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36 • Part I. The Creed: The Faith Professed
and their superiors. The meeting did not go well and resulted in the
expulsion of Isaac and four others from the order. Blessed Pius IX, having
been informed of the plight of Hecker and his companions, dispensed
them from their vows to the Redemptorists and encouraged them to
found a new congregation with a missionary emphasis. Soon thereafter,
Isaac Hecker became the first superior of “The Missionary Society of Saint
Paul the Apostle,” later known as the Paulists.
Throughout his life Isaac diligently worked to promote evangelization
in American culture, particularly through the print media. He organized
the Catholic Publication Society and became the founder of
The Catholic
World
magazine, the director of Catholic Youth, and the author of three
books. He did all this while continuing to be the first superior of the Paulists
and preaching tirelessly to thousands across the country.
The motivation behind these efforts was always the drive to teach
everyone the beauty and truth of the Catholic faith. It was the love of
this faith that led Isaac Hecker to dedicate his life to serving Christ and
Catholic Americans. Today the Paulists, following in the footsteps of their
founder (who died in 1888 after a long illness), are present in parishes,
campus ministry, major city information centers, publishing, and elec-
tronic, print, and broadcast media.
Knowing our faith and then sharing it with others is the responsibility
of every Catholic. Fr. Isaac Hecker is a good example of one who lived out
that responsibility.
•
IN THE ACT OF FAITH WE RESPOND TO
GOD’S LOVING REVELATION
By his Revelation, “the invisible God, from the fullness
of his love, addresses men as his friends, and moves
among them, in order to invite and receive them into his
own company.” The adequate response to this invitation
is faith.
—CCC, no. 142, citing DV, no. 2