Catholic Action in Christifideles laici The Vocation and Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World

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). Catholic Action 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). Catholic Action 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). Catholic Action in Christifideles laici

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) Catholic Action 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). Catholic Action 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). Catholic Action 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). Catholic Action in Christifideles laici The participation of lay faithful in the life of the Church as an Organic Communion

The primacy given to the call of every Christian to holiness… The responsibility of professing the Catholic faith… Criteria of Ecclesiality for Lay Groups (30) Catholic Action in Christifideles laici The participation of lay faithful in the life of the Church as an Organic Communion

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… Criteria of Ecclesiality for Lay Groups (30) Catholic Action 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 (31). Catholic Action in Christifideles laici 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). Catholic Action in Christifideles laici The participation of lay faithful in the life of the Church as an Organic Communion

In Catholic Action: “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). Catholic Action 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). Catholic Action 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. Catholic Action 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. Catholic Action 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). Catholic Action in Christifideles laici

L’Azione Cattolica nella Christifideles Laici Lay faithful who live their vocation to sanctity in the daily temporal realities and while they involve themselves in wordly 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. Catholic Action in Christifideles laici

L’Azione Cattolica nella 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”. Catholic Action 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. Catholic Action 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).

CA 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

CA 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 sollicitude so as to reach each and ever person in order to help everyone experience the joy of meeting the Lord.

CA 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.

CA 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.