22                     TRUE

The apostolate of Catholic Action supposes the careful use of all the traditional means of interior formation as the condition of perseverance and of the sanctification of its members and the fruitfulness of their activities.

FALSE

In Catholic Action, interior formation results from the apostolate itself, dispensing its members from the other traditional means used.

Explanation: The function of director is situated above the particular. United to clerical direction, laymen can offer the help of knowledgeable specialists concerning the particularities of the respective circles in which they live. Devoted, disinterested and effective advisors, but only advisors, they must be ready to follow the orders of the priest and the direction that he imparts to social activities.

The inability of the priest to know the spheres where the lay apostolate operates has been directly rejected by the Holy Father in his allocution at the cloture of the World Congress of the Lay Apostolate¹ by these words: "The call for the help of laymen is not due to the weakness or failure of the clergy in the face of the present task." And, in a solemn manner he added: "The priest's eyes are just as able as those of the layman to discern the signs of the times, and his hearing is no less keen for sounding the human heart." And to dispel any possible doubt in the matter, the Pope gives the reason for the collaboration of the laity: "Lay people are called to the apostolate as collaborators of the priest...because of the lack of members of the clergy, who are too few."

The apostolate of laymen in their own sphere cannot be the exclusive privilege of Catholic Action, because it is the duty of all the faithful to be apostles in the place where they live. In the course of twenty centuries of existence, the sacred hierarchy has known how to competently direct this work. It would be difficult to see how Catholic Action could introduce an innovation in this regard.

It is thus necessary not to consider this subject from a purely natural angle. The Sovereign Pontiff has already declared that the apostolate of Catholic Action is instrumental, that the laity must be subordinate to the authority of the priest, the normal representative of the bishop. The instrumentality of lay people in the apostolate always extends, naturally, in a way adapted to human beings and not things. The Holy Father has said that, "the clerical superiors must employ them in the way the Creator uses rational creatures as instruments, as secondary causes 'with due respect and meekness.'" Such is the plan of Providence, which only gives grace to that which is done according to the divine constitution of the Church.

23                     TRUE

The apostolate of Catholic Action supposes the careful use of all the traditional means of interior formation as the condition of perseverance and of the sanctification of its members and the fruitfulness of their activities.

FALSE

In Catholic Action, interior formation results from the apostolate itself, dispensing its members from the other traditional means used.

Explanation: The refuted phrase seems to spring from the idea according to which Catholic Action is something completely new in the Church and which creates a system of spirituality proper to it. The priests themselves are not dispensed from the use of the traditional means of formation. One can hardly understand how members of Catholic Action could do without them unless they had a spirituality opposed to that which the Church has always taught.

24                        TRUE

By a mysterious design of Providence, natural qualities and divine grace concur in the apostolate. As divine grace is the indispensable and preponderant element in the choice of apostles, it is first of all necessary to take into consideration their spiritual formation, without which the use of their natural gifts would constitute for them a danger for their salvation, and for the apostolate, the danger of being reduced to a mere façade. In the ranks of religious associations, one can meet Catholics who are very apt to every form of apostolate.

FALSE

In recruiting active members and directors of Catholic Action, contrary to what occurs in other associations, for a militant apostolate, it is necessary to take more into account natural aptitudes and technical formation rather than piety and supernatural formation. It is not suitable to recruit the leaders and member of Catholic Action among the members of religious associations, but preferably among those who are distant from them.

Explanation: The refuted sentence also proceeds from the idea that Catholic Actions constitutes in the interior of the Church something completely new and in sentiment contrary to its traditions.

25                       TRUE

The normal method of teaching, especially when it concerns revealed truths, is the magisterial method by which a learned and authorized person systematically presents the subject to the group. The study group, when it constitutes a complement to study, can be useful for allowing the auditors to manifest their objections and difficulties, as well as to gather their observations.

FALSE

The best method of formation consists of study groups in which the truth springs spontaneously from conversation among those in attendance, without the need of a professor who is above them and who presents them with a systematic exposition of the subject.

26                       TRUE

Our greatest duties of charity are towards those who live more united to God. Thus our zeal should turn in the first instance towards the preservation of the good. Thus the formation of fervent laymen is the indispensable condition of a real apostolate of conquest which we must all encourage.

FALSE

The active apostolate, in which one leads into the bosom of the Church infidels and those who live habitually in a state of sin, is the apostolate par excellence. That of preserving and encouraging the good is secondary.