HEADING I
THE ZEAL OF WOMAN CONSIDERED AS AN INDIVIDUAL
Woman individually considered can exercise by herself a great mission of good. And in order to understand it more easily, it shall be well to consider the different apostolates to which she can dedicate herself in the same number of paragraphs: Apostolate of prayer: apostolate of example: apostolate of the word: apostolate of works: apostolate of formation of cooperators in zeal.
And first of all, I believe on the matter to recommend a very good small book by Frassinetti: Industrie spirituali (Spiritual Labors) (Genova, Tipografia della gioventù, L. 0.20).
ART. I - APOSTOLATE OF PRAYER
There is no doubt: this is the easiest and the most effective among the different apostolates.
It is the easiest: inasmuch as whoever is there who cannot pray? Since a child, one begins to mention Jesus' Holy Name, until old age, when one no longer has but a weak voice, everyone can murmur a prayer. A holy mass, a communion, a holy rosary,
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a novena, a visit to the Most Holy Sacrament, are things easy. - But I have a lot of things to do the whole day! A woman would say. Well, let it be: but there have been many holy souls who, also amidst the chores at home, also while going or returning from work, also among the deafening noise of machines, also in the fields under the rays of the sun, knew how to pray, if not in one way, at least in another, at least with frequent short prayers. How many good girls do we know who, while pasturing sheep, read prayer books, went through the rosary beads, knelt down near a plant to pray!
And whether work were pressing, delicate, difficult, who could stop one from at least offering it to the Lord, performing it willingly, sanctifying it with the right intention! Well, work done in this manner, is it not an ongoing prayer? Here the saying holds: One who works, prays. There is more. The same sick person who lies on his bed, oppressed by great pains, can make the most effective of prayers; the sufferings, the crosses, the mortifications, the contradictions suffered with resignation to God's will are worth much more for attracting the divine blessings. Well known is the saying: Good is to pray, to labor1 better still, best is to suffer.
It is the most effective apostolate: conversion and sanctification of souls is a work of grace
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more than of reasoning or of human efforts: the Scriptures, continuing tradition, theology and the practice of saints affirm it so highly. The sworn promise of Jesus Christ cannot fail: Amen, Amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.2 And buttressed by this divine promise, St. Paul taught to everyone this most noble apostolate of prayer: I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions and thanksgivings be offered for everyone.3 - Nothing escapes the power of prayer: be it conversion of sinners, or turning the lukewarm to zealous, or the return of heretics and schismatics, or the perseverance of the just, or the good death of the agonizing, or the growth and prosperity of the Church, or the triumph of the Holy See, or the growth to perfection of the clergy, or the sanctification of religious Orders, or the relief of the souls in purgatory. - True hidden benefactors of humanity are those souls, apostles of prayer: they participate with that divine life that Jesus leads for centuries in the tabernacles. In fact, what does he do in that pyx during the solitary hours of the day, during the silent hours of the night, during the holy sacrifice of the Holy Mass? He placates divine justice angered against the sinners. He implores the divine mercies for many souls. He continues his apostolate of saving the world, exercised one day along the streets of
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Palestine. - Souls that are true benefactors of humanity! They do not receive any applause for being so, nor monuments: but the day of universal judgment shall unveil so many secrets, clear many mysteries, exalt these humble apostles.
On that day, for the first time the benefactors and the beneficiaries shall meet; they shall look at each other, recognize one another: and the glory of the benefactors shall be much greater as it comes much later.
Souls that are benefactors of poor humanity! At least you have this consolation on earth: God listens to your prayers, leans his ears to your sighs, listens to your requests. He who prays for souls satisfies an ardent desire of the Heart of Jesus: and how can Jesus not love him with a most special affection and not listen to him? On the other hand, St. Ignatius4 used to say: Also when, dying right now, I were sure of my salvation, I would nonetheless be ready to risk that salvation while remaining on earth, if only to win over some souls. And, inasmuch as someone reproved him of this as an act of imprudence, he replied: Why? Is God a tyrant who, seeing me risk my own salvation to win over some souls, would want to send me to hell?
Now, what is the practical manner of exercising such an apostolate? Below, we shall see how the apostolate of prayer as organization may be exercised: here, we see how it is individually exercised.
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For the faithful departed
The heroic act of charity: it is the offering of all the expiatory value of all our prayers, actions, sufferings, the offering of the expiatory works applied by us in life and after death, the offering of the merits of Mary Most Holy and of Jesus Christ to the Eternal Father in behalf of the souls in purgatory. - I said expiatory value inasmuch as our prayers, actions, sufferings have always three values: the meritorious, which could not be given to others; the expiatory, which can be applied freely for the souls in purgatory or for the living; the impetratory, which could be distributed to whomever among people.
This act is the most sublime manifestation of charity towards the departed. Pius IX granted for this act the following indulgences:
1. Daily privileged altar for priests;5
2. To all the faithful, plenary indulgence for the deceased each time that one goes to communion and every Monday by attending mass for the same deceased: visiting in both cases some church and praying according to the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff;
3. Then for one who cannot attend the holy mass on Monday, he or she could apply for this purpose the mass of obligation on Sunday;
4. And to him who might not be able to receive communion, the Pope granted confessors to exchange it to another pious activity;
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5. For all: every indulgence granted or to be granted is applicable to the faithful departed.
It is not for nothing that such an act is called heroic: it indeed requires a real renunciation on all the expiatory part of the good deed or to be done and a total abandonment to God's loving Providence, as what concerns purgatory due perhaps to us. For him, however, who does not yet feel strong enough to accomplish such an act in suffrage for the departed, there would also be other acts. There are persons who dedicate one day a week, Tuesday, for the souls in purgatory; there are others who offer for them a communion, a mass, a rosary each week; others instead are happy with but one day a month, that is, the first Tuesday; still others a month a year, the month of November; others only the day destined for the commemoration of the faithful departed, the second of November.
It is, however, especially on the occasion of the demise of some person known that one has to raise the fervor for the sake of the souls in purgatory: the practice of gathering in the house of the deceased to pray the holy rosary or to visit or to do the vigil by praying with the corpse present is a very good practice; very good is the practice of accompanying the deceased to the Church and to his final resting place in the cemetery; very good is the practice of visiting the tomb on specific days, as would be the holy day dedicated to the memory of the deceased; very good is the practice
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of celebrating solemnly the thirteenth day or the anniversaries, to keep pious memorials and pictures of the deceased in homes. But a pious woman should not stop with a simple external show: during burials she shall bear an appearance that is not only decorous but she shall truly pray and make others pray; she shall avail with all circumstances to remember the dead, to offer suffrages for them and to invite others to do it.
Finally, there are lists that bear the different kinds of deceased persons who may be in need of suffrages: priests, religious, the forgotten ones, the souls that used to be devoted to the Blessed Sacrament, etc. Well: many pious souls used to address each day6 their intentions for one of these kinds of persons. It is a most useful practice: just as is most useful that of repeating during the day some Eternal rest, or reciting every evening, or at least while seeing a cemetery, the De Profundis.7
For the living
The sacrificial souls. Just as a heroic act of charity is the most sublime expression of charity towards the faithful departed so the victim soul accomplishes the greatest act of charity towards persons still living on earth. What, in fact, does it mean to offer one's self for persons? It means
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to offer one's self as a sacrificial lamb in order to expiate for the sins of all or of a number of persons and thus to obtain salvation for them. It means to present one's self ready to accept all the trials, the pains and the contradictions that the Lord might please to send to a soul in order to obtain for other souls eternal salvation. It means to keep one's self perpetually in this disposition for the rest of his life: to offer one's existence in order to free souls from eternal death and from the very agonies of death. Now Jesus Christ said: No one has greater love8 than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. Today, we sing a doubtless progress in all the areas of knowledge: but it cannot be denied that due to human malice knowledge is often made servant to evil and that progress has found new means and new ways to sin. Well then, also good souls have created new means of doing good. Among these there is this: by now a rank of souls, so noble as much as so unknown, a rank of souls so sincerely loving people as much as they are despised by people, offer itself victim for its own brothers. They are simple sisters in monasteries, they are teachers in elementary schools, they are humble house helpers, single ladies, women from among the people who burn in love of God and to God sacrifice everything if only to save a soul more. Each soul, also on its own, can do this,
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although it is more advantageous to join the Association of sacrificial souls, of which we will speak later.
The generous offering. This consists in giving to the Divine Heart of our Lord all the impetratory value of our prayers, works and sufferings, while leaving that He makes use of them according to his most holy purposes. A better use of such a value could be none else inasmuch as the intentions of Jesus Christ cannot but be most holy, the best possible. They include not only the ordinary ones that we can conceive within the narrow confines of our knowledge, but they extend to all [and] individual human beings who live in the five parts of the world, to all and individual souls of priests, of Catholics, of heretics, of infidels. With this offering, comes, with summary ease, the extension of our apostolate till the extreme ends of the earth! And to what fervor ought to bring us the thought that while we pray, while we work, away from the sight of everyone, while we suffer some intimate pain hidden from everyone, we do a lot of good also in the most distant regions! The manner of doing such an offering is up to us, and this formula would be enough: I intend to do everything today and ever according to the intentions of Jesus-Host in the tabernacle. It would be beneficial to repeat it every day and also a number of times during the day, although it is enough to recite it once and
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for all and then not withdraw it at all. It is well understood that after such an offering it is always allowed to recommend to the Lord our particular needs: even more one can do it with greater confidence of being heard.
Other different forms of apostolate through prayer
General interests
a) The pious practice of making a communion every week for the Pope, according to his intentions, is widespread among communities, or else to recite the prayer To you, O blessed Joseph... for the general needs of the Church.
b) There are numerous souls who each day recite an Our Father and a Hail Mary with the short prayer, Sancte Francisce Zaveri for the Work of the Propagation of the Faith; and a Hail Mary for the Work of Holy Childhood.
c) The practice of receiving Holy Communion every Saturday or at least pray special prayers in honor of the Sacred Heart of Mary for the conversion of sinners is also very good.
d) Pope Pius X has then granted indulgences to two most beautiful prayers while exhorting the faithful to frequently recite it: one for the spread of the pious custom of frequent communion,9 the other for the sanctification of the clergy.
e) Many pious souls often repeat the short prayer, Divine, Eternal Father, I offer to you the most precious
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blood of Jesus Christ in reparation for my sins and for the needs of the Holy Church.
f) Many prayers can be found in pious books against the vice of cursing, for the preservation of the innocence of children, for the spread of religious instruction, for the growth of the good press, for priestly zeal, etc. Regarding an unmarried woman, one reads: Wanting to participate at the good the proclaimers of God's word do, while cooperating for their fruitfulness, while listening to the sermon, the catechism, etc., she, with frequent short prayers prayed to the Lord to pour his divine strength on the preacher, and to touch the heart of the listeners with the effectiveness of his grace.
A missionary arrived in a parish for the Spiritual Exercises: the expected results, however, were not quite promising. Well, the missionary asked the parish priest if he knew some good souls who could come often to communion and recite the rosary well. - Yes, there is this beggar, very pious, very patient. After having her called, the missionary ordered her to put together each day the holy communion and the continuing recitation of the rosary while he preached. She obeyed and the results of the exercises were very good: leaving, he told the parish priest, Don't thank me; thank the beggar.
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Particular interests
Then, going down to the particular interests of souls, the means for promoting them are almost infinite. Just to mention some of them:
a) To aim at some specific person for whom one wants to obtain eternal salvation, for example, a relative, a friend, sinner or not: then to pray often for him, to make some small mortifications, some fasting if this is convenient.
b) To pray for the special needs of those in agony, of the poor, of families, especially when there is a great need for prayers, while promoting three-day prayers, novenas, visits to churches, pilgrimages, etc.
c) To let the beneficial dew of divine graces fall on all efforts beneficial for souls: for example the reconciliation of enemies, the institution of a pious organization, a notice one wants to make, etc.
d) To do with prayer what could not be done through work or word: it is not difficult for the Lord to raise others to do in our stead what we cannot or He himself would directly do it.
As a conclusion of this article, let us remember that the Lord does not know how to turn down one who prays. One day, a priest had to prepare for the last sacraments a young man on his fourth year university course: but the unhappy man had lost his faith. The zealous priest, a personal friend
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of the sick person, had often visited him and had tried all the ways of reason and of the heart: but all in vain. A pious young woman began then a fervent novena with communion, rosary, fasting with bread and water. She had not finished her devotion yet when the sick person spontaneously asked for the holy sacraments. He received them with most visible signs of sorrow and he wanted that the holy communion be given him often. God alone is the Lord of the heart, who can direct as he wants with his miracles of grace.
ART. II - APOSTOLATE OF EXAMPLE
Most easy and effective apostolate! It is an apostolate within everybody's reach and more especially the woman's! Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father in heaven,10 so Jesus said. And it is precisely the light of public good example and the open profession of the Christian faith that more greatly influenced the pagan world to get converted. Apostles, the clergy, women, girls, if with words they manifested their thoughts of faith, if with works of holiness they proved that they are convinced of it and they manifested more that this faith was divine inasmuch as it was already working on them a profound change. They shone with this light at home, in the neighborhood, in society,
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before the courts themselves and in martyrdom... and in the end they were victorious! Even at present, Catholics in Germany, in England, in the United States of America, know how to hold high their heads among protestants who surround them; and their number is increasing, the heretics get converted, the enemies respect and honor them. - Thus Msgr. Ressia, bishop of Mondovì, wrote and he adds that those who are brave enough to show themselves as true Christians, with faith and works, become true missionaries, true preachers among the people.
[The first pedagogy]
The apostolate of example could raise a mocking sneer from among unbelievers, but it leaves in their soul a thorn that stings, that scolds them, call them back to duty. Also a small child who prays and lives like an angel ends up winning over rebellious hearts. On this truth on the effectiveness of good example, there is no pedagogy scholar who does not agree: instead there are some who would say that the strength of the environment is the principal factor of education. And it is such a universal fact, so clear, so constant that it is almost useless to add as proof specific examples: teach a child holy matters but, if he lives in a corrupt environment, early shall he forget every exhortation you make in order to follow the examples that surround him.
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We ourselves have experienced, we ourselves are experiencing: with saints one becomes a saint, with evil men, the heart rots. It is on this that follows the saying: No one is that strong that he could cut himself off the others' influence, few succeed in resisting it always, the [greater part] follow it completely! Would it not also be due to this very powerful force of example, force that during our days is ever recognized and celebrated, so that the Divine Master wanted to teach us first with example before with word?11 He spent thirty years hidden in a poor man's shop, and only about one tenth of his life spent in preaching. Is it perhaps because good example is ten times more fruitful of good than words? Now let it be said if it is possible, how well a woman who is truly virtuous sows goodness and stimulates it continually even before she speaks a word! She passes by and at her passing, a thousand eyes are directed to her, a thousand good thoughts arise, a thousand sentiments of admiration for her virtue is awakened, a thousand holy enviousness follow her. Only God counts everything: that fortunate soul does not know it: but the day of judgment shall reveal many mysteries! That will be the day of glorification of so many hidden benefactors of humanity. Flowers, dying, leave behind fertile seeds: these virtuous women leave so many of them!
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[The attraction of piety and of hidden virtues]
There are many in the world who want to pass for strong spirits and they belittle the piety that they call with petty names. But they, upon seeing that certain number of souls who hungrily listen to the word of God and listen to it so frequently, instinctively reflect if it would not be better if they went along humbly with those lessons of the loftiest truths, explained in the most simple way; but in seeing those pious souls who every morning, like thirsty doves, come to the Eucharistic table, will rethink and ask whether they would be happier if they imitated them at least some times; but in seeing those devote souls who pray with all the opening of their hearts, remember the peace when, in the simplicity of childhood, also they were doing similarly. It would be a fleeting thought, like the wind, externally12 dissimulated by the murkiness of a thousand material, vain, capricious worries: but it will be a thought that shall reawaken in the peacefulness of the evening, in a sleepless night, during a moment of sadness of misadventure: it shall bear fruit in its own time: perhaps only after years and years. He who harvests often does not think of him who sowed, but the Lord thinks well of him!
Greater is the effectiveness of good example when women know how to put piety together with the exercise of Christian virtues. Neither do we intend to speak here only of external and clamorous virtues, like
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for example, certain charitable deeds: but particularly of internal and simple virtues. There are persons who are so full of humility that they never know how to complain, mistakes are always on their side, the others always have some reason for behaving the way they do, also as they sympathize with them. There are persons who are so delicate in their charity that they are always ready with acts of kindness, to interpret and foresee always a desire, to meet an expectation. There are persons who are so wise that they know how to let themselves be interrupted ten times while they write a letter or balance accounts, waiting without impatience the end of a conversation or the arrival of a person coming late, they know how to stop and then take up work again without letting irritation appear. The misunderstood intentions, the badly interpreted words, the malicious smiles, the icy welcome, the harsh rejection, all these seem to find an insensitive heart in such persons. They seem destined by Providence to spread some joy in these valley of tears! They seem to have the mission of making happy whoever approaches them! Little virtues, workaday, more suited to the woman: but virtues that draw, conquer13 the soul and let people exclaim: how beautiful is the Christian religion and piety, that they can inspire such a disinterested and loving life! - There are other virtues that show also because of a greater exterior impression: it is the smile suspended on the lips of a
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person loved, whom we know to be suffering, but still reveals the intimate joys of resignation: it is the bright look of an innocent person who reveals the gentleness and the sweetness of simplicity: it is the modest and reserved touch that uncovers entirely the chastity of a soul: it is the dignified silence before a hurt or calumny: it is the constant obedience also to orders given with little tact: it is the disinterest of great detachment of a heart. They are a sermon of every day, made without one behaving like a teacher, listened to also by him who does not dare [go] to church.
And finally, those women who dedicate their energies and also their lives to a life of works of charity still exercise a true apostolate by example. We shall see elsewhere how the woman can consecrate herself to these works of charity: it is enough that here we remember the great esteem that religion receives because of its most numerous charitable institutions.
[The strength of charity]
The past year, Ozanam,14 considered the founder of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul, was remembered with great solemnity throughout the world and especially in France and in Italy. Well, here is how it happened. He had known the existence of a society so called of beneficial studies, dedicated to the friendly discussions of literary and philosophical subjects, useful for the day. He, with many companions, gave it the name and, by his work, that society was transformed into Conference of history and philosophy. Sixty plus young men carried out
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and defended the historical and philosophical Christian truth, as apologists, before their adversaries, deists, Saint-Simonians, Fourierists, and materialists.15 It was a real field of battle wherein the truth met with error, where debates, sometimes hot ones, took place, where attempts were made to prevail in order to convert to Catholicism. Ozanam, however, noticed early the limited effectiveness of the theoretical discussion. Instead of scientific discussions, would not a conference of charity be more effective? Less words and more deeds: let us go to the poor. The same evening, he with his friends would take some firewood left for the last days of evening, and brought it16 to an abandoned poor man. A year after, the members of the conference of charity were about a hundred; a few years later they were fifty thousand conferences spread throughout the whole world; today they have one hundred four thousand members and they distribute to the poor eighteen million lire every year. And the goal? Charity served as introduction to the faith: also here the needle was making the thread pass through and the members of St. Vincent became the most powerful missionaries for the Christian regeneration of the world.
He who is not inclined to religion because of scientific conviction, or does not love it due to lack of education, appreciates it at least for the spirit of charity
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of so many Catholics, of sisters full of love for the poor, of priests founders or supporters of hospitals, sanatoria, hospices, patronages for workers, secretariats for the people. How many times does the logic of the heart and good sense ends up winning! The conversion of Emile Littré, Jew, head of the positivist philosophers of his time, Freemason, materialist is repeated. While ill, he was lovingly assisted by his wife and daughter, Catholics and pious. Their lasting patience struck him and said: How could ever be such a rare virtue be the result of matter? With divine grace, his system fell like a broken idol: he was converted and died as a Christian. It was the work of charity.
ART. III - APOSTOLATE OF THE WORD
The Lord's word, that is the truth, is a divine seedling destined to germinate in the minds and to produce Christian thought, to germinate in the heart and produce the due affections17 and produce saints, to germinate in works and produce Christian life. It is the word that has converted the world, it is the word that keeps it Christian: inasmuch as faith, so the Apostle18 says, is the fruit of the words of God. Jesus Christ would have used an infinite number of other means to such an effect: but He chose this as the ordinary means: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing ...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.19 And nothing could ever take the place of
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the effectiveness of the Gospel word, preached with zeal and with the divine blessing every Sunday, every day, every hour by many priests and missionaries to a limitless number of persons.
But not everyone could make the priest listened to: he is not equally understood by all: not all equally remember his words and apply them to practical life. And thus the Lord has placed at the side of the priest, in order to supplement his limited strength, the better ones among the laity and especially women. Women are most assiduous of God's word, because they are naturally pious: women better intuit the religious truths than men, not because these truths are most lofty and most noble, but inasmuch as they conform with nature, with the needs and the aspirations of the heart: women, better than men, remember them and apply them to cases, to circumstances, to actions of ordinary life. Women, then, become echoes that spread everywhere the priest's word, just like his spokesperson, as his means of transmission. Blessed are the zealous women! For them, St. Paul, left written those words that refer to Phoebe,20 Evodia and Syntiche: Who worked for the Gospel with me.
And in how many ways can women exercise this most noble apostolate? In very many and very varied ways: here let us just refer to some of the principal ones.
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Through correction
An advice given in time, spiced with the sweetness of charity, made valuable with the strength of warm exhortations, can save a soul from falls, from bad ways, from ruin. There are those who sin through malice, but there are those who, especially among the young, sin due to ignorance or to weakness: a word, an encouragement could save them. Corrections could be made, other than within the home, among relatives, among acquaintances, along the road, in church, in conversations. Sometimes with a long exhortation, more often with a word or an act of disapproval, most often with a look, and even with mere silence. No general rule could be established on what ought to be done in different cases: the particular circumstances of the person, of the place, of the time shall speak by themselves and the ardent zeal shall make one reflect and understand their voice.
Charity is ingenious in always finding new ways and, as an example, let me list down some, utilized by a young man called Ingenious Bee, pointed out by Frassinetti.
Wishing to correct a relative of hers, afraid that she might be badly received, she asked one of her friends who, in the presence of the relative, would correct her of that mistake, as if she herself had committed it: warning her, however, to measure her words
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in a way that she did not tell lies. Rightly21 did her friend satisfy her desire; and she thanked her and promised her that in the future she would be careful not to commit such mistakes. The relative, without suspecting the use of such an art, remained edified by her humility in receiving the correction: and she understood that she herself would have to reform.
Knowing that a young woman lived badly, inasmuch as she was keeping a bad relationship, pretending to be a most cordial friend of hers, wrote her a letter wherein she called her attention first on the damage that her reputation, a most precious treasure that one can ever have in the world, suffered; and then the deplorable state of her soul and grave danger of eternal perdition; but all with so much humility, sweetness and affection that is truly friendly that it touched even the hardest of hearts.
Knowing as well that a young imprudent and malicious young man was hovering22 around a very simple girl, unknown to her mother, she wrote a note to her: in it, pretending to be a family friend, she warned of the danger that hung over her daughter. The daughter was better looked after and the young man disappeared.
It grieved her very much to hear that a neighbor who, at the height of anger, abused God's holy name. He had a
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gracious little daughter who was just celebrating her first five years of age, simple and at the same time good. She called this little daughter, promising her a beautiful prize if she did what she was told. Having had her promise, she taught her to catch the moments her father got angry and, with her hand joined, she stood in front and told him: Dear daddy, do not curse the Lord; and this she did until the father was freed from that bad vice. And that if her father asked her regarding who might have taught her that manner, she would simply reply: the Lord: in fact she was speaking in God's name. The little girl performed so well her part: and the father, seeing himself before that little angel who prayed so kindly, he showed himself at first moved, but he was silent. Eventually, he asked the little girl why she behaved so: Because that way, she answered, the Lord told me to behave! To these words, the father's emotion reached its peak: the next day he went to confession and promised to change.
A singular manner of correction was this: to pray the persons that surrounded her to warn him of her defects, assuring that she would be pleased. Such persons in their turn asked for themselves the same favor: and thus she had the occasion to perform so many corrections and thus a lot of good.
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Good words
It is the most ordinary and easiest way for the woman to exercise herself in zeal. How often are there afflicted persons! Well, to pour into their hearts the balsam of heavenly consolations, by speaking of Providence, of heaven, of the sufferings of Our Lord Jesus Christ, is work of zeal. How often are there persons embittered for an affront received, for a calumny and loose talks about them that go around, for dislikes they experience! Well, to talk of the sweetness of Christian forgiveness, of exchanging good for evil, of the spirit of sacrifice, is a work of zeal.
There are also women who impose on themselves as a rule that of never ending a conversation without letting at least a good word come in: there are others who are used to always accompany material alms with a good advice: others still watch out to catch every occasion for advising a pious practice, for raising the soul to supernatural thoughts, to let sweet goodness be felt. I recall a young man who used to read the newspaper beside a chronically sick person: with the occasion, he knew how to concoct good reflections and add to such reading. For example, if the newspaper spoke about sudden death, he used to say: Happy was he if he was prepared. If the newspaper told the story of honors achieved, he would add:
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Very well, as long as he also got divine approval. I remember a woman who, in the short span of an hour, working with some companions, knew how to make very good observations. Pricked by a needle and cheered up by her companions, she said smiling: This is nothing compared with the pains of purgatory. Later, showing a beautiful embroidery, she noted that our life is similar to it: bad deeds would waste it, just as bad weaves waste the embroidery.
A pious lady told how she managed to introduce the practice of the rosary in a family with just speaking about it in passing while visiting: a woman of the populace succeeded to re-establish peace between a couple by just inviting them together to a party in her home: a single lady, often visiting and treating very humbly and very charitably a family, neglectful as regards religion, had obtained that the children be sent to catechism classes and make their first communion.
And how many good words are like seeds sown, fallen from between the farmer's fingers, destined to grow and bear a hundredfold fruit!
Men do not know how to appreciate them: but angels know their numbers and appreciate them: God shall not allow their recompense to remain unpaid.
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For the catechism
By promoting the teaching of catechism, women become directly associated with the most noble, necessary and effective priestly ministry: to instruct the children. And women can do so in many ways.
First of all with teaching Christian doctrine, when opportunity comes. In almost every parish, priests need catechists, capable and gifted with true spirit of piety, inasmuch as he is made to divide the children into many classes according to their ability and their level of instruction. A woman who attends to sermons, parish instructions, catechism: a woman who tries to supplement deficiencies in religious instruction by reading good books: a woman who attends to reading some of the many commentaries and explanations of the catechism text, can easily reach the knowledge necessary for teaching the children the first rudiments of the faith. Furthermore, she needs to be a woman of piety, of edifying life and of zeal for the salvation of souls: and these things are most necessary for her who must teach religion: she shall have frequently participated in the holy sacraments, engaging herself to practice Christian virtues and to love prayer.
It is easily23 understandable how come there are so many women who do not have the time or the freedom for these so noble activities: it is understandable how many women either do not possess the knowledge, or the influence on
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youth, or other qualities: and yet in every parish there are those who could offer their help to the parish priest, ready, it is understood, that they will accept all the advice. Other women perhaps should remain happy to imitate a young woman of whom it was written: Having known a girl most ignorant of the truths of faith and of the Christian's duties, with the pretext of teaching her how to read and write, she managed to convince her mother to let her go to her for a number of months. Meanwhile, she taught her all that mattered knowing; she instilled on her sentiments of love and fear of God: and then, always keeping good relations with her, she succeeded to let her sanctify the feasts, frequently approach the holy sacraments and the teaching of Christian doctrine.
How many times could a woman not teach catechism to children of neighbors and relatives? She could easily approach them, easily she could attract them with small rewards. And this manner of apostolate is especially suited to women who live alone, or are free for themselves: often, however, also certain persons in service to that family wherein no due importance is given to religious instruction could exercise it.
Neither are lacking other paths open to the woman's zeal as regards catechism. Often she could use her influence to let children join
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classes on Christian doctrine, especially among those who for reasons of friendship, acquaintance, kinship or dependence have relations with her. She could support the work of catechism with offerings that could be used for prizes, games, trips and entertainment for the children. More, she could, in certain special circumstances, give24 her moral and also material help for the foundation or growth of some oratory, recreation on feast days or parish school of catechism. History recommends25 rightly the generous charity of a great number of women who helped out in the foundation of pious activities with their generous donations, made while alive or by testament.
Now there is no doubt that among these works one of the most urgent today is the establishment of oratories, recreation centers, parish schools of catechism.
And here are the indulgences granted by the pope for the purpose of promoting the teaching of catechism:
To parents: 100 days each time that they teach Christian doctrine to their children and to their household members (Paul V - October 1607).
To teachers: seven years, each time that during feasts they lead students to the Christian doctrine and to teach it to them. (Paolo V - idem.).
To all the faithful: 100 days each time that
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for half an hour they study the catechism either in order to teach it or to learn it. (Paolo V - idem.).
Seven-year-olds and as those forty years old or so, each time that, having gone to confession and communion, they come to catechism when it is taught to children in churches and oratories (Clement XII - 16 May 1736).
Plenary indulgence during the days of Christmas, of Easter and of Sts. Peter and Paul, if they assiduously attend catechism lessons in order to teach it or learn it, on condition that, after having gone to confession and communion, they pray according to the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff (Clement XII - idem.).
Three years in each of the feasts of the Most Holy Virgin, if they are used to gather in schools or in classes to learn Christian doctrine for as long as on those feasts they go to confession (Pius IX, Rescript of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, 18 July 1877).
Seven years if they also go to communion (Pius IX, Rescript, idem.).
Songs
Music has a sweet and strong attraction even on less sensitive hearts. It is something most known, forecast by the ancients in the fable of Orpheus.26 A holy bishop of old, seeing his rough people very restive when listening to the truths of faith, turned them to verses and he himself sang them at the height of a bridge
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where many people passed: attracted by the song, they listened to the doctrine that they did not want to hear in speeches. More, that bishop assigned some poor people, gifted with good voice, to sing and to sell his songs.
Women can turn to this good deed above all by favoring the spread of indifferent songs. Besides, people sing songs for the sake of singing without reflecting if the meaning of the words is good or bad: then quite easily they accept whatever song. And women can acquire such songs; they can distribute them: they could sing them first, if this is possible and convenient for their state: they could also see to it that they learn them and little by little spread them... How many bad thoughts and sentiments are avoided! Thoughts and feelings that are excited by bad songs that have become fashionable! More: women can see to it that especially the youth learned songs and sacred hymns: to spread booklets and sheets that contain them; to repeat them at home and in workplaces. There were women who under the pretext of songs knew how to attract girls at their homes and then teach them good practices, attracted them more often to the church and to the holy sacraments and with them spread among the people pious and devote songs (Pius IX, in 1858, granted various indulgences to whomever promotes the singing of sacred hymns).
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ART. IV - APOSTOLATE OF WORKS
Under this title one could list down a truly extraordinary number of works of zeal wherein women can dedicate themselves. The importance of each of them is such that a long chapter or perhaps a whole book would be needed to conveniently illustrate each one of them. He who would want to consider somehow this theme cannot but exclaim: Oh! How vast is the field for religious-moral action open for women! How much good can this weak creature do, when she sets her mind, her heart, her energies to the cause of goodness! Let us bear in mind that we are considering women only as individuals.
For the press
Above all, a woman, when she is gifted with culture, can write. It makes sense to say it: there is a great number who could get into this most noble apostolate: and yet they do not! Is it because of a natural repugnance to produce, is it because of neglect,27 is it because of an exaggerated conviction of incapacity, or is it, perhaps, even more often, little esteem of this great means of doing good? Well, better consider the truly extraordinary power of the press which is growing every day because of the increasing desire to read. Consider how the written
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word ends up being read by thousands of persons and communicating to all some good thought. Consider how other women avail with the press for ungodly and immoral purposes: consider how one can write, also for newspapers, without the need of having one's real name known: consider that it does not take a lot of knowledge to write a letter to the editor of a weekly broadsheet. There are sisters, there are those employed in post, telegraph, telephone offices, there are lady professors, there are women of the educated and noble class, who often have very beautiful ideas, have useful information of events that take place around them, who have very good initiatives to propose. And why could they not write? Praise to the humble woman who challenges her own strengths and asks advice and submits her work for approval by competent persons: but let it be remembered: that is a talent that can bear much fruit. And how can women write? By being a correspondent of a Catholic newspaper for her own town or city: by taking care of a column that almost in every periodical is called Women's department: being in competition with the compilation of women's magazines: at times also by taking care of religious bulletins and even writing books, morality novels, short pamphlets, etc.
More: women can work in the
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spread of the good press. And here there is no woman who cannot cooperate. There is a big number of good periodicals that are barely surviving because of limited circulation: just as there are many very good books that need nothing else but being known. How much good can a woman do when she solicits among relatives, acquaintances, townmates subscriptions for those bulletins, those weekly publications, those dailies that she considers useful!28
How much could she do by lending at least one's own reading materials to as many people as possible, perhaps passing them on in cafes, hotels, at the neighborhood circle and meeting places, at the beauty salon!
How much good could be done, little by little with those gentle and holy works of charity, where the woman is teacher, in taking away a bad reading material and exchanging it with something good, or at least indifferent!
There are women as well who are well provided who could also subscribe to a good periodical or magazine for this or that person, this or that family: there are those others who could let free samples of reading materials in those houses where one can hope for new subscribers; others still, while they distribute so much alms, could reserve some part for the good press: this at times proves more useful than donations of food.
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Something similar could be done as regards books: to lend one's own: to give as gifts those that are useful or suitable to persons who shall read them: to suggest them in conversations: to seek to exchange the bad with others that are good and, as much as possible, attractive. How many times one would succeed to block sin and perversion by doing so, and not only that, but also to impart good conduct and religious instruction.
Here is what one reads about a holy young woman: Desiring to introduce a good book into a home, she brought it with her while visiting once, and there, as if she forgot, she left it. After a few days, she went back asking for the book, as if she wanted to take it back: she however asked if anyone had read it and if the book was liked, if this were true or not: they answered her affirmatively; and she insisted that they kept it because, as it was true, she had other copies for herself: hence, the book remained in that family as she wanted it so.
For this purpose, there are pious persons who keep for themselves a real small library or at least some books that they seek to let others know and be continually circulated, happy that doing so they do some good. There are other persons who, although poor, set aside every day some amount of money, saved perhaps from small pleasures, in order to buy some books. There are persons who procure those books that they know are useful and are wanted by others.
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And with these, we also remember another good work: that of spreading leaflets by the streets, squares, parlors, in public vehicles, trams, train coaches, containing statements and sayings of great persons: as well as that of leaving, pretending to forget, good newspapers and printed matters wherever: and another is to paste on envelopes, packages, on walls, on the backseats of public walkways, in trams, etc., small cards containing some good sayings: and finally that of writing on the walls of one's home, along the stairways, etc., some good advice.
Those who will read them shall have good thoughts: and those who caused this would have great merit before God.
For the sick and the poor
Ordinarily these are the better disposed to correspond with works of zeal: they whom one can approach easily through services and acts of kindness: they are those who need more a zealous soul, who may inspire resignation and dispose them to the final step, when this is needed. Visiting them, helping them, consoling them, the soul draws a lot of good.
Now there might be sick persons in different conditions. They could be poor, abandoned, needing everything. In that case, women can visit
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them quite frequently: they can give them the most urgent assistance, they could supply the doctor, medicines, blankets, food, etc.: they could, according to circumstances, see to it that they be accepted in hospitals, or insist that the authorities of the place or wealthy persons took care of them. The sick could stay in their homes but well cared for, or in hospitals: and thus women can, if their social relations allow it, visit them briefly, encourage them, offer their services.
However, in one case or the other, material care has no other purpose than as means for achieving the end: to do good to souls. The zealous woman shall not do any visiting without leaving behind a good word: if she sees it proper, she shall advice that the patient also received the holy sacraments before he becomes very sick:29 she shall seek out prayers of good souls, holy cards, crucifixes, etc., for the sick, as the case may be.
Perhaps there may be sick persons who are not religious, are vicious, indifferent: they shall with difficulty think of calling the priest on time. It would then be a work of charity if a woman, given the occasion, shall remind the sick person his duty: or else she could ask the doctor, a relative, an acquaintance, to do the same thing, for as long as she tries to approach the sick person.
The poor you always have with you,30 our Lord
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Jesus Christ said: and everyday we notice the truth of this divine statement. The poor we find along the streets, in squares; the poor we visit in houses; the poor we have even in big buildings and with rich clothes. Women can exercise charity for them in a thousand ways. Not only with material assistance, distributed with prudence; but with good advice; but with offering convenient and possible jobs; by inspiring towards resignation, trust in Providence. And in other ways as well. In fact there are poor widows to help in the education of their families, there are children to watch over during the absence of parents, there are clothes to make for the poor, for the child care centers, for old folks. And for this, wealthy ladies, ladies in town and city centers are more readily available: while in the rural areas, it happens that what is needed is assistance to widows in farm work or to orphans.
Seconding the zeal of pastors of the Church
1. The zeal of popes
The Pope, vicar of Jesus, has received the power not only to teach peoples the truth and morals of the Gospel, but also to guide the zeal of everyone, according to the needs of the times.31 And because of this, with the surfacing of new circumstances, he specifies
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what particular works are to be promoted. Thus Leo XIII32 inculcated in a special manner the recitation of the holy rosary either in public, or in homes; Pius X took special care of the communion of children; other popes recommended in a most special manner the Work of the Propagation of the Faith and of Holy Childhood, the St. Peter's Pence,33 etc. Zealous women shall always receive with humble submission and as words of the Holy Spirit, every command of the Holy See: not only to defend it from eventual accusations of evil persons34 but to work in such a way that, in her own circle of influence, it is observed. And how many times has she the occasion of letting known and having observed, for example, fasting and abstinence? How many times could she act as the collector of St. Peter's Pence or the zealous promoter of the Work of the Propagation of the Faith?
It can happen at times that women, the learned especially, are tempted to question or judge the acts of the pontifical prescriptions: this is not only outside the woman's mission, but it also can cause scandal or harm. Receive with reverence and execute: this, instead, is her duty.
2. The zeal of parish priests
The parish priest is he who has the real responsibility over souls that have been entrusted to him:
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to him belongs, as right and duty, non only the principal part, but also the directive part in the care for souls and of the pastoral action in the area under his care. He can avail with other persons and it is his duty to avail with them in proportion to the needs of the situation, depending on the ability of the cooperators, of the goals he sets. As for the others, and especially for women, to humbly second him, to cooperate35 with him according to their energies, to place themselves completely at his disposal. Women, with regards to the parish priest, in ordinary cases, shall do what the hand does in relation with the head: a part of the body executes and serves, makes its own needs known and the decisions is up to the head.
When the parish priest encourages a devotion, an association, a pious union,36 truly zealous women should support their pastor; when the parish priest judges an institution necessary, women, whatever might be their condition, should render their cooperation, moral, or material it may be; when the parish priest calls for the cooperation of good people either for the church or for the hospital, or for catechetical activities, let women respond to the appeal according to their strengths. In a parish even when energies consecrated to good works abounded, little will ever be achieved if these energies were not united: now the only person who could unite them, lead then, channel them is the parish priest. All the institutions that have pastoral goals, all the initiatives for salvation
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of souls, all persons who are zealous, in ordinary cases, directly or indirectly, must have him as head.
For the frequent reception of the holy sacraments
It is true indeed that the frequent reception of the holy sacraments, especially the holy communion, is one of the principal means for the practice of Christian life. To frequently receive communion, the state of grace is required and right intention: communion wants to be preceded by acts of faith, of love, of repentance and of resolutions for an ever better life: Jesus Christ, entering into us, brings in new strengths, fruit of grace, for putting a brake on the passions and for the practice of virtues: these are the three motives for which Pope Pius X promoted so much the frequent reception of holy communion. And every zealous woman can always support, promote and spread the usage. Many are the means.
Here is first of all what Frassinetti writes of his Ingenious Bee: She observed how young persons lose their love for the world after most assiduously receiving holy communion and then dedicate themselves to serving God fervently and sometimes also in virginity; for the love that they bore for God and for chastity, and furthermore because she saw that this was a most effective means so that young women might set themselves to promote the glory of God, she studied means to attract all the young girls of her acquaintance to
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frequent communion. This she did through examples and exhortations. If she found still some unease in some, she exerted this effort: she asked them to want to dedicate seven Wednesdays, or seven Saturdays, in honor of Mary Most Holy Immaculate, while going to the sacraments during those days. More easily they agreed: and meanwhile they got used to that practice and persevered eventually. From this practice came about three benefits:
1. Those girls, so to obtain from their confessors the advice to go to communion so often, lived very attentively as not to commit sins, not even venial sins, consciously.
2. Going to communion often, with purity of conscience, they enjoyed the consolations of the spirit, and hence, without almost being aware of it, they began disliking the world with its vanities and pleasures, until, sometimes, leaving it behind.
3. They became as if small apostles amidst their homes, companions and friends, promoting everywhere God's glory and the good of souls.
More: every woman, though she may have very limited social contacts, can always invite among her acquaintances and friends: on the occasion of special feasts, of holy Spiritual Exercises, of feast days, in order to offer suffrages for some dear deceased person, [and] during the months consecrated to Mary Most Holy or to the Sacred Heart
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of Jesus when it has to do with obtaining some important grace. For this purpose, often it is enough that she remembers that the most powerful means to obtain the Lord's blessings is not that of lighting a candle, but a novena or a triduum of holy communions.
Furthermore: women can see to the diffusion particularly of those devotions or pious unions that promote frequent communion: such as, for example, the Third Order of St. Francis of Assisi, the Pious Union for the communion of children, the devotion to the first Friday of the month, etc.
Training cooperators in zeal
There are persons who are ardent with zeal for the salvation of the souls of others: God has given them an extraordinary light with which they have known how much Jesus has done for them. These persons would want to multiply up to an infinite degree their prayers, their counsels, their efforts always for the salvation of more souls: they would want to multiply themselves, too. And, seeing how limited are their own energies, they experience a kind of discomfort. Well, they could be told: be consoled: you can duplicate, triplicate, centuplicate, too, if you want. And how? By training cooperators to your zeal. Read these sentences and you shall see: Not being able to place in direct relation (a pious
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young woman) with all the girls of the population, to whom she desired to do some good, with the pretext of some work or service, made friends with some poor girls, but many good single ladies, who might be able to help her in her work: she taught them in many good activities and made use of these, doing through them so much that she could not do on her own in behalf of many others. More: This pious young woman when she came to know that in some place or town there was some good single women committed and zealous in promoting good, she immediately sent them some booklets or other things of devotion as gift, accompanying these with a letter in which she sought friendship, while offering herself to be of service in everything, as far as she could. In this manner, she had good friends in every place, friends she never met: with them she kept communication, encouraged them with her warm exhortations, and she obliged herself to have devote little gifts that she sent them once in a while. Through them she established in many places pious unions and religious practices, very useful to devote souls and to the populations themselves.
A good thought spread is like an angel that moves about in the name of him who sends it to do good where it penetrates. You would want to accomplish some of those works of mercy that are sweet for the souls: give alms, for example: but you are poor. Well, express
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a thought that demonstrates the merit of giving and the needs of the poor; this thought perhaps might penetrate into the heart of rich persons who will give. Would you want to visit sick persons, teach children, etc.,: but you cannot, with duties holding you back at home, or you do not have enough: well, exhort persons who are free to do it in your stead.
Very many and varied are the works of zeal possible for women: they can pray for the salvation of others, they could make use of words and of works: we have seen this already.
Very well, in each of these works women can associate themselves as cooperators:
In prayer: Concerning some sinner to convert, some dying person who is hard to approach, some hatred to extinguish, some work to promote: it is always possible for women to invite their pious friends, young girls, acquaintances to take with her the holy communion, do a triduum, a novena, a visit to the church. In some occasions, it is enough to remember the needs, so they are understood and prayed for: for example, a serious illness, a calamity, an accident, the missions, the heretics. And as far as deceased persons are concerned, there would not be any great difficulty to obtain for them a well attended holy mass, a rosary well said, a De profundis, a requiem.
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In the apostolate of the word. Just take a look around you: and how many persons, also pious ones, spend their precious time in useless talks. In order to better make use of their tongues, they do not need anything but being trained. Well, let it be told to them that they could talk about what they hear in sermons: that they can let pious unions and religious practices be known: that they can speak about good works, the life of saints, virtues. Let it be told to them that perhaps they could get involved in teaching catechism: that they could spend their time to console the afflicted, bring peace to families, let good words always come into conversations.
In good works. Here, one could always easily suggest visiting some sick persons, supporting through example and help the good works desired by the parish priest, to exchange good books and newspapers for the bad books and newspapers.
One could always be adviced to commit herself to support or even be active so that some organization be introduced: Little rosarians,37 living rosary, blue habit; the collection of offerings for St. Peter's Pence, for the Work of Holy Childhood, for the Work of the Propagation of the Faith; in order to promote frequent reception of communion among children.
Neither would we pretend to create at once
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an apostle: no, the Spirit of God is not violent and formation shall take place gradually. One begins with doing some good within the home, especially to the father, to the mother, to brothers, to sisters and eventually to house helpers. At times it is a matter of inviting them to a sermon, to the holy sacraments, to a liturgical celebration: at other times it has to do perhaps with taking away from the house some object of scandal as books or pictures, or else, it is a matter of giving a good advise. Easier yet shall be to cultivate the spirit of devotion in some sister or niece, to introduce the practice of reciting a third part of the holy rosary at home, to do something that some good reading is done at home.
One could move on from the persons at home to friends and acquaintances and particularly to girls: to narrate to them some things from the lives of saints, to guide them to some fervent confessor, to make them like some practice of devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament or to the Most Holy Virgin.
In this manner the young woman is trained little by little to the apostolate! Let her not be discouraged at the first failures: let her pray more, seek new ways of doing good, seek advice, always hope.
Neither should one pretend that every young woman, also the pious ones, or every unmarried woman on her own, would become zealous apostles: each has her own spirit, her own aptitudes, her own inclinations. Something could be offered for everyone to do: not all however
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shall be able to accomplish the same work: others shall prefer the apostolate of prayer; others, that of example; others that of the word.
In the world there shall always be a class of persons who shall imitate Marta38 and another class shall follow Mary. But attention has to be paid in choosing the more capable, the more pious, the more active, and not only they: but attention shall be paid also to distribute to them the work that corresponds to each one's inclinations.
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1 DA here adds a semi-colon (absent in the succeeding editions), with which the saying could sound a bit differently.
2 Cf. Jn 16:23, and also 14:13; 15:16; 16:26.
3 Cf. 1Tm 2:1, and also Eph 6:18; Phil 1:4; 1Thes 1:2.
4 It is only here that Alberione mentions this saint and probably he refers to Ignatius, founder of the Society of Jesus, born in Loyola, Guipúzcoa, in Spain, in 1491 and died in Rome on 31 July 1556.
5 Privileged altar is “that which enjoys the indult of plenary indulgence, applicable to a deceased for whom the Mass is celebrated. Perpetual or temporary privilege, daily or not [cf. CJC can 918]” (Enciclopedia cattolica, vol. I, col. 925).
6 Original italian: fra giorno = durante il giorno = during the day.
7 Cf. Ps 129 in the Latin Vulgate (now Ps. 130).
8 DA has onore = honor instead of amore = love. Cf. Jn 15:13.
9 Cf. the Decretum de quotidiana Ss. Eucharistiae sumptione “Sacra Tridentina Synodus”, decreed on the authority of Pius X by the Sacred Congregation of the Council, dated 20 December 1905.
10 Cf. Mt 5:16 and Eph 5:9; 1Pt 2:12.
11 Notice the importance of the observation regarding the Magisterium of the Divine Master, accomplished through example first, before words. It is one of the themes Fr. Alberione would greatly develop.
12 DA has eternamente = eternally instead of esternamente = externally.
13 Italian original has conquidono instead of conquistano = conquer.
14 Antoine-Frédéric Ozanam was born in Milan on 23 April 1813 of Giovanni Antonio, doctor, and Maria Nantas, of Lyon. He died in Marseilles on 8 September 1853. Proclaimed blessed by John Paul II in Paris on 22 August 1997.
15 Followers of different philosophical thoughts. Deism is a rational conception of the divinity, without supernatural divine elements or dogmas. - Saint-Simonians, disciples of Claude-Henri, count of Saint-Simon (Paris, 1760-1825), adventurer, philosopher and utopian sociologist, proponent of a perfect society founded on a “new Christianity.” Fourierists, disciples of Charles Fourier (1772-1837), French philosopher and economist, ideologue of political circles in France, England, and United States, proponents of a utopian socialism. - Materialists: old and new proponents of a philosophical thought that puts matter as the only foundation of reality.
16 DA has lo instead of la.
17 DA has effetti = effects, instead of affetti = affections.
18 Cf. Rom 10:8,14.
19 Cf. Mt 28:19-20 and Mk 16:15.
20 DA has Zeba, but it should be Febe (or Feba) = Phoebe, already referred to in DA 45. Cf. Rom 16:1-2: “I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is [also] a minister of the church of Cenchareae... she has been a benefactor to many and to me as well.”. As regards Evodia and Syntiche, cf. Phil 4:2.
21 Giusta, from Latin juxta, that is: according to [her desire].
22 Gironzava = gironzolava = hovering around.
23 Di leggeri = facilmente = easily.
24 DA has dove = where instead of dare = to give.
25 Commenda = raccomanda, approva = reccomends, approves.
26 A mythical figure, Thracian singer, son of Apollo and a nymph, whose song could move trees and stones, tame the fiery and to convince Cerberus to open the doors of Hades so he could bring out her bride Euridice.
27 DA has neghittosa instead of neghittosità = neglect, laziness.
28 It is probable that Alberione had in mind some Piedmontese diocesan publications, founded by the Opera dei congressi. In fact, a first initiative of the diocesan committees of the Opera was the founding of a periodical that would serve as official organ. It was thus that were born in Cuneo, Il dovere, (Duty), a weekly of the diocesan and parish committees; La gazzetta di Fossano, (The Fossano Gazette) organ of the diocesan and parish committees, that from 17 August 1898 would be replaced by La fedeltà (Fidelity); Il Corriere della diocesi e della città di Fossano (The Courier of the diocese and city of Fossano); La voce di Novara (The voice of Novara), twice weekly and official organ of the diocesan committee which would be succeeded on 16 February 1901, by La cronaca novarese (The Novara Chronicle). In Alba, La gazzetta d'Alba (The Alba Gazette) (founded in 1882) that defined itself as “political-religious newspaper of the diocese and vicinity, informed after solidly Catholic principles”; in Mondovì, Il risveglio cattolico (The Catholic reawakening) was the twice weekly that strenuously battled in defense of religion, of the papacy, of the people; in Ivrea, Il pensiero del popolo (The people's mind); in Asti in 1900 the publication of La gazzetta di Asti (The Asti Gazette) began to take the place of the honored Sveglia (Awakening); in Acqui L'àncora (The Anchor) was founded in 1903 (cf. “Primo elenco dei periodici cattolici a rilevante contenuto sociale editi nelle diocesi piemontesi dal 1860 al 1914”, edited by DELIA CONTRI M. e NEGRI V., in Bollettino dell'Archivio per la storia del movimento sociale cattolico in Italia, Milano, a. III [1968], pp. 161-192). Other “good” newspapers, in Alba, Alba nuova (New Alba); La torre (The tower) in Santo Stefano Belbo, La rocca (The rock) in Vezza d'Alba. But publications from the other side exist as well: the Alba socialists for sometime published Il sole dell'avvenire (The sun of the future); in the city of Bra the radicals were printing Il XX settembre (The XX of September); the socialists of Mondovì had Lotte nuove (New struggles) with closed fist and spark: “The world is governed by public opinion, and this by journalism” so a Jesuit editor wrote during those years (“L'onnipotenza del giornalismo,” in La Civiltà Cattolica 4 [1907] 559-574).
29 Probably the author meant something like when the patient is not very sick or when the patient is not in danger of dying.
30 Cf. Mt 26:11 and its parallels: Mk 14:7; Jn 12:8.
31 Alberione shows how particularly attentive he is of this matter. A sign of the times is the Christian feminism, which is “none else but the application of the great principles of the Gospels to the needs of today.” cf. DA 152; 175; 216.
32 Leo XIII (1878-1903) is the pope who issued the first encyclical on the rosary, Superiore anno (1884). Leo XIII's other encyclicals on the topic were: Vi è ben noto (1887), Octobri mense (1891), Laetitiae sanctae (1892), Iucunde semper (1894), Adiutricem populi (1895), Fidentem (1896), Augustissimae Virginis (1897), Diuturni temporis (1898). The list demonstrates the importance attributed above all by Pope Leo XIII to this prayer, which every day leads towards the reflection on the life of Jesus, then on the evangelical faith and in a special manner to Mary, the mother of God.
33 During the Medieval times, States and Lordships used to deposit an annual contribution to the Holy See. England (VIII century), where the payment was abolished in 1534; the kingdom of the two Sicilies (1059), Denmark (1063), The kingdoms of Spain (1073), Bohemia (1075), Croatia and Dalmatia (1076), Portugal (1144), the Scandinavian kingdoms until the Reformation recognized this as a special tribute to the pope. In 1859, the Holy See found itself having a deficit of 80,000 scudos. It was enough to launch the idea (it seems by Montalembert), that there should be a contest of solidarity among Catholics to support the pontifical finances.
34 In DA: tristi = cattivi = evil persons.
35 DA has: l'assecondare umilmente il cooperatore = to humbly second the cooperator.
36 A pious union was an association of the faithful instituted for purposes of prayer or acts of charity. It was not necessary that it were recognized as a moral personality. For its juridical existence and spiritual capacity, the approval of the local Ordinary was enough. The goods it possessed belonged to the members, who are, however, obliged to respect either the conditions of the donor or the specific purpose of such goods. Pious unions appeared in the Church already immediately after the Council of Trent.
37 An association present in Alba, thanks to Canon Giuseppe Priero, of Fr. Alberione's age and a collaborator since the seminary days. The rosary was strongly imparted by the Associazione dei sacerdoti adoratori (Association of priest adorers) and Can. Priero wanted to involve in it also the children that were gathered in the church of Santa Caterina, in front of the Seminary, under the guidance of Miss Marta Saglietti, who, later, became the house helper of Canon Francesco Chiesa. - The Associazione dei sacerdoti adoratori was supported by the Blessed Sacrament Fathers, founded by St. Peter Julien Eymard, apostle of the Eucharist. Fr. Alberione became its member in November of 1907, the year of his ordination to the priesthood. His number was 8694. The enlisted members were more than 50,000. Until 1937, Paulines who wanted could also join the Association. In fact, in its registry, one could read the names of the first Paulines. The origin, the root of the Hour of “Visit” or Eucharistic Adoration proper to the members of the Pauline Family could be traced here. (MM).
38 Cf. Lk 10:38-42 but also Jn 11:20-39 and 12:2.