Laity constitutes the base of the Church . Implicitly, all the New Testament and Church documents presuppose and address "the people of God", from whom "the hierarchy" and "the clergy" spring (cf. Hebrews 5 : 1 ). The Lord Himself, the Blessed Virgin, the Apostles came from the people.
The Church's doctrine in general, and here about Laity, comes from Christ, the Apostles and the Tradition. Most of this teaching has been recorded in the New Testament, especially the Gospels referring the Savior's words and works. The Lord said that His followers are compared to branches of the Vine that He represents; they follow His footsteps carrying their crosses and denying themselves. They have to be – and actually are- the salt of the earth, the light of the world, radiating love – even for enemies-, forgiving, "poor in spirit", and non violent. They have "to announce the Good News to all creature", to witness for Him and His Resurrection.
The Apostles – especially Paul whose year we celebrate since the 29 th of June- told the Faithful who and what they were ("the people of God", the field of the Lord", the "church or assembly of the living God"…) and who and what they have to be , and what henceforth to do.
But Vatican II "has written as never before on the nature, dignity, spirituality, mission and responsibility of the Lay faithful" (Christifideles Laici, n. 2). In this research, we shall study only three documents:
the Dogmatic Constitution about the Church, "Lumen gentium" (abbreviation: LG),
the Decree on Lay Apsotolate, "Apostolicam Actuositatem" (abbreviation : AA),
and the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhoration of H.H. Pope John Paul II "Christifideles Laici" (abbreviation : CL).
A summary presentation of the above mentioned documents will be followed by personal comments, the whole remaining open for discussion and debate, as the Lay people are directly concerned and involved. We shall speak about them and of course listen to them!
A primary remark
The New Testament and Church texts are too numerous, too rich and too "lofty" to be encompassed, on the one hand, and applied, on the other. Too numerous and too nice things are said about Lay people : many rights, many duties, many ideals. How about reality? The Italian wisdom states :"Dal dire al fare, c'è di mezzo il mare", which means roughly :"From words to works, the sea in the middle stands!"
Most of the Church texts are ideal, idealistic; some might look simply unrealistic. Others, thanks God, mention "difficulties, risks, dangers". Such statements about facts and human weaknesses and limits balance wonderfully the sublimity of the principles. One may here report two events in the Lord's life: the Transfiguration, where Christ's future Vicar, Peter, the key holder, as well as the fiery James and John did not have any intention whatsoever to return to earth, after having tasted the sweetness of heavenly Glory! The second event : the Lordly Ascension after which the Apostles' eyes and noses remained lifted up towards the sky. And the angels came down from heaven to remind the First Christians of their duties on earth until the return of Jesus!
1- "Lumen Gentium" : 21- 11- 1964
- nr. 30 : "The Lay people are the persons who do not belong to the clergy nor to the religious Orders", a negative definition. Positively, "they are the Christians who became part of Christ's Body through Baptism and share His priestly, prophetic and royal function and mission" They have to spread the Kingdom of Christ in and through the temporal concerns. (also in nr. 33). Their special character is secularity. They deal with the earthly endeavours. They have to sanctify the realities of this world, to witness for Christ, for His Resurrection (nr. 38). They have a special dignity (nr. 37), called as they are "to the fullness of the christian life and the perfection of charity".
Some comments on LG
-The words "Lay, Laity" derive from the Greek "λαος" "laós", people, taken apparently in their human anthropological dimension, whereas "δημος" demos" seems to designate the juridical, political and social status and dimension.
- To the Lay people the words of the Lord Jesus apply literally :"they are IN the world but not FROM the world", that "kosmos" which sounds so negative in the Johannine writings.
(St. Augustin comments :"Mundi dixit taenebrarum harum, mundi dixit praevaricationum harum, mundi de quo dixit :"Et mundus eum non cognovit".)
- H.H. Pope Benedict XVI admits "laicity", after the divine Master who taught His Disciples to distinguish, separate and harmonize between "God" and "Caesar", according a certain amount of autonomy – not total independence- to the earthly things. But the Pontiff, Vicar of Christ and an eminent philosopher and theologian himself, rejects "laicism" which eliminates faith, soul and religion, promoting matter, claiming absolute dominion over everything and everyone. One may say the same about "secularity" and "secularism". Unfortunately, at times "secularization" means "paganization" and/or simply practical atheism.
- One has to acknowledge honestly that many "rights" or "prerogatives" of the Lay faithful cannot exist or express themselves WITHOUT the "clergy", especially in the inalienable framework of (a) the supreme Church authority (b) the local Bishop and Diocese (c) the local priest(s). This research restricts itself to the Lay people and does not quote any Church document about "the clergy's " interaction with Laity.
- Talking always about Lay people, they are encouraged to avoid what I would call "the clericalism of laity" meaning the Faithful who rely completely – or almost completely – on "the clergy" described in Arabic as "rijaal ad-din", "the men (masculine also!) of religion". That same "clericalism of the Lay people" emerges negatively at times when some Faithful invoke the negligence, recklessness or/and misbehavior of some "clergy men" as a pretext for their own mistakes, indolence and inertia. Our "criterion" and model is Christ! And Lay people have their specific and irreplaceable role and place.
- No point in quoting here texts recalling the duties of the clergy towards the Faithful or in criticizing absent ordained ministers. When we speak of the duties of the others, especially the absent, we get tense, we express our wishes, but also – inevitably- our disappointment and frustration . The achievements that do not depend on us and which we wish can only produce in us tension and grudge. An Arabic proverb states :"Illi mush bi-idak bi-kidak", "what is not in your hand infuriate you". The best – and safest- policy being honesty, and the best rule of behavior being action instead of dream, pragmatism instead of idealism, one finds in the first listeners of the Apostles, on the very day of Pentecost , the expression of "the right thing" to say and to do : "Brethren, what must WE do?" Everyone should ask himself/herself this question :"What must I do?", because if I keep asking and demanding what the Pope, the Bishop, the Priest, the Nun, on the one hand, and my mother-in-law and my brother-in-law, on the other, and the international Community and the different Governments, on the third hand (if any!), then I simply get nervous. I waste my time and energy. Such questions and debates have to take place when the "other(s)" is/are present.
- The indefinite shortcomings and defects of clergy and people – included our good selves- should never discourage us. The Arab wisdom tells us that "whoever watches people dies of sorrow" ("mann raaqaba an-naas, maata hamman"). Let's not judge (see Mt 7 : 1). Let's try our best, talk positive, think positive. When dealing with mistakes, errors, shortcomings, let us look for solutions and act instead of laconically complaining in endless lamentations (The Lamentations are a very short Book in the Bible. So they are not supposed to last long!)
- The above remarks apply also to the following Church documents.
2- "Apostolicam Actuositatem", the Decree about Lay Apostolate (AA)
This document deals specifically, extensively and almost exclusively with Lay people and their apostolic activity which comes from their Christian vocation, since their Baptism (nr. 1). Some Lay Apostles mentioned in the New Testament : Ac 11: 19 -21; 18 : 26; Rom 16 : 1 -16; Phili. 4 : 3.
The Lay people's zeal should increase with the growing population or demography (I add : except perhaps in the Western Christian countries!), the progress of technology, the globalization through communications and mass media (today we have the internet and satellite tvs)- fields open to laity alone. Thus, the Lay apostolate becomes increasingly autonomous. Lay people are aware, more than ever, of their specific identity and mission : a fruit of the holy Spirit (Rom 5 : 5).
- nr. 2 : The Christian vocation aims at announcing and spreading the Kingdom of Christ : one mission, different ministries and charisms. See 1 Cor. 12 : 7.
- Nr. 3 : the Lay Faithful are united with Christ, the Head of the Body, through baptism and Confirmation, as a holy chosen people (see 1 Peter 2 : 4 – 10), a "communion" which culminates in the Eucharist. Apostolate comes from love towards God and fellow human beings.
- In fact, "God our Savior wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (see 1 Tim 2 : 3 ff.)
- Nr. 4 : the success of the Lay apostlate depends on the union with Christ, the Vine (John 15 : 5). The Lay faithful have to sanctify and orient all to Christ, the Head (and the Heart of humankind), see Col. 3 : 17.
- At times, the lay Faithful suffer persecution for Christ (see Mt 5 : 10).
- Lay apostolate can be carried on in associations, institutions, communities, groups, each with its own and special charism.
- The perfect example and model of Lay apostolate : the Virgin Mary (Mother of Christ, Mother of the Faithful, Mother of the Church)..
- nr. 5 : the Apostolate of the Laity aims at the salvation and the renewal of the whole temporal order, through "innumerable opportunities " of evangelization and sanctification (nr. 6), starting with the testimony of life (Mt. 5 : 16).
- Many problems, errors and destructive ideologies try to undermine the foundations of Christianity.
- Nr. 7 : in the temporal order, Laity has its own special obligations and possibilities of action : family, culture, economic matter, arts, professions, laws, political community, international relations. Rectifying distortions (how easy and practical!) is a heavy task.
- Nr. 8 : the charitable organizations and enterprises give the testimony of Christian love.
- Nr. 9-10 : framework of the lay apostolate : church community, family, youth, social milieu, national and international levels.
- Nr. 11: the parents are the first to communicate faith! "Famiglia, piccolo chiesa", "family, small – and first- church", school, society!
- Nr. 12 : the young people deserve special attention (the WYDs).
The various forms of Lay Apostolate
- nr. 16-17 : individual : irreplaceable, and especially required in "those regions where the freedom of the Church is severely infringed. The Lay people replace priests…", not without risks…
- nr. 19 : the document mentions associations in the Apostolate like "the Catholic Action" (nr. 20)…
- The external relationships of the Lay apostolate with the hierarchy and the clergy are indispensable. Every important activity should have the consent of the lawful Church authority (ch. 4).
Formation for the Lay Apostolate
- nr. 28 ff: such a formation should be diversified, special and thorough, taking into account the basic secular quality of the lay people of God, presupposing a human well rounded formation (nr. 29), starting with children's earliest education (nr.30), teaching how to have conversations, to organize charitable works.
- The tools for this formation: study sessions, congresses, conferences, days of recollection,( "seminars"), books, periodicals…
3- "Christifideles laici", Post-Synodal Exhortaion (30 December 1988) (abbr. CL)
After the 1987 Bishops' Synod about "the vocation and the mission in the Church", this Exhortation departs from the Vineyard laborers (Mt 20 : 1 -2) :"You go into my vineyard too!" (nr. 1). Every person is called to work in the Lord's vineyard (see the sermon of St. Gregory the Great).
- nr. 2 :The Vatican II Council and later the above mentioned Synod were attended also by a qualified representation of Laity who renews the youth of the Church by its active participation in the Liturgy (thanks to the local languages also), its proclaiming God's Word, in the catechesis, the different tasks and (lay) ministries, not without risks, difficulties and failures.
- The "novelties" : the lay ministries, and the increasing role of women in the Church ("Ohne Frauen laueft die Kirche nicht"!).
- Nr. 3 : call of Christ, on the occasion of the third Millennium of His Birth.
- Nr. 5 and 7 : Lay people should promote human dignity, following Jesus, Hope of Humankind.
- Nr. 9 : the Lay people find themselves on the front lines of the Church's life, "children in the Son" Jesus (Jn 3 : 5), one Body in Christ, holy and living temples of the Spirit (nr. 11 – 13). The "world" is the means and place of the Lay people to fulfill their Christian vocation and mission to holiness in the world and Gospel announcing to the world (nr. 16 – 17).
- Nr. 18 - 20 : in full communion with the Holy Trinity and with the fellow believers, the apostolate is characterized by diversity and "complementarity".
- Nr. 23 : the LAY MINISTRIES depend on the necessity and the expediency of the local church.
- Nr. 30 : The criteria of "ecclesiality" are :
- the call to holiness
- professing the catholic Faith with co-operation with the Supreme Pontiff, the local Bishop and clergy
- conformity to and participation in the Church's goals and commitment towards society and humankind.
- Nr. 33 : proclamation of the Gospel
- Nr. 34 : the time came for re-evangelization.
- Nr. 38 : a deep respect of the right to the Life.
- Nr. 58 : discovering and living one's own vocation and mission.
Conclusion
You certainly have many things to say. Go ahead. "It's now or never!"
