12 — APOSTOLIC WORKS

Presence of God. — O my God, make me worthy to collaborate in spread of your kingdom of love.

Meditation

1 — The apostolate of prayer and suffering, by intrinsic efficacy and fecundity, has preeminence over every other form of apostolate, to point that, even without accompaniment of any exterior activity, it is sufficient to make those who live it eminent apostles.

Yet in society and in Church works are also necessary. God wills them and indeed, in ordinary course, He intervenes in world precisely through activity of his apostles. To spread life of grace in souls, alongside interior apostolate of contemplatives, exterior activity of Pastors and faithful is necessary.

To administer sacraments, priestly ministry is necessary; to convert infidels, missionaries are needed; for Christian formation of youth, schools and educators are needed; for christianization of society, social works are needed, and professionals who are apostles in their own environment of life.

In field of apostolate, as St. Paul says, there are many ministries and offices of importance and value; yet all derive from one Spirit, Holy Spirit, who “distributes to each one as He wills” and at same time orders all to one end: increase of Mystical Body of Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 12).

And as in body one member cannot do without another — “neither can eye say to hand: I need not thy help; nor head to feet: I have no need of you” — so contemplatives cannot say to active workers, “your works are unnecessary,” nor can these say to those, “your prayer is useless.”

Nor can supporters of various apostolic activities place themselves above or prefer themselves over one another. Rather, esteeming one another, all must work in spirit of solidarity, helping each other and each attending to fulfill his own office with greatest possible perfection.

From love with which each one carries out his own tasks and at same time keeps united with other apostles, always ready to support and favor others’ works, comes universal good of Church, the good apostle must seek above every personal work or interest.

2 — This collaboration in apostolate belongs first of all to Pastors, direct successors of Apostles, to whom Jesus officially entrusted mandate to evangelize world: “Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in name of Father and of Son and of Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Mt. 28:19-20).

Alongside this hierarchical apostolate, reserved to clergy, there is that of laity, whom Church invites to collaborate with hierarchy. Pastors guide, govern, and trace lines; under their direction faithful are called to offer their work.

Therefore it is understood that authentic apostolate, the only one that can enter God’s plan for salvation of world, is that carried out in harmony with directives of Church. One does not deserve name of apostle who wants to work in Lord’s vineyard independently of those Lord Himself set over its care and governance. Such activity would not cooperate in ends of apostolate, but rather be harm and obstacle.

In this collaboration with hierarchy come first souls consecrated to God by stable bonds: religious brothers and sisters dedicated to external apostolic works, and members of secular institutes. Then follow those belonging to Catholic Action; and there is also place for simple Christians who, privately or collectively, exercise some form of apostolate.

Not by chance Pius XII, in encyclical Mystici Corporis, regarding collaboration of faithful in apostolate of Pastors, expressly named fathers and mothers of families, precisely because every Christian who works to make spirit of Gospel penetrate his own environment of life — home, school, workshop, hospital, etc. — is true collaborator of hierarchy.

Indeed same Pope affirms: “This apostolic work, carried out according to spirit of Church, consecrates layman almost as minister of Christ,” in sense St. Augustine explains: “O brothers ... you too, in your way, must be ministers of Christ by living well, by giving alms, by preaching his name and doctrine. Thus [even father of family] will exercise in his house office of cleric and in a certain way of bishop, serving Christ in order to be with Him forever” (Summi Pontificatus).

Precisely in this sense St. Peter, speaking to faithful, did not hesitate to say: “You are a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood” (1 Pt. 2:9).

Colloquy

“My God, grant that I no longer think whether I have to lose or gain, but that my only aim be to serve You and please You. Knowing love You bear us, I willingly renounce every satisfaction of mine to seek only your pleasure, by serving neighbor and announcing to souls truths that do them good. Concerning losses I might have, no, I am not worried at all. I want to keep before me only interest of neighbor and nothing else.

“To please You better, my God, I want to forget myself for others, ready even to die if needed, as many martyrs did.

“I believe one of greatest consolations of this life is to see souls profit through our means. Happy, Lord, those to whom You grant this grace!” (T.G. P. 7, 5 and 6).

“My God, fortunate one who has tasted how sweet it is to labor for salvation of souls! He then fears neither cold nor heat, neither hunger nor thirst, neither displeasures nor affronts, nor even death.

“O Lord, give me crosses and thorns and persecutions of every kind, provided I may save souls, and among others my own. Da mihi animas, caetera tolle: Lord, give me souls and take all else.

“Only when I know devil has ceased to ensnare souls will I cease seeking new means to save them from his deceits and snares.

“O Lord, I want to make You total sacrifice of my life. I want to work until last breath for your glory, bearing with patience adversities and contradictions in doing good. Help me, that as long as I can, I may employ all my strength for salvation of souls” (St. John Bosco).