Female Youth of the Italian Catholic Action
It is one of the branches of the Italian Catholic Action (A.C.I.), which brings together unmarried women up to the age of 30.
### I. ORGANIZATION
Founded in 1918 in Milan, it was extended the same year by Benedict XV to the whole of Italy and considered as the youth section of the Union of Italian Catholic Women. It became an autonomous association in 1919, with the establishment of the Italian Catholic Women’s Union, the coordinating body of Catholic women’s forces. It was the first branch of the A.C.I. to have a parochial and diocesan structure, gathering unmarried women up to the age of 30 in parish circles, establishing diocesan councils in every diocese, and entrusting the leadership of the Association at every organizational level to the young women themselves, elected by the members.
The founder and first national president was Miss Armida Barelli of Milan, who held her position for about 30 years.
It soon became necessary to give an apostolic orientation to the education of girls and children. Thus arose: in 1920 the Aspirants section for young girls aged 11 to 15; in 1923 the Beniamine section for girls aged 6 to 11; in 1933 the Piccolissime section for children aged 4 to 6. Currently, Aspirants reach the age of 14, and members aged 14 to 18 form the Giovannisime section.
In 1922, internal associations were established in orphanages and boarding schools. The preparation of members from various social categories for apostolate in their environments was carried out through category sections: students, workers, employees, young ladies, teachers, graduates, each represented by their own category counselor in the councils of the various levels. Currently, some of the category sections have given rise to youth penetration movements, in which the members of the G.I.F. of A.C. are the active element. These include: the Student Youth (G.S.), whose Congress in Florence in the autumn of 1949 is remembered for its notable contribution to the draft reform of schools; the Italian Catholic Workers’ Youth (G.I.O.C.), whose Congress in Milan in September 1949 is recalled; and the Movement of Housewives and Young Ladies (G.I.C.C.). A Federation for Recreational Activities (F.A.R.I.) has also been established. The numerical development of the G.F. of A.C. in 1950 is as follows: diocesan councils 310 (in all dioceses); associations 16,613, of which 15,360 parochial (72% of parishes), 1,243 internal; 32 associations are among Italians abroad; active members 220,983; Giovannisime 146,241; Aspirants 225,696; Beniamine 272,519; Piccolissime 109,438. The general formation of members for religious, family, and social life is based above all on the press. Periodical publications include 12 different editions for leaders and members of various ages and categories, with a total circulation of 1,248,000 copies per month. There are also books for presenting the annual program of the various sections and the four specializations—rural, labor, housewives, students—in eight editions, distributed in a total of 100,000 copies in 1949; religious culture texts for the various sections, distributed in 550,000 copies in 1949; recreational books and those for children, distributed in tens of thousands of copies. Another fundamental element is the systematic study of Christian doctrine. The national religious culture competition in 1949 saw 50% of members taking the exams. Finally, mention should be made of courses of spiritual exercises, specialized by age and category; study courses for the technical and organizational preparation of leaders; and orientation courses on life and preparation for family life for members and non-members.
Female Youth of the Italian Catholic Action – The spoken choir “Staffetta Anno Santo” at the folkloric evening of the International Session of the F.J.C., Fribourg, 11–16 April 1950.
### II. ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE FIELD OF APOSTOLATE
In the parish, youth activity takes place in collaboration with initiatives promoted by the parish priest in the religious, cultural, and social spheres. In the missionary field, in addition to supporting on its own an institute of Chinese virgins dedicated to Benedict XV, the young women actively supported the Pontifical Missionary Works.
The Catholic University of the Sacred Heart has found in the G.F. immediate understanding and the most enthusiastic support since its inception.
For apostolate among young women in the religious and moral sphere, the “Weeks of the Young Woman” were promoted from 1933 in all Italian dioceses, with an impressive turnout of young women; the “Crusade for Purity”; and the great pilgrimages to Lourdes, Loreto, the Holy Land, etc.
Evidence of ever-growing vitality were the national congresses of active members, Aspirants, and Beniamine, culminating in the unforgettable Congress of the thirtieth anniversary of the foundation, held in 1948 in Rome, which saw 200,000 young women gathered at the Pope’s feet.
In recent years, activity has been directed above all toward preparing young women for their new roles in civic and union life, and for the most urgent forms of Christian-social apostolate. The union campaign, activity within the Civic Committees, and participation in the recent campaign for the “Great Return” are confirmation of this. The affirmation of young women’s rights, with the presentation to public authorities of the “Charter of the Young Woman,” and their active presence in every sphere of social life, demonstrate the positive and combative orientation of today’s young women.
Presidents: for the three-year term 1946–49, Dr. Carmela Rossi; today (1950), Dr. Alda Miceli.