l h e Cbwf*evtery>i tv . .H 
I A p l < ? i & 6 ' 

The Confraternity 
of 

Christian Doctrine 
The Appeal of the Church 

to the Laity 

MOST REVEREND 
AMLETO GIOVANNI CICOGNANI 

D . D . 
Archbishop of Laodicea 

Apostolic Delegate to the 
United States of America 

t 
A N ADDRESS DELIVERED TO 

T H E 
FIFTH NATIONAL CATECHETICAL CONGRESS 

OF THE 
CONFRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE 
CINCINNATI, O H I O NOVEMBER 4 - 7 , 1 9 3 9 



COPYRIGHT 1 9 3 9 BY 
T H E CONFRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINB 

NATIONAL CENTER, WASHINGTON, D . C . 

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

t t e s M e t f 



} SpeiM "tíSsíüons j 

The Confraternité 
of 

Christian Doctrine 
TO THE LAITY 

0N THE occasion of this Fifth National Catechetical Con-
gress of the Confraternity of Chris-
tian Doctrine, it is my pleasure, as 
representative of the Supreme Pon-
tiff Pope Pius XII, to address this 
message to you of the laity. On the 
morning of September 1 in an audi-
ence of leave-taking after my brief 
visit to Rome, I was in the august 
presence of the Holy Father and the 
conversation terminated when His 
Holiness affectionately recalled the 
loyal activity of the bishops and 
clergy of this country, and directed 
me to extend his paternal and fervid 
blessing to all those who co-operate 
with their pastors, bishops and priests, 
for the increase of religion and the 
good of souls. 

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The Appeal of the Church 
to the Laity 

This fatherly blessing of the Vicar of 
Christ is especially bestowed upon those 
who give their name and efforts to the 
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. The 
field of the Confraternity of Christian 
Doctrine is so vast, fertile, beautiful, use-
ful and necessary that, whether endowed 
with exceptional or ordinary talents, all 
are invited to enter into it to assist in 
the gathering of an abundant harvest. 
The instructions given in this regard by 
the Holy See are most explicit: "In every 
parish . . . there shall be instituted and 
before all others — a Confraternity of 
Christian Doctrine, embracing in its mem-
bership all who are capable of teaching 
or promoting catechetical instruction, 
especially school teachers and those who 
are experienced in the training of chil-
dren." All parish priests are ordered to 
introduce a "Catechetical Day," if such 
is not already customary, on which a 
Feast of Christian Doctrine should be 
celebrated with the greatest possible 
solemnity, with fervent prayers, a special 

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discourse on the teaching of the cate-
chism, a distribution of books, pamphlets, 
leaflets and similar suitable material, and 
with a collection for the promotion of 
catechetical work. I t is furthermore estab-
lished that "in places especially where the 
clergy are so few that they cannot satis-
factorily discharge the office of teaching 
Christian Doctrine, the Ordinaries shall 
strive to provide qualified catechists of 
both sexes to assist the pastors and give 
religious instruction in the parochial and 
public schools and in the remote places 
of the parish" (Decree of the S. Congre-
gation of the Council On the Promotion 
of Catechetical Instruction, January 12, 
1935). 

Catechists 
For you of the laity in particular the 

Church has reserved the honorable title 
of "Catechists." The function of cate-
chists in mission countries is well known. 
They are lay people who accompany the 
missionary; even the great apostle St. 
Francis Xavier made use of them. So 
necessary are they that, without them, 
missions could neither be founded nor de-

3 



veloped. Under this name of catechist 
are included the lay people of our dio-
ceses who assist the bishops and pastors 
in the teaching of Christian Doctrine, and 
those who prepare and organize this im-
portant work by providing centers for the 
classes and by gathering together those 
to be instructed. The field is open, there-
fore, to all the faithful of good-will, and 
to render it more accessible, courses have 
been organized in many dioceses for the 
formation of catechists. The programs 
are clearly outlined, and seek better to 
distribute the various tasks of this apos-
tolate among the good laity, according to 
individual qualifications, and in propor-
tion to the time and means available. 

Impelling Motives 
The appeal of the Church is of itself 

enough to induce you to respond gener-
ously. But it implies much more: I t in-
vites you to be ambassadors of our Lord 
and to take some part in His work of 
Redemption. I t calls you in the name of 
Jesus Christ Who, during the three years 

4 



of His public life, carried on a work that 
was eminently catechetical instruction, 
and associated with Himself in this work 
both the Apostles and disciples. The 
clergy, charged with this ministry by their 
vocation, are not sufficient of themselves 
to provide for its fulfilment. Even in 
parishes having a goodly number of 
priests, it is impossible for the clergy to 
reach every individual. Distances create 
difficulties, especially in the South and 
West of the United States. Moreover in 
some sections there are few churches, and 
consequently a special organization is nec-
essary to provide means of transportation 
to gatherings. At times it is difficult or 
impossible for the priest, occupied in the 
many duties of his ministry, to approach 
all his parishioners regularly, and there are 
some individuals who may easily be reached 
by the laity but not by the clergy. The first 
Christian school for children should be 
their own family and home, but too often 
this is not the case. Frequently we see 
homes wherein Christ is neglected or for-
gotten, to the immense detriment of souls 
and of society itself. 

5 



A Noble Social Work 
If you were to be called by the confi-

dence of the public to provide for a social 
need in your nation, or even in your im-
mediate community, in some medical, edu-
cational or other humanitarian cause, you 
would esteem yourselves honored by the 
invitation, and would strive to do your best. 
Yet in such an instance it is a question 
of a merely temporal and passing boon; 
in the Confraternity of Christian Doc-
trine, the Church, by a commission of 
great trust, cordially and insistently asks 
you to prepare children and adults for 
eternity, to render them conscious of their 
duties to God and neighbor. I t invites 
you to provide for the greatest spiritual 
need, that casts its reflection in civic so-
ciety also, in promoting obedience to the 
laws of God, without which there can be 
no true obedience to the laws of men: "It 
is evident that in the Catholic training 
and instruction of children and adoles-
cents, the safety of the State is also in-
volved. For it is to the greatest interest 
of the State and Religion alike that citi-
zens, while learning the principles of 

6 



merely human knowledge and civil educa-
tion, shall at the same time imbibe the 
Christian spirit" (Decree of the S. Con-
gregation of the Council On the Promo-
tion of Catechetical Instruction, January 
12, 1935). 

The supreme norm in the practice of 
charity is to offer assistance especially 
where it is most needed. Where, then, 
is there a more urgent necessity in the 
midst of people of all classes than that of 
spiritual formation for the present and 
the future, and of co-operation with the 
clergy in. influencing our neighbors to live 
as children of God? 

Those to whom religious instruction 
must be brought are countless. There are 
the Catholic students in public elementary 
and high schools as well as in secular col-
leges, the adult laity and non-Catholics; 
and there are many services to be ren-
dered in reaching these several groups. 
The question is not merely one of pro-
viding teachers; numerous home visitors 
are also needed to seek out the indifferent 
and negligent. Helpers are to be en-
rolled to aid the teachers to prepare in-
structional materials, to provide trans-

7 



portation for pupils and to redistribute 
Catholic literature. In the fertile field of 
adult religious instruction, numbers of 
discussion leaders are needed in every 
parish to make possible the study of their 
religion by the adult laity, "that the 
Christian man will not be ignorant of 
those things which pertain to religion, or 
hold these things merely as a hereditary 
tradition, but will know and grasp them 
in such" a way that they will prove fruit-
ful to themselves and to others" (Decree 
of the S. Congregation of the Council 
On the Promotion of Catechetical Instruc-
tion, January 12, 1935). 

Enroll in the Confraternity of 
Christian Doctrine 

Men and women of all ages and con-
ditions, you should give your names and 
contribute your activities to the Confra-
ternity of Christian Doctrine. Your zeal-
ous bishops and pastors, gathered today 
in the National Catechetical Congress, 
ask this of you in the name of God, W h o 
gave you talents and means to employ in 
His service. The Church has defined this 

8 



work in the words of the Vicar of Christ 
on earth, as the choicest field of Catho-
lic Action, and "your choicest co-opera-
tion or participation in the Apostolate of 
the Hierarchy of the Church." Any as-
sistance you may give, whether material 
or technical, is destined to enlighten souls 
in the radiance of God; and Holy Scrip-
ture assures us that "they that instruct 
many to justice [shall shine] as stars for 
all eternity" (Dan. 12:3). 

The learned John Gerson (1363-1429), 
the Chancellor of the University of Paris, 
is a celebrated example in this apostolate. 
Though a man of lofty studies and pro-
found learning, he was happy to spend 
all his free time in the catechetical in-
struction of the poorest and neediest chil-
dren of Paris. Upon being asked why 
he did not dedicate himself to more im-
portant things, he answered that it was 
impossible to find a more important or a 
more noble task. Imitate him, and even 
in this life you will enjoy, as he did, 
many consolations and benefits, for cate-
chetical instruction and co-operation in it 
is not merely intellectual but also moral 
and spiritual work; indeed, it is based not 

9 



only on knowledge of the truth, but 
principally on faith itself and on divine 
grace, which will increase in you, and on 
the love of neighbor, which will become 
a strong bond of perfection. 

May the choicest benedictions descend 
upon all of you, and may the Lord with 
divine generosity grant you His consola-
tions and rewards! 

S . * A . G . C L C O G N A N I , 
Archbishop of Laodicea, 

Apostolic Delegate. 

W A S H I N G T O N , D . C , 
N O V E M B E R 1 , 1 9 3 9 . 

ST. ANTHONY GUILD PRESS 
PATERSON, N. J . 

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