PART IV

MAN FROM MEN

AND

FOR MEN

Bishop Scalabrini wanted to be a man of his times, not a nostalgic dreamer of faded and irreversible periods of history.  He wanted to keep abreast of history, to be attentive to the signs of the times, to have a realistic knowledge of the problems and needs of the People of his day, and to be eager to prepare a future that would be more human and truer to God's plan in history.

He faced the main "concerns" of his times with courage, energy, and concreteness. During the period of associationism, he enthusiastically supported Catholic associations, while disagreeing with the political ideology of those who aimed at monopolizing Catholic Action.

Society was becoming rapidly unchristian: and so it was important "to bring Christ back into society."  These were the indispensable conditions: unity and concerted action, courageous efforts, and dependence on the Shepherds; for Catholic Action is an apostolate, not politics.

The formidable obstacle to unity was the Roman Question.  Because Catholics were not allowed to take part in political elections, the Roman Question was blocking effective pressure on the centers of power and legislation, with the result that the anticlericals had a free hand in their attempt to destroy the people's Christian way of thinking.  Because of his pastoral concern, the bishop of Piacenza did not believe in protesting but in seeking a reconciliation of two sentiments, both equally legitimate: religion and country.  The Church must be free, within and without, to exercise her authority, which is all spiritual, as well as her rights, which are evangelization and charity.

Reconciliation is an ideal that dominates all facets of Scalabrini's life.  He reconciles the realism of lived history with intrepid love for the truth; freedom and frankness with obedience; love for God's beauty and goodness in creation with friendship for human beings.