The St. Adalbert Association came into being within a process of increasing awareness on the part of Slovaks of their nationhood, and in an endeavour to reinforce spiritual and national renewal, education and enlightenment. Despite the intense efforts of its founder, Dr. Andrej Radlinský, and members of the Association, approval of the society had to wait until 1869. Its statutes were passed at the first general meeting, held in Trnava in September 1870. The aim of the Association was to bring together Slovak Catholics (and - following the closure of Matica Slovenska - Evangelicals) and with their help publish fiction and educational literature of a spiritual nature, as well as textbooks for Slovak church schools. The St. Adalbert Association brought together the Catolic intelligentsia and supported the building of libraries and museums. Despite endless obstacles and efforts to suppress its activities, the Association continued to flourish. With its publication of the Holy Bible, popular calendars (The St. Adalbert Pilgrim) and familly albums (Pious Effusions), textbooks, registration books and the Catholic News newspaper, it was the only nationwide association responsible to a decisive degree for the adoption of the written Slovak language as codified by Štúr. When Matica Slovenska was abolished, the Association took over all its activities. Following the construction of its own printing works in 1930, it published hundreds of titles every year.