CC113: THE APOSTOLATE OF THE LAITY [DAY 1] T. Mar, Kino Institute, 2015
The Next 5 Weeks When we meet: Mar 18 Mar 25 ( no class on Apr 1) Apr 8 Apr 15 Apr 22 The overall plan is to cover The Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People, Christifideles Laici, and Effective Christian Leadership as per the published syllabus.
Personal Goals What would you like to take away from this class?
The Great Awakening What has been your experience as a lay person? Let s read The Great Awakening by Nixon
Background on the changes
Second Vatican Council Pope St. John XXIII had two major aims for the council: Dialogue with the modern world Vigorous efforts for Christian unity The Council lasted from 1962-1965 There were bishops of all races and from all continents Representatives from other religions were also present
After the Council There were many positive achievements that resulted from the Second Vatican Council: Catholics rediscovered the Bible Social justice was reaffirmed as an essential task of following Christ The Council reminded all baptized Catholics that they are responsible for the mission of the Church. Laity and clergy alike need to strive for holiness. The Council also called Catholics to work for ecumenism. Bishops of the world, in union with the Pope, work as single college
Documents of Vatican II Sacrosanctum Concilium ( The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy ) Lumen Gentium ( Dogmatic Constitution on the Church ) Dei Verbum ( Constitution on Divine Revelation ) Gaudium et Spes ( Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World ) Nine Decrees (Apostolate of Lay People, Ecumenism, Eastern Catholic Churches etc.) Three Declarations (Christian education, religious freedom, the Church and non-christian religions)
The 3 Types of Documents produced at the Council (Fr. Benjamin Bradshaw) Constitutions Decrees and Declarations The Constitutions are the primary documents of an Ecumenical Council and usually the other Council documents take their lead from them. Often the Constitutions provide keys to properly understanding the decrees and declarations. As Edward Hanenburg notes in his book The Concise Guide to the Documents of Vatican II: The Constitutions treat substantive doctrinal issues that pertain to the very nature of the Church. Thus, the Constitutions can be considered as authoritative summaries of the official teachings of the Catholic Church with regards to doctrine and belief. These types of documents generally tackle more practical issues or questions facing the Church. Likewise they can address issues of practical pastoral concern, such as the media or ecumenism. Summary Thus, the Constitutions set the tone and give more over-arching and general doctrinal definitions of Catholic belief, whereas the Decrees and Declarations are more specific in addressing certain areas of concern within Catholic life and practice.
Lumen Gentium Christ is the Light of the Nations
Lumen Gentium Dogmatic Constitution of the Church November 21, 1964 Passed: 2151 to 5 Christ is the Light of the Nations
Lumen Gentium IV: The Laity The laity are all the faithful except those in holy orders and those in the state of religious life specially approved by the Church (#31)
How are the laity distinct? (LG, 31) What specifically characterizes the laity is their secular nature.the laity, by their very vocation, seek the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and by ordering them according to the plan of God. They live in the world, that is, in each and in all of the secular professions and occupations. They live in the ordinary circumstances of family and social life, from which the very web of their existence is woven. They are called there by God that by exercising their proper function and led by the spirit of the Gospel they may work for the sanctification of the world from within as a leaven. In this way they may make Christ known to others, especially by the testimony of a life resplendent in faith, hope and charity. Therefore, since they are tightly bound up in all types of temporal affairs it is their special task to order and to throw light upon these affairs in such a way that they may come into being and then continually increase according to Christ to the praise of the Creator and the Redeemer. (LG, 31)
Other Important Points Everyone does not proceed by the same path, nevertheless all are called to sanctify and have received an equal privilege of faith through the justice of God (LG, 32) [The laity] are called upon, as living members [of the Body of Christ] to expend all their energy for the growth of the Church and its continuous sanctification., since this very energy is a gift of the Creator and a blessing of the Redeemer. (LG, 32) Through their [laity] baptism and confirmation, all are commissioned to that apostolate by the Lord himself. (LG, 33)
The laity consecrate the world itself to God (LG, 34) For all their works, prayers and apostolic endeavors, their ordinary married and family life, their daily occupations, their physical and mental relaxation, if carried out in the Spirit, and even the hardships of life, if patiently borne all these become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Together with the offering of the Lord's body, they are most fittingly offered in the celebration of the Eucharist. Thus, as those everywhere who adore in holy activity, the laity consecrate the world itself to God. (LG, 34)
Lay Evangelization and the Family (LG, 35) This evangelization, that is, this announcing of Christ by a living testimony as well as by the spoken word, takes on a specific quality and a special force in that it is carried out in the ordinary surroundings of the world. For where Christianity pervades the entire mode of family life, and gradually transforms it, one will find there both the practice and an excellent school of the lay apostolate.
Where the laity have the principle role The faithful, therefore, must learn the deepest meaning and the value of all creation, as well as its role in the harmonious praise of God. They must assist each other to live holier lives even in their daily occupations. Created goods may be perfected by human labor, technical skill and civic culture for the benefit of all men according to the design of the Creator and the light of His Word. May the goods of this world be more equitably distributed among all men, and may they in their own way be conducive to universal progress in human and Christian freedom. Moreover, let the laity also by their combined efforts remedy the customs and conditions of the world, if they are an inducement to sin, so that they all may be conformed to the norms of justice and may favor the practice of virtue rather than hinder it. By so doing they will imbue culture and human activity with genuine moral values; they will better prepare the field of the world for the seed of the Word of God; and at the same time they will open wider the doors of the Church by which the message of peace may enter the world.
Living in the tension between two worlds The faithful should learn how to distinguish carefully between those rights and duties which are theirs as members of the Church, and those which they have as members of human society. Let them strive to reconcile the two, remembering that in every temporal affair they must be guided by a Christian conscience, since even in secular business there is no human activity which can be withdrawn from God's dominion. (LG, 36)
Rights, obedience, and respect (LG, 37) The laity have the right to receive in abundance from their spiritual shepherds the spiritual goods of the Church, especially the assistance of the word of God and of the sacraments... They are, by reason of the knowledge, competence or outstanding ability which they may enjoy, permitted and sometimes even obliged to express their opinion on those things which concern the good of the Church. The laity should, as all Christians, promptly accept in Christian obedience decisions of their spiritual shepherds, since they are representatives of Christ as well as teachers and rulers in the Church. Let the spiritual shepherds recognize and promote the dignity as well as the responsibility of the laity in the Church. Let them willingly employ their prudent advice. Let them confidently assign duties to them in the service of the Church, allowing them freedom and room for action. Further, let them encourage lay people so that they may undertake tasks on their own initiative.
Clergy-Laity relations (LG, 37) Aided by the experience of the laity, the clergy can more clearly and more incisively come to decisions regarding both spiritual and temporal matters Laity Clergy From the clergy, the laity may receive a strengthened sense of personal responsibility, a renewed enthusiasm, a more ready application of their talents to the projects of their spiritual leaders.
Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People
Apostolicam Actuositatem Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity November 18, 1965 Passed: 2340 to 2
Reiteration of Lumen Gentium IV The laity participate in the Church s mission (AA, 2) By virtue of their baptism and strengthened by their confirmation, the laity are assigned to the apostolate (AA, 3) Lay persons should not separate their union with Christ from their ordinary life; but through the very performance of their tasks, which are God s will for them, actually promote the growth of their union with him (AA, 4)
The Objectives of the Lay Apostolate Christ's redemptive work, while essentially concerned with the salvation of men, includes also the renewal of the whole temporal order. Hence the mission of the Church is not only to bring the message and grace of Christ to men but also to penetrate and perfect the temporal order with the spirit of the Gospel (AA, 5).
(1)Evangelization and sanctification of men There are innumerable opportunities open to the laity for the exercise of their apostolate of evangelization and sanctification. The very testimony of their Christian life and good works done in a supernatural spirit have the power to draw men to belief and to God (AA, 6). This might be considered passive in that you would do this anyway.
(1)Evangelization and sanctification of men.continued However, an apostolate of this kind does not consist only in the witness of one's way of life; a true apostle looks for opportunities to announce Christ by words addressed either to non-believers with a view to leading them to faith, or to the faithful with a view to instructing, strengthening, and encouraging them to a more fervent life. This might be considered active because this requires us to seek the opportunity to engage others.
Are lay people really needed? YES!!! Since, in our own times, new problems are arising and very serious errors are circulating which tend to undermine the foundations of religion, the moral order, and human society itself, this sacred synod earnestly exhorts laymen-each according to his own gifts of intelligence and learning-to be more diligent in doing what they can to explain, defend, and properly apply Christian principles to the problems of our era in accordance with the mind of the Church. (AA, 6) What new problems can you think of that require lay people to be more active?
(2) Renewal of the temporal order All those things which make up the temporal order, namely, the good things of life and the prosperity of the family, culture, economic matters, the arts and professions, the laws of the political community, international relations, and other matters of this kind, as well as their development and progress, not only aid in the attainment of man's ultimate goal but also possess their own intrinsic value. (AA, 7) Which of those cited above need renewing in Christ?
What happened to the temporal order? In the course of history, the use of temporal things has been marred by serious vices. Affected by original sin, men have frequently fallen into many errors concerning the true God, the nature of man, and the principles of the moral law. This has led to the corruption of morals and human institutions and not rarely to contempt for the human person himself. In our own time, moreover, those who have trusted excessively in the progress of the natural sciences and the technical arts have fallen into an idolatry of temporal things and have become their slaves rather than their masters. (AA, 7)
Only you The laity must take up the renewal of the temporal order as their own special obligation. Led by the light of the Gospel and the mind of the Church and motivated by Christian charity, they must act directly and in a definite way in the temporal sphere. As citizens they must cooperate with other citizens
What can I do? To transform and perfect the temporal order: Perform works of charity Wherever there are people in need of food and drink, clothing, housing, medicine, employment, education; wherever men lack the facilities necessary for living a truly human life or are afflicted with serious distress or illness or suffer exile or imprisonment, there Christian charity should seek them out and find them, console them with great solicitude, and help them with appropriate relief. This obligation is imposed above all upon every prosperous nation and person.
Where can this be done? Where should the laity be active? In the parish and in the diocese-(aa, 10) The family (which must be protected as the basic cell of society)-(aa, 11) Among young people- (AA, 12) In your own particular social environment - (AA, 13) The Apostolate of Like Towards Like The national and international levels (AA, 14)
How can this be done? How can this be accomplished? As individuals-(aa, 16) As individuals under trying circumstances-(aa, 17) In groups-(aa, 18-22)
Training for the Lay Apostolate First: Spiritual The lay person should learn especially how to perform the mission of Christ and the Church by basing his life on belief in the divine mystery of creation and redemption and by being sensitive to the movement of the Holy Spirit. Second: Doctrinal A solid doctrinal instruction in theology, ethics, and philosophy adjusted to differences of age, status, and natural talents, is required. Third: Practical The laity should gradually and prudently learn how to view, judge and do all things in the light of faith as well as to develop and improve themselves along with others through doing, thereby entering into active service to the Church.
Those who train others (AA, 30) The training for the apostolate should start with the children's earliest education. In the family parents have the task of training their children from childhood on to recognize God's love for all men. Schools, colleges, and other Catholic educational institutions also have the duty to develop a Catholic sense and apostolic activity in young persons.
Review Vatican II opened the windows of the Church so that we can see out and the people can see in. Part of that renewal was a the role of lay persons in the Church. The lay apostolate is directed to the evangelization and sanctification of men and to the penetrating and perfecting of the temporal order through the spirit of the Gospel. Through their baptism and confirmation, the laity are commissioned to the apostolate by the Lord himself. The success of the lay apostolate depends upon the laity's living union with Christ. The laity evangelize with a specific quality and a special force in that it is carried out in the ordinary surroundings of the world.