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u international aid agencies. Even though these do- We must befriend them and share in their concerns.
nations are laudable and can bring relief to some The Holy Spirit guides the work of the apostolate.
people for a few days or a few weeks, the causes of Justice is one of the four cardinal virtues. Saint
poverty will not be eradicated by charity. Thomas Aquinas defined justice as “rendering to each
The problem must be solved at its root. We person what he is owed.” We know everyone is owed
must tackle the very causes of poverty. Every hu- a Dividend since we each inherit the earth’s natural
man being must have their fundamental right to a resources and are beneficiaries of progress. Saint
minimum of earthly goods restored. The dignity Thomas Aquinas added: “What is God owed? He is
that belongs to a person created in the image of owed our adoration.” Our first duty is to adore God.
God must prevail. The love of God, through adoring Him, and the
“More than any other, the individual who is ani- love of neighbour, through a Dividend, go hand in
mated by true charity labors skillfully to discover hand. Some of our critics will say: “There is too
the causes of misery, to find the means to combat much religion and not enough Social Credit.” Co-
it, and to overcome it resolutely” (Populorum Pro- founder, Mrs. Mercier, reminded us in a taped com-
gressio, n. 75). This describes very well the action mentary that contrary to what some might think, it
of Louis Even; he really sought to educate people is through Rosary processions that we will realize
on the causes of poverty — the current debt-money Social Credit, and not through the empty promises
system — and the means to combat it — the Social of politicians. Political parties are a dead-end. What
Credit (or Economic Democracy) financial proposals. is needed is the education of the people.
The fifth question we asked our members was: Social Credit Means
“What virtues must we defend today?” We know We Have Faith in Each Other
there are three theological virtues, faith, hope and
Social Crediter, Geoffrey Dobbs, is regularly quot-
charity, and that there are four cardinal virtues, pru- ed in our study sessions. Mr. Dobbs defined social
dence, justice, fortitude and temperance. There is credit as the faith we have in each other. He called it
another virtue that is practiced daily by the Pil- the mutual confidence we have in one another with-
grims of Saint Michael: humility. out which life in society would be impossible. Dobbs
It takes a good measure of humility for an adult, held that this confidence reaches its apex when
and any student of economics, to admit that we people abide by Christian values, the Ten Command-
were taught falsehoods. We are all victims of the ments, and respect each other. Social credit reaches
financial system. When Pilgrims visit families in the its lowest level when people abandon Christian val-
door-to-door crusade, we have no choice but to ues and the Ten Commandments.
practice humility. We seldom get the last word! Our There is more to securing a better world than
purpose is not to argue with the people we meet. a simple matter of monetary reform. Mr. Even would
say that we will not have a better world unless we
follow the teachings of Christ and of His Church. To-
“Modern times are day, the Catholic Church is attacked from all sides.
dominated by Satan According to Cardinal Sarah, the Church is being
and will be more so in crucified. We must not abandon Her, no more than
the future. ...The con- the inhabitants of Noah’s Ark could consider jumping
flict with Hell cannot overboard. If a clergyman commits an error, there is
be engaged by men, no need to leave the Church, as outside the Ark one
even the most clever. will drown. Mr. Even and Mrs. Mercier taught us to
Mary the Immaculate, never leave the Church.
alone, was given the Our Social Crediters were asked another ques-
promise of victory over tion: “What does it mean to be a Pilgrim of Saint Mi-
Satan by God. chael?” We could answer that a Pilgrim is another
“However, assumed into Heaven, the Louis Even. He showed us the way by his example
Mother of God now requires our cooper- and by his teachings. We must be apostles and, like
ation. She seeks souls who will consecrate Louis Even, bring VERS DEMAIN and MICHAEL’s
themselves entirely to her, who will be- message to our brothers and sisters and fellow cit-
izens. A Pilgrim is someone who is on the move!
come in her hands effective instruments for
the defeat of Satan and the spreading of A Call to Youth
God’s kingdom upon earth.” MICHAEL carries a beautiful message. It is a mes-
Saint Maximilien Kolbe sage more relevant than ever. People are needed to
spread this message. The most important challenge

6 MICHAEL May/June/July 2019 www.michaeljournal.org