Unless Faith is Strengthened, Faith Disappears

Here’s a breakdown of the key points:

• The Necessity of the Lay Apostolate (1:40–5:09): Father Hardon emphasizes that the lay apostolate is not optional but “absolutely necessary” for the church’s survival, given the widespread breakdown of the priestly and episcopal sides of the church. He cites historical examples, like the martyrdom of St. John Fisher in 1535, and the loss of hierarchy throughout history, leading to a greater need for active lay involvement.
• Scope of the Lay Apostolate (5:16–6:00): The lay apostolate’s reach is comprehensive, encompassing church communities, the family, young people, and national/international organizations. It aims to influence “the whole of society.”
• Decline of Faith and Church Closures (6:06–8:26): Father Hardon highlights the closing of numerous parishes in major cities like Detroit and Chicago, attributing it primarily to a loss of faith among many Catholics. He states that strengthening, preserving, and restoring faith can only happen through “strong believers,” particularly the laity. He also mentions the alarming number of empty dioceses worldwide and the warning from Vatican superiors about empty dioceses in America if faith isn’t strengthened by the laity.
• Role of the Family in Faith Preservation (8:50–10:07): The family is presented as crucial for preserving faith. Father Hardon states that only “believing families can preserve family life” and that it’s never too early to start training children in the apostolate.
• Cooperation and Proclaiming the Word of God (10:48–14:02): The laity must “cooperate closely with their priests” and actively spread the word of God. He stresses that faith is passed on from one believer to another, and the survival of the Catholic Church in America “depends on you proclaiming the word of God to others.”
• Early Catechetical Instruction (14:07–15:39): Catechetical instruction should begin even “in the womb,” as a mother communicates her faith to her unborn child through her thinking and behavior.
• Engagement in Apostolic Works (15:48–16:30): The laity should assist in the care of souls and the administration of church goods, with “no limit to the variety of ways” they must engage in the lay apostolate.
• The Parish and its Responsibility (16:38–20:43): A parish, led by a Catholic priest, offers “extraordinary opportunities” for lay people to work together. It is responsible not only for professed Catholics but for “every human being residing within the territorial boundaries” of the parish, serving as a “channel of grace to others.”
• The Family as the Foundation of Society (20:45–22:18): The family is the “foundation of human society,” instituted by the Creator and elevated by Christ through the sacrament of matrimony. Strong Catholic families are “indispensable” for evangelizing other families.
• Marxism’s Threat to the Family (22:23–24:16): Father Hardon discusses Karl Marx‘s philosophy, which aimed to destroy the family and replace its authority with the state. He argues that the United States has been “profoundly infected by Marxism,” making the family apostolate basic for preserving society.
• Parents as Primary Teachers (25:59–33:57): Christian parents are the “first to pass on the faith to their children and educate them in understanding what they believe.” He laments that many educated Catholics in the U.S. do not understand their faith, leading to its abandonment. Parents must themselves understand their faith to be channels of grace to their children.
• Training Children for Marriage and Defending Family Dignity (36:20–42:52): Parents must teach their children that marriage is “indissoluble and holy.” They should vigorously defend their right and duty to provide a Christian upbringing, as parental rights are being “stolen by the state.”
• The Family as the Primary Cell of Society (42:56–47:49): The family is the “primary cell of society by emission from God himself,” modeled after the Holy Trinity. It is a unit of loving persons united by mutual affection, prayer, and participation in liturgy. Father Hardon states that the breakdown of the family is “planned for years and years and years.”
• Examples of Family Apostolate (47:55–52:14): A Christian family offers hospitality, assists those in need, adopts children, helps administer schools, advises adolescents, and assists engaged couples.
• Where Family Apostolate is Especially Needed (55:27–1:00:27): It’s most needed where the gospel is first sown, the church is in its infancy, or where it faces “strong opposition,” as in the United States. He references early Christianity’s witness of family life, which helped propagate the faith despite persecution.