SPECIAL APOSTOLATE: MAGISTERIUM AD EXTRA

The Magisterium Ad Extra constitutes a sacred apostolate entrusted exclusively to the Chapter Steering Council of the Canons Regular of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (CRSHJ), and, where appropriate, to the Office of the Superior General. It is a solemn expression of the Church’s prophetic vocation to speak truth into the public square, bearing witness to the teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the perennial doctrine of the Universal Church of Christ.

This apostolate is not undertaken lightly, nor is it diffused among the general body of the faithful; rather, it is reserved to those offices within the CRSHJ whose mandate includes discernment, proclamation, and ecclesial accountability at the highest levels.

In its essence, the Magisterium Ad Extra is a ministry of exhortation and moral clarity. It engages corporate entities, public governance bodies, and individual persons of influence—whether domestic or international—with the call to examine their policies, practices, and cultural contributions in light of the Gospel. It is not a partisan voice, nor a mere commentary on temporal affairs, but a theological and pastoral intervention rooted in the Church’s mission to sanctify the world. Through this apostolate, the CRSHJ seeks to illuminate the moral dimensions of societal structures, economic systems, financial institutions, artistic movements, cultural trends, diplomatic initiatives, and political discourse.

The scope of this apostolate is intentionally broad, encompassing matters of war and peace, foreign policy, domestic legislation, international relations, and the ethical stewardship of both public and private governance. It is exercised with reverence, gravity, and a deep awareness of the dignity of all persons and institutions addressed. The Magisterium Ad Extra does not presume to dominate the secular sphere, but rather to serve it—offering the light of Christ as a guide for conscience, justice, and the common good.

This apostolate may take the form of public statements, theological reflections, canonical interventions, or direct correspondence with leaders and institutions. It is always marked by clarity, charity, and fidelity to the deposit of faith. The CRSHJ, in exercising this office, does so not for its own prestige, but in humble obedience to the Spirit who sends the Church into the world as salt and light. The Magisterium Ad Extra is thus a privileged expression of the Church’s outward-facing teaching authority—an ecclesial voice that speaks not only within the sanctuary, but also from the threshold of the world.

In all its expressions, this apostolate remains rooted in prayer, discernment, and the pastoral solicitude of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is a ministry of truth and mercy, calling all persons and institutions to conversion, integrity, and communion with the divine will. Through the Magisterium Ad Extra, the CRSHJ fulfills its vocation to be a beacon of holiness and wisdom amid the complexities of the age.