Attachment to external signs, which sometimes feeds classism

In certain specific vocations, there are elements worthy of respect but not essential to the true pursuit of Christian perfection; things like the colours and styles of habits; long, solemn ceremonies; cords, belts, crucifixes on shoulder-straps or hung round the neck, medals on view, etc. These signs are not infrequently used as an instrument of classism, which the Church has lamented on more than one occasion. Superficial types are in the habit of emptying out the legitimate meaning of these things by their lightness and thoughtlessness and, instead, giving them importance for their own sake. Such people will feel moved to doubt the presence of a true path of holiness if they find that any one of those traditional elements is entirely absent.

And in our case, my children, they are all absent. There are not even, nor should there be, any letters to put after our names indicating membership of the Work, simply because we have nothing to do with the religious state: we are ordinary citizens, the same as any other citizens.

Lack of professional competence

If they are ignorant of what is meant by complete dedication to serious professional work, to human sciences, they will never be able to appreciate the scope and extent of the apostolate which God asks of the members of the Work, or the way in which they are to carry it out.

Vanity and desire to dominate

If they are accustomed to use the Church to serve their personal vanity, so that they can rule without restraint and run roughshod over everything, they will in principle be enemies of any apostolate in which their desire to dominate is rightly limited, because they will see it as an attack on their authority and perhaps also on their financial interests.