Opera Omnia

like the plant that is blocked from growing upward shall give outlet to its humus in tuberculosis, in swellings. Tears that are not shed for what is evil shall be channeled to the reading of a novel, to a theatrical show, or to a sterile sentimentalism.
Time that is not spent in works of spiritual or corporal mercy shall be spent in a thousand useless bagatelles. If women's occupation is not directed for the good of the soul and the welfare of others, they shall certainly have little manias that are found also in persons who are good. If they are not directed towards strong virtues and to works of charity, more easily shall they become sterile in empty scruples, in punctiliousness, in ridiculous contests. - Let the priest then see how important it is to diligently channel the precious talents that God has placed in women's hearts!

[HEADING VI]¹
THE ZEALOUS PARISH PRIEST IN THE CARE OF WOMEN
As priests all have to work for the salvation of souls. Rather, it can be said that priesthood absorbs the whole of man: the priest owes to his ministry his entire mind, heart, time, strength. Then, the parish priest not only have this general obligation, but he may not reserve for himself anything without doing harm to souls: he truly is the servant of servants: he shall no longer have any rest on earth. He is engaged in battle against the wolves² that roam hungry about the fold: he has to sow the truth and holiness of customs: his ambition, his interests, his joy, his

pain are the souls. He is a man for others, not only because of sacred Ordination, but also out of justice, as parish priest.
To him belongs the most delicate part of pastoral work, to him belongs the task of calling various cooperators to take part in the work, to him belongs the duty of firmly directing his cooperators. Let us apply these duties to the care of women.

To the parish priest belongs the most delicate part. - Ordinarily, he is a well-trained man: in him one finds with difficulty vain enthusiasms: a certain experience already has made him more prudent. Not excluded, but much diminished are for him the dangers inasmuch as for him the spiritual care of women matters: most commonly, to him belongs this task. Women are a very strong leverage for raising the religious-moral level of the parish: they are the strong arms of the priesthood: they exercise an effective and often decisive influence around him. And how can the parish priest forget them when on him lies the true religious-moral responsibility of the parish?
To his long experience, he adds an authority that, in some difficult cases, comes to add strength to his word, while it infuses ardor and security in others. He receives from God special lights and the so-called grace of ministry which others do not have. Also the title of seniority makes him respected and allows the most delicate advice to be received with seriousness and reverence.

From here: to the parish priest ordinarily belongs the task of holding conferences to young persons, more so when it concerns customs, like those dangerous entertainments, fashion, relationships, the preparation to³ life, chastity. Then, everyone knows well how one word, gentle and at the same time strong given in due time to individual mothers, can do much good in certain circumstances. He alone can do certain reproofs with some hope for it to be fruitful! It as well the parish priest who ordinarily exercises the spiritual care over the sisters who administer hospices, hospitals, oratories for females.
Also when he believes it right to entrust work among women to an assistant priest, he shall personally intervene when difficult incidents take place, when matters require important decisions, when the direction and the spirit of the institution are at stake.

The parish priest has to be the soul of pastoral work. - Today, an old method has been disapproved, a method that entrusted completely to a priest a part of the parish ministry: for example, the administration of the holy sacraments, the care of the sick, the care of a religious association of women. Distribution of labor, yes: but not without interest: rather, he has to exercise reasonable supervision over him who works with women and over the women who are actively involved. Some freedom is necessary, so that everyone bears his own responsibility and carries them out with all his

strength: and yet a high-level⁴ of supervision is convenient as well. Furthermore, he has to direct the work of his different workers towards a single goal, that which has been pre-established. Without a directing mind, the parish would end up becoming a garden wherein everyone wants to sow, where one gardener destroys or blocks others from harvesting.
Catechetical activities, the nursery center, the clinics; the cultural center for women, the roving library and the school of religion for girls; the pension house of women workers, the association of Christian mothers and the Daughters of Mary: everyone has to experience the direction from above, or the authority, or the encouragement, or the fatherly advice, according to cases, of the parish priest.
This is the spirit of canon laws: since, according to them, the parish is the fundamental association to which parish work has to find its point of reference.

A great task of the parish priest is to attract cooperators to his orbit. - And I do not intend to refer only to assistant parish priests and the priests of the parish: but even more the good ones among the seculars, the teachers, the sisters, the catechists, zealous women, mothers of families, and also those who nourish some aversion towards him. Knowing how to utilize all the various aptitudes, giving everyone the occasion to work, gently inciting them, is the most principal part of the work of one who directs a parish. More

so: because the whole of pastoral work has to refer to the parish priest, also the different associations with religious purposes.
And how much precious energies can he find! And for what advantage to the population!
It is ordinarily easy to involve in his goals the vice parish priest: not very difficult for the other priests. With amiability by clearly sharing his intentions and his project, by not only listening but also asking for observations: by gently inviting them to some easy activity, by recognizing their merits and expanding his manifestations of esteem and appreciation. The powerful priest is feared, the wise is esteemed, but the priest of goodness is loved. The desert about him, according to the popular saying, is formed by his wanting to command by the stick, by his being enthroned always as a master, with wanting that everyone bows to his orders... through roughness of character. One rules the world without ever having the pretensions of ruling over it.
Here comes something related,⁵ a word on pastoral conferences. They are meetings held among the clergy of one parish or of a vicariate, with the purpose of exchanging views and the fruits of experience and to take proper agreements for the care of souls. They are being held, among others, in Milan, Vienna, Essen, etc., etc., where they are periodically done: in others, they are called by the parish priest or by the vicar forane each time it is seen

useful. And what advantage they bring to souls, if, having banned every show, having set aside vain petty talks, having silenced the voice of self-love, people came down to deeds!
The parish priest has here a means for communicating with his coadjutors his goals, his fears, his hopes: the others have a propitious opportunity to share their impressions: seeing themselves called to take part in the parish work, they shall assume interest, they shall be courageous, they shall not allow their aptitudes to turn sterile. How many learned persons, also eminent ones, criticize and fight for not being listened to! To them is wanting only contact, closeness. In such conferences, for example, an agreement could be reached as to the directive regarding girls who go to dances: the causes of moral, religious, economic evils of workers could be looked into and the most convenient remedies found: then a rational and suitable division of labor could be established while taking into consideration the circumstances and the ability of each one.
The Church has always emerged out of the councils flourishing with a new life; the counsels and the experience of many are worth more than the knowledge and the experience of one person alone. In a particular manner, social, civil, moral progress is accomplished through an infinite series of congresses, gatherings, conferences, parliamentary meetings, councils, etc.

As regards the pious persons, the sisters, many teachers, these shall be happy to cooperate with the parish priest. He has but to show himself as he ought to be, that is, pious and zealous: this shall be enough for anyone to be one with him in spirit: with some instruction, with particular admonitions, by assigning to them things to do, he will see them immediately at work. Even more, many of them shall feel honored to serve such a holy cause, they shall get themselves to work with all their strength and also with some holy contest.
Mothers, if they have not indeed lost every human and Christian sentiment, will immediately understand their mission at home. Suitable and practical conferences can enlighten them greatly: and, if the parish priest shall explain to them how much and what they have to do in order to help him in the religious upbringing of children, he shall often notice them render their service diligently. Some difficulties could be encountered in some teachers educated with the lay spirit predominant today in public schools. Then, charity must show itself more industrious.
Above all, within the limits allowed by the laws that govern us, the parish priest could see to it that only Catholic teachers might be practically elected. It is true: this is something so uncertain and delicate: and yet often it could have a happy conclusion. A teacher has in front of her children during the most beautiful hours of the day;

through science she could communicate religious truths and good customs, or point out error and vice. Neither does the reason stand in the current conditions when the teacher is often forbidden to teach catechism: inasmuch as it is most certain that a Catholic teacher can communicate more the religious spirit while catechism is abolished, than an unbelieving teacher, even when catechism appears among the subjects to teach.
If the parish priest is respected and loved by the village: if the people know that he does not interfere with the affairs of the local government unless religion and souls are affected: if those to whom the choice belongs are bound with him with bonds of friendships or at least of good will: it would not be difficult to have the right teachers designated according to conscience. And this is true even more in those towns that enjoy some school autonomy. This fact alone would be of a great religious advantage that would be a series of sermons.
With the teachers chosen, it shall be the task of the parish priest to establish cordial relations with them while trying to bind them with himself with all the means suggested by prudence: by tolerating as well some of their defects. And what if, in spite of this, someone would persist in representing the sad part of the rapacious wolf in the fold of lambs? Absolutely, never rail against them in the pulpit. At times

it may be necessary to come up with a dignified, serious, calm and well motivated protest: but those that they call philippics, angry and violent, do no good at all: on the other hand, they make the wound become worse. Often, however, the indirect manner would be more worthwhile: to advice in camera charitatis;⁶ to let her be corrected by some well respected persons, or also by the mayor: to threaten to take away some other occupation that might be dear to her: to prudently promote a protest of parents: to secretly work for her transfer (though today this has become so difficult). A parish priest dealt with the matter this way: he invited the teacher to hold an evening class, of which he knew she wanted; another parish priest provided students for tutorship outside school hours; a third invited the teacher to join in the distribution of the prizes for catechism, asking her to speak on the need of taking care of hygiene... With these teachers bound with such industry, disarmed in a pleasant and also honorable manner, these teachers became a boon to their students, something that did not fail to extend to the whole population.
Someone perhaps might observe: that in practice serious difficulties occur in awakening the spirit of zeal for the soul of others among indifferent people, indifferent also for one's own soul. The objection is founded but it is not unsolvable: and its solution brings us

to a pastoral norm that is truly exceptionally valuable. Here it is:

Move the parishioners through the youth.
Few reach that point of corruption and decadence as not to see the importance of education of the youth, of not loving youth and not admiring those who patiently take care of them. Hence the advice of a saintly bishop to a young priest while he sent him to a village that was so hostile to religion: Go, but before doing any good deed, make yourself loved first. - But how? - By attending to children first. The education of children is that which often bring disagreeing man and woman together: it is that which bring close and binds closer the people with the priest. Parents are happy about it so that they love all those who take care of their children, even by just extending⁷ them only a caress. Those who represent civil authority also are glad that they could experience the social advantages of peace, morality, order and well being that religion brings about: there are but the sectarians who obstinately refuse to recognize it. The youth themselves are happy that, growing through the years, they will never forget him who has directed their first steps in life. And one can easily observe it: with what relative ease could holiday oratories, evening classes, associations for the youth be opened!

And let one notice with how much generosity do the people give, whether it is for the Christmas tree, or for catechism prizes, or for feasts for children! Let one observe how the people, without distinction of class, political party or tendency, participate in those gatherings, in those shows and programs that concern the youth.
The parish priest who draws people to take care of children, who proposes activities for the benefit of young people, who surrounds himself with children, though he might even ask for money, but in the name of the children, does not elicit suspicion, not excite diffidence, not create parties, does not attract accusations, hatred and quarrels. On the other hand, he even wins over hearts, binds them strongly to himself, leads his people, who will assume the obligation of giving him, of being grateful to him. The more successful will he be in drawing women into his orbit, they who have more sensible hearts, open for the more noble sentiments!
In order to achieve these things, follows one last norm: let the parish priest educate to the spirit of the parish. - It consists in the devote union among the faithful who make up the curate, just as if so many brothers and sisters, submissive to their common father, who is the parish priest. It consists in that sentiment through which each feels the needs, the joys and the wants of the others. It consists in an attachment to the parish church, to its feasts, to its rites. Necessary: so that good actions

are not lost in so many turns, destined to get exhausted.
Needed: so that the pastor's word should sound respected and venerated by all. It is necessary: so that during the rites, in charitable activities, in initiatives, courage, that comes from many, is infused. For this effect it would be good: to mention once in a while in sermons the responsibility that the parish priest has before God, to speak of the obligation to obey him and to support him in the different charitable activities. It will be beneficial as well: to see to it that solemnities are grand, to see to it that the church is kept decorous: to see to it that feasts, for example the first communion, would be feasts of the entire parish. Furthermore, it would be good that the parish priest sees to it that he participates in every joy and pain of his spiritual children: in public, if it is of public interest; in private, if it concerns persons in private.
It is not the case to repeat here what many books say on the affability and the good treatment of parish priests. But it would not be useless to note that the lack of parish spirit has been the case of very serious disorders in many curates: that to work for it is a great art; that, to have it, a fire of zeal is lighted up, particularly among women, for all the activities that need to be started off.