APOSTOLIC UNION. – A priestly association founded under the title “Apostolic Union of Diocesan Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” in France in 1862 by the honorary canon of Orléans, Monsignor Leberrier.
Some priests from the Veneto, who had already established something similar for Italy, joined the French Association, and on 18 November 1880 at Monte Berico in Vicenza the first Italian circle was founded through the efforts of Don Luigi Marini of Bassano Veneto. The Union is now spread across 24 nations and has 26,000 members. It has been blessed and enriched with numerous papal briefs. It is consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and has as its patrons St John Vianney, curé of Ars, and St Joseph Cafasso. Blessed Pius X was a member, supported it, and always recommended II.
Aims of the Association: 1) to give secular priests the opportunity to enjoy some of the benefits of religious life, protecting them against the dangers of solitude, fostering mutual charity and fraternal friendship; 2) to promote the sanctification of its members through fidelity to priestly devotional practices; this fidelity is aided by individual and fraternal oversight carried out by means of a regularity bulletin which each member records daily and then sends to the director of the Association or to his own spiritual director; 3) to direct all members toward an intense devotion and close union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary; 4) to ensure that members, both living and dead, share in the prayers of their confreres and in the fruits of the Holy Masses celebrated for the members of the Association.
The national headquarters for the Italian clergy is currently in Trento (Via dei Giardini, no. 36).