Action is a manual for the modern Catholic Crusader by one of the late 20th century’s most respected and knowledgeable Catholic laymen.
Jean Ousset, one of France’s foremost scholars of the Revolution, and a leader of the European anti-Marxist movement, founded La Cité Catholique in France in 1946 to spread the Social Reign of Christ. Action is one of his thorough and engaging – yet practical – manuals designed to inspire, motivate, and guide the modern Catholic layman in the understanding and performance of his duty to fight, with every available and lawful means, for the implementation of Catholic principles in society.
Of particular interest is Ousset’s thorough, well-documented, and balanced treatment of the relationship between the clergy and the laity in the struggle for the triumph of Catholic principles in the temporal order. Additionally, he makes a clear and commonsense case for when it is not only lawful but also imperative to collaborate with non-Catholics of good will for the implementation of the Church’s Social Doctrine for the salvation of temporal society.
No man of good will concerned about the state of modern society – Catholic or otherwise – who proposes to take some action in defense of what remains of Christendom can afford to be without this book. May God grant that it become a truly useful tool in the re-fashioning of a fervently and solidly Christian society.
Preface —A. S. Fraser
Introduction —The Publishers
Foreword —Jean Ousset
Part I: On Action in General
Part II: Men
i. The Most Decisive Asset
ii. People in Their Various Networks
iii. The Clergy and the Religious Orders
iv. The Importance and Dangers of Certain Social Categories
v. Action on the “Masses”
Conclusion. The Church’s Example
Part III: Instruments and Methods of Work
Preliminary Observations
i. Doctrine and Money
ii. The Means of Action
iii. Looking
iv. Listening
v. Meeting Others
vi. A Difficulty to Be Resolved
vii. Methods of Mass Action
viii. The Use of Force and Secret Organizations
ix. Use of Everything in the Right Order
Part IV: Situation and Circumstances
i. Situation, Circumstances
ii. Four Types of Situation
iii. Pluralist Societies
Part V: Conclusions and Directives
i. An Élite
ii. A Certain Style of Action
iii. Notes for Individual Action: the First Level
iv. Notes for a More Organic Action: the Second Level
v. Notes for Specialists in Our Particular “Style” of Action: the Third Level
Conclusion. The Need for Prayer
