The Soul of The Apostolate by Jean-Baptiste Chautard. Paperback, 298 pages Published January 1st 1946 by TAN Books (first published 1937).
The Soul of The Apostolate by Jean-Baptiste Chautard. Paperback, 298 pages Published January 1st 1946 by TAN Books (first published 1937). Original title: L'Âme de tout apostolat. ISBN 0895550318 (ISBN13: 9780895550316)
Dom Jean-Baptiste Chautard born March 12, 1858 in Briancon and died September 29, 1935 Monk as a monk. First, he was a monk at the Abbey of Our Lady Aiguebelle and later abbot of the Abbey of Sept-Fons from 1899-1935. Dom Jean-Baptiste Chautard wrote a famous book, "The soul of the apostolate" first published under the name of "the Apostolate of the interior life" and "Catechism" written on the boat that leads to Brazil.
This book, in its first version (1907) is for the religious of the Holy Family of the Sacred Heart, founded by his friend the Jesuit Luis Rabussier but in its complete form is intended for seminarians and priests. For almost fifty years was an essential classic French spirituality and its international influence was considerable. This book emphasizes the means to obtain and maintain union with God through prayer, the prayer of the heart, liturgical life, and denial.
Especially condemns the "heresy of action" that forgets the primacy of the interior life and the importance of spiritual life in the apostolate. The heresy of action (activism) or "Americanism" means a growing danger in some aspects of the new evangelization. In this age of relentless activity it is easy for Christians, particularly those involved in good works, to fall into the pattern of the activist. But mere activity and material results are not sufficient for a successful apostolate. In his classic work The Soul of the Apostolate,
Dom Chautard demonstrates that the very foundation of all apostolic work must be the Interior Life. The apostle of Christ will grow to become an instrument and true channel of God’s graces to the world only through prayer, meditation and the cultivation of the Interior Life. When one is involved in works of spiritual or corporal charity, his work can only be truly efficacious when he anchors his Interior Life in Christ. Without Christ we can do nothing. Inside you’ll learn about the: Pre-eminence of the Interior Life over the Active Life Dangers of the Active Life: for you and your apostolate The Devil’s special temptations for those working for Our Lord Steps necessary in order to develop and grow in the Interior Life Necessity of the Interior Life to a successful and spiritually fruitful apostolate.
For anyone who would work for Our Lord and His Church there is simply no book more important to read and to follow than The Soul of the Apostolate
"Heresy works! The feverish activity rather than the action of God; ignorance of grace; the pride of the man who seeks to dethrone Jesus; considering as mere abstractions, at least in practice, the supernatural life, the power of prayer and the Economy of Redemption, nothing imaginary cases are presented and, to varying degrees, an analysis of souls often accused in this century of naturalism in which man judges from appearances and work as if the success of his company depended mainly on what your organization ingenious. Even in the light of philosophy, regardless of revelation would pitied the man of worth who refused to acknowledge that all the talents that others admire him, has received from God. “(Soul of the apostolate n.15)
The reader will find in the book a great idea: the life of a Christian does not make sense does not meet the mandate of Christ to bring God to their peers. The reader will find in the book a great idea: the life of a Christian does not make sense does not meet the mandate of Christ to bring God to their peers. The author's task to emphasize that Christians would not be a good Christian unless it is overturned on an active presence among men and in society itself was proposed; but on the other hand, inevitably it come to withering own, if not attend the care of his own soul, that is, if it had continued concern of being attached to life, of which he is only a branch. The fruits of this union depend, therefore, without sap, the branch dried.
"If an apostolic man is believed able to produce trace of supernatural life, apart from Jesus, he shows a theological ignorance as supine as stupid sufficiency"
