Not using Catholic names

Nevertheless, there are those who do not understand us, even some with an upright intention. They believe that the Church will lose prestige if our future initiatives, our undertakings, and our activities do not receive the label of Catholic. This opinion has no foundation, no force whatsoever, because the whole world will see that it is Catholic citizens who are doing the work, and consequently their work will redound to the Church’s honour. Others think that in this way we will be less subject to the authority of the Church. But no one will be more subject than we are. We always want to live, and actually do live, according to the indications to which all Catholics must subject themselves.

I would like these people, who have not understood us almost from the beginning of our work, to open Sacred Scripture to the Book of Genesis, chapter 32, and see the arrangements that Jacob made when he feared that his brother Esau would destroy his family and his wealth. Scripture tells us that he formed his people and their flocks into two groups, so that one group would go to one side and the other to the other side. He thought with reason, “If Esau attacks one group, the other will escape.”

This is not the reason why the Lord wanted the Work to exist. The actual reason is that he wanted to remind all people of their duty to be holy, through their ordinary work in the world, in their profession, and in their state in life. But, even if it is not the reason, no one can deny that today’s circumstances, like those of past centuries (and we cannot expect better things in the future) make us consider Jacob’s decision a very prudent one.