Opera Omnia

INSTRUCTION IV
PROMOTION-DISTRIBUTION
A Note on temperaments and holiness

Temperaments are frequently divided into four kinds: sanguine, nervous, choleric, and phlegmatic.

Saints of a sanguine nature are: Peter, Augustine, Teresa of Avila, and Francis Xavier.
Those of a nervous nature: John the Apostle and Evangelist, Bernard, Louis Gonzaga, Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Blaise Pascal.
Saints of a choleric nature: Paul the Apostle, Jerome, Ignatius of Loyola, Francis de Sales.
Of a phlegmatic nature: Thomas Aquinas.
The consequence is that no matter what temperament nature gives us, it is always possible to become holy. It is a combination of prayer, which gives grace, and constant willpower in our spiritual work; you shed what is surplus and take on board what you lack: In patientia vestra possidebitis animas vestras.¹

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Art. 249. Every publication ought to deal either expressly with matters of faith, morals, and worship; or draw inspiration from them; or, at least, contain something that is useful for the salvation of souls.
Art. 250. As far as house to house propaganda is concerned, rules of prudence are to be carefully followed and precautions to be taken so as to remove all possible danger. Although it is a ministry of our apostolate, it is none the less necessary that every one take heed of himself first and in this matter Superiors should exert a special vigilance.

Art. 251. In the houses a place easily accessible to the faithful, and presenting a religious character, should be set aside for the propaganda centre. It should be opened at convenient and fixed hours so that the regularity of the common life will not suffer any harm therefrom.

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Promotion [propaganda]² is the third part of the press apostolate, and follows on from the other two stages, the editorial and the technical.

Nature of promotion

For the apostle, promotion is the extension in space and time of the work of the Divine Teacher.
Jesus Christ, the Father's apostle, came down from heaven to show the way of wholeness to his lost children. At the completion of his divine mission, having entrusted to the Church the task of continuing his work, he returned to the Father.
Therefore, just as in the Church the real presence of Jesus Christ is perpetuated in the Eucharist, and his authority in the sacred ministers, so, likewise, is the spread of his doctrine perpetuated.
You can easily see that promotion, understood in this sense, is essentially different from the selling of books.

It is not business because there is no barter of goods and money; its aim is not gain but God's glory and the eternal welfare of human beings.
The apostle studies the important spiritual and moral needs of people and nations; then he writes and promotes from the technical pulpit, just as the preacher does from the church pulpit.

The spirit behind promotion

The apostle gives freely what he has freely received from God.
The offering that he asks for is for the support of the apostle. It is a collaboration with divine Providence, similar to the offering for the Mass; this does not pay for the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ but it contributes to the upkeep of the ministers of worship.
The offering-price helps towards the upkeep of the apostle, covers the expenses of the apostolate, procures the alms of truth for those who are uneducated in the faith and provides the spiritual bread for the indigent who live far from God.

To reach everyone

Promotion must therefore reach everyone but especially those who are most in need. The apostle will be like the Good Shepherd who, sure of the faithful flock, risks his life for the lost sheep.
Let the apostle's preferences be, consequently, for the

outcasts of society; for his adversaries; for the impoverished, and for those hesitant to feed on the bread broken from the pulpit to the mass of the faithful; for the infidels who are unaware of the true God, of Redemption and the Gospel; for those whose faith is undermined by the representatives of Satan through the agency of the school, the press, worldly maxims, the cinema, the radio and every form of propaganda…; for the irresolute, for those caught up in the concerns of government, office, and work.
He will be the angel who reminds everyone of their eternal destiny and the ways of salvation; the angel that speaks of heavenly things to those children of God whose concerns are with this world alone.

Importance and necessity

The great problem for the press apostle is promotion. Geared to it are the editorial and the technical stages. It can be considered the channel through which the truths that flow from the heart of the apostle reach people.
The promoter's apostolate is like a dispensary: he takes from the Church's treasury and distributes wealth to people: This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and [dispensers] of the mysteries of God (1 Cor 4:1).
It is a dispensary which does not confine its operation to a few indigent people, but extends it to everyone; the treasures that the Church possesses are for everyone. And you have only to look at the world to see how necessary such distribution is.
Today there are almost three billion people in the world. Of these only one sixth professes the

Catholic faith; one sixth which receives light, nourishment and warmth from Rome, the sun of the nations.
This is not because the faith of Rome has failed; it is steadfast and safe on the word of Jesus Christ: Rogavi pro te, Petre, ut non deficiat fides tua³ (Lk 22:32); nor has there been an undermining of its morale.
The real cause is the lack of stewards; there is a lack of apostles who, become the voice of God, call the sheep to the fold of Jesus Christ and hasten the fulfilment of the Redeemer's prophetic words, that there be one flock, one shepherd (Jn 10:16).
These are the sheep that can be reached through promotion.

Get down to work

Books and magazines are more easily prepared. Moreover, the basic catechism is sufficient for the major part of humanity. But we need to convey it, make it known, have it reach people.
Therefore, mobilize all the means of distribution and promotion.
The press apostolate without promotion can be likened to a family without children.
Just as numerous progeny is indicative of the vitality of the parents and a guarantee of a great future, so broad-based promotion is an indication of a truly apostolic mind, and a guarantee of copious results.
The greatest mistake today is that the great treasure of truth, the wealth of our Faith, of the

Fathers and of the Church remains buried; while the enemies of God and of souls, applauded and recompensed, sow darnel in abundance.

Promotion methods

For the apostle, the principal methods of promotion are the ones taught by Jesus Christ and the Church, and those required by necessity.
Jesus Christ taught us not to wait for people, but to seek them out.
Like the Teacher, the apostle must spread God's word in the cities, in the towns, in the houses, even the most remote. He has to cross mountains, sail the oceans, go to all peoples ut luceat omnibus;⁴ concern himself with the individual person, the individual family, the individual parish; organize book centres, train zealous people, go into all the associations, convince the foreman, the head teacher, people in authority… Such promotion is step-by-step, collective and rational, so as to reach everyone, gradually.
Naturally, all this involves difficulties, sacrifices and dangers; it requires the prudence of the serpent, the simplicity of the dove, and the fidelity of the martyr.
But the apostle has to learn to forget himself in order to give himself to people and to God.

The animators

The Church itself teaches the practical way of discharging promotion. The press apostolate is the counterpart

and extension of the apostolate undertaken by pastors; therefore by right and duty it is from them that it must receive its greater development.
This is why the Church teaches that it must be practised first of all by priests.
Promotion by lay people is subordinate and a help; in the same way that the parish catechist, man or woman, teaches under the guidance of the pastor and owes him obedience, trust and cooperation.
The circumstances and needs of the times, the urgency to combat organized opponents require zealous people to consecrate themselves explicitly and exclusively to promotion; a numerous and organized army that is not blocked by the constraints of time and space; one that will serve the Church, dioceses, parishes and the missions; moving decisively forward to bring the lantern of truth there where there is darkness and the shadow of death.

Promotion's three stages

1. Step-by-step. This is on a house to house, individual to individual basis; offering the book, periodical, picture, and so on.
It has many positive points, for personal contact.
2. Collective. When you have a group of people: for instance, a school; or you offer a number of books, periodicals, and films in general.

3. Rational. Here the emphasis is on intellectual work:
a) The study of what you want to give.
b) The study of people and the needs you want to provide for.
c) The study of the quickest and most effective means to accomplish it; and to do so in a useful way.

Gospel Days and Weeks⁵

These started very modestly in the early years of the Institute but are now quite widespread here in Italy and abroad.
They are days of the Divine Teacher and of his doctrine: You call me Teacher; and you are right, for so I am (Jn 13:13). It is an occasion to honor the Word of the Father, eternal Wisdom, the beloved Son that everyone must listen to.
There is a battle between the truth, Jesus Christ, and lies, the devil. The world is separated into two schools: the school of Christ and the school of the devil; Christ sends out his apostles, but the devil has very many representatives.
The intention of these days and weeks is to make a solemn assembly around our Divine Teacher, and a specific protestation of listening to him because he, and he alone, has the words of life: You have the words of eternal life (Jn 6:68).
The teachings of Jesus our Teacher can be spread by the spoken word and by the press, cinema, radio, television and so on. These are powerful and effective means but often people's

malice distorts and turns them against God, their Author.
The press apostolate, like the word apostolate, needs to be brought back to the altar and the tabernacle; linked up anew with the Mass and Communion. In the Mass the priest reads and kisses the Gospel, he receives Communion; the Church wants the priest to preach during the Mass and distribute Holy Communion. Let us return to the sources! Only in this way shall we have a complete worship, the perfect Christian! Only in this way can we truly love the Lord with all our heart, with all our strength and with all our mind.
Such days or weeks consist of one or more days of prayer, study and distribution of the Holy Gospel with the aim of honoring Jesus Christ, our divine Teacher. The idea is to have the Gospel in every family so that it may be read and lived.
In practical terms it is carried out in accordance with the program decided on by the local Church authorities.
For those, nonetheless, who want a detailed program for practical purposes, we would suggest the following.
Let us suppose it is a triduum.

1. Preparation

a) Remote: by word of mouth, printed, spiritual, and organizational preparation.
By word of mouth: the people are to be told about it several weeks beforehand.
Printed: distribution of books, pamphlets, posters and flyers suited to this purpose.
Spiritual: there is to be a particular appeal

for prayer for success; ask the help of pious people, the sick, the suffering, and children; suggest frequenting the sacraments.
Organizational: a committee can be set up under the auspices of Church authority. In particular said committee must aim to have the Gospel in every family; in homage to the Truth, it is to collect and destroy books, periodicals, papers and all kinds of bad press. In small centres the pastor himself can see to this.

b) Proximate: this consists of three days of preaching carried out in the following way:
In the morning: solemn exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and of the Gospel (on the altar in cornu Evangelii⁶); meditation on the eternal truths.
In the afternoon: instruction and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Adoration is to be continuous and to be made in turn by groups of men, women, young people, and children.

Topics for catechesis

The topics for meditation can be: the Eucharist, viaticum for eternity; Judgement; Eternity; or, we are created for heaven but we have lost our way: Jesus Christ became Truth-Way-Life for us, pointing out to us once more the way to heaven, teaching us how to travel this road, and meriting the grace that makes us capable of reaching eternal glory; at the end of the world Jesus Christ will return to judge the good and the bad; the good will enter into eternal glory while the bad will be cast down into eternal fire.

The evening instructions could, instead, treat of the following matters: the duty of every Christian to listen to the teaching of Jesus Christ, to follow his example and to live his way of life.
Instead of the above, the following topics could be treated:
1. Jesus Christ is our sole Teacher. He is a Teacher by nature, by the will of his Father, and because in his earthly life he showed himself to be such. The Church continues in time and space the teaching of Jesus Christ. But it is hampered in its work by the inimicus homo⁷ who sows darnel by means of the press, talks, the school, and tendencies contrary to the Gospel. The effects of the teaching of Jesus Christ and of the Church are verified in the world (conversions and civilization), in people (salvation and holiness), in eternity (Paradise for those who listen, Hell for those who do not).

2. The two standards. With respect to the teaching of Jesus Christ, people are divided into two great armies: the disciples of Jesus Christ and those of Satan.
Which standard do we follow? Practical examen on our love for the doctrine of Jesus Christ, our thinking and acting with the Church, religious instruction, good reading. Necessity to abhor the school of Satan to adhere firmly to that of Jesus Christ: You cannot follow two leaders at the same time [cf. Mt 6:24].

3. How to align ourselves with the school of Jesus Christ: Declina a malo⁸ is to get to know the representatives of Satan; how to atone for those who have followed them; how to avoid them

in the future. Fac bonum⁹ is to know, love and live out the Gospel. Choose which resolutions to make and the means of perseverance: watchfulness, prayer (Mass, Confession, Communion).

Additional initiatives

God's word is not the reserve of the few but belongs to everyone. Nevertheless, you can have special conferences for members of Catholic Action, for pious Associations or for particular groups of persons: men, women, youth, and children. Indeed you should show a particular concern for this latter group: educated people, workers, and so on.
Suitably prepared lay people can also help the priest with talks. Their style should not, however, be that of teachers, but of true disciples of the one Teacher, Jesus Christ.
In the hours of adoration have the people pray for the recognition of the teaching of Jesus Christ and of his Vicar, the Pope; pray for the apostolate of the word and for the apostolate of the press, and of the other audio and visual techniques.
The celebrations should have a sense of welcoming. Adorn the church and the altar in a festive setting. Give the faithful ample opportunity to frequent the sacraments of Confession and Communion.

2. Final day

Having prepared the people by way of the triduum, it will be easy to organize the final day.

a) Morning: Mass, with an exhortation prior to general Communion; solemn Mass with a sermon to fit the occasion; exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and the Gospel.

b) Afternoon: Hour of solemn adoration to be concluded with the sincere resolve to be part of Christ's school; to be united with his disciples; to draw near to the Divine Teacher by means of venerating, reading, and spreading the Gospel, and frequenting Mass and Holy Communion.
The day can be concluded with a blessing of as many Gospels as there are families in the parish; the distribution of these to the head of each family; the kissing of the Gospel, previously enthroned, with the following solemn protestation
- to acknowledge, to love and to follow Jesus Christ and his Church, guardian of his teaching;
- to renounce all teaching contrary to the Gospel;
- to read the Gospel and to keep it in a place of honor;
- to take part in the parish religious instruction;
- to see to the religious instruction of the family and children;
- to disseminate the Catholic press in every way;
- not to frequent the showing of immoral films.
Everything is to be concluded with the blessing of the Blessed Sacrament.

As well as the above, the following initiatives can be undertaken:
a) distribution of the Gospel to the families unable to receive it in church;
b) registration of the participants in the League of daily Gospel reading;
c) creation of the Group or Section of Cooperators of the Apostolate of the Press; in other words, an organized group of lay people who commit themselves to cooperate with their pastor in the spread of the good press;
d) a collection to give the Gospel to the poor and to help the Apostolate of the Press.