Social Organizations in Parishes PDF Download

Author: Edward Garesches
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781484075807
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 340

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Book Description
While a great number of methods and ideas are presented in these pages, it is of course intended that each reader will make a. judicious selection of those that are best suited to his own circumstances, or to the conditions of the organization of which he may have charge.The volume is intended to be useful as well to individuals who wish to learn what good works they can personally accomplish, as to the directors and officers of Sodalities and other societies. It has been thought well, therefore, to go into some detail and to offer an abundance of material, leaving to each one to take what is useful and helpful and to disregard what does not seem presently suitable to his needs.Though the society called the Sodality has been taken herein for a standard of organization in parishes, schools and institutions, as being the most universal in its distribution and the most general in its membership, the thoughtful reader will be able easily to apply the suggestions made, to the work of almost any Catholic society. The lists of activities and the departments of work outlined are those which have seemed most timely and have , proven most successful in actual practice. In general, an effort has been made to sum up in this book the experiences of many parishes and the fruits of the failures and successes of many workers for Catholic organization.This work proceeds to explain how to launch a parish organization and make it grow for the good of all concerned and the salvation of souls. Let us consider this advice: "Supremely important for the cultivation of personal holiness is the regular practice of spiritual reading, the perusal of books which directly tend to instruct the mind in the ways of holiness and to move the will to walk therein, The members of the Spiritual Reading Section will therefore devote themselves to practicing this most helpful spiritual activity and encouraging its practice by others. They will therefore agree:I-To read every day for at least a quarter of an hour some approved spiritual book, such as the life of a saint, a work on a directly spiritual topic, or an article in a Catholic periodical on a point of personal holiness.2-To use their influence in a tactful and prudent way to induce others to make daily spiritual reading. This may be done by recommending some book that we have found specially helpful ourselves; by speaking of the interest, profit, charm we have found in spiritualreading; by offering to read a spiritual book aloud while others are working or sewing, etc.; by having on hand copies of our own of the books we are most interested in and have found most helpful, and lending them to others after we have aroused their desire to read them by speaking of the books; by tactfully introducing the subject of the profit and need of spiritual reading in such a way as to make others wish to practice it; by pointing out in the Sodality library such spiritual books as we think our friends will specially appreciate and enjoy.3-By encouraging the purchase of spiritual books, and forming groups for that purpose. Thus a club may be formed of twelve or more persons to purchase that many copies of the Imitation of Christ, the New Testament, or some other spiritual book, which may then be had from the publishers at wholesale prices. "Buy a book a month," or even, "Buy a book a year," would be an excellent motto to express this purpose of the Section. All members should thus be encouraged to form their personal libraries.4-By arranging to meet at the houses of friends in rotation on some night of the week for spiritual reading in common, with a little informal discussion, each remarking what he or she considers the most striking thought in the evening's reading. ...5-By making a list of the spiritual books inthe Sodality library. ...6-By prayer and study in the interest of spiritual reading. ...