THEO 500

[CHRISTIAN VOCATION & FULFILLMENT]

PROF. ANTONIO C. CAYETANO, J.D.

Theology & Philosophy Division
Arts & Sciences Department
San Pedro College
Davao City
CHAPTER 4

THE VOCATION AND MISSION OF THE LAY

FAITHFUL IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE WORLD
I. VIDEO PRESENTATION:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh6diczvo8u

II. REFLECTION PAPER

1. WHAT LINE/STATEMENT FROM THE VIDEO THAT STRUCK ME

MOST? WHY HAVE THE LINE/STATEMENT STRUCK ME?

2. HOW IS THE CONCEPT OF LAY VOCATION PRESENTED IN THE VIDEO?

DUE DATE: ANYTIME BEFORE SUNDAY

EMAIL: [email protected]
 THE DIGNITY OF LAY FAITHFUL
IN THE CHURCH AS MYSTERY

IN PARTICULAR, LAY FAITHFUL HAVE

THEIR PROPER ROLES TO PLAY,
WHICH ACCORDING TO THE
COUNCIL, “IS PROPER AND SPECIAL
TO THEM”. THIS IS REFERRED TO AS
“THEIR SECULAR NATURE” (32).

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 THE DIGNITY OF LAY FAITHFUL
IN THE CHURCH AS MYSTERY

THE VOCATION OF LAY FAITHFUL TO

HOLINESS IMPLIES THAT LIFE
ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT
EXPRESSES ITSELF IN A PARTICULAR
WAY IN THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN
TEMPORAL AFFAIRS AND IN THEIR
PARTICIPATION IN EARTHLY
ACTIVITIES (17).

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 THE PARTICIPATION OF LAY FAITHFUL IN THE
LIFE OF THE CHURCH AS AN ORGANIC
COMMUNION

ECCLESIAL COMMUNION IS MORE

PRECISELY LIKENED TO AN
“ORGANIC COMMUNION” […],
CHARACTERIZED BY A DIVERSITY
AND A COMPLEMENTARITY OF
VOCATIONS AND STATES OF LIFE, OF
MINISTRIES, CHARISMS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES (20).

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 THE PARTICIPATION OF LAY FAITHFUL IN THE
LIFE OF THE CHURCH AS AN ORGANIC
COMMUNION

ORGANIC COMMUNION
• IN THE EXERCISE THEIR VARIED
MINISTRIES AND CHARISMS IN THE
CHURCH, THE LAY FAITHFUL MUST WORK
IN CONCERT WITH THEIR PASTORS AND
MINISTERS WHOSE INCUMBENT MINISTRY
IS TO MINISTER AND ADMINISTER THE
VARIOUS APOSTOLATES AND MINISTRIES
OF THE CHURCH.

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 THE PARTICIPATION OF LAY FAITHFUL IN THE
LIFE OF THE CHURCH AS AN ORGANIC
COMMUNION

ECCLESIAL COMMUNION
• IN THE EXERCISE OF THEIR VARIED
MINISTRIES IN THE CHURCH, THE LAY
FAITHFUL SHALL THINK, FEEL AND ACT
UPON IN UNION WITH THE CHURCH AS AN
INSTITUTION AND AS A PEOPLE OF GOD
(SINTERE CUM ECCLESIA).

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 THE PARTICIPATION OF LAY FAITHFUL
IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH AS AN
ORGANIC COMMUNION

•PASTORS […] SHOULD

ACKNOWLEDGE AND FOSTER THE
MINISTRIES, OFFICES AND ROLES OF
LAY FAITHFUL THAT FIND THEIR
FOUNDATION IN THE SACRAMENTS OF
BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION AND
FOR MANY OF THEM IN THE
SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY (23)

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 THE PARTICIPATION OF LAY FAITHFUL
IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH AS AN
ORGANIC COMMUNION

•LAY FAITHFUL PARTICIPATE IN THE

LIFE OF THE CHURCH NOT ONLY BY
EXERCISING THEIR TASKS AND
CHARISMS, BUT ALSO IN MANY
OTHER WAYS (25).

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 THE PARTICIPATION OF LAY FAITHFUL
IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH AS AN
ORGANIC COMMUNION

•SUCH PARTICIPATION FINDS ITS

FIRST AND NECESSARY EXPRESSION
IN THE LIFE AND MISSION OF THE
PARTICULAR CHURCHES IN THE
DIOCESES […]. THE ECCLESIAL
COMMUNION [...] FINDS ITS MOST
IMMEDIATE AND VISIBLE
EXPRESSION IN THE PARISH (25 AND
26).

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 THE PARTICIPATION OF LAY FAITHFUL
IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH AS AN
ORGANIC COMMUNION

•FORMS OF PARTICIPATION
IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH:
• Individual forms of participation: the
apostolate carried out by individuals is the
origin and condition of the whole lay
apostolate (28)
• Associated forms of participation: the
apostolate carried out by groups which is
a sign of communion (29).

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 THE PARTICIPATION OF LAY FAITHFUL
IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH AS AN
ORGANIC COMMUNION

Criteria of Ecclesiality
for Lay Groups (30)

• THE PRIMACY GIVEN TO THE CALL OF

EVERY CHRISTIAN TO HOLINESS…
• THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROFESSING
THE CATHOLIC FAITH…

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 THE PARTICIPATION OF LAY FAITHFUL
IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH AS AN
ORGANIC COMMUNION

Criteria of Ecclesiality
for Lay Groups (30)
• THE WITNESSING TO A STRONG AND
AUTHENTIC COMMUNION IN FILIAL
RELATIONSHIP TO THE POPE…
• CONFORMITY TO AND PARTICIPATION IN
THE CHURCH’S APOSTOLIC GOALS …
• A COMMITMENT TO A PRESENCE IN
HUMAN SOCIETY…

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 THE PARTICIPATION OF LAY FAITHFUL
IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH AS AN
ORGANIC COMMUNION

•THE PASTORS IN THE CHURCH CANNOT

RENOUNCE TO THE SERVICE WHICH
RESULTS FROM THEIR AUTHORITY, […]
THEY OUGHT TO ACCOMPANY LAY PEOPLE
IN THEIR DISCERNMENT BY GUIDING THEM
AND ABOVE ALL BY ENCOURAGING THEM
SO THAT LAY ASSOCIATIONS MAY GROW IN
CHURCH COMMUNION AND MISSION (31).

•IT IS EXCEEDINGLY OPPORTUNE THAT

THESE […] RECEIVE OFFICIAL
RECOGNITION, AN EXPLICIT APPROVAL
FROM COMPETENT CHURCH AUTHORITIES
Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici (31).
 THE PARTICIPATION OF LAY FAITHFUL
IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH AS AN
ORGANIC COMMUNION

•AMONG THE VARIOUS FORMS OF LAY

APOSTOLATE WHICH HAVE A
PARTICULAR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
HIERARCHY, THE SYNOD FATHERS
HAVE SINGLED OUT DIFFERENT
CATHOLIC ACTION MOVEMENTS AND
ASSOCIATIONS (CFL 31).

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 IN LAY VOCATION:

“THE LAITY FREELY ASSOCIATE THEMSELVES

IN AN ORGANIC AND STABLE FORM,
INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND IN
COMMUNION WITH THEIR BISHOP AND
PRIESTS, SO THAT IN A SPECIAL WAY, PROPER
TO THEIR VOCATION, THEY MAY HELP TO
PROMOTE THE GROWTH OF THE ENTIRE
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY, HELP IN PASTORAL
ACTIVITIES AND INFUSE THE SPIRIT OF THE
GOSPEL IN ALL SPHERES OF LIFE”(31).

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 THE CORRESPOSIBILITY OF LAY
FAITHFUL IN THE CHURCH AS
MISSION

COMMUNION AND MISSION ARE PROFOUNDLY

CONNECTED WITH EACH OTHER. THEY
INTERPENETRATE AND MUTUALLY IMPLY
EACH OTHER TO THE POINT THAT
COMMUNION REPRESENTS BOTH THE
SOURCE AND THE FRUIT OF MISSION:
COMMUNION GIVES RISE TO MISSION AND
MISSION IS ACCOMPLISHED IN
COMMUNION (32).

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 THE CORRESPOSIBILITY OF LAY
FAITHFUL IN THE CHURCH AS
MISSION

THE HOUR HAS COME FOR A NEW

EVANGELIZATION (34)

• which has to remake the Christian fabric

of the ecclesial community itself
• which has to be directed not only to
individual persons but to entire sections
of the population in their various
situations, environments and cultures.

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 THE CORRESPOSIBILITY OF LAY
FAITHFUL IN THE CHURCH AS
MISSION

THE HOUR HAS COME FOR A NEW

EVANGELIZATION (35)

• aimed at the formation of a mature

ecclesial community
• at forming mature and responsible lay
faithful
• an important and indispensable element
for the plantatio Ecclesiae.

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 THE CORRESPOSIBILITY OF LAY
FAITHFUL IN THE CHURCH AS
MISSION

THE HOUR HAS COME FOR A NEW

EVANGELIZATION

Within the lay state of life there are diverse

vocations or rather different spiritual and
apostolic ways which individual lay faithful
follow (55).

Within the «commonly» shared lay vocation,

«special» lay vocations flourish (56).

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 LAY VOCATION IN
CHRISTIFIDELES LAICI

LAY FAITHFUL WHO LIVE THEIR VOCATION TO SANCTITY

IN THE DAILY TEMPORAL REALITIES AND WHILE THEY
INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN WORLDLY ACTIVITIES.
LAY FAITHFUL WHO LIVE THEIR ECCLESIAL MINISTRY BY
PUTTING THEIR CHARISM AT THE SERVICE OF THEIR
PARTICULAR CHURCH AND ITS MISSION ( AND
PARTICULARLY IN THEIR PARISH).
LAY PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATE, ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS
AND IN AN ASSOCIATED WAY, IN THE LIFE AND MISSION OF
THE CHURCH.

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 LAY VOCATION IN
CHRISTIFIDELES LAICI
LAY FAITHFUL, WHO OUT OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL,
ASSOCIATE IN AN ORGANIC AND ESTABLISHED WAY,
INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND IN COMMUNION WITH
THE BISHOP AND PRIESTS, SO THAT, IN A SPECIAL WAY
PROPER TO THEIR VOCATION, THEY MAY PROMOTE THE
GROWTH OF THE ENTIRE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY,
CONTRIBUTE THEIR SHARE IN PASTORAL PROJECTS AND
INFUSE THE SPIRIT OF THE GOSPEL IN ALL SPHERES OF
LIFE (31)
THESE LAY ASSOCIATIONS ARE OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED
AS THEY BEAR ALL THE “CRITERIA OF ECCLESIALITY”.

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 LA AZIONE CATTOLICA
NELLA CHRISTIFIDELES LAICI

LAY FAITHFUL WHO COMMIT THEMSELVES TO

THE NEW EVANGELIZATION, BY
RECONSTITUTING THE CHRISTIAN FABRIC OF
SOCIETY AND OF THE ECCLESIAL
COMMUNITY, BY ANNOUNCING THE GOSPEL
TO INDIVIDUALS AND TO GROUPS IN THE
DIVERSE ENVIRONMENTS, ENSURING THE
FORMATION OF MATURE AND RESPONSIBLE
LAY PEOPLE AND COLLABORATING IN THE
PLANTATIO ECCLESIAE IN THEIR OWN
DIOCESAN COMMUNITY.

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 IDENTITY: LAY FAITHFUL, WHO
SANCTIFY SECULAR SPHERES AND ARE
CORRESPONSIBLE IN THE LIFE AND
MISSION OF THE CHURCH; WITH A
VOCATION WHICH IS PARTICULAR TO THEM.

Charism: Missionary; Organic;

Diocesan; Lay.

Ministery: Plantatio Ecclesiæ

(work for the growth of the community,
collaborate in pastoral projects and
involve themselves in the spreading of
the Gospel).

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 Lay Vocation in communion with the Bishop and priests
“Vi esorto a porre tutte le vostre energie a servizio della comunione,
in stretta unione con il Vescovo, collaborando con lui e con il
Presbiterio nel ‘ministero della sintesi’, per intrecciare trame
sempre più fitte di quella comunione cordiale…”
Giovanni Paolo II

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 Lay Vocation at the service of the growth of all the Christian
Help the parish to rediscover the fervour to announce the Gospel and to
cultivate that pastoral solicitude so as to reach each and every person in
order to help everyone experience the joy of meeting the Lord.

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 Lay Vocation at the service of pastoral projects
As lay people you have chosen to live for the Church and its entire
mission, "committed –as the Italian Bishops wrote –in direct and organic
union with the diocesan community” to help in the rediscovery of a faith
which is lived in communion and to help every Christian community
become a family which cares for all its children.

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici

 Lay Vocation at the
service of the spreading of
the spirit of the Gospel in
all spheres of life

Continue being a competent and

credible presence in your cities and
countries, in your places of work,
in schools, in health centres, in free
time activities and in cultural,
economic and political spheres.
Thus you will be able to help in
making today’s world become a big
place where the civilization of love
prevails.

Competence, Integrity, Credibility

Lay Vocation in Christifideles laici