About the UAC
“Through the impulse of pure zeal & evangelical charity, such an institution keeps all constantly occupied with works of charity & filled with the zeal necessary to communicate the treasures of our Catholic religion to people near & far, anywhere in the world.” (St. Vincent Pallotti)
Ecclesiastically recognized as the Union of the Catholic Apostolate, the Pallottines were founded by St. Vincent Pallotti; a mystic in action, who constantly took the Gospel to the streets. His pastoral approach was dynamic, invigorating, and prophetic; where the holiness of all the baptized - Lay & Religious - were called to build up the Church.
A missionary of Rome, with a spirituality of universality to the remotest hemispheres, his missions are in over 50 countries around the world; from the foothills of the Himalayas, to the Pacific islands of Papua New Guinea. Intensely holy, he held a prophetic mandate for joining the action between the clergy and laity; a forerunner to the modern spirituality emphasized in Vatican II, impelling the edification of the laity’s mature vocation.
Juridically, the Union is encompassed by the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (the Pallottine Fathers and Brothers), the Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate, and the Missionary Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate. At its conception, St. Vincent conceived that the core communities were to be the crux on which the Union were to grow.
“To all holy ends!”
Daily compelled to procure the greatest glory of God, St. Vincent Pallotti received a threefold enlightenment on January 9, 1835; which henceforth became both the realization of the Union and Society on April 4, 1835.
A pious institution of a universal apostolate among all Catholics in order to propagate the faith and religion of Jesus Christ among all and non-Catholics
Another hidden apostolate to revive, maintain, and increase the faith among Catholics
An institution of universal charity for the practice of all the spiritual and corporal works of mercy so that, as far as possible, God may be recognized in man as infinite love
“Holy impatience, loving restlessness, & great enthusiasm!”
Pallotti’s imperatives for Jesus’ fervor - aimed always at the conversion of hearts - propelled the Appeal he gave to the people of Rome in May, 1835; its first prose prophetically posed even still for today:
“Whoever considers carefully the present state of the world comes to the conclusion that, because there is much evil in our age, we have a great need of faith.”
The Appeal expressed the holy zeal of the newly formed association, and invited for the awakened faithful to join. Efficacious in works of charity, Pope Gregory XVI imparted “a thousand blessings” to the Union, which gained ecclesiastical recognition by the Rome Diocese in 1838.
Akin to the greatest saints, St. Vincent also experienced torrents of opposition incurred through human vices. The secretary to the Holy See’s Propaganda Fide called for the Union’s dissolution, and its aggregation to the Works of the Propagation of the Faith in Lyon, France. “Not agitated, nor discomposed,” Pallotti rallied to Gregory the XVI, and the Union was preserved.
“People near & far, anywhere in the world!”
“Therefore, the Association is formed in such a way that all Catholics may belong to it. They can either be clerics of laypersons, men or women, learned or illiterate, wealthy or poor, and persons of whatever vocation, state, or fortune. Hence those cannot exercise the sacred ministry personally and directly can still offer their support with their personal works, profession, job, voluntary offerings, and by utilizing their influence. Of course, all can cooperate with the efficacious means of prayer.
Through this association, then, no one is excluded from cooperating in the Catholic Apostolate or from participating in its undertakings, merits, and rewards.”
- St. Vincent Pallotti
Within the months of July to October 1839, Pallotti completed the rules for the Union and Society, setting in motion its greater external apostolates. To help the propagation of the faith in Rome, the Pallottine Sisters - not yet an official Congregation, as St. Vincent would still have to establish a novitiate and constitution, finished after his death - continued to grow through their charity and school to poor girls.
“In God, I find myself always united to you & your undertakings.”
A heroic death in charity, St. Vincent died struck with fever at the age of 55. In Heaven’s glory, he led the Union’s growth to its approval of a Pontifical Right in 2003.
General Statutes
The Pontifical Council for the Laity - what is now the Dicastery for Laity, Family, & Life - decreed the Union as an International Public Association of the Faithful on October 28, 2008, the Feast of Saints Jude and Simon. It concluded the 5 year ‘ad-experimentum’ of the General Statutes, approved on October 28th, 2003.
