Gabriel Palau - The Active Catholic

The Active
Catholic

(Formerly titled The
Practical Catholic)

Gabriel Palau, S.J.

Aibil Obstst:

J. N. STRASSMAIER, S.J.

Censor Deputatus

Imprimatur:

EDM. CANONICUS SURMONT,

Vicarius Generalis

Westmonasterii, die 23 Junii, 1910

Published in 1910 by Manresa Press, London, under the title The Practical Catholic. Reprinted in 1984 by TAN Books and Publishers, Inc.

Library of Congress Catalog Card No.: 84-50405

ISBN: 0-89555-238-8

The typography in this book is the property of TAN Books and Publishers, Inc. and may not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

TAN BOOKS AND PUBLISHERS, INC.
P.O. Box 424
Rockford, Illinois 61105

1984

PONTIFICAL APPROBATION OF THE FIRST EDITION.

LETTER from H.E. the Cardinal Secretary of State to the Author:

Rev. Father,

I have the happiness of communicating to you the lively and particular pleasure with which the Holy Father has received the homage of your valuable book entitled El Catlico de Accin. The Holy Father has observed with satisfaction the deep penetration of this little work, which, although small in size, contains so much of the substance of practical religious life, that it has justly merited the favourable applause of the Spanish Episcopate and it can be fitly indicated as a light and guide to Catholic practice. His Holiness, therefore, through me, thanks you for this filial homage, and, desiring that the good which this little book will do, should redound to its devout author with interest, he sends him with a full heart the Apostolic Benediction.

Thanking you for the copy which you have courteously sent me, I assure you of my sentiments of most sincere esteem, etc.

R. CARD. MERRY DEL VAL.

Rome, 15th Nov. 1905.

REV. FATHER GABRIEL PALAU, S.J. Tortosa.

PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION.

So many books of devotion have been translated from foreign languages for the use of English-speaking Catholics, that an apology may be called for when another is added to the list. It is, however, hoped that the present work will meet with approval, since it has proved most popular both in the original Spanish and in its French translation. Each of these have run to over 24,000 copies, and each also bears letters of approval and recommendation from the Episcopate.

The author, in his fourth edition, has printed extracts from letters written by three Cardinals, six Archbishops, thirty-one Bishops, and three Administrators of dioceses. Besides these, which are often expressed in the warmest terms, he has a letter from the Cardinal Secretary of State giving him the approbation of His Holiness Pope Pius X., a translation of which is given in the present version.

The aim of this translation has been to reproduce very faithfully the thoughts, and even the words of the author. At the same time, as the whole work is an address of Christ to His disciple, it was desirable to approximate, where possible, to the words and style of the New Testament.

Lastly, it may be well to add that this translation is the only one approved by the author for the British Empire.

CONTENTS.

.

.

.

SPECIAL READINGS FOR PROMOTING CATHOLIC MOVEMENTS.

A.For works of Christian Economy.

See also .

B.For Catholic Social Work.

See also .

C.For Politico-Religious Work.

See also

D.For Moral and Philanthropic Work.

See also .

E.For Propaganda and Defence of the Church.

See also the preceding.

For Conferences of the Clergy.

READINGS FOR A RETREAT OF EIGHT DAYS.

N.B.The same chapters may serve for a Retreat of less than eight days, by reading more each day, but in the same order.

Instaurare Omnia in Christo"To
Re-establish All Things in Christ."

Ephesians 1:10

BOOK THE FIRST.

Diverte a malo"Turn away from evil."

Psalm xxxiii. 15.

CHAPTER I.

OF WISDOM MORE USEFUL THAN ALL KNOWLEDGE WHICH I CAN ACQUIRE.

1.My words are sweet as honey to those who love My teaching, and keep My commandments.

2.But My voice is a raging tempest which uprooteth the cedars of Lebanon, to those who despise My counsels and think themselves great, when they sin in their knowledge.

3.Iniquity doth but triumph to its ruin: justice ever to its glory.

4.The wicked man lifteth himself to have a greater fall, and the just man abaseth himself to be raised on high.

5. The proud will hear My word, but will not understand its meaning.

6. The humble will listen to My teaching, and will rest consoled therein.

7. The more My words sink into thee, the more wilt thou ponder them in thy heart.

8. The more the ungodly philosopher be puffed up with pride, the less he perceiveth what My works reveal.

9. He alone will hear My voice with profit, and he alone will understand what I am saying to him, who, thinking little of his own knowledge, hungereth after Eternal Truth and the science of the Saints.

10. Then will human science profit him much, since all truth beareth witness to My goodness and My wisdom.

11. Then will the humble man be learned, and the learned man of pure heart be humble.

12. Humility giveth more light to man's mind than all vain learning that feedeth men's pride.

13. To learn for learning's sake is vanity, if good works are wanting in thy life.

14. To learn for the sake of vain appearance is vanity of vanities, and vexation of mind.

15. To learn for the sake of injuring the simple is the deceit and malice of the proud.

16. Blessed are those who believe, for they will understand many mysteries of life and will not fall into the snares of false philosophers.

17. Blessed are the learned men who are humble, for they shall possess the wisdom of the Faith which enlighteneth the heart, and as shining beacons they shall be useful to their fellow-men in the problems of life.