The greatest obstacle in the apostolate of the Church is the timidity or rather the cowardice of the faithful.
Interpretation
Timidity among the faithful hinders the Church's mission.
Pope Pius X emphasizes that the major barrier to the Church's ability to fulfill its mission and influence society is not external opposition, but rather a lack of courage among its members. This cowardice prevents faithful individuals from actively participating or standing up for their beliefs, ultimately limiting the Church's impact in the world.
In practice
In a sermon discussing the Church's role in social justice, one might use this quote to encourage parishioners to act boldly.
It is an error to believe that Christ did not teach a determined body of doctrine applicable to all times and to all men, but rather that He inaugurated a religious movement adapted, or to be adapted, to different times and different places.
Holy Communion is the shortest and safest way to heaven.
Let the storm rage and the sky darken - not for that shall we be dismayed. If we trust as we should in Mary, we shall recognize in her, the Virgin Most Powerful "who with virginal foot did crush the head of the serpent.
The Rosary is the most beautiful and the most rich in graces of all prayers; it is the prayer that touches most the Heart of the Mother of God...and if you wish peace to reign in your homes, recite the family Rosary.
Our Apostolic Mandate requires from Us that We watch over the purity of the Faith and the integrity of Catholic discipline. It requires from Us that We protect the faithful from evil and error; especially so when evil and error are presented in dynamic language which, concealing vague notions and ambiguous expressions with emotional and high-sounding words, is likely to set ablaze the hearts of men in pursuit of ideals which, whilst attractive, are nonetheless nefarious.
Nothing would please us more than to see our beloved children form the habit of reading the Gospels - not merely from time to time, but every day.
Ethical axioms are found and tested not very differently from the axioms of science. Truth is what stands the test of experience.
Identification with one's office or title is very attractive indeed, which is precisely why so many men are nothing more than the decorum accorded to them by society. In vain would one look for a personality behind the husk. Underneath one would find a very pitiable little creature. That is why the office is so attractive: it offers easy compensation for personal deficiencies.
Death is staring too long into the burning sun and the relief of entering a cool, dark room.
I'm more than ever of the opinion that a decent human existence is possible today only on the fringes of society, where one then runs the risk of starving or being stoned to death. In these circumstances, a sense of humor is a great help.
I've never meditated in my life. I don't practice yoga nor any religion. I'm a tourist on the realm of stillness.
The communism of combined wealth and capital, the outgrown of overweening cupidity and selfishness which assiduously undermines the justice and integrity of free institutions, is not less dangerous than the communism of oppressed poverty and toil which, exasperated by injustice and discontent, attacks with wide disorder the citadel of misrule.
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