Soon after receiving a series of corrections to the book manuscript proposed by Uylenbroeck, Cardijn responded with a note explaining his own position.
REGARDING THE CORRECTIONS PROPOSED BY THE CENSOR AND FR UYLENBROECK
1 On Catholic Action – p. 21 of the proof
I’m afraid that by inserting the proposed note, I’m raising an issue that is completely foreign to my book and my intentions.
2- On the lay apostolate of lay people
I’m afraid that this expression – especially if it’s repeated insistently – might bring to mind changes in structures (social apostolate). It’s more a question of an apostolate of evangelisation, enabling lay people to discover and realise their divine mission, in their own lives, their own environment, their own problems (see Pius XII’s 1957 address to the YCW). This is the aspect of the proper apostolate of the laity that the book aims to emphasise, and that I have emphasised all my life working with young workers.
I have never thought of this transformation of structures when I spoke of the lay apostolate.
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I propose two footnotes
1 – On the use of the expression “Action Catholique” (p. 21)
2 – On itempiai, the aspect of the lay apostolate I deal with in this book
book (p. 23)
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I quote “The Church on mission” several times.
The entire third part of the book deals with the formation of lay people, in view of their entire apostolate.
Humanize before Christianizing: p. 23 (suggested note)
To me, this is not the problem. It’s not about that, nor is it about changing structures. My book is not written with the intention of discussing these problems. I’d rather not talk about them.
J.C.
SOURCE
Archives Cardijn 1777