The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1953-05-15

there are some folks who just
aren't temperamentally, actionists,
They weren't cut out to be apos-
ties. They are rather shepherds.
Their work is mainly to sanctify
themselves and their homes. In
fluencing the outside world isn't
specially their business.
That's okay. The Church needs
shepherds as well as apostles. And
the shepherds can do their mis-
Sionary part by praying. The two
patrons of our worldwide mis-
sionS are st. Francis Xavier, who
went everywhere like lightning,
and st. Theresa the Little Flower,
who stayed put in her convent,
burning as vigil light before God.
But what about those study club
members who are cut out for apos-
tolic work? When do they go into
action, and what do they do?
One of the finest things about
study clubs is that by their nature
they tend to answer such ques-
tions.
First, these clubs form and in
form, enlighten and sanctify their
members. They produce the kind
of Catholics who are needed for
the work of restoring the world to
Christ.
Once that kind of Catholic is
formed, the Holy Spirit finds work
for him to do, guides him into it,
and inspires him TO, do it.
Maybe that work will be some
thing that the whole group will do,
and maybe it will take diversified
forms according to individual per
sonalities and capabilities.
The point is that once people
are ready to be Gods instruments,
and are able instruments, God will
begin to use them | have seen it
happen half a hundred times,
How long does it take for a
study club TO make person capa-
BILE of being an able-and joyous
instrument of God? That de
pends, of course, on the person,
the club, and other factors. But
by and large, | would say roughly
three years, give or take year or
two.
II is a striking fact that the
ideal number of members for
study club is about 12-the num-
Der of Christ's apostles; and the
average time needed TO prepare
for some kind of action is three
years - the time Our Lord spent
preparing his Twelve.
What is the probable action into
which an action-minded study
clubber will tend to be drawn? He
(or she) viii tend to be drawn into
action among his own kind, in the
surroundings in which he feels
most at home.
A business man will act on busf-
mess men; housewife on house
wives; a society leader on what
we call society; a mechanic on me-
chanics, and so on
Rarely will a study clubber be
drawn into an entirely new way
of life. When that happens, you
discover that the clubber was not
happy in his old vocation because
it wasn't the right vocation for
him. Now he has found his real
vocation, and he's as happy as can
be; and 10 times more successful.
Generally, however, the study
clubber will simply remain where
he is; but where he is won't stay
the same He'll change his sur
roundings by perfecting them, Be
cause he knows his Faith, and
lives il, and knows how to live it,
he will invariably and almost in
visibly influence everybody around
him. He will become the leaven
that leavens the whole mass
Give us enough of those leaven
ers. and Wen leaven the whole
world. Well make a world fit for
Gods children. Well create peace. |
All we need is enough leaveners; |
and study clubs make leaveners.