The Layman and Society

It is exactly thirty years ago that the first of the now famous Semaines Sociales de France was held in Lyons. Since then sessions-annual, except during the War-have been held of this perambulating Catholic University in all the regions of France: the twenty-sixth session was held this year in Nice (July 23 to 29). In 1932, at Lille, the theme treated was economic; last year, at Rheims, political; this year the official title of the subject was Social Order and Education. The title puzzled not a few, myself included: and it is only now that in retrospect I seem to grasp its full meaning. At Lille and Rheims the principles of economic and political science, as embodied in Catholic doctrine, had been admirably stated-principles, which have only to be applied, to end the economic and political anarchy of our age. But the anarchy continues; the principles are not applied. Why? Because our age does not know them; because an education is needed. It is only through education that we can move towards an ordered Society: Par I'éducation vers I'ordre social chrétien was in fact the title of the President's inaugural address at Nice.'Christianity has been tried two thousand years and has failed,' say our neo-pagans. No, we retort, it has never failed, whenever it has been tried: the trouble is, that it has so rarely been tried. Individually, yes, it has been and is being tried: but socially

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