The Apostolate

"Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes, and see the countries; for they are white already to harvest. " JOHN 4:35

"And he said to them: The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send labourers into his harvest. "  LUKE 10:2


When I was growing up in the turbulent post conciliar 1970s we were fortunate enough to have had "old school" style nuns who taught us religion. I know my faith today thanks to the Penny Catechism which we received in religion class. If I were a wealthy man, I would distribute this priceless little book far and wide. We were urged to be 'apostles' .  Sister told us to be little missionaries in our homes and in society. We were encouraged to start a 'little apostolate' distributing rosaries, holy cards, catechisms etc. My apostolate was to spread the message of Fatima and the rosary. It is something that is still very dear to my heart. 

 There was still talk in the 1970s of 'The Apostolate'. I doubt most Catholics today have even heard the term 'apostolate'. In the past decades there has been talk about 'ministries'. What is an apostolate?
Well, according to Fr John Hardon here is the definition:

APOSTOLATE

The work of an apostle, not only of the first followers of Christ but of all the faithful who carry on the original mission entrusted by the Savior to the twelve to "make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). The apostolate belongs essentially to the order of grace. Its purpose is not temporal welfare, however noble, but to bring people to the knowledge and love of Christ and, through obedience to his teaching, help them attain life everlasting.

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

There is more need than ever in our times for lay apostles who are knowledgeable, convinced Catholics living lives in faithfulness to Christ and His Church.  We are all called to take an active part in the apostolate of the salvation of souls. We might wish to ask ourselves, how is my life reflective of my traditional Catholic faith? What in the way I live my life from day to day would draw others to the truth of the Catholic faith? What in my words, actions or omissions would others find perhaps a scandal or contradiction to the Catholic faith I profess to believe?  Not all are called to the priesthood, religious life or even to married life. This doesn't absolve us from our responsiblity for the propagation of the apostolate in the salvation of souls.  We are are so desperately in need of faithful, traditional Catechists, Bible teachers, nursery teachers, soup kitchen helpers. The mistaken notion in the post conciliar era that one must be a lector, or communion helper etc in order to be taking active part in the apostolate is preposterous. 

according to the DECREE ON THE APOSTOLATE OF THE LAITY APOSTOLICAM ACTUOSITATEM 

SOLEMNLY PROMULGATED BY HIS HOLINESS,
POPE PAUL VI
ON NOVEMBER 18, 1965:

 The mission of the Church pertains to the salvation of men, which is to be achieved by belief in Christ and by His grace. The apostolate of the Church and of all its members is primarily designed to manifest Christ's message by words and deeds and to communicate His grace to the world. This is done mainly through the ministry of the Word and the sacraments, entrusted in a special way to the clergy, wherein the laity also have their very important roles to fulfill if they are to be "fellow workers for the truth" (3 John 8). It is especially on this level that the apostolate of the laity and the pastoral ministry are mutually complementary.

There are innumerable opportunities open to the laity for the exercise of their apostolate of evangelization and sanctification. The very testimony of their Christian life and good works done in a supernatural spirit have the power to draw men to belief and to God; for the Lord says, "Even so let your light shine before men in order that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).

However, an apostolate of this kind does not consist only in the witness of one's way of life; a true apostle looks for opportunities to announce Christ by words addressed either to non-believers with a view to leading them to faith, or to the faithful with a view to instructing, strengthening, and encouraging them to a more fervent life. "For the charity of Christ impels us" (2 Cor. 5:14). The words of the Apostle should echo in all hearts, "Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel" (1 Cor. 9:16).

An invaluable spiritual work on this subject is The Soul of the Apostolate by Dom Jean-Baptiste Chautard  which is said to have been a favorite book of Pope St Pius X.