Gifted, Called, Sent

ath ing of the C olic Churc e teach h n on th iscussio ht and d s for thoug A stimulu No. 4

Gifted, Called, Sent... Who are the lay faithful? What is Eye-witnesses Fifteen months later, the papal text the nature of their vocation? What “It was a feast of universality... bishops, Christifideles Laici was published. is their role in the Church? How are married and single people from all Its Latin title translates as ‘The lay they called to respond as Christians parts of the world, black and white, members of Christ’s faithful people.’ in the world today? rich and poor... all of us coming with This document was an effort to Questions such as these formed different issues of concern, all on a path communicate to the whole Church the agenda of an historic meeting of dialogue and discovery of the deeper the spirit and themes of the synod of church leaders in 1987, twenty- meaning of our Christian lives.” (Ron & discussions and to give fresh impetus five years after the Second Vatican Mavis Pirola, an Australian married couple to the life and mission of the Church Council. The purpose of this who participated in the Synod on the Laity) as it approaches the 21st century. The document consists of an introduction discussion between the pope, Background to Christifideles bishops and a number of lay and five chapters. participants was to revisit Vatican Laici II: to examine from where we have What is a synod? Introduction ‘You go into my vineyard too.’ come and to where we are going as The word ‘synod’ means ‘a journey a Church; to see how much of the made together.’ It is a consultative The biblical image of the vine and the Council’s vision for renewal has come meeting usually held every three years branches weaves its way through the alive, and how much is yet to be at which the Pope gathers with bishops text of Christfideles Laici. The Gospel realized. from around the world to discuss a parable of the labourers in the vineyard This meeting was known as the topic of importance for the Church. The (Mt.20) opens our eyes to the immense Synod on the Laity and it generated complete title of the 1987 synod was: scope of the Christian vocation. The enormous interest around the world. ‘The Vocation and Mission of the Laity vineyard is the entire world to be Christifideles Laici was the title of in the Church and in the World, Twenty transformed by the Good News. the document that came out of that Years after the Second Vatican Council.” The spirit of Vatican II continues in the renewal of the Church, inspiring Synod. (The technical name for the This was the seventh synod since type of document is ‘post-synodal a multitude of graced works. There is Vatican II. While it is realistic to note much to be thankful for...and much apostolic exhortation.’) It puts on that vast numbers of Catholics would record the issues discussed and still to be done. The pressing needs of never have heard of a synod, it is the world cry out for God’s love to be the questions raised at the synod. also encouraging that hundreds of While it doesn’t set out to solve all felt, the Good News to be heard. The thousands of lay people around voice of the Lord resounds in the hearts the problems of the Church, it does the world took part in diocesan intend to stir a deeper awareness of of Christ’s followers, in each one of consultations held in preparation for us personally, urging us forth to bear the grace and gift of the Christian this landmark gathering. vocation and our responsibility to Christ’s love to others. respond generously in the mission of Who was at the Synod on the Laity? In a nutshell, Christifideles Laicisays: the Church. There were 230 bishops plus 60 lay • You are great! observers present at this synod. Of the • Live up to your greatness! lay participants, there were men and • Tell others of their greatness! women ranging in age from late 20s This ‘greatness’ is is based in the to late 60s from various walks of life. magnificent truth that each of us is loved, They came from 44 countries and every gifted, called and sent by God. continent of the world. Landmarks . Issue No. 4 Christifideles Laici . Vocation and Mission of the Laity Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of Pope John Paul II (1988) of the Catholic Ch eaching urch n the t ssion o d discu ought an A stimulus for th

We are Gifted

You are loved. Believe it! But the Good News doesn’t stop there. Many gifts, one body Through baptism we are immersed in “As a teenager I developed a bad habit. Until relatively recently we have a community of love. We are bonded Not drugs or alcohol. It was a habit of thought of a lay person as a non- by faith to millions of other believers putting myself down. You see, I had priest or non-religious; i.e., we who share in this discovery of the risen this tape playing in my head: ‘I’m not have operated out of a negative Jesus and the reality of the Holy Spirit’s good enough. I can’t do anything right.’ definition. It is important, says presence in our lives. Then one day I realized that not only Christifideles Laici (n.9), to use was I destroying my self-esteem, I was This, then, is the context in which our positive terms to describe the denigrating God’s own creation. I stopped relationship with Christ and the Church faithful based on their sacramental playing that tape. I replaced it with a new must be understood. vocation as baptized, confirmed one: ‘I am good, cherished, gifted. God Christians who are called to holiness. Chapter 2. ‘All branches of a single delights in me!’ That positive decision has For many lay people the gift of vine.’ changed my life.” (S.L.) marriage is also integral to their Chapter 1. ‘I am the vine and you are The concept of ‘communion’ is central Christian identity. to Christifideles Laici. What we mean by the branches.’ Try it: Practice using positive terms ‘communion’ is our union of love with to describe Christ’s faithful. E.g., Being a Christian involves far more God brought about by Jesus Christ, in refer to a married parishioner as than belonging to an organization. Like the Holy Spirit. Through the Word of a ‘married man’ rather than as a branches connected to a vine, the very God and through the sacraments we life source of the Christian is the life are constantly invited into this love of the risen Christ. Through baptism relationship. Within this communion Grey power we ‘come alive’ in Christ. We know of love we find a variety of Spirit-filled “My grandfather is an active 87 year old. ourselves to be loved for all eternity. We gifts (or ‘charisms’), leading people One day his parish appealed for people are confronted with the realization that: to assume different ministries and to drive the elderly folk at a nursing home services, all for the building up of • God loves us - unconditionally, to an outing at the park once a week. the body of Christ and furthering the totally, forever. Grandad volunteered! At an age when mission of the Church. • We belong to Christ and share in you might expect him to sit back and the joy of the resurrection. In this regard, Chapter 2 of Christifideles think that ‘Life owes me,’ Grandad is still • The Holy Spirit dwells within us, Laici affirms the work of the diocese asking what he can do for his parish. forever surprising us with the and parish as well as the many He is an inspiration to me as to what it newness of God’s presence. lay associations or ‘movements’ means to live for others.” (Anna) which have arisen in our times. The

Who are the lay faithful? “Whether they be exceptional and great or simple and ordinary, the charisms are graces of the Holy Spirit that have, directly or indirectly, a usefulness for the ecclesial community, ordered as they are to the building up of the Church...and to the needs of the world” (CL, 24). Within the community of love which is the Church, there are abundant graces and gifts. Each of us has a unique share in those gifts. God sees them. As brothers and sisters in Christ we are called to identify them in one another. In fact, in stark contrast to the ‘knocking’ habits of our society, this is one of the great hallmarks of the Christian vocation: the acknowledgement and empowerment of God-given gifts for the sake of Christ’s mission. Think about it: In what ways do I affirm my friends and family for their gifts? Am I more likely to praise or criticize people? of the Catholic Ch eaching urch n the t ssion o d discu ought an A stimulus for th

We are Called document notes that at times tensions ‘secularism,’ Christifideles Laici makes The parish arise between the charismatic and an impassioned plea to all Christians to The parish is not principally a institutional dimensions of church evangelize; i.e., to share the Good News structure, a territory, or a building, life, and it offers five criteria for the of Jesus Christ: “God loves humanity! but rather, “the family of God, a discernment of lay associations (see Each Christian’s words and life must fellowship afire with a unifying spirit,” n.30). The faithful have great freedom make this proclamation resound: God “a familial and welcoming home...a in responding to the promptings of loves you, Christ came for you. Christ is Eucharistic community” (CL,26). the Holy Spirit. At the same time, they for you the Way, the Truth and the Life!” are called to discern and go forward (n.34). Christifideles Laici (n.26-27) affirms in a spirit of unity and communion the indispensible value of parishes Essential to evangelization is the with the rest of the church. “For the and calls for “a greater effort in their promotion of the dignity of the human sound building of a common house renewal,” especially through: person. The laity are called not so it is necessary...that every spirit of much to do ‘churchy’ things as to “a) adaptation of parish structures antagonism and conflict be put aside” transform the secular order with gospel according to the full flexibility (CL, 31). justice. In this regard, the document granted by canon law, especially in Chapter 3. ‘I have appointed you to specifically mentions the work of the promoting participation by the lay go forth and bear fruit.’ laity in science and technology, social faithful in pastoral responsibilities; Co-responsibility in mission communications, socio-economic “b) small, basic or so-called ‘living’ life, ecology, promotion of human communities, where the faithful can There is no Christian mission without rights and, most especially, in the communicate the Word of God and community, and no Christian family which is the place where the express it in service and love to one community without mission. This ‘humanization’ of the person and another” (CL,26). interconnectedness of communion society begins. and mission forms an intricate dance Think about it: In what way am I threading its way through Christifideles Chapter 4. ‘Labourers in the Lord’s building up the life of my parish? How Laici. How little cells of Christian love vineyard.’ am I contributing to its mission? can send out ripples and draw others Stewards of God’s grace into their circle of communion is one “Indeed as a person with a truly unique Making a difference of the mysterious powers of Christian life-story, each is called by name, to make community and the basis from which A woman at the preparatory talks for the a special contribution to the coming of all acts of mission and service flow. Synod on the Laity spoke of integrity in the kingdom of God. No talent, no matter the workplace. Her husband was asked In the face of society’s increasing how small, is to be hidden or left unused” by the government of her country to (n.56). investigate a bank scandal which was associated with corrupt and dangerous A characteristic of the current era in church history is the growth and networks. (A number of senior officials spread of new lay associations, groups, communities and movements. Some were later murdered in connection with examples include: this scandal.) What was this couple being Young Christian Workers, Focolare, Marriage Encounter, Catholic Charismatic called to do? Should they risk their lives Renewal, Teams of our Lady, Christian Life Communities, Antioch, L’Arche, in a quest for truth? Supported by the St Vincent de Paul, Cursillo, Neo-Catechumenate, Opus Dei, International prayers of their parish, they accepted Movement for Catholic Students, associations for Catholic professionals, the demands of the investigation. As covenant communities, family clusters, parish renewal programs, small protection, their home was placed under group networks... 24 hour police surveillance. Their children were sent abroad,. At the meeting in Discussion: Note the variety of ways in which people express their mission. How Rome this woman was in constant phone many of the ecclesial initiatives above do you recognize? How many more can contact with her husband. Her fear was you name? evident. So was her courage. of the Catholic Ch eaching urch n the t ssion o d discu ought an A stimulus for th

We are Sent

Christifideles Laiciaffirms the variety of guidance from wise members of the The hour has come! ways in which the Christian vocation is faithful and discernment of gifts (n.58). Christifideles Laici points out the lived. Specifically it mentions: Formation is about integration of tremendous freedom of the laity to • Young people: they are the Church faith and life. We are members of the make a difference (n.29). The Code of of today and tomorrow (n.46); Church and citizens of human society. Canon Law clearly states that Christ’s • Children: a sign of life (n.47); There cannot be two parallel lives—a faithful have every right, indeed • Older people: their gift of wisdom ‘spiritual’ life and a ‘secular’ life. Rather, every responsibility, to gather and (n.48); we are called to a unity of life whereby to take a lead in apostolic ventures • Women and men: collaboration is our faith and our response to the (see Can. 215). Their mandate is their vital (n.49-52); gospel permeates all our activities and baptism and their qualifications are • Marriage and family life: responsibilities (n.59-60). the qualities, skills and graces of fundamental to society (n.52); their lives as members of the body Many Catholics go to Mass on Sundays • The sick and suffering: a special of Christ. Get on with your mission! and then live Monday to Saturday sign of Jesus’ presence (n.53). urges Christifideles Laici(n.33-35) . as if they have no awareness of their The world desperately needs to hear Chapter 5. ‘That you bear much fruit.’ gift of baptism. Christifideles Laici the Good News. Christ calls each of Formation challenges us to live up to our calling us by name to bear this Good News by bringing our faith into all our life This chapter notes the various ways in the unique circumstances of our experiences—our familial, professional, in which the lay faithful are formed in lives (n.28). We are never powerless. social, cultural, political lives. This is faith and equipped for their mission. We need not scapegoat or blame the great vineyard of the Lord in which Being a Christian is a continual process others for what is or isn’t happening God’s people are called to labour: the of maturation. Our lives are a never- in the Church. We must remember world which confronts us each day, ending journey of discovery as we our own baptismal commissioning the daily activities that consume our listen to how God calls us to live, act and step out in faith. Always in a time and energies. This is the ‘market and use our resources. This requires spirit of unity and love. Always in place’ where faith meets life, where we openness to God through the Word, communion with the Church (n.29- are called to bear the love of Christ to prayer, the voice of the Church, spiritual 30). others.

Mission in the market place Get started in a gospel initiative • A woman living in a housing commission unit organized a skills workshop for the • Take your gospel dream; unemployed residents in her block of units. • Find two people who share your • A young businessman applied his skills to assist a neighbourhood youth refuge dream; raise its start-up capital. • Set a date to meet. Meet regularly; • The owner of a video store put up a sign that read: ‘Free hire on any Christian video.’ • At each meeting be sure to do • A mother felt a powerful stirring in her heart to pray for the children of her two things: PRAY together and country. She invited a few mothers from the local school to pray with her in her PLAN a specific action towards the home. Their little group grew and their vision spread. Four years later 300 such realization of your gospel dream. prayer groups exist.

Text: Teresa Pirola A publication for parishes and schools, Landmarks presents key points from Church documents in reader-friendly formats. Design: Sarann Ryan The content is not a comprehensive commentary but a simple introduction to the documents of the Church. © The Story Source, 1995 Published with ecclesiastical approval by The Story Source, PO Box 1106, Maroubra NSW 2035 Australia.