We are all familiar with a number of societies and associations which pursue their peculiar missions under the guidance of the Church. There are the Confraternities and Third Orders which promote self-sanctification, there are the works for the formation of the young; others which, like the S.V.P., provide material assistance to the poor, while the Guilds are concerned with professional interests. Lastly there are the societies concerned with larger questions of propaganda and defence of principles, such as the Catholic Truth Society, Catholic Evidence Guild and Catholic Social Guild. They all play an invaluable part in the life of the Church, and they depend upon the laity for success. They all aim more or less directly at the spiritual welfare of souls. So it would seem that they must be entitled to consider themselves part of Catholic Action since this is, according to the Pope’s definition, ‘nothing other than the participation of the laity in the apostolate of the hierarchy.’ To question this may at first sight seem excessively punctilious. But when it is seen that the distinction between the strict use of the term and its haphazard bestowal can and should be made it will, perhaps, be used with more caution than has been the case hitherto. If Catholic Action is to prove itself other than a new name for ‘the old firm’ or a fresh panacea such as our economists favour some little care will have to be used by responsible authorities.