 i1t_ sounel Lidc le course mapp ed ou t by the
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
3
economic depression hatre tislmderstanding and false
philosophy tnat are menacin lJ our civilization and culture
Thu s you deLine the purpo pe of t hi s Cat hoI ic Act ier Demonst ration
In t is you betray t he t il ougl1 ts w~ich dominEte your ass embly
t10Ug_ltS which in fact no asse J- bly of [ren foregat hered tOrlay
in any part of t l1e world can suppress wi t rlOut some unnatural
restraint The evile are too universal too omnipresent too
deep-rooted too painf~ l to ad~it even t he pretence of i g oring
t h em
All t he world is not only thinking talking a nd writing
ab out t is t ing called econo~ic depressi on it is a lso
awai t i ng wit h canst ernst iO[1 what ilay yet oe f a11 our civil i za t ion
-any ho are not pessimists see the handwritinv
of dooll on the wall rrelplessly and well ni gh ho peleesly all
t he wor ld is casting a bout for t h e nostrum wh ich will effect
t he lrag ic cu re f or t e sorcerer who will coax bac ~( over nigh t
the il luSive rite called Pro pe rit j Only t hree day s go
-eneva sent out t 11e Ile 8saPe t ~1at it s econ )) io COll1I1 i ttee can
agr e e on no sine-Ie cure-all for t he prevailing d ifficulties in
~ i ce co nm r ce and i ndus try Gove rnrrents a nd political
parties are tottering becau se t hey seem incapable of doing
or e t han orga niz ing nat io nel aIlc~ in terns t ional conferelces
creat ing conmi s 8ions and order ing surveys and invest i gat ions
in endless variety whose results seeI to be f e r the most part
illusory Captains of industry seem to have lost their skill
4
and t ile wi zardry with wh ich for two decades they have aTi-assed
lortuller in com-pariscn with which the wealth of 01010l or
Croesus are were ant h ills Ban]ers and fin EIlCiers confronted
wi t h t he st na t i e n of indus t ry 8nO co merce 8re pe rplexed
because tne irony of fate leaves them without a market for the
millions of dollars stored in their vaults e xcept for tne
OCC3 i onal 1 010caust on tne al tal of arunon t e stabilize some
le~d in_ worl d Dower Universlt y- f2c11ties scierlci~tE and
ph ilos op ere e_rryer te in re8earc f1 ork ltind surveys reve l no
way out of t ile labyrinth of eCO(lO r 1c 80ci21 ano t 0101 conshy
fusion into wh ic ~ they h ove helped not alittle to steer t h e
bullorld
In ti1e meant i rr e comJimnity c heste 80ci21 agencies
chari t ab1 2 organ izat i Ol1s and inst i tlt i f-llS Ere plannin~ a nd
s middot_ruggling a gainst de s perati o to raise tile fund nece ss ary
to relieve pypoundic a l soci al an -i moral misery in our homes end
to reHove t he evioe rices of de gradati cn from our streets and
t h orou ghf aree dur ing t he onco lr ing winter lhe world is
looking for leadersh i p and sigh i V for a p ro_ het ho lay
forecast a brighter era en divert t1l1m8nit y S cmlr~OJlj t he
IT iry jLu ~ elE of co(mu nism a d r a ical eociali sbull
Truly may e cry out with C-t John t h e Bapt ist There hath
stoo( one in t~e lli i6st of you whom you kno not - For nearly
a decade 01 years a9Iophet whose heart has been rac lced b y the
5
eestlessnese ami gravitatirlb trenrj of t he religiouE moral
anc soc ial I ife of the ~rorl ana whooe unerring unobscured
vi8i~n has been concentrated upon the t h ing s that Bre for t h e
peace of hUr anity has raised h is p r oph e t ic voice in sea on a na
out oi seas on in allocutions and writin r-r s ithout um er even
se Hd ing his mesea e to the end s of t h e eart by t le electrified
va ves of the a ir to warn ~ is ch ildren against t he mena c i g
portents o the ti e s and to call UDon the nations to r a lly to
the --= e f e lEe of t be very f oundations of c rieti an civill~ ation
~ ore 1ceenly than 811 ot~lers t il is prophet re c lizes t hat our
econo ic o reakda wn is a sy p ton rat her t ha t h e 6 i E ease The
u i ver s 1U80rder nes its root 8 in treason to Go and in t h e
f lout inc a t cnrist ian p rinc i ples o j D oral i ty in oontenpt for
socia l jUftice a lld c -1Clri t y i n eva rice 8middotel f isn ness a d lust
-- a ll tlle u f ly t e nt ie l e s of t e c ancer 0 g ross Iat er i a l i ~m
which holds t h e nations in ite rip
lirOI(j his lo f ty wat chtower flung h i gh upon t Ile impre gnable
Rock of Fet e r this holy se er se nds f ort h t h e r ally i nq cry
T_ e peace of Ch rist i the r e i g n of Christ ll bull Tth t h e su reness
o t e explie nced d i ag o s t icia1 W lose f i ngers a ve pl ay ed upon
the pul s e of hutlanity for nearly two t l1 0118 2nd years he diecerns
t e illala dy an p rescribes t te reme ciy - Pr yer Bec r i f ice and
a ct i on - 3t hmiddot lie Act ien - tnrou o-h t h e a1lc l icat ion of
c nrist ian prinelulee to all t ~e proble~ s o f li ~ e The world
maybe indis ~osed to accept his leadership beca~ Be he carries
shyo
not t oe sy b oIs of materi~liE~ on his scutcheon it may not
reec 1~0 to hi s rallyin~ cry because it i e ill p repared for
L h spiritual ideals but it it woul d Ieturn to st b ility
or(er and peace it must accept the recipe -Prayer sacrifice
and C thalic Acticn t h loug-h t ne application of CllIistian
principles to the problerr e of life ll prescribe i by t e Vic a r of
Jrist ~loriously r e i zr i ng over t ne Church of God t he Father
So extensive are t ne ramifications of Cat holic Action
W i cn a ct ually touch es and i nf lue ces every domain of hU~Bn
life anci its ani f ol d relations that a n exhaustive developlent
of its sc op e would be an i ff position uyon your tilli8 a nd patience
But since you hElve dedicated t h is ma _11i f icent demcnstrat ion to
Catholic Action you are entitled to know at least its rrajor
ai rrs as vi 8~ alize b y the Holy Fat ~er
Address ing t h e Int erna t ional Catho lic 0(1 en IS Leagll e in
Ro me t~o years ag o the Supreme Fontiff said Ce1thelic Action
as Fe Wi8~1 it 210 88 we heve frequently charccterized it is the
partiCIpation of the laity in the hierarcnical aposto l ate for
t r~l e deiels e c reli 2 ic u 8 and rnOT21 princirles for t l1 e development
of a 80un~ and ho leBo ~e social acticn under t j e ~uidance of the
h ierarc_y funct io n i ng out s ide and above all -poll tical -98rt ies
7
Be it e mphasized that Cgtholic Acticn is an invitation and
a 8UIlOns isslled to tte c8t101iC lElity to pcrticiprte in the
ayos tolic ministry of the hierarchy It ie an extensi on of
the sacard tampl office in the broad eenee in h ich t Peter
addresses t he l~ity as amp chosen generati2n a ~ingly priesthood
ilOly nati c n (I Petro -2 ) Th Holy Father exlains thi8
exalted co cept ~nOIe sDeci ically wren he deEcribes this lay
apostolate lias a ay and a leans which has come into being
throu~h t h e dispensati of divine ~race to the end tha t the
Ch ~ rch may call and in Dce those to follol the teachinf and the
law of t n e Gospel o might ot~er vrie e t h rough lack of priestly
inIlue ce fe] l a p rey to t ll e isrepreeent s t i one and de 8trllcti ve
efforts of disturoing a 1tators (Acta 1 8 28-38( )
Tru~ to its nartle a tholic Acti r n is charGcterize5 by its
universality 8U waning catholics of every station in life to
share ifl teiE g enuirle apoetolate a nd offerimr a bOLm less
liel t to the ze a l of t belaity for it i B way and a means
of which t h e hurch aV6ils itself to bring to the nations
~less ings of every kind (Acta 1~28-385) It is a masse d
forward movement of the ent ire catholic body hierarchy clergy
cn laity in t n e ir proper coordinat ion t c ir~ p iritall
human life a n its cO II~lex relationshipe wit1 tne Eo1l the
pO er the unction and t~e rule of Ohrists doctrlile and
8
Defend Religious and oral PrilCiples
The defense of the nation its constitution and interests
is tile first duty of a Jhysical army So the first function
of Catholic Action is the defenee 0f the princiles of religion
ane norali ty i h ich Christ pro lul gat ed and sealed with His
de~th ~ h o will deny the necessity of such a defense in the face
of skeptici m agnosticism irreligion and downri~ht atheism
which are sweeping like a tidal wave over the eart h At least
one government has declered an inferrlal warfare upon all reli gion
defying God s wrath with its unspeakable blasphe~ ies threatening
to tear to shreds every vestige of reli gious belief still
lingering in the heartE of ite enslaved su bjectE and forb idding
mothers to lisp the name of God or Christ to the children at
their knees The atheistic propaganda of Communism h s its
resources rophets and high priest s scattered thouhout Europe
and Ame rica sO~i i ng- the se6ds of e materialis far ro s ser and
more destructive than the capitalistic system which it aims to
supplant The divorce of reli CT ion from education in tne public
schools of OUT ovn country co r) lefented by t he undisguised anti shy
relig ious attitude of secular colleges and universities is
~orkin~ out logically in a descend i n_ course indicating a
di~inishinry reli g ious grasp in each succeeding eneration
indifference s kepticis iI-religion at he ism
vel chri stian churche s are speeding uo t he ~Jrocess of
dechr ist iani zat ion by re-5uc ing to mere s~eletons and shadows
9
their traditional beliefs by weakening or abro gating all
d iEc i ~)l ille and by adapt ing the ir moral code to the popular
whi m of t h e age That wonder that forty t housand non-cat Olic
churches are reported closed with their pulpits as silent a 8
t~e tombstones in t h e adjacent cerfeteries at wonder that a
leadin5 minister of a denomination wllOse statistician reported
ten thousa Eo churches wi t fJout a si ngle baptisJ1 last year
charg ed eli s chur ch v i t h s piritual suicide fI and sp i ritual
b irtb control Perhpas t here is h ere a relation ship between
the p hysic a l and t he spiritual order
As for the weakening of morality t here is no need of
nauseating t h is auoience 1i ith the u gly tale of viDlence -fl ~~ooo
crue a middotd l rrmoralltyen wncn t h e d~lly press p resents ln ~ jj-LH~~7 ~tW- -IW ~~ch~~~ NcI ~~ te ~25
ulllntelrupted serlals The lcker sh am Repor~na8 confirmed
t he nQst invinc ible sket ics of the enormous extent of lawlessness
in our land But it may be i mportant to cite expert testimony
imiddotor t h e fact t hat irrel i g ion and cr i rre are int i mately rela t ed
On June 15th Dr Brandl Folice Presi de nt of Vienna a id inter-oh
nat io nal aut h~i t T on c r i mi nolos y addressi ng t he Int er nat ional
Conlt ree of Reli ioll s PSYChOlOy 11 Vienna ma de t h is si p-nificant
state ent about juvenile crLTinele It is to be noted that
t heir attitude toward reli~ion definitely fixes t he deg ree of
t~ eir criminalit y If they have lost t he ir relig ion t hey a re
uore prone to COl ~it crime t an t hos e who ha ve p reserved some
reI i g i on In t he case of g rave CT i me s it i s founei almost
invariably t hat t e offe ers reli g ious feeli ng i~ either
wholly lost or strongly diTdnisned (Oath UeliS June 27 31)
America may well take heedl JMLdeg1~~~ 4-Ugt ~~
10
lhese conCiitions explain in part why t he TToly Fat~er setpound forth as
t be f irst s~)eciiic ai IT of Catholic Action IIt l~e defense of relig ious
and moral princi-oleE II Tne Catholic Church alone stand)firm a nd
i mrnOiralIe above t he ri s il2 t ide of reI i g ious unre st a nd amidst
t h e del~ge of moral decadence and corruption She not only
ga t ers her cnildren to her 8h e1 t e r ing prot ect ion but in
Oatholic Action s ~ e bids the~ to consecrate t~eir gifts of
tongJe and pen especially t he persuasive pOrer of a conei s tent
cat ~olic life to promul gate defeId and de r1onstrate to the
un-oel ievine loose living oft en 1 icent iOUE worldl ing s that
the Go s pel and the Decalogue contain t l e rule oi life w ich
alone g ives dignity to hu man existence and peace to restless
heFrt s
Sound Wn olesore Social Altion
-uch ot t he disorder and ttisery from wh ich hluanity is suffering
today ariseE from unsound p rinciples and theories regarding the
social order unde r wh ich men live Therefore the Hol y Fa t h er has
not only ma de the develo pment of a sound nd who lesome 80cial
action one of t~1e chief airllS of CRtholic Action but in his
recent encyclical entitled 1170rty Years After he has g iven to
the orld t 1e prinCip les End methods according to wh ich the social
order should be constitu ted and reconstructed
A fundamenta_ weakness in the efforts Dut forth to adjust
the present econorrdc and social dislocat ion is the drea m that
the old order is ri ght and sound and that nothing is lac~ing
b ut confi~ence to set the machinery of industry and com~erce in
11
--~~~~~~J Iqal
t1ot ion Geneva t ellSUS dat II psychol og ical U~ctor8 dOjlinate
the econoIr ic crieis t h rou hout t he worl d ( Sept 2AP World
~erampl~ ) Fs yct ology is play1n - its 9srt in the trag ic drama
0 worl d depression but a sk t h e man w o walk s t he streets
in searc_ of 2 j o-b or t h e fat her oo e ch il iren cry for
b read a d t 1ere is none to break to t hem or the far r er~~(L~
WhOE8 cred itors have dis iJossessed h bl o ecclUse tie failed to
(Leet hi S otliga t ions hether p eyc _ olog- ical facto~s dotl inated J--c~lt1J k~~~1-~ ~PL ~AL-~I t h eir inc ivLua l c1i8i8 The social strl ct lJ re and mac h inery
needs ~ore t~aG B p sycho log ical up turn or a superfic i al
repair job it needs a n ew pn ilosoph ic outlook a nd a t horough
reco nstru ction accord ing to the prinCiples cont a ined in or
log ically deduced from t ) e te a chings ot O111i st The r SJulation
of t he responsib ilities a rising from t he possession of p roperty
a nd weBl t ~~ t h e ordering of t he lllutual relat i m s1ips du t ies QA~4q~
and burden~ between t he state and its citizens between capit al
and lab or between t he e~ployer a nd t ~ e e p loyees between one
rank of huma n society a nd t h e ot il er fair c omp ensatioTl a mi the
e qu it a b le d i stri c_ti on of t he joint fruits of iIlvest iIent brains
and bran i r indust ry a gric11 l t ure a dd commerce are all vital
issues Libera l i and cap italism have met therr in t he spirit
of e zrat er ial ist ic philosoph y 821fi sl1ne ss anr avarice t lle
p resent e on Jic debacl e is t ile resu lt If we ould escas e ~
-~he ROPet cOllseque21ces of aei Z I of 80ci a1is and c o municom
vhose advocates are lJot ent i a1ly in our very midst then
gover l ents i imm cial inoustrial and c ommercial l eaders toshy
g etl e r it h t h e sooel advis e rs of t he l abo r i ng clrusep must
adoDt t he safe 6 i1t_ sounel Lidc le course mapp ed ou t by the
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
4
and t ile wi zardry with wh ich for two decades they have aTi-assed
lortuller in com-pariscn with which the wealth of 01010l or
Croesus are were ant h ills Ban]ers and fin EIlCiers confronted
wi t h t he st na t i e n of indus t ry 8nO co merce 8re pe rplexed
because tne irony of fate leaves them without a market for the
millions of dollars stored in their vaults e xcept for tne
OCC3 i onal 1 010caust on tne al tal of arunon t e stabilize some
le~d in_ worl d Dower Universlt y- f2c11ties scierlci~tE and
ph ilos op ere e_rryer te in re8earc f1 ork ltind surveys reve l no
way out of t ile labyrinth of eCO(lO r 1c 80ci21 ano t 0101 conshy
fusion into wh ic ~ they h ove helped not alittle to steer t h e
bullorld
In ti1e meant i rr e comJimnity c heste 80ci21 agencies
chari t ab1 2 organ izat i Ol1s and inst i tlt i f-llS Ere plannin~ a nd
s middot_ruggling a gainst de s perati o to raise tile fund nece ss ary
to relieve pypoundic a l soci al an -i moral misery in our homes end
to reHove t he evioe rices of de gradati cn from our streets and
t h orou ghf aree dur ing t he onco lr ing winter lhe world is
looking for leadersh i p and sigh i V for a p ro_ het ho lay
forecast a brighter era en divert t1l1m8nit y S cmlr~OJlj t he
IT iry jLu ~ elE of co(mu nism a d r a ical eociali sbull
Truly may e cry out with C-t John t h e Bapt ist There hath
stoo( one in t~e lli i6st of you whom you kno not - For nearly
a decade 01 years a9Iophet whose heart has been rac lced b y the
5
eestlessnese ami gravitatirlb trenrj of t he religiouE moral
anc soc ial I ife of the ~rorl ana whooe unerring unobscured
vi8i~n has been concentrated upon the t h ing s that Bre for t h e
peace of hUr anity has raised h is p r oph e t ic voice in sea on a na
out oi seas on in allocutions and writin r-r s ithout um er even
se Hd ing his mesea e to the end s of t h e eart by t le electrified
va ves of the a ir to warn ~ is ch ildren against t he mena c i g
portents o the ti e s and to call UDon the nations to r a lly to
the --= e f e lEe of t be very f oundations of c rieti an civill~ ation
~ ore 1ceenly than 811 ot~lers t il is prophet re c lizes t hat our
econo ic o reakda wn is a sy p ton rat her t ha t h e 6 i E ease The
u i ver s 1U80rder nes its root 8 in treason to Go and in t h e
f lout inc a t cnrist ian p rinc i ples o j D oral i ty in oontenpt for
socia l jUftice a lld c -1Clri t y i n eva rice 8middotel f isn ness a d lust
-- a ll tlle u f ly t e nt ie l e s of t e c ancer 0 g ross Iat er i a l i ~m
which holds t h e nations in ite rip
lirOI(j his lo f ty wat chtower flung h i gh upon t Ile impre gnable
Rock of Fet e r this holy se er se nds f ort h t h e r ally i nq cry
T_ e peace of Ch rist i the r e i g n of Christ ll bull Tth t h e su reness
o t e explie nced d i ag o s t icia1 W lose f i ngers a ve pl ay ed upon
the pul s e of hutlanity for nearly two t l1 0118 2nd years he diecerns
t e illala dy an p rescribes t te reme ciy - Pr yer Bec r i f ice and
a ct i on - 3t hmiddot lie Act ien - tnrou o-h t h e a1lc l icat ion of
c nrist ian prinelulee to all t ~e proble~ s o f li ~ e The world
maybe indis ~osed to accept his leadership beca~ Be he carries
shyo
not t oe sy b oIs of materi~liE~ on his scutcheon it may not
reec 1~0 to hi s rallyin~ cry because it i e ill p repared for
L h spiritual ideals but it it woul d Ieturn to st b ility
or(er and peace it must accept the recipe -Prayer sacrifice
and C thalic Acticn t h loug-h t ne application of CllIistian
principles to the problerr e of life ll prescribe i by t e Vic a r of
Jrist ~loriously r e i zr i ng over t ne Church of God t he Father
So extensive are t ne ramifications of Cat holic Action
W i cn a ct ually touch es and i nf lue ces every domain of hU~Bn
life anci its ani f ol d relations that a n exhaustive developlent
of its sc op e would be an i ff position uyon your tilli8 a nd patience
But since you hElve dedicated t h is ma _11i f icent demcnstrat ion to
Catholic Action you are entitled to know at least its rrajor
ai rrs as vi 8~ alize b y the Holy Fat ~er
Address ing t h e Int erna t ional Catho lic 0(1 en IS Leagll e in
Ro me t~o years ag o the Supreme Fontiff said Ce1thelic Action
as Fe Wi8~1 it 210 88 we heve frequently charccterized it is the
partiCIpation of the laity in the hierarcnical aposto l ate for
t r~l e deiels e c reli 2 ic u 8 and rnOT21 princirles for t l1 e development
of a 80un~ and ho leBo ~e social acticn under t j e ~uidance of the
h ierarc_y funct io n i ng out s ide and above all -poll tical -98rt ies
7
Be it e mphasized that Cgtholic Acticn is an invitation and
a 8UIlOns isslled to tte c8t101iC lElity to pcrticiprte in the
ayos tolic ministry of the hierarchy It ie an extensi on of
the sacard tampl office in the broad eenee in h ich t Peter
addresses t he l~ity as amp chosen generati2n a ~ingly priesthood
ilOly nati c n (I Petro -2 ) Th Holy Father exlains thi8
exalted co cept ~nOIe sDeci ically wren he deEcribes this lay
apostolate lias a ay and a leans which has come into being
throu~h t h e dispensati of divine ~race to the end tha t the
Ch ~ rch may call and in Dce those to follol the teachinf and the
law of t n e Gospel o might ot~er vrie e t h rough lack of priestly
inIlue ce fe] l a p rey to t ll e isrepreeent s t i one and de 8trllcti ve
efforts of disturoing a 1tators (Acta 1 8 28-38( )
Tru~ to its nartle a tholic Acti r n is charGcterize5 by its
universality 8U waning catholics of every station in life to
share ifl teiE g enuirle apoetolate a nd offerimr a bOLm less
liel t to the ze a l of t belaity for it i B way and a means
of which t h e hurch aV6ils itself to bring to the nations
~less ings of every kind (Acta 1~28-385) It is a masse d
forward movement of the ent ire catholic body hierarchy clergy
cn laity in t n e ir proper coordinat ion t c ir~ p iritall
human life a n its cO II~lex relationshipe wit1 tne Eo1l the
pO er the unction and t~e rule of Ohrists doctrlile and
8
Defend Religious and oral PrilCiples
The defense of the nation its constitution and interests
is tile first duty of a Jhysical army So the first function
of Catholic Action is the defenee 0f the princiles of religion
ane norali ty i h ich Christ pro lul gat ed and sealed with His
de~th ~ h o will deny the necessity of such a defense in the face
of skeptici m agnosticism irreligion and downri~ht atheism
which are sweeping like a tidal wave over the eart h At least
one government has declered an inferrlal warfare upon all reli gion
defying God s wrath with its unspeakable blasphe~ ies threatening
to tear to shreds every vestige of reli gious belief still
lingering in the heartE of ite enslaved su bjectE and forb idding
mothers to lisp the name of God or Christ to the children at
their knees The atheistic propaganda of Communism h s its
resources rophets and high priest s scattered thouhout Europe
and Ame rica sO~i i ng- the se6ds of e materialis far ro s ser and
more destructive than the capitalistic system which it aims to
supplant The divorce of reli CT ion from education in tne public
schools of OUT ovn country co r) lefented by t he undisguised anti shy
relig ious attitude of secular colleges and universities is
~orkin~ out logically in a descend i n_ course indicating a
di~inishinry reli g ious grasp in each succeeding eneration
indifference s kepticis iI-religion at he ism
vel chri stian churche s are speeding uo t he ~Jrocess of
dechr ist iani zat ion by re-5uc ing to mere s~eletons and shadows
9
their traditional beliefs by weakening or abro gating all
d iEc i ~)l ille and by adapt ing the ir moral code to the popular
whi m of t h e age That wonder that forty t housand non-cat Olic
churches are reported closed with their pulpits as silent a 8
t~e tombstones in t h e adjacent cerfeteries at wonder that a
leadin5 minister of a denomination wllOse statistician reported
ten thousa Eo churches wi t fJout a si ngle baptisJ1 last year
charg ed eli s chur ch v i t h s piritual suicide fI and sp i ritual
b irtb control Perhpas t here is h ere a relation ship between
the p hysic a l and t he spiritual order
As for the weakening of morality t here is no need of
nauseating t h is auoience 1i ith the u gly tale of viDlence -fl ~~ooo
crue a middotd l rrmoralltyen wncn t h e d~lly press p resents ln ~ jj-LH~~7 ~tW- -IW ~~ch~~~ NcI ~~ te ~25
ulllntelrupted serlals The lcker sh am Repor~na8 confirmed
t he nQst invinc ible sket ics of the enormous extent of lawlessness
in our land But it may be i mportant to cite expert testimony
imiddotor t h e fact t hat irrel i g ion and cr i rre are int i mately rela t ed
On June 15th Dr Brandl Folice Presi de nt of Vienna a id inter-oh
nat io nal aut h~i t T on c r i mi nolos y addressi ng t he Int er nat ional
Conlt ree of Reli ioll s PSYChOlOy 11 Vienna ma de t h is si p-nificant
state ent about juvenile crLTinele It is to be noted that
t heir attitude toward reli~ion definitely fixes t he deg ree of
t~ eir criminalit y If they have lost t he ir relig ion t hey a re
uore prone to COl ~it crime t an t hos e who ha ve p reserved some
reI i g i on In t he case of g rave CT i me s it i s founei almost
invariably t hat t e offe ers reli g ious feeli ng i~ either
wholly lost or strongly diTdnisned (Oath UeliS June 27 31)
America may well take heedl JMLdeg1~~~ 4-Ugt ~~
10
lhese conCiitions explain in part why t he TToly Fat~er setpound forth as
t be f irst s~)eciiic ai IT of Catholic Action IIt l~e defense of relig ious
and moral princi-oleE II Tne Catholic Church alone stand)firm a nd
i mrnOiralIe above t he ri s il2 t ide of reI i g ious unre st a nd amidst
t h e del~ge of moral decadence and corruption She not only
ga t ers her cnildren to her 8h e1 t e r ing prot ect ion but in
Oatholic Action s ~ e bids the~ to consecrate t~eir gifts of
tongJe and pen especially t he persuasive pOrer of a conei s tent
cat ~olic life to promul gate defeId and de r1onstrate to the
un-oel ievine loose living oft en 1 icent iOUE worldl ing s that
the Go s pel and the Decalogue contain t l e rule oi life w ich
alone g ives dignity to hu man existence and peace to restless
heFrt s
Sound Wn olesore Social Altion
-uch ot t he disorder and ttisery from wh ich hluanity is suffering
today ariseE from unsound p rinciples and theories regarding the
social order unde r wh ich men live Therefore the Hol y Fa t h er has
not only ma de the develo pment of a sound nd who lesome 80cial
action one of t~1e chief airllS of CRtholic Action but in his
recent encyclical entitled 1170rty Years After he has g iven to
the orld t 1e prinCip les End methods according to wh ich the social
order should be constitu ted and reconstructed
A fundamenta_ weakness in the efforts Dut forth to adjust
the present econorrdc and social dislocat ion is the drea m that
the old order is ri ght and sound and that nothing is lac~ing
b ut confi~ence to set the machinery of industry and com~erce in
11
--~~~~~~J Iqal
t1ot ion Geneva t ellSUS dat II psychol og ical U~ctor8 dOjlinate
the econoIr ic crieis t h rou hout t he worl d ( Sept 2AP World
~erampl~ ) Fs yct ology is play1n - its 9srt in the trag ic drama
0 worl d depression but a sk t h e man w o walk s t he streets
in searc_ of 2 j o-b or t h e fat her oo e ch il iren cry for
b read a d t 1ere is none to break to t hem or the far r er~~(L~
WhOE8 cred itors have dis iJossessed h bl o ecclUse tie failed to
(Leet hi S otliga t ions hether p eyc _ olog- ical facto~s dotl inated J--c~lt1J k~~~1-~ ~PL ~AL-~I t h eir inc ivLua l c1i8i8 The social strl ct lJ re and mac h inery
needs ~ore t~aG B p sycho log ical up turn or a superfic i al
repair job it needs a n ew pn ilosoph ic outlook a nd a t horough
reco nstru ction accord ing to the prinCiples cont a ined in or
log ically deduced from t ) e te a chings ot O111i st The r SJulation
of t he responsib ilities a rising from t he possession of p roperty
a nd weBl t ~~ t h e ordering of t he lllutual relat i m s1ips du t ies QA~4q~
and burden~ between t he state and its citizens between capit al
and lab or between t he e~ployer a nd t ~ e e p loyees between one
rank of huma n society a nd t h e ot il er fair c omp ensatioTl a mi the
e qu it a b le d i stri c_ti on of t he joint fruits of iIlvest iIent brains
and bran i r indust ry a gric11 l t ure a dd commerce are all vital
issues Libera l i and cap italism have met therr in t he spirit
of e zrat er ial ist ic philosoph y 821fi sl1ne ss anr avarice t lle
p resent e on Jic debacl e is t ile resu lt If we ould escas e ~
-~he ROPet cOllseque21ces of aei Z I of 80ci a1is and c o municom
vhose advocates are lJot ent i a1ly in our very midst then
gover l ents i imm cial inoustrial and c ommercial l eaders toshy
g etl e r it h t h e sooel advis e rs of t he l abo r i ng clrusep must
adoDt t he safe 6 i1t_ sounel Lidc le course mapp ed ou t by the
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
5
eestlessnese ami gravitatirlb trenrj of t he religiouE moral
anc soc ial I ife of the ~rorl ana whooe unerring unobscured
vi8i~n has been concentrated upon the t h ing s that Bre for t h e
peace of hUr anity has raised h is p r oph e t ic voice in sea on a na
out oi seas on in allocutions and writin r-r s ithout um er even
se Hd ing his mesea e to the end s of t h e eart by t le electrified
va ves of the a ir to warn ~ is ch ildren against t he mena c i g
portents o the ti e s and to call UDon the nations to r a lly to
the --= e f e lEe of t be very f oundations of c rieti an civill~ ation
~ ore 1ceenly than 811 ot~lers t il is prophet re c lizes t hat our
econo ic o reakda wn is a sy p ton rat her t ha t h e 6 i E ease The
u i ver s 1U80rder nes its root 8 in treason to Go and in t h e
f lout inc a t cnrist ian p rinc i ples o j D oral i ty in oontenpt for
socia l jUftice a lld c -1Clri t y i n eva rice 8middotel f isn ness a d lust
-- a ll tlle u f ly t e nt ie l e s of t e c ancer 0 g ross Iat er i a l i ~m
which holds t h e nations in ite rip
lirOI(j his lo f ty wat chtower flung h i gh upon t Ile impre gnable
Rock of Fet e r this holy se er se nds f ort h t h e r ally i nq cry
T_ e peace of Ch rist i the r e i g n of Christ ll bull Tth t h e su reness
o t e explie nced d i ag o s t icia1 W lose f i ngers a ve pl ay ed upon
the pul s e of hutlanity for nearly two t l1 0118 2nd years he diecerns
t e illala dy an p rescribes t te reme ciy - Pr yer Bec r i f ice and
a ct i on - 3t hmiddot lie Act ien - tnrou o-h t h e a1lc l icat ion of
c nrist ian prinelulee to all t ~e proble~ s o f li ~ e The world
maybe indis ~osed to accept his leadership beca~ Be he carries
shyo
not t oe sy b oIs of materi~liE~ on his scutcheon it may not
reec 1~0 to hi s rallyin~ cry because it i e ill p repared for
L h spiritual ideals but it it woul d Ieturn to st b ility
or(er and peace it must accept the recipe -Prayer sacrifice
and C thalic Acticn t h loug-h t ne application of CllIistian
principles to the problerr e of life ll prescribe i by t e Vic a r of
Jrist ~loriously r e i zr i ng over t ne Church of God t he Father
So extensive are t ne ramifications of Cat holic Action
W i cn a ct ually touch es and i nf lue ces every domain of hU~Bn
life anci its ani f ol d relations that a n exhaustive developlent
of its sc op e would be an i ff position uyon your tilli8 a nd patience
But since you hElve dedicated t h is ma _11i f icent demcnstrat ion to
Catholic Action you are entitled to know at least its rrajor
ai rrs as vi 8~ alize b y the Holy Fat ~er
Address ing t h e Int erna t ional Catho lic 0(1 en IS Leagll e in
Ro me t~o years ag o the Supreme Fontiff said Ce1thelic Action
as Fe Wi8~1 it 210 88 we heve frequently charccterized it is the
partiCIpation of the laity in the hierarcnical aposto l ate for
t r~l e deiels e c reli 2 ic u 8 and rnOT21 princirles for t l1 e development
of a 80un~ and ho leBo ~e social acticn under t j e ~uidance of the
h ierarc_y funct io n i ng out s ide and above all -poll tical -98rt ies
7
Be it e mphasized that Cgtholic Acticn is an invitation and
a 8UIlOns isslled to tte c8t101iC lElity to pcrticiprte in the
ayos tolic ministry of the hierarchy It ie an extensi on of
the sacard tampl office in the broad eenee in h ich t Peter
addresses t he l~ity as amp chosen generati2n a ~ingly priesthood
ilOly nati c n (I Petro -2 ) Th Holy Father exlains thi8
exalted co cept ~nOIe sDeci ically wren he deEcribes this lay
apostolate lias a ay and a leans which has come into being
throu~h t h e dispensati of divine ~race to the end tha t the
Ch ~ rch may call and in Dce those to follol the teachinf and the
law of t n e Gospel o might ot~er vrie e t h rough lack of priestly
inIlue ce fe] l a p rey to t ll e isrepreeent s t i one and de 8trllcti ve
efforts of disturoing a 1tators (Acta 1 8 28-38( )
Tru~ to its nartle a tholic Acti r n is charGcterize5 by its
universality 8U waning catholics of every station in life to
share ifl teiE g enuirle apoetolate a nd offerimr a bOLm less
liel t to the ze a l of t belaity for it i B way and a means
of which t h e hurch aV6ils itself to bring to the nations
~less ings of every kind (Acta 1~28-385) It is a masse d
forward movement of the ent ire catholic body hierarchy clergy
cn laity in t n e ir proper coordinat ion t c ir~ p iritall
human life a n its cO II~lex relationshipe wit1 tne Eo1l the
pO er the unction and t~e rule of Ohrists doctrlile and
8
Defend Religious and oral PrilCiples
The defense of the nation its constitution and interests
is tile first duty of a Jhysical army So the first function
of Catholic Action is the defenee 0f the princiles of religion
ane norali ty i h ich Christ pro lul gat ed and sealed with His
de~th ~ h o will deny the necessity of such a defense in the face
of skeptici m agnosticism irreligion and downri~ht atheism
which are sweeping like a tidal wave over the eart h At least
one government has declered an inferrlal warfare upon all reli gion
defying God s wrath with its unspeakable blasphe~ ies threatening
to tear to shreds every vestige of reli gious belief still
lingering in the heartE of ite enslaved su bjectE and forb idding
mothers to lisp the name of God or Christ to the children at
their knees The atheistic propaganda of Communism h s its
resources rophets and high priest s scattered thouhout Europe
and Ame rica sO~i i ng- the se6ds of e materialis far ro s ser and
more destructive than the capitalistic system which it aims to
supplant The divorce of reli CT ion from education in tne public
schools of OUT ovn country co r) lefented by t he undisguised anti shy
relig ious attitude of secular colleges and universities is
~orkin~ out logically in a descend i n_ course indicating a
di~inishinry reli g ious grasp in each succeeding eneration
indifference s kepticis iI-religion at he ism
vel chri stian churche s are speeding uo t he ~Jrocess of
dechr ist iani zat ion by re-5uc ing to mere s~eletons and shadows
9
their traditional beliefs by weakening or abro gating all
d iEc i ~)l ille and by adapt ing the ir moral code to the popular
whi m of t h e age That wonder that forty t housand non-cat Olic
churches are reported closed with their pulpits as silent a 8
t~e tombstones in t h e adjacent cerfeteries at wonder that a
leadin5 minister of a denomination wllOse statistician reported
ten thousa Eo churches wi t fJout a si ngle baptisJ1 last year
charg ed eli s chur ch v i t h s piritual suicide fI and sp i ritual
b irtb control Perhpas t here is h ere a relation ship between
the p hysic a l and t he spiritual order
As for the weakening of morality t here is no need of
nauseating t h is auoience 1i ith the u gly tale of viDlence -fl ~~ooo
crue a middotd l rrmoralltyen wncn t h e d~lly press p resents ln ~ jj-LH~~7 ~tW- -IW ~~ch~~~ NcI ~~ te ~25
ulllntelrupted serlals The lcker sh am Repor~na8 confirmed
t he nQst invinc ible sket ics of the enormous extent of lawlessness
in our land But it may be i mportant to cite expert testimony
imiddotor t h e fact t hat irrel i g ion and cr i rre are int i mately rela t ed
On June 15th Dr Brandl Folice Presi de nt of Vienna a id inter-oh
nat io nal aut h~i t T on c r i mi nolos y addressi ng t he Int er nat ional
Conlt ree of Reli ioll s PSYChOlOy 11 Vienna ma de t h is si p-nificant
state ent about juvenile crLTinele It is to be noted that
t heir attitude toward reli~ion definitely fixes t he deg ree of
t~ eir criminalit y If they have lost t he ir relig ion t hey a re
uore prone to COl ~it crime t an t hos e who ha ve p reserved some
reI i g i on In t he case of g rave CT i me s it i s founei almost
invariably t hat t e offe ers reli g ious feeli ng i~ either
wholly lost or strongly diTdnisned (Oath UeliS June 27 31)
America may well take heedl JMLdeg1~~~ 4-Ugt ~~
10
lhese conCiitions explain in part why t he TToly Fat~er setpound forth as
t be f irst s~)eciiic ai IT of Catholic Action IIt l~e defense of relig ious
and moral princi-oleE II Tne Catholic Church alone stand)firm a nd
i mrnOiralIe above t he ri s il2 t ide of reI i g ious unre st a nd amidst
t h e del~ge of moral decadence and corruption She not only
ga t ers her cnildren to her 8h e1 t e r ing prot ect ion but in
Oatholic Action s ~ e bids the~ to consecrate t~eir gifts of
tongJe and pen especially t he persuasive pOrer of a conei s tent
cat ~olic life to promul gate defeId and de r1onstrate to the
un-oel ievine loose living oft en 1 icent iOUE worldl ing s that
the Go s pel and the Decalogue contain t l e rule oi life w ich
alone g ives dignity to hu man existence and peace to restless
heFrt s
Sound Wn olesore Social Altion
-uch ot t he disorder and ttisery from wh ich hluanity is suffering
today ariseE from unsound p rinciples and theories regarding the
social order unde r wh ich men live Therefore the Hol y Fa t h er has
not only ma de the develo pment of a sound nd who lesome 80cial
action one of t~1e chief airllS of CRtholic Action but in his
recent encyclical entitled 1170rty Years After he has g iven to
the orld t 1e prinCip les End methods according to wh ich the social
order should be constitu ted and reconstructed
A fundamenta_ weakness in the efforts Dut forth to adjust
the present econorrdc and social dislocat ion is the drea m that
the old order is ri ght and sound and that nothing is lac~ing
b ut confi~ence to set the machinery of industry and com~erce in
11
--~~~~~~J Iqal
t1ot ion Geneva t ellSUS dat II psychol og ical U~ctor8 dOjlinate
the econoIr ic crieis t h rou hout t he worl d ( Sept 2AP World
~erampl~ ) Fs yct ology is play1n - its 9srt in the trag ic drama
0 worl d depression but a sk t h e man w o walk s t he streets
in searc_ of 2 j o-b or t h e fat her oo e ch il iren cry for
b read a d t 1ere is none to break to t hem or the far r er~~(L~
WhOE8 cred itors have dis iJossessed h bl o ecclUse tie failed to
(Leet hi S otliga t ions hether p eyc _ olog- ical facto~s dotl inated J--c~lt1J k~~~1-~ ~PL ~AL-~I t h eir inc ivLua l c1i8i8 The social strl ct lJ re and mac h inery
needs ~ore t~aG B p sycho log ical up turn or a superfic i al
repair job it needs a n ew pn ilosoph ic outlook a nd a t horough
reco nstru ction accord ing to the prinCiples cont a ined in or
log ically deduced from t ) e te a chings ot O111i st The r SJulation
of t he responsib ilities a rising from t he possession of p roperty
a nd weBl t ~~ t h e ordering of t he lllutual relat i m s1ips du t ies QA~4q~
and burden~ between t he state and its citizens between capit al
and lab or between t he e~ployer a nd t ~ e e p loyees between one
rank of huma n society a nd t h e ot il er fair c omp ensatioTl a mi the
e qu it a b le d i stri c_ti on of t he joint fruits of iIlvest iIent brains
and bran i r indust ry a gric11 l t ure a dd commerce are all vital
issues Libera l i and cap italism have met therr in t he spirit
of e zrat er ial ist ic philosoph y 821fi sl1ne ss anr avarice t lle
p resent e on Jic debacl e is t ile resu lt If we ould escas e ~
-~he ROPet cOllseque21ces of aei Z I of 80ci a1is and c o municom
vhose advocates are lJot ent i a1ly in our very midst then
gover l ents i imm cial inoustrial and c ommercial l eaders toshy
g etl e r it h t h e sooel advis e rs of t he l abo r i ng clrusep must
adoDt t he safe 6 i1t_ sounel Lidc le course mapp ed ou t by the
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
shyo
not t oe sy b oIs of materi~liE~ on his scutcheon it may not
reec 1~0 to hi s rallyin~ cry because it i e ill p repared for
L h spiritual ideals but it it woul d Ieturn to st b ility
or(er and peace it must accept the recipe -Prayer sacrifice
and C thalic Acticn t h loug-h t ne application of CllIistian
principles to the problerr e of life ll prescribe i by t e Vic a r of
Jrist ~loriously r e i zr i ng over t ne Church of God t he Father
So extensive are t ne ramifications of Cat holic Action
W i cn a ct ually touch es and i nf lue ces every domain of hU~Bn
life anci its ani f ol d relations that a n exhaustive developlent
of its sc op e would be an i ff position uyon your tilli8 a nd patience
But since you hElve dedicated t h is ma _11i f icent demcnstrat ion to
Catholic Action you are entitled to know at least its rrajor
ai rrs as vi 8~ alize b y the Holy Fat ~er
Address ing t h e Int erna t ional Catho lic 0(1 en IS Leagll e in
Ro me t~o years ag o the Supreme Fontiff said Ce1thelic Action
as Fe Wi8~1 it 210 88 we heve frequently charccterized it is the
partiCIpation of the laity in the hierarcnical aposto l ate for
t r~l e deiels e c reli 2 ic u 8 and rnOT21 princirles for t l1 e development
of a 80un~ and ho leBo ~e social acticn under t j e ~uidance of the
h ierarc_y funct io n i ng out s ide and above all -poll tical -98rt ies
7
Be it e mphasized that Cgtholic Acticn is an invitation and
a 8UIlOns isslled to tte c8t101iC lElity to pcrticiprte in the
ayos tolic ministry of the hierarchy It ie an extensi on of
the sacard tampl office in the broad eenee in h ich t Peter
addresses t he l~ity as amp chosen generati2n a ~ingly priesthood
ilOly nati c n (I Petro -2 ) Th Holy Father exlains thi8
exalted co cept ~nOIe sDeci ically wren he deEcribes this lay
apostolate lias a ay and a leans which has come into being
throu~h t h e dispensati of divine ~race to the end tha t the
Ch ~ rch may call and in Dce those to follol the teachinf and the
law of t n e Gospel o might ot~er vrie e t h rough lack of priestly
inIlue ce fe] l a p rey to t ll e isrepreeent s t i one and de 8trllcti ve
efforts of disturoing a 1tators (Acta 1 8 28-38( )
Tru~ to its nartle a tholic Acti r n is charGcterize5 by its
universality 8U waning catholics of every station in life to
share ifl teiE g enuirle apoetolate a nd offerimr a bOLm less
liel t to the ze a l of t belaity for it i B way and a means
of which t h e hurch aV6ils itself to bring to the nations
~less ings of every kind (Acta 1~28-385) It is a masse d
forward movement of the ent ire catholic body hierarchy clergy
cn laity in t n e ir proper coordinat ion t c ir~ p iritall
human life a n its cO II~lex relationshipe wit1 tne Eo1l the
pO er the unction and t~e rule of Ohrists doctrlile and
8
Defend Religious and oral PrilCiples
The defense of the nation its constitution and interests
is tile first duty of a Jhysical army So the first function
of Catholic Action is the defenee 0f the princiles of religion
ane norali ty i h ich Christ pro lul gat ed and sealed with His
de~th ~ h o will deny the necessity of such a defense in the face
of skeptici m agnosticism irreligion and downri~ht atheism
which are sweeping like a tidal wave over the eart h At least
one government has declered an inferrlal warfare upon all reli gion
defying God s wrath with its unspeakable blasphe~ ies threatening
to tear to shreds every vestige of reli gious belief still
lingering in the heartE of ite enslaved su bjectE and forb idding
mothers to lisp the name of God or Christ to the children at
their knees The atheistic propaganda of Communism h s its
resources rophets and high priest s scattered thouhout Europe
and Ame rica sO~i i ng- the se6ds of e materialis far ro s ser and
more destructive than the capitalistic system which it aims to
supplant The divorce of reli CT ion from education in tne public
schools of OUT ovn country co r) lefented by t he undisguised anti shy
relig ious attitude of secular colleges and universities is
~orkin~ out logically in a descend i n_ course indicating a
di~inishinry reli g ious grasp in each succeeding eneration
indifference s kepticis iI-religion at he ism
vel chri stian churche s are speeding uo t he ~Jrocess of
dechr ist iani zat ion by re-5uc ing to mere s~eletons and shadows
9
their traditional beliefs by weakening or abro gating all
d iEc i ~)l ille and by adapt ing the ir moral code to the popular
whi m of t h e age That wonder that forty t housand non-cat Olic
churches are reported closed with their pulpits as silent a 8
t~e tombstones in t h e adjacent cerfeteries at wonder that a
leadin5 minister of a denomination wllOse statistician reported
ten thousa Eo churches wi t fJout a si ngle baptisJ1 last year
charg ed eli s chur ch v i t h s piritual suicide fI and sp i ritual
b irtb control Perhpas t here is h ere a relation ship between
the p hysic a l and t he spiritual order
As for the weakening of morality t here is no need of
nauseating t h is auoience 1i ith the u gly tale of viDlence -fl ~~ooo
crue a middotd l rrmoralltyen wncn t h e d~lly press p resents ln ~ jj-LH~~7 ~tW- -IW ~~ch~~~ NcI ~~ te ~25
ulllntelrupted serlals The lcker sh am Repor~na8 confirmed
t he nQst invinc ible sket ics of the enormous extent of lawlessness
in our land But it may be i mportant to cite expert testimony
imiddotor t h e fact t hat irrel i g ion and cr i rre are int i mately rela t ed
On June 15th Dr Brandl Folice Presi de nt of Vienna a id inter-oh
nat io nal aut h~i t T on c r i mi nolos y addressi ng t he Int er nat ional
Conlt ree of Reli ioll s PSYChOlOy 11 Vienna ma de t h is si p-nificant
state ent about juvenile crLTinele It is to be noted that
t heir attitude toward reli~ion definitely fixes t he deg ree of
t~ eir criminalit y If they have lost t he ir relig ion t hey a re
uore prone to COl ~it crime t an t hos e who ha ve p reserved some
reI i g i on In t he case of g rave CT i me s it i s founei almost
invariably t hat t e offe ers reli g ious feeli ng i~ either
wholly lost or strongly diTdnisned (Oath UeliS June 27 31)
America may well take heedl JMLdeg1~~~ 4-Ugt ~~
10
lhese conCiitions explain in part why t he TToly Fat~er setpound forth as
t be f irst s~)eciiic ai IT of Catholic Action IIt l~e defense of relig ious
and moral princi-oleE II Tne Catholic Church alone stand)firm a nd
i mrnOiralIe above t he ri s il2 t ide of reI i g ious unre st a nd amidst
t h e del~ge of moral decadence and corruption She not only
ga t ers her cnildren to her 8h e1 t e r ing prot ect ion but in
Oatholic Action s ~ e bids the~ to consecrate t~eir gifts of
tongJe and pen especially t he persuasive pOrer of a conei s tent
cat ~olic life to promul gate defeId and de r1onstrate to the
un-oel ievine loose living oft en 1 icent iOUE worldl ing s that
the Go s pel and the Decalogue contain t l e rule oi life w ich
alone g ives dignity to hu man existence and peace to restless
heFrt s
Sound Wn olesore Social Altion
-uch ot t he disorder and ttisery from wh ich hluanity is suffering
today ariseE from unsound p rinciples and theories regarding the
social order unde r wh ich men live Therefore the Hol y Fa t h er has
not only ma de the develo pment of a sound nd who lesome 80cial
action one of t~1e chief airllS of CRtholic Action but in his
recent encyclical entitled 1170rty Years After he has g iven to
the orld t 1e prinCip les End methods according to wh ich the social
order should be constitu ted and reconstructed
A fundamenta_ weakness in the efforts Dut forth to adjust
the present econorrdc and social dislocat ion is the drea m that
the old order is ri ght and sound and that nothing is lac~ing
b ut confi~ence to set the machinery of industry and com~erce in
11
--~~~~~~J Iqal
t1ot ion Geneva t ellSUS dat II psychol og ical U~ctor8 dOjlinate
the econoIr ic crieis t h rou hout t he worl d ( Sept 2AP World
~erampl~ ) Fs yct ology is play1n - its 9srt in the trag ic drama
0 worl d depression but a sk t h e man w o walk s t he streets
in searc_ of 2 j o-b or t h e fat her oo e ch il iren cry for
b read a d t 1ere is none to break to t hem or the far r er~~(L~
WhOE8 cred itors have dis iJossessed h bl o ecclUse tie failed to
(Leet hi S otliga t ions hether p eyc _ olog- ical facto~s dotl inated J--c~lt1J k~~~1-~ ~PL ~AL-~I t h eir inc ivLua l c1i8i8 The social strl ct lJ re and mac h inery
needs ~ore t~aG B p sycho log ical up turn or a superfic i al
repair job it needs a n ew pn ilosoph ic outlook a nd a t horough
reco nstru ction accord ing to the prinCiples cont a ined in or
log ically deduced from t ) e te a chings ot O111i st The r SJulation
of t he responsib ilities a rising from t he possession of p roperty
a nd weBl t ~~ t h e ordering of t he lllutual relat i m s1ips du t ies QA~4q~
and burden~ between t he state and its citizens between capit al
and lab or between t he e~ployer a nd t ~ e e p loyees between one
rank of huma n society a nd t h e ot il er fair c omp ensatioTl a mi the
e qu it a b le d i stri c_ti on of t he joint fruits of iIlvest iIent brains
and bran i r indust ry a gric11 l t ure a dd commerce are all vital
issues Libera l i and cap italism have met therr in t he spirit
of e zrat er ial ist ic philosoph y 821fi sl1ne ss anr avarice t lle
p resent e on Jic debacl e is t ile resu lt If we ould escas e ~
-~he ROPet cOllseque21ces of aei Z I of 80ci a1is and c o municom
vhose advocates are lJot ent i a1ly in our very midst then
gover l ents i imm cial inoustrial and c ommercial l eaders toshy
g etl e r it h t h e sooel advis e rs of t he l abo r i ng clrusep must
adoDt t he safe 6 i1t_ sounel Lidc le course mapp ed ou t by the
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
7
Be it e mphasized that Cgtholic Acticn is an invitation and
a 8UIlOns isslled to tte c8t101iC lElity to pcrticiprte in the
ayos tolic ministry of the hierarchy It ie an extensi on of
the sacard tampl office in the broad eenee in h ich t Peter
addresses t he l~ity as amp chosen generati2n a ~ingly priesthood
ilOly nati c n (I Petro -2 ) Th Holy Father exlains thi8
exalted co cept ~nOIe sDeci ically wren he deEcribes this lay
apostolate lias a ay and a leans which has come into being
throu~h t h e dispensati of divine ~race to the end tha t the
Ch ~ rch may call and in Dce those to follol the teachinf and the
law of t n e Gospel o might ot~er vrie e t h rough lack of priestly
inIlue ce fe] l a p rey to t ll e isrepreeent s t i one and de 8trllcti ve
efforts of disturoing a 1tators (Acta 1 8 28-38( )
Tru~ to its nartle a tholic Acti r n is charGcterize5 by its
universality 8U waning catholics of every station in life to
share ifl teiE g enuirle apoetolate a nd offerimr a bOLm less
liel t to the ze a l of t belaity for it i B way and a means
of which t h e hurch aV6ils itself to bring to the nations
~less ings of every kind (Acta 1~28-385) It is a masse d
forward movement of the ent ire catholic body hierarchy clergy
cn laity in t n e ir proper coordinat ion t c ir~ p iritall
human life a n its cO II~lex relationshipe wit1 tne Eo1l the
pO er the unction and t~e rule of Ohrists doctrlile and
8
Defend Religious and oral PrilCiples
The defense of the nation its constitution and interests
is tile first duty of a Jhysical army So the first function
of Catholic Action is the defenee 0f the princiles of religion
ane norali ty i h ich Christ pro lul gat ed and sealed with His
de~th ~ h o will deny the necessity of such a defense in the face
of skeptici m agnosticism irreligion and downri~ht atheism
which are sweeping like a tidal wave over the eart h At least
one government has declered an inferrlal warfare upon all reli gion
defying God s wrath with its unspeakable blasphe~ ies threatening
to tear to shreds every vestige of reli gious belief still
lingering in the heartE of ite enslaved su bjectE and forb idding
mothers to lisp the name of God or Christ to the children at
their knees The atheistic propaganda of Communism h s its
resources rophets and high priest s scattered thouhout Europe
and Ame rica sO~i i ng- the se6ds of e materialis far ro s ser and
more destructive than the capitalistic system which it aims to
supplant The divorce of reli CT ion from education in tne public
schools of OUT ovn country co r) lefented by t he undisguised anti shy
relig ious attitude of secular colleges and universities is
~orkin~ out logically in a descend i n_ course indicating a
di~inishinry reli g ious grasp in each succeeding eneration
indifference s kepticis iI-religion at he ism
vel chri stian churche s are speeding uo t he ~Jrocess of
dechr ist iani zat ion by re-5uc ing to mere s~eletons and shadows
9
their traditional beliefs by weakening or abro gating all
d iEc i ~)l ille and by adapt ing the ir moral code to the popular
whi m of t h e age That wonder that forty t housand non-cat Olic
churches are reported closed with their pulpits as silent a 8
t~e tombstones in t h e adjacent cerfeteries at wonder that a
leadin5 minister of a denomination wllOse statistician reported
ten thousa Eo churches wi t fJout a si ngle baptisJ1 last year
charg ed eli s chur ch v i t h s piritual suicide fI and sp i ritual
b irtb control Perhpas t here is h ere a relation ship between
the p hysic a l and t he spiritual order
As for the weakening of morality t here is no need of
nauseating t h is auoience 1i ith the u gly tale of viDlence -fl ~~ooo
crue a middotd l rrmoralltyen wncn t h e d~lly press p resents ln ~ jj-LH~~7 ~tW- -IW ~~ch~~~ NcI ~~ te ~25
ulllntelrupted serlals The lcker sh am Repor~na8 confirmed
t he nQst invinc ible sket ics of the enormous extent of lawlessness
in our land But it may be i mportant to cite expert testimony
imiddotor t h e fact t hat irrel i g ion and cr i rre are int i mately rela t ed
On June 15th Dr Brandl Folice Presi de nt of Vienna a id inter-oh
nat io nal aut h~i t T on c r i mi nolos y addressi ng t he Int er nat ional
Conlt ree of Reli ioll s PSYChOlOy 11 Vienna ma de t h is si p-nificant
state ent about juvenile crLTinele It is to be noted that
t heir attitude toward reli~ion definitely fixes t he deg ree of
t~ eir criminalit y If they have lost t he ir relig ion t hey a re
uore prone to COl ~it crime t an t hos e who ha ve p reserved some
reI i g i on In t he case of g rave CT i me s it i s founei almost
invariably t hat t e offe ers reli g ious feeli ng i~ either
wholly lost or strongly diTdnisned (Oath UeliS June 27 31)
America may well take heedl JMLdeg1~~~ 4-Ugt ~~
10
lhese conCiitions explain in part why t he TToly Fat~er setpound forth as
t be f irst s~)eciiic ai IT of Catholic Action IIt l~e defense of relig ious
and moral princi-oleE II Tne Catholic Church alone stand)firm a nd
i mrnOiralIe above t he ri s il2 t ide of reI i g ious unre st a nd amidst
t h e del~ge of moral decadence and corruption She not only
ga t ers her cnildren to her 8h e1 t e r ing prot ect ion but in
Oatholic Action s ~ e bids the~ to consecrate t~eir gifts of
tongJe and pen especially t he persuasive pOrer of a conei s tent
cat ~olic life to promul gate defeId and de r1onstrate to the
un-oel ievine loose living oft en 1 icent iOUE worldl ing s that
the Go s pel and the Decalogue contain t l e rule oi life w ich
alone g ives dignity to hu man existence and peace to restless
heFrt s
Sound Wn olesore Social Altion
-uch ot t he disorder and ttisery from wh ich hluanity is suffering
today ariseE from unsound p rinciples and theories regarding the
social order unde r wh ich men live Therefore the Hol y Fa t h er has
not only ma de the develo pment of a sound nd who lesome 80cial
action one of t~1e chief airllS of CRtholic Action but in his
recent encyclical entitled 1170rty Years After he has g iven to
the orld t 1e prinCip les End methods according to wh ich the social
order should be constitu ted and reconstructed
A fundamenta_ weakness in the efforts Dut forth to adjust
the present econorrdc and social dislocat ion is the drea m that
the old order is ri ght and sound and that nothing is lac~ing
b ut confi~ence to set the machinery of industry and com~erce in
11
--~~~~~~J Iqal
t1ot ion Geneva t ellSUS dat II psychol og ical U~ctor8 dOjlinate
the econoIr ic crieis t h rou hout t he worl d ( Sept 2AP World
~erampl~ ) Fs yct ology is play1n - its 9srt in the trag ic drama
0 worl d depression but a sk t h e man w o walk s t he streets
in searc_ of 2 j o-b or t h e fat her oo e ch il iren cry for
b read a d t 1ere is none to break to t hem or the far r er~~(L~
WhOE8 cred itors have dis iJossessed h bl o ecclUse tie failed to
(Leet hi S otliga t ions hether p eyc _ olog- ical facto~s dotl inated J--c~lt1J k~~~1-~ ~PL ~AL-~I t h eir inc ivLua l c1i8i8 The social strl ct lJ re and mac h inery
needs ~ore t~aG B p sycho log ical up turn or a superfic i al
repair job it needs a n ew pn ilosoph ic outlook a nd a t horough
reco nstru ction accord ing to the prinCiples cont a ined in or
log ically deduced from t ) e te a chings ot O111i st The r SJulation
of t he responsib ilities a rising from t he possession of p roperty
a nd weBl t ~~ t h e ordering of t he lllutual relat i m s1ips du t ies QA~4q~
and burden~ between t he state and its citizens between capit al
and lab or between t he e~ployer a nd t ~ e e p loyees between one
rank of huma n society a nd t h e ot il er fair c omp ensatioTl a mi the
e qu it a b le d i stri c_ti on of t he joint fruits of iIlvest iIent brains
and bran i r indust ry a gric11 l t ure a dd commerce are all vital
issues Libera l i and cap italism have met therr in t he spirit
of e zrat er ial ist ic philosoph y 821fi sl1ne ss anr avarice t lle
p resent e on Jic debacl e is t ile resu lt If we ould escas e ~
-~he ROPet cOllseque21ces of aei Z I of 80ci a1is and c o municom
vhose advocates are lJot ent i a1ly in our very midst then
gover l ents i imm cial inoustrial and c ommercial l eaders toshy
g etl e r it h t h e sooel advis e rs of t he l abo r i ng clrusep must
adoDt t he safe 6 i1t_ sounel Lidc le course mapp ed ou t by the
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
8
Defend Religious and oral PrilCiples
The defense of the nation its constitution and interests
is tile first duty of a Jhysical army So the first function
of Catholic Action is the defenee 0f the princiles of religion
ane norali ty i h ich Christ pro lul gat ed and sealed with His
de~th ~ h o will deny the necessity of such a defense in the face
of skeptici m agnosticism irreligion and downri~ht atheism
which are sweeping like a tidal wave over the eart h At least
one government has declered an inferrlal warfare upon all reli gion
defying God s wrath with its unspeakable blasphe~ ies threatening
to tear to shreds every vestige of reli gious belief still
lingering in the heartE of ite enslaved su bjectE and forb idding
mothers to lisp the name of God or Christ to the children at
their knees The atheistic propaganda of Communism h s its
resources rophets and high priest s scattered thouhout Europe
and Ame rica sO~i i ng- the se6ds of e materialis far ro s ser and
more destructive than the capitalistic system which it aims to
supplant The divorce of reli CT ion from education in tne public
schools of OUT ovn country co r) lefented by t he undisguised anti shy
relig ious attitude of secular colleges and universities is
~orkin~ out logically in a descend i n_ course indicating a
di~inishinry reli g ious grasp in each succeeding eneration
indifference s kepticis iI-religion at he ism
vel chri stian churche s are speeding uo t he ~Jrocess of
dechr ist iani zat ion by re-5uc ing to mere s~eletons and shadows
9
their traditional beliefs by weakening or abro gating all
d iEc i ~)l ille and by adapt ing the ir moral code to the popular
whi m of t h e age That wonder that forty t housand non-cat Olic
churches are reported closed with their pulpits as silent a 8
t~e tombstones in t h e adjacent cerfeteries at wonder that a
leadin5 minister of a denomination wllOse statistician reported
ten thousa Eo churches wi t fJout a si ngle baptisJ1 last year
charg ed eli s chur ch v i t h s piritual suicide fI and sp i ritual
b irtb control Perhpas t here is h ere a relation ship between
the p hysic a l and t he spiritual order
As for the weakening of morality t here is no need of
nauseating t h is auoience 1i ith the u gly tale of viDlence -fl ~~ooo
crue a middotd l rrmoralltyen wncn t h e d~lly press p resents ln ~ jj-LH~~7 ~tW- -IW ~~ch~~~ NcI ~~ te ~25
ulllntelrupted serlals The lcker sh am Repor~na8 confirmed
t he nQst invinc ible sket ics of the enormous extent of lawlessness
in our land But it may be i mportant to cite expert testimony
imiddotor t h e fact t hat irrel i g ion and cr i rre are int i mately rela t ed
On June 15th Dr Brandl Folice Presi de nt of Vienna a id inter-oh
nat io nal aut h~i t T on c r i mi nolos y addressi ng t he Int er nat ional
Conlt ree of Reli ioll s PSYChOlOy 11 Vienna ma de t h is si p-nificant
state ent about juvenile crLTinele It is to be noted that
t heir attitude toward reli~ion definitely fixes t he deg ree of
t~ eir criminalit y If they have lost t he ir relig ion t hey a re
uore prone to COl ~it crime t an t hos e who ha ve p reserved some
reI i g i on In t he case of g rave CT i me s it i s founei almost
invariably t hat t e offe ers reli g ious feeli ng i~ either
wholly lost or strongly diTdnisned (Oath UeliS June 27 31)
America may well take heedl JMLdeg1~~~ 4-Ugt ~~
10
lhese conCiitions explain in part why t he TToly Fat~er setpound forth as
t be f irst s~)eciiic ai IT of Catholic Action IIt l~e defense of relig ious
and moral princi-oleE II Tne Catholic Church alone stand)firm a nd
i mrnOiralIe above t he ri s il2 t ide of reI i g ious unre st a nd amidst
t h e del~ge of moral decadence and corruption She not only
ga t ers her cnildren to her 8h e1 t e r ing prot ect ion but in
Oatholic Action s ~ e bids the~ to consecrate t~eir gifts of
tongJe and pen especially t he persuasive pOrer of a conei s tent
cat ~olic life to promul gate defeId and de r1onstrate to the
un-oel ievine loose living oft en 1 icent iOUE worldl ing s that
the Go s pel and the Decalogue contain t l e rule oi life w ich
alone g ives dignity to hu man existence and peace to restless
heFrt s
Sound Wn olesore Social Altion
-uch ot t he disorder and ttisery from wh ich hluanity is suffering
today ariseE from unsound p rinciples and theories regarding the
social order unde r wh ich men live Therefore the Hol y Fa t h er has
not only ma de the develo pment of a sound nd who lesome 80cial
action one of t~1e chief airllS of CRtholic Action but in his
recent encyclical entitled 1170rty Years After he has g iven to
the orld t 1e prinCip les End methods according to wh ich the social
order should be constitu ted and reconstructed
A fundamenta_ weakness in the efforts Dut forth to adjust
the present econorrdc and social dislocat ion is the drea m that
the old order is ri ght and sound and that nothing is lac~ing
b ut confi~ence to set the machinery of industry and com~erce in
11
--~~~~~~J Iqal
t1ot ion Geneva t ellSUS dat II psychol og ical U~ctor8 dOjlinate
the econoIr ic crieis t h rou hout t he worl d ( Sept 2AP World
~erampl~ ) Fs yct ology is play1n - its 9srt in the trag ic drama
0 worl d depression but a sk t h e man w o walk s t he streets
in searc_ of 2 j o-b or t h e fat her oo e ch il iren cry for
b read a d t 1ere is none to break to t hem or the far r er~~(L~
WhOE8 cred itors have dis iJossessed h bl o ecclUse tie failed to
(Leet hi S otliga t ions hether p eyc _ olog- ical facto~s dotl inated J--c~lt1J k~~~1-~ ~PL ~AL-~I t h eir inc ivLua l c1i8i8 The social strl ct lJ re and mac h inery
needs ~ore t~aG B p sycho log ical up turn or a superfic i al
repair job it needs a n ew pn ilosoph ic outlook a nd a t horough
reco nstru ction accord ing to the prinCiples cont a ined in or
log ically deduced from t ) e te a chings ot O111i st The r SJulation
of t he responsib ilities a rising from t he possession of p roperty
a nd weBl t ~~ t h e ordering of t he lllutual relat i m s1ips du t ies QA~4q~
and burden~ between t he state and its citizens between capit al
and lab or between t he e~ployer a nd t ~ e e p loyees between one
rank of huma n society a nd t h e ot il er fair c omp ensatioTl a mi the
e qu it a b le d i stri c_ti on of t he joint fruits of iIlvest iIent brains
and bran i r indust ry a gric11 l t ure a dd commerce are all vital
issues Libera l i and cap italism have met therr in t he spirit
of e zrat er ial ist ic philosoph y 821fi sl1ne ss anr avarice t lle
p resent e on Jic debacl e is t ile resu lt If we ould escas e ~
-~he ROPet cOllseque21ces of aei Z I of 80ci a1is and c o municom
vhose advocates are lJot ent i a1ly in our very midst then
gover l ents i imm cial inoustrial and c ommercial l eaders toshy
g etl e r it h t h e sooel advis e rs of t he l abo r i ng clrusep must
adoDt t he safe 6 i1t_ sounel Lidc le course mapp ed ou t by the
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
9
their traditional beliefs by weakening or abro gating all
d iEc i ~)l ille and by adapt ing the ir moral code to the popular
whi m of t h e age That wonder that forty t housand non-cat Olic
churches are reported closed with their pulpits as silent a 8
t~e tombstones in t h e adjacent cerfeteries at wonder that a
leadin5 minister of a denomination wllOse statistician reported
ten thousa Eo churches wi t fJout a si ngle baptisJ1 last year
charg ed eli s chur ch v i t h s piritual suicide fI and sp i ritual
b irtb control Perhpas t here is h ere a relation ship between
the p hysic a l and t he spiritual order
As for the weakening of morality t here is no need of
nauseating t h is auoience 1i ith the u gly tale of viDlence -fl ~~ooo
crue a middotd l rrmoralltyen wncn t h e d~lly press p resents ln ~ jj-LH~~7 ~tW- -IW ~~ch~~~ NcI ~~ te ~25
ulllntelrupted serlals The lcker sh am Repor~na8 confirmed
t he nQst invinc ible sket ics of the enormous extent of lawlessness
in our land But it may be i mportant to cite expert testimony
imiddotor t h e fact t hat irrel i g ion and cr i rre are int i mately rela t ed
On June 15th Dr Brandl Folice Presi de nt of Vienna a id inter-oh
nat io nal aut h~i t T on c r i mi nolos y addressi ng t he Int er nat ional
Conlt ree of Reli ioll s PSYChOlOy 11 Vienna ma de t h is si p-nificant
state ent about juvenile crLTinele It is to be noted that
t heir attitude toward reli~ion definitely fixes t he deg ree of
t~ eir criminalit y If they have lost t he ir relig ion t hey a re
uore prone to COl ~it crime t an t hos e who ha ve p reserved some
reI i g i on In t he case of g rave CT i me s it i s founei almost
invariably t hat t e offe ers reli g ious feeli ng i~ either
wholly lost or strongly diTdnisned (Oath UeliS June 27 31)
America may well take heedl JMLdeg1~~~ 4-Ugt ~~
10
lhese conCiitions explain in part why t he TToly Fat~er setpound forth as
t be f irst s~)eciiic ai IT of Catholic Action IIt l~e defense of relig ious
and moral princi-oleE II Tne Catholic Church alone stand)firm a nd
i mrnOiralIe above t he ri s il2 t ide of reI i g ious unre st a nd amidst
t h e del~ge of moral decadence and corruption She not only
ga t ers her cnildren to her 8h e1 t e r ing prot ect ion but in
Oatholic Action s ~ e bids the~ to consecrate t~eir gifts of
tongJe and pen especially t he persuasive pOrer of a conei s tent
cat ~olic life to promul gate defeId and de r1onstrate to the
un-oel ievine loose living oft en 1 icent iOUE worldl ing s that
the Go s pel and the Decalogue contain t l e rule oi life w ich
alone g ives dignity to hu man existence and peace to restless
heFrt s
Sound Wn olesore Social Altion
-uch ot t he disorder and ttisery from wh ich hluanity is suffering
today ariseE from unsound p rinciples and theories regarding the
social order unde r wh ich men live Therefore the Hol y Fa t h er has
not only ma de the develo pment of a sound nd who lesome 80cial
action one of t~1e chief airllS of CRtholic Action but in his
recent encyclical entitled 1170rty Years After he has g iven to
the orld t 1e prinCip les End methods according to wh ich the social
order should be constitu ted and reconstructed
A fundamenta_ weakness in the efforts Dut forth to adjust
the present econorrdc and social dislocat ion is the drea m that
the old order is ri ght and sound and that nothing is lac~ing
b ut confi~ence to set the machinery of industry and com~erce in
11
--~~~~~~J Iqal
t1ot ion Geneva t ellSUS dat II psychol og ical U~ctor8 dOjlinate
the econoIr ic crieis t h rou hout t he worl d ( Sept 2AP World
~erampl~ ) Fs yct ology is play1n - its 9srt in the trag ic drama
0 worl d depression but a sk t h e man w o walk s t he streets
in searc_ of 2 j o-b or t h e fat her oo e ch il iren cry for
b read a d t 1ere is none to break to t hem or the far r er~~(L~
WhOE8 cred itors have dis iJossessed h bl o ecclUse tie failed to
(Leet hi S otliga t ions hether p eyc _ olog- ical facto~s dotl inated J--c~lt1J k~~~1-~ ~PL ~AL-~I t h eir inc ivLua l c1i8i8 The social strl ct lJ re and mac h inery
needs ~ore t~aG B p sycho log ical up turn or a superfic i al
repair job it needs a n ew pn ilosoph ic outlook a nd a t horough
reco nstru ction accord ing to the prinCiples cont a ined in or
log ically deduced from t ) e te a chings ot O111i st The r SJulation
of t he responsib ilities a rising from t he possession of p roperty
a nd weBl t ~~ t h e ordering of t he lllutual relat i m s1ips du t ies QA~4q~
and burden~ between t he state and its citizens between capit al
and lab or between t he e~ployer a nd t ~ e e p loyees between one
rank of huma n society a nd t h e ot il er fair c omp ensatioTl a mi the
e qu it a b le d i stri c_ti on of t he joint fruits of iIlvest iIent brains
and bran i r indust ry a gric11 l t ure a dd commerce are all vital
issues Libera l i and cap italism have met therr in t he spirit
of e zrat er ial ist ic philosoph y 821fi sl1ne ss anr avarice t lle
p resent e on Jic debacl e is t ile resu lt If we ould escas e ~
-~he ROPet cOllseque21ces of aei Z I of 80ci a1is and c o municom
vhose advocates are lJot ent i a1ly in our very midst then
gover l ents i imm cial inoustrial and c ommercial l eaders toshy
g etl e r it h t h e sooel advis e rs of t he l abo r i ng clrusep must
adoDt t he safe 6 i1t_ sounel Lidc le course mapp ed ou t by the
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
10
lhese conCiitions explain in part why t he TToly Fat~er setpound forth as
t be f irst s~)eciiic ai IT of Catholic Action IIt l~e defense of relig ious
and moral princi-oleE II Tne Catholic Church alone stand)firm a nd
i mrnOiralIe above t he ri s il2 t ide of reI i g ious unre st a nd amidst
t h e del~ge of moral decadence and corruption She not only
ga t ers her cnildren to her 8h e1 t e r ing prot ect ion but in
Oatholic Action s ~ e bids the~ to consecrate t~eir gifts of
tongJe and pen especially t he persuasive pOrer of a conei s tent
cat ~olic life to promul gate defeId and de r1onstrate to the
un-oel ievine loose living oft en 1 icent iOUE worldl ing s that
the Go s pel and the Decalogue contain t l e rule oi life w ich
alone g ives dignity to hu man existence and peace to restless
heFrt s
Sound Wn olesore Social Altion
-uch ot t he disorder and ttisery from wh ich hluanity is suffering
today ariseE from unsound p rinciples and theories regarding the
social order unde r wh ich men live Therefore the Hol y Fa t h er has
not only ma de the develo pment of a sound nd who lesome 80cial
action one of t~1e chief airllS of CRtholic Action but in his
recent encyclical entitled 1170rty Years After he has g iven to
the orld t 1e prinCip les End methods according to wh ich the social
order should be constitu ted and reconstructed
A fundamenta_ weakness in the efforts Dut forth to adjust
the present econorrdc and social dislocat ion is the drea m that
the old order is ri ght and sound and that nothing is lac~ing
b ut confi~ence to set the machinery of industry and com~erce in
11
--~~~~~~J Iqal
t1ot ion Geneva t ellSUS dat II psychol og ical U~ctor8 dOjlinate
the econoIr ic crieis t h rou hout t he worl d ( Sept 2AP World
~erampl~ ) Fs yct ology is play1n - its 9srt in the trag ic drama
0 worl d depression but a sk t h e man w o walk s t he streets
in searc_ of 2 j o-b or t h e fat her oo e ch il iren cry for
b read a d t 1ere is none to break to t hem or the far r er~~(L~
WhOE8 cred itors have dis iJossessed h bl o ecclUse tie failed to
(Leet hi S otliga t ions hether p eyc _ olog- ical facto~s dotl inated J--c~lt1J k~~~1-~ ~PL ~AL-~I t h eir inc ivLua l c1i8i8 The social strl ct lJ re and mac h inery
needs ~ore t~aG B p sycho log ical up turn or a superfic i al
repair job it needs a n ew pn ilosoph ic outlook a nd a t horough
reco nstru ction accord ing to the prinCiples cont a ined in or
log ically deduced from t ) e te a chings ot O111i st The r SJulation
of t he responsib ilities a rising from t he possession of p roperty
a nd weBl t ~~ t h e ordering of t he lllutual relat i m s1ips du t ies QA~4q~
and burden~ between t he state and its citizens between capit al
and lab or between t he e~ployer a nd t ~ e e p loyees between one
rank of huma n society a nd t h e ot il er fair c omp ensatioTl a mi the
e qu it a b le d i stri c_ti on of t he joint fruits of iIlvest iIent brains
and bran i r indust ry a gric11 l t ure a dd commerce are all vital
issues Libera l i and cap italism have met therr in t he spirit
of e zrat er ial ist ic philosoph y 821fi sl1ne ss anr avarice t lle
p resent e on Jic debacl e is t ile resu lt If we ould escas e ~
-~he ROPet cOllseque21ces of aei Z I of 80ci a1is and c o municom
vhose advocates are lJot ent i a1ly in our very midst then
gover l ents i imm cial inoustrial and c ommercial l eaders toshy
g etl e r it h t h e sooel advis e rs of t he l abo r i ng clrusep must
adoDt t he safe 6 i1t_ sounel Lidc le course mapp ed ou t by the
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
11
--~~~~~~J Iqal
t1ot ion Geneva t ellSUS dat II psychol og ical U~ctor8 dOjlinate
the econoIr ic crieis t h rou hout t he worl d ( Sept 2AP World
~erampl~ ) Fs yct ology is play1n - its 9srt in the trag ic drama
0 worl d depression but a sk t h e man w o walk s t he streets
in searc_ of 2 j o-b or t h e fat her oo e ch il iren cry for
b read a d t 1ere is none to break to t hem or the far r er~~(L~
WhOE8 cred itors have dis iJossessed h bl o ecclUse tie failed to
(Leet hi S otliga t ions hether p eyc _ olog- ical facto~s dotl inated J--c~lt1J k~~~1-~ ~PL ~AL-~I t h eir inc ivLua l c1i8i8 The social strl ct lJ re and mac h inery
needs ~ore t~aG B p sycho log ical up turn or a superfic i al
repair job it needs a n ew pn ilosoph ic outlook a nd a t horough
reco nstru ction accord ing to the prinCiples cont a ined in or
log ically deduced from t ) e te a chings ot O111i st The r SJulation
of t he responsib ilities a rising from t he possession of p roperty
a nd weBl t ~~ t h e ordering of t he lllutual relat i m s1ips du t ies QA~4q~
and burden~ between t he state and its citizens between capit al
and lab or between t he e~ployer a nd t ~ e e p loyees between one
rank of huma n society a nd t h e ot il er fair c omp ensatioTl a mi the
e qu it a b le d i stri c_ti on of t he joint fruits of iIlvest iIent brains
and bran i r indust ry a gric11 l t ure a dd commerce are all vital
issues Libera l i and cap italism have met therr in t he spirit
of e zrat er ial ist ic philosoph y 821fi sl1ne ss anr avarice t lle
p resent e on Jic debacl e is t ile resu lt If we ould escas e ~
-~he ROPet cOllseque21ces of aei Z I of 80ci a1is and c o municom
vhose advocates are lJot ent i a1ly in our very midst then
gover l ents i imm cial inoustrial and c ommercial l eaders toshy
g etl e r it h t h e sooel advis e rs of t he l abo r i ng clrusep must
adoDt t he safe 6 i1t_ sounel Lidc le course mapp ed ou t by the
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
12
Holy Fat ~ler according to the christien p rinciples of just ice
c ha ri t y and right eOUEmess rhe Ilcrlc is payincr t he gena1ty
of t h e di8regar wi tb wl ic h it treated t he wi se soc ial
philoeopny promulgated forty years ago by Pope Leo XII I
can it aftord to treat i t h equal disdain the prudent couneel s
of Pius XI
Restore Catholic Lire in FaJnily and Society
The t h ird major eim set for Cpthcllc Acti on by t he
overi Pontiff is lit he restoration of catholic life in the
fa rily and in humal eociet y ~lat einist er disorders abuses
a n vices have cre ~0ti t o t 18 li t e of t he f am ily a Tld hurLa
s ociety Oamoufla ed prostitu tion stal king abroad in the
Q1J ise of tria l a d companionate lllarriage a greements divorce
mills grinding out their fOUl grist under circumetcDces and
at a speed which nalce a middotjocery of our le ~~ i81at i ve and
j u icial syet e s t e abom inE~t i on of birt h cont rol and it s
p retensi ously more refined but scarcely less insidious
cOilpanioD eugenice -- all c a rried on with I e 81 sanction
populor approval aitd even t h e sacr i 1 i pi ous cornivatlce of
christ ian relig ious bOciies are ccrrupting farlily life
d isint egrating the ch ristisIt home poisoni g t~e wells
whence social life drawE its sustenance a nd corrod i ng the
very st n cture of our TlElt i onal strength rh e screen the
E tage t ~ e print ed page t he faEllions of dre ss (-w-e==ihwlct
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
13
many of the -orevalent 80ci81
pastime s are so stripned of restraint by t~e oroniprs8enc e
of the sex appeal that christian mo ~ est y has practically betf hamed and locked out of t he middotoale of hUrnan soc iety
Surely t hen t he re is reason for t be efforts of Catholic
Action tow 1ds tile restoraticn of the purit~i tae beauty and
t he s e etness of catholic life in the family in t he10me and
in 80cial intercourse
Our Resconse
Let us not et the erroneous i rrpres8i n that we are
p essimistic about t he situation or outlook eithe r in t he
reli giou s or t 1 e moral or even in the economic order e
ma y realize t he dep th and extent of evil ~nd yet not sink
into t he valley of loorr and despair No one realized better
t ban Jesus Christ t ~e extent and heinousness of sin yet no
one ever held out a brighter pros-pect ofho~J e and confidence
t 1an Be Who said And I if I be 1 i f teli lp fro l the earth
will draw all t ing s to uveelf Oomiddote to nie all ye tra t +
and are heavily burdened and I will retrest you 11
It is in thie spirit of con~ ide~ce optimi sm
and helpfulness t hat CstholiJ Action i8 called into bein as
the modern explession of t he apostolate founded 1 y Christ
a nd exercised by t he ChUrch in the forrr best s middotu i ted to
Ch aJlg ing timee and conditionfi True to t he character and
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
14
spirit 0 her d ivine Founder and l aster Whose life and
fllinist ry t _le Church is and cent inues uh e never 10ge8 faith
in t ~_e hecVenly Fa t h er or contiaence in the power of the
g race of Christ to ~ld the hearts of men towardS hi2 her
ideEls or pc flence wi t~ their failure to corresDond to her
promptings The very eSEe ilce of Cctholic Action is a will
and determimtion on t he part of t he Church to lead and
d irect humanity to the kno) ledg e and possession of a better
ill ode of life more secure and lastinQ peace a nd more
subst ant i21 T)roe middoterit y and happinees
Ly c5ear Eoly Harr e men and friends t he Holy Fa ther callB
u s out of tDe let~argy of paSSivity out of t h e delusicn of
complacent security out of the depths of discoura gerr ent
out of t he darkneEB of des pair out of tje deadening stupor
of i na ct i on to pLrticipetion wit h t 1e hierarchy and clergy in
a g lorious apostolate of service fcr ourselves anci our f e llowshy
en of all creeds end stat ions of life LUch heS been and is
being accom) li shed in tiles e Unit ed Stat ee of ArrJ e r ica t hrou~h
indiv i dual and org-anized effort but we 8re still far very
f a r fro t ~e 1 imit of our tJot ent ial i ty For niore t lan a
decade of yecLrs ove have had Catholic Acti on organiz e d and
propo eed by t h e American Hierarchy t hrough the 1lational
Catholic Welfare Conference of whose Administrative Board
your est e emed Bishop is a moet di6tin~ru ished 1i ember
~uch ha s been accolr )lisled t ro1J gh itE depart rl ents of the
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ
15
PreEeuro Educet ion Socil A c ~ ion a nd Lay Org-anizat ions But
1e ltgtr8 only on t e thresholj of ach ieve1 ent Vl e have yet to
re a lize t he complete uniiice t ion nd d irec t ion to Brds the
co on goal of all our catho lic s piritual a nd social resources
and human a terial Th is goel is not t ll8 ccncueEt of America
earthly k in~ om nor a form of unethicel ]roselytism
nor an 8ttelIiut middot t a political coup d~tat fer all t e ese ere
forei gn to toe very nature and epirit of t h e Church a d
exolicitly exluded from t~e scoue of Ca t holic Action Catholic ~
ction aims not to toIre if ~r081Uo~ t b ro poundh ~oci I s g rcoce
~ r middot middot TO~ ~ H to t he worlci t he clesEing s of faitc~ sound iiloraJ ity
sane social princi1Jle8 and a clecen d i gn ii ied femily and
home life Yes it aims to conquer the orld - for decency
for peace for the joys of rignteousness for the Kingdom
of Christ for eternity Let O11r response be PI011pt generrus
and l holehearted eac contributin~ of that ~ h ich is within
hini il Tl rayer in sacrifice in fctive int elli e-ent labor to
win the world to Christ 8nd make Christ a reality in the
~orld -- The peace of Christ in t he reign of Christ