Items · Joseph Cardijn Digital Library · Joseph Cardijn Digital Library

Canon Joseph Cardijn, The Workers' Apostle

A short biography of Cardijn written in Canada at the time of the JOC World Congress in Montreal.

The Young Christian Workers

Cardijn's adjoint chaplain presents the YCW.

Roberto Bolton García

Fr Roberto Bolton García was a worker priest, chaplain to the Chilean JEC and a co-founder of the Christian Family Movement there.

Note 4 - Priests and lay people in the apostolate

Cardijn explains the distinct but united roles of priests and lay people in the Church and the world.

Rosemary Goldie - Cardijn 18 06 1959

COPECIAL official, Rosemary Goldie, responds to Cardijn indicating that his concerns will be taken into account.

Cardijn - Rosemary Goldie 09 06 1959

Cardijn writes to the secretary of the COPECIAL emphasising the need to focus on formation and ecumenical issues, particularly in light of the Council.

Mgr Alberto Castelli - Cardijn 23 04 1959

The vice-president of the COPECIAL Ecclesiastical Commission responds positively to Cardijn.

Cardijn - Mgr Alberto Castelli 25 03 1959

Cardijn urges the vice-president of the COPECIAL Ecclesiastical Commission to look at expanding the organisations role and resources.

John XXIII - Autograph Letter - 24 02 1959

The new pope writes to Cardijn.

Centrale Jociste

Postcard illustrating the Centrale Jociste in Brussels

Pierre Haubtmann, French priest (1912 - 1971)

A short biography by Paul (Cardinal) Poupard, who succeeded Mgr Haubtmann as rector of the Catholic Institute of Paris.

French priest Pierre Haubtmann was a chaplain to the French JOCF, the Action Catholique des Milieux Indépendantes (ACI), national chaplain to the Action Catholique Ouvrière (ACO), and the principal compiler of Gaudium et Spes.

Marguerite Fiévez - Pietro Pavan 23 12 1960

Cardijn's secretary writes to Mgr Pietro Pavan to send a copy of the notes Cardijn had prepared for John XXIII in view of an encyclical to mark the 70th anniversary of Rerum Novarum.

Cardijn - Mgr Achille Glorieux 20 12 1960

Cardijn writes to the secretary of the Preparatory Commission to indicate that he has more copies available of his notes if need be.

Cardinal Cento - Cardijn 04 10 1960 - 02

Cardinal Cento writes to Cardijn inviting his proposals and suggestions for the Preparatory Commission on Lay Apostolate.

Cardinal Cento - Cardijn 04 10 1960 - 01

Invitation to Cardijn to join the first meeting of the Pontifical Preparatory Commission on Lay Apostolate and to take the oath of secrecy.

Cardijn - Mgr Glorieux 07 10 1960

Cardijn writes to the secretary of the Preparatory Commission on Lay Apostolate to ask if it would be possible to delay the first meeting for a few days.

Cardijn - Cardinal Cento 31 10 1960

Cardijn sends his Note 1 to the president of the Preparatory Commission on Lay Apostolate.

Cardijn - Cardinal Cento 18 12 1960

Cardijn sends his reflections to the President of the Preparatory Commission on Lay Apostolate.

Cardijn - Mgr Achille Glorieux 18 12 1960

Cardijn writes to Mgr Glorieux expressing concern over the way the issue of lay apostolate was being divided among several schema.

Mgr Glorieux - Cardijn 13 12 1960

Mgr Glorieux writes to Cardijn on behalf of the Preparatory Commission on Lay Apostolate requesting him to draft a paper on "Priests and Lay People in the Apostolate."

Ecumenical Council

Declaration by the International YCW following a meeting of its Executive Committee in November 1960.

Preparation for the Ecumenical Council

Proposal for a special meeting of the IYCW to discuss preparation for the Ecumenical Council

Note 3 - Reflections and suggestions

Cardijn's third note responds to the planned work program for the Vatican II Preparatory Commission on Lay Apostolate.

Cardijn - Mgr Désiré Joos 14 12 1960

Cardijn seeks advice in the drafting of his papers from the vicar-general of the Diocese of Tournai, a trusted theological advisor.

Note 2 - The apostolate of lay people

Cardijn outlines his conception of the lay apostolate in this note for the Vatican II Preparatory Commission on Lay Apostolate.

Click here to download.

Originally published in 1955, Challenge to Action contains many of Cardijn's most famous talks.

Click here to register for the launch

Launch of a new e-book version of Cardijn's classic

Outline for Note 1 on the Lay Apostolate

Cardijn's draft notes prepared in the process of writing his first note for the Vatican II Preparatory Commission on Lay Apostolate

The opening ceremony of the YCW World Council and Nelson Mandela

Memoir by Fr Joe Falkiner o.p. of Mandela's speech in 1995.

Note 1 - The apostolate of lay people

Cardijn's first note drafted for the Preparatory Commission on Lay Apostolate for Vatican II.

Adieu Antoine

Homily for the funeral mass of Fr Antoine Sondag by Fr Robert Scholtus.

Antoine Sondag, a diaconal priest

Obituary for former IYCS and Pax Romana ICMICA chaplain, Antoine Sondag, by Stefan Gigacz

A Dieu (English version)

This is the translated transcript of a video made by former IYCS, Pax Romana ICMICA chaplain, Antoine Sondag, in view of his impending death.

Cardijn - Cardinal Cento 09 06 1960

Cardijn writes to the cardinal to congratulate him on his appointment as president of the Council preparatory commission on lay apostolate.

Trip to Rome of Mgr Cardijn and Romeo Maione

Notes prepared for meetings in Rome in February - March 1960, including with John XXIII.

Visit to Rome, February - March 1960

Notes taken by Cardijn during his stay in Rome.

Cardijn - Archbishop Dell'Acqua 13 04 1960

Cardijn writes to John XXIII's Substitute enclosing the notes the pope had requested of him for the drafting of an encyclical for the 70th anniversary of Rerum Novarum.

Priests and the social doctrine of the Church

Cardijn drafted this note in preparation for his trip to Rome in February-March 1960 during which he proposed to John XXIII that he publish an encyclical for the 70th anniversary of Rerum Novarum.

Canon Cardijn – General Chaplain of the Young Christian Workers

Research paper by L. Genis for the Ecole catholique de service sociale in Brussels. One of, if not the earliest biography of Cardijn.

Cardijn - Chapter 14 - The workers’ cardinal

1965: The Workers' Cardinal - Seeker and Visionary to the End.

Cardijn - Chapter 13 - Cardijn at the Council

1959-1960 An Encyclical on Work - Cardijn and Ecumenism - Towards Retirement - 1963: 'Laymen into Action' - 1964: Cardijn at the Council.

Cardijn - Chapter 12 - A global vision

Twenty-four International Journeys and Forty such in Europe - Global vision of the world and the Church.

Cardijn - Chapter 11 - Towards the International YCW

1945. Opening up of the International YCW - 1948. The Hour of the Working Class. Communism - 1950. 25th Anniversary of the Movement - I955. Preparing the longest lap - 1957. Rome and a two-fold vision.

Cardijn - Chapter 10 - Belgium invaded again

1940: Second Invasion of Belgium - 1942: Totalitarian State. In prison again - 1944-: Joys and sorrows of Liberation.

Cardijn - Chapter 9 - Ideologies and war clouds

Study-Weeks - 1936-38 Rexism - 1937: The French YCW - Friendships and Mission - September: 1939: War cancels world meeting in Rome.

Cardijn - Chapter 8 - Cardijn’s thought

Character sketch - Cardijn's Fundamental thought.

Cardijn - Chapter 7 - First International Congress

1931: Encounters with the Socialists - The seed bears fruit in Europe - 25 years a priest - 1934: The Centrale - The Founder trio depart - 1935: 'Perfect type of Catholic Action' - Jubilee Congress at Heysel.

Cardijn - Chapter 6 - Growth of the movement

1925 - 1926: Four Branch Movement - 1925-1930: Cardijn's method and the life of the movement - 1927: Birth of the YCW in France - 1929 & 1931: Pilgrimage to Rome.

Cardijn - Chapter 5 - Pius XI and first YCW Congress

1922-25 Tensions with the worker movement and the Catholic Belgian Youth Association - 21st September 1924. Congress of the same association of Marcinelle - March 1925: Meeting with Pius XI - April 18th 1925: First YCW Congress.