UNION OF WOMEN OF CATHOLIC ACTION
The Union of Women of Catholic Action arose in 1908, when in Italy women’s forces were gradually asserting themselves with innovative programs and necessarily felt the influence of the anti-Christian social environment characteristic of that time.
It was the resolution passed by the Congress of Italian Women against religious instruction in schools that prompted Catholic women to break decisively with that Association, which, though appearing neutral, was in fact secretly influenced by Freemasonry. It thus became necessary to establish another organization that, while pursuing aims aimed at elevating the masses of women, would be inspired by Catholic principles and openly take a stand in defense of Christian rights against any form of oppression.
Pope Pius X, to whom Princess Cristina Giustiniani Bandini submitted the idea of establishing the Union of Catholic Women of Italy, blessed the new Association, annotated its statutes in his own hand, and always supported it with his highest authority. Pius X showed himself very far-sighted in this matter, fully understanding the degree of maturity now attained by women, who, recognizing the gravity of the historical moment and the needs of the Church, were overcoming the centuries-old traditions that had confined them to the home and were now prepared to step out in order to defend the family, for which it was necessary to work on a broader scale and to rebuild a Christian society.
In his inaugural address of 21 April 1909, he clarified the purpose for which Italian Catholic women intended to unite: to govern the family in a Christian manner, to educate their children, and to fulfill a social mission worthily. In other words, the salvation of the family was from the outset the defining characteristic of the Union of Catholic Women, even amid the many other charitable and social activities proper to women. The Association thus followed the developments, forms, and programs of Catholic Action through a central office in Rome and local committees in urban centers throughout Italy’s regions.
The earthquake in Messina in December 1908 revealed the generous commitment of the Union of Catholic Women, who rushed to assist the stricken population. During the long years of the war of 1914–18, Catholic women took part in civil defense committees, provided religious assistance to the troops, organized nursing courses, rest stations, military hospitals, information offices, and various public and private initiatives of an assistential, economic, moral, charitable, and personal labor-union and professional nature. From the very beginning, wherever a committee of Catholic women was formed, an effort was made to establish a women’s workers’ association as well, complete with a mutual aid fund, to relieve women workers of the fear of old age and illness. A professional movement was promoted, forming worker-apostles among their own companions. Professional unions (the present-day labor unions) were established to defend not only economic but also spiritual and moral rights of working women.
Even in the dark hour of Caporetto, with its collapse of national spirit and the painful procession of refugees and fugitives, the committees of Catholic women
Union of Women of Catholic Action — The House of the Annunciation in Rome, where study courses for leaders and members are held, and where newlyweds belonging to Catholic Action are hosted during their honeymoon — Rome.
UNION OF WOMEN OF CATHOLIC ACTION — The House of the Annunciation in Rome, where study courses for leaders and members are held, and where newlyweds belonging to Catholic Action are hosted during their honeymoon — Rome.
On the evening of the 10th, with its trail of material and moral misery and the demands of economic, social, and political reorganization, presented the Union of Catholic Women with new problems to study and new activities to which to dedicate themselves. While the revolutionary forces of Bolshevik socialism threatened Italy, the Union of Catholic Women, in parallel with the other male movements of Catholic Action, took a stand in defense of Christian principles in every sphere. Notable achievements included: preparing women for the exercise of the vote (administrative), the resounding and victorious resumption of the anti-alcohol campaign, collaboration with the Holy See for the International Work of Assistance to Abandoned Children, legislative defense of the wives of soldiers missing in war, the struggle against illiteracy, domestic economy schools, and the study of labor issues, among others.
When, in the immediate postwar period (1919), it became urgent to rally the youth for the battles of the hour and for preparation for the new social life, it was necessary to organize separately the older girls and thus the Circoli of the female youth were established (based on parish awareness), alongside the Union of Catholic Women. To these two branches, which constituted the Catholic women’s Union, was added that of the Female Exercitators of the FUCI.
Over the years, the distinctive profile of the Union of Catholic Women became ever clearer, with its particular focus on the salvation of the family: nurturing the inner health of souls (through deeper knowledge of religious truth), purifying the external environment so that the social setting would not bring contagion to the family (by addressing public and private morality, abandoned children, juvenile delinquency, strayed souls, hospitals of all kinds, prisons, etc.), and advocating legitimate claims so that the family would have sufficient means for life and its normal development (specific activities in the social sphere).
In the cultural field, study and work congresses, begun in 1912 on social themes, became triennial after 1925 with “Social Weeks” for leaders and propagandists. The Association’s official press produced various editions for leaders, members, children, and infants; *Incontro al fanciullo* for brides and mothers, later transformed into *Mamme d’oggi*; *Apostolato della culla* for midwives; *Fede e Professione* for nurses and health assistants; and monthly book-review booklets such as *All’erta*. The “Casa Editrice Sales” (1931) was established to publish works especially dedicated to youth and the family, whose bimonthly
811 UNION OF WOMEN OF CATHOLIC ACTION — SOCIAL ECONOMIC UNION 812
In a few years, the Children’s Association of Catholic Action aroused such interest that it had an exceptionally large number of members, a number that continues to grow. In 1936, the tenth anniversary of its founding was solemnly celebrated, and in 1952, its twenty-fifth.