r and jesue · st. joseph, p t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . lord . and . savi our . jesue . chri st,...

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St . J oseph , P t r on and db l a orkers . r Lord and Sav i our J esue Chri st , i s i ndeed the re at oe t r al f1 ro 1 t he d ivi n _ ano my of the Redemnt 1 0n , "t he L 0 God , 10 taketh a. ay the in of the or ld 11 (1), ho Hi ms e lf caTre "1 truotin u , t hat , denyi un odl i ne and or Idly 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 1'e , horn ad 0 a i m ort,nt in tru nt of of 101e nd mercy , n ho ir t e ir ") rc er p ere ed i fy n to oh u mun hal o e 1 in th o p1'aot 0 v'1r 1 tlnn hilo o ' '1 OI l i f e . Fo1' erno mong t e i un ue , ti nahly 1'y , t'ne ever ble d {ir n o h r, t 1 a. 0 i ted 't t e me r and ion t t she .e ri t the title " Co - R e. tr i x" . Py n t 1' e d noe e t nd 0 t a or the oh i ldren of me J l' t je '6 OT 1 crea - i on , exc it in '"" uur adm il'at10n and l ove , t L 1.I. l · tln us to i m 1t te h r vlrt ·s nd invitln our 00ni1· no il the .')o;v er of her tnt ro ess i on at the throne of . er di vine on. a our e rts 10 blrn i th t e ardon t de ire one day to ' :. tne s er glori ' io tion ate ueen of t e An e1 ado t he S i nt ! Hai l , 0 of heaven , enthroned!. I 11 , by An ele ietres oed ! Root of Je e G te of mo rn, henoe t e arId ' s true Li ht 8 born :

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Page 1: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 2: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 3: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 4: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 5: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 6: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 7: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 8: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 9: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 10: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 11: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 12: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

-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

Page 13: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 14: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 15: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 16: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 17: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 18: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 19: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 20: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 21: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 22: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 23: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 24: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 25: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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

Page 26: r and Jesue · St. Joseph, P t r on and dbl a orkers.. r . Lord . and . Savi our . Jesue . Chri st, i s i ndeed the reat oe t r al f 1 ro . 1 . t he divin _ anomy of . the . Redemnt10n,

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