(Article by Fr. Beniz Gomes SAC)
If we have to understand the depth of the meaning of the apostle, we need to look at Jesus. It is through Jesus, in Jesus, and with Jesus, that the apostle and catholic apostolate can be better understood.
Jesus the apostle of the Eternal Father
God the Father at the appointed time sent His only Son, to Shepherd His flock. The Father revealed His infinite love by sending His Beloved Son. St. Vincent Pallotti addressed Jesus as ‘The Apostle of the Eternal Father’. Jesus by His paschal mystery restored this grace of being beloved. Through Jesus, “The Father calls man and woman, first created in His image, and later restored by grace through Christ’s death, to give themselves entirely to God…We see in Jesus the perfection of our Father’s love for us”. Jesus has merited ‘supernatural kingship by which we obtain the right to become children of God and coheirs with Him’. This is an infinite privilege. As a beloved apostle; one has access to the very life of the Trinity. As living images of infinite God, every love encounter strengthens this image as a beloved apostle.
Beloved Apostle of Christ
Apostolic Christian
Apostolic Christian is a member of the mystical body of Christ. Apostolic Christian lives with an apostolic ideal: “the revival of faith, rekindling charity and spreading these virtues throughout the world”. This is a synodal spirit of every apostolic Christian. As a beloved apostle one gives flesh to the faith and love, hoping in Christ in using every resource. Pallotti writes; “all the means of preaching and teaching, all monetary means and all material means, and all the deeds, which aim to the propagation and maintaining of faith and Christian charity”.
Catholic Apostolate
In utilizing the word ‘Catholic’, Pallotti wanted to emphasize the idea of ‘Universality’. It maintains faith, hope, and love universally. This is not an option but has a heavenly mission. All are called to take an ‘active part’ in this mission. Everything around exists because it has received the power to exist from God. So, every apostolate exists because it speaks that God is infinite love. Catholic apostolate is the ‘Ruha’ (holy breath) in every apostle. It is not a private business. Universality as its hallmark, catholic apostolate sets the whole universe on fire with love. By this, it re-creates the garden of Eden experience. As a new creation after baptism, we all must be ‘willing to cooperate’ in performing the same deeds as Christ did. Pallotti posited “in all my actions, prayers, teachings, study, and so on, I will endeavor to imagine how these tasks would have been executed by our Blessed Lord…”.
Catholic Commitment
One must be willing for ‘the spirit of sacrifice’. These sacrifices are our catholic commitments. We observe the sacrifice of chastity, poverty, obedience, perseverance, sharing of resources, and a spirit of service. As Christ who loved us and gave Himself for us (cf. Gal 2:20), we choose celibate life as God’s gift to become more available and effective in the service of humankind; which “entails trails, sacrifices and serious self-discipline”, chosen for the sake of God's kingdom (cf. Law 22-23). Like Christ who though rich made Himself poor (cf. 2 Cor 8:9), we wish to detach ourselves from material wealth, and 'we commit ourselves to self-limitation' to trust in God and our superiors (cf. Law 25,27). Through obedience, we imitate Christ who was led to His death on the cross (cf. Rom 5:9; Phil 2:8), we commit to follow the directives of our superiors even to exercise strict obedience (cf. Law 32), and to fulfill the apostolic aims and to promote the common good in the kingdom of God (cf. Law 30-31). Like Christ who loved His own, and He loved them to the end (cf. Jn 13:1), we commit to persevere, to be loyal to God, superiors, and others (cf. Law 34-36). Like the first Christian community who had all things in common (cf. Acts 4:32), we commit to sharing our resources, “to give to the society whatever we receive because of our work” (Law 37-38). Like Christ who came to serve (cf. Mk 10:45), we commit to the spirit of service, “to avoid being ostentatious and domineering” and not seeking positions and dignities inside and outside the society (cf. Law 40-41). Therefore, Pallotti reminds us, “whoever joins our Congregation must do so urged by the perfect love of God and for his (or her) fellow man so that he (or she) may assure the eternal salvation of his (or her) own soul” (OOCC III, 40).
Spirituality of Catholic Action
Today, catholic action calls to focus on the salvation of men and protecting creation. Every catholic action has got two dimensions. One upward and the other downward. Catholic action is upward -when it brings infinite glory to God. And the same catholic action is downward -when it brings about the salvation of souls and sets the right relationship with creation (cf. Caritas in Veritate). “Give O Lord a pure zeal and an unquenchable thirst to save souls and to glorify you…” (Propositi ed aspirazioni, 516). Hence, catholic actions/apostolates make possible the final and glorious end that soon there will be but ‘one flock and one shepherd’ (Law 1).
Conclusion
We are all called to be an apostle here and now. The apostolate is not the task of the ‘other’. This is the moment of eternity God has given us to revive our faith and rekindle charity and spread these virtues with hope to the whole world.
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