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 Laici says: 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).