This is the second installment of the wisdom of Pope John Paul II. It concerns the laity. If you've been wondering what you are called to do as a lay person, I hope this helps.
THE LAITY
The role of lay people in the mission of the Church extends in two directions: In union with your pastors and assisted by their guidance you build up the communion of the faithful; second, as responsible citizens you permeate with the leaven of the Gospel the society in which you live, in its economic, social, political, cultural and intellectual dimension. When you faithfully carry out these two roles as citizens of both the earthly city and the heavenly kingdom, then are the words of Christ fulfilled: You are the salt of the earth . You are the light of the world (Mt 5:13-14). ~ Homily at Accra, Ghana, May 8, 1980
It is their [the laitys] specific vocation and mission to express the Gospel in their lives and thereby to insert the Gospel as a leaven into the reality of the world in which they live and work. The great forces which shape the worldpolitics, the mass media, science, technology, culture, education, industry and workare precisely the areas where lay people are especially competent to exercise their mission. If these forces are guided by people who are true disciples of Christ and who are, at the same time, fully competent in the relevant secular knowledge and skill, then indeed will the world be transformed from within by Christs redeeming power. ~ Homily in County Limerick, Ireland, October 1, 1979
In the unity of the Christian life, the various vocations are like so many rays of which the one light of Christ, whose radiance brightens the countenance of the Church. The laity, by virtue of the secular character of their vocation, reflect the mystery of the incarnate Word particularly insofar as He is the Alpha and the Omega of the world, the foundation and measure of the value of all created things. Sacred ministers, for their part, are living images of Christ the head and shepherd, who guides His people during this time of already and not yet, as they await His coming in glory. ~ Exhortation on the Consecrated Life, March 25, 1996
The development in the United States of what is commonly called lay ministry is certainly a positive and fruitful result of the renewal begun by the Second Vatican Council. Particular attention needs to be paid to the spiritual and doctrinal formation of all lay ministers. In every case they should be men and women of faith, exemplary in personal and family life, who lovingly embrace the full and complete proclamation of the good news (Reconciliatio et Paenitentia, 9) taught by the Church. ~ On Parishes, Lay Ministry and Womens Roles Ad Limina Address to the U.S. Bishops of Baltimore, Washington, Atlanta, and Miami, July 2, 1993
Particular care must be given to forming a social conscience at all levels and in all sectors. When injustices worsen and the distance between rich and poor increases distressingly, the social doctrine, in a form which is creative and open to the broad fields of the Churchs presence, must be a valuable instrument for formation and action. This holds good particularly for the laity: It is to the laity, though not exclusively to them, that secular duties and activity properly belong (GS, 43). It is necessary to avoid supplanting the laity and to study seriously just when certain forms of assistance to them retain their reason for existence. Is it not the laity who are called, by reason of their vocation in the Church, to make their contribution in the political and economic dimensions, and to be effectively present in the safeguarding and advancement of human rights? ~ Address to Latin American Bishops at Puebla, February 8, 1979
The mission of the Church in the world is accomplished not only by ministers who have received the sacrament of orders, but also by all the lay faithful. Because they have been baptized, the lay faithful share in the priestly, prophetic and royal functions of Christ. ~ Address at Reunion, May 30, 1989
Your Christian vocation does not take you away from any of your other brothers and sisters. It does not inhibit your involvement in civic affairs nor exempt you from your responsibilities as a citizen. It does not divide you from society nor relieve you of the daily trials of life. Rather you continued engagement in secular activities and professions is truly a part of your vocation. For you are called to make the Church present and fruitful in the ordinary circumstances of lifein married and family life, in the daily conditions of earning a living, in political and civic responsibilities and in cultural, scientific and educational pursuits. No human activity is foreign to the Gospel. God wishes all of creation to be ordered to His kingdom, and it is especially to the laity that the Lord has entrusted this task. ~ Homily at Accra, Ghana, May 8, 1980
To perform a Church calling as lay men and women often means giving clear witness to the Church against the customary social habits of ordinary living. It means having to bring the demands of the Church calling, the demands of the family and the demands of ones personal life into harmony. You can achieve this through living more consciously from the springs of your life, by the Holy Spirit, the springs which you received in your baptism and confirmation. ~ Address to LayChurch Workers in West Germany, November 18, 1980
You who are lay persons in the Church and who profess faith, the greatest of all resourcesyou have a unique opportunity and crucial responsibility. Through your lives in the midst of your daily activities in the world, you show the power that faith has to transform the world and to renew the family of man. ~ Homily at Accra, Ghana, May 8, 1980
It is a blessing for the Church that in so many parishes the lay faithful assist priests in a variety of ways: in religious education, pastoral counseling, social service activities, administration, etc. This increased participation is undoubtedly a work of the Spirit renewing the Churchs vigor. ~ On Parishes, Lay Ministry and Womens Roles Ad Limina Address to the U.S. Bishops of Baltimore, Washington, Atlanta, and Miami, July 2, 1993
As members of the laity, you are called to take an active part in the sacramental and liturgical life of the Church, especially in the Eucharistic sacrifice. At the same time you are called to spread the Gospel actively through the practice of charity and through involvement in catechetical and missionary efforts, according to the gifts which each one of you has received (cf. 1 Cor 12:4ff). ~ Homily at Accra, Ghana, May 8, 1980
The Christian faith does not provide you with ready-made solutions to the complex problems affecting contemporary society. But it does give you deep insights into the nature of man and his needs, calling you to speak the truth in love, to take up your responsibilities as good citizens and to work with your neighbors to build a society where true human values are nourished and deepened by a shared Christian vision of life. ~ Homily at Nairobi, Kenya, May 7, 1980
These quotes have been taken from "The Wisdom of John Paul II: The Pope on Life's Most Vital Questions" Compiled by Nick Bakalar and Richard Balkin, with an introduction by Father John White. Vintage Spiritual Classics, New York. 2001
THE LAITY
The role of lay people in the mission of the Church extends in two directions: In union with your pastors and assisted by their guidance you build up the communion of the faithful; second, as responsible citizens you permeate with the leaven of the Gospel the society in which you live, in its economic, social, political, cultural and intellectual dimension. When you faithfully carry out these two roles as citizens of both the earthly city and the heavenly kingdom, then are the words of Christ fulfilled: You are the salt of the earth . You are the light of the world (Mt 5:13-14). ~ Homily at Accra, Ghana, May 8, 1980
It is their [the laitys] specific vocation and mission to express the Gospel in their lives and thereby to insert the Gospel as a leaven into the reality of the world in which they live and work. The great forces which shape the worldpolitics, the mass media, science, technology, culture, education, industry and workare precisely the areas where lay people are especially competent to exercise their mission. If these forces are guided by people who are true disciples of Christ and who are, at the same time, fully competent in the relevant secular knowledge and skill, then indeed will the world be transformed from within by Christs redeeming power. ~ Homily in County Limerick, Ireland, October 1, 1979
In the unity of the Christian life, the various vocations are like so many rays of which the one light of Christ, whose radiance brightens the countenance of the Church. The laity, by virtue of the secular character of their vocation, reflect the mystery of the incarnate Word particularly insofar as He is the Alpha and the Omega of the world, the foundation and measure of the value of all created things. Sacred ministers, for their part, are living images of Christ the head and shepherd, who guides His people during this time of already and not yet, as they await His coming in glory. ~ Exhortation on the Consecrated Life, March 25, 1996
The development in the United States of what is commonly called lay ministry is certainly a positive and fruitful result of the renewal begun by the Second Vatican Council. Particular attention needs to be paid to the spiritual and doctrinal formation of all lay ministers. In every case they should be men and women of faith, exemplary in personal and family life, who lovingly embrace the full and complete proclamation of the good news (Reconciliatio et Paenitentia, 9) taught by the Church. ~ On Parishes, Lay Ministry and Womens Roles Ad Limina Address to the U.S. Bishops of Baltimore, Washington, Atlanta, and Miami, July 2, 1993
Particular care must be given to forming a social conscience at all levels and in all sectors. When injustices worsen and the distance between rich and poor increases distressingly, the social doctrine, in a form which is creative and open to the broad fields of the Churchs presence, must be a valuable instrument for formation and action. This holds good particularly for the laity: It is to the laity, though not exclusively to them, that secular duties and activity properly belong (GS, 43). It is necessary to avoid supplanting the laity and to study seriously just when certain forms of assistance to them retain their reason for existence. Is it not the laity who are called, by reason of their vocation in the Church, to make their contribution in the political and economic dimensions, and to be effectively present in the safeguarding and advancement of human rights? ~ Address to Latin American Bishops at Puebla, February 8, 1979
The mission of the Church in the world is accomplished not only by ministers who have received the sacrament of orders, but also by all the lay faithful. Because they have been baptized, the lay faithful share in the priestly, prophetic and royal functions of Christ. ~ Address at Reunion, May 30, 1989
Your Christian vocation does not take you away from any of your other brothers and sisters. It does not inhibit your involvement in civic affairs nor exempt you from your responsibilities as a citizen. It does not divide you from society nor relieve you of the daily trials of life. Rather you continued engagement in secular activities and professions is truly a part of your vocation. For you are called to make the Church present and fruitful in the ordinary circumstances of lifein married and family life, in the daily conditions of earning a living, in political and civic responsibilities and in cultural, scientific and educational pursuits. No human activity is foreign to the Gospel. God wishes all of creation to be ordered to His kingdom, and it is especially to the laity that the Lord has entrusted this task. ~ Homily at Accra, Ghana, May 8, 1980
To perform a Church calling as lay men and women often means giving clear witness to the Church against the customary social habits of ordinary living. It means having to bring the demands of the Church calling, the demands of the family and the demands of ones personal life into harmony. You can achieve this through living more consciously from the springs of your life, by the Holy Spirit, the springs which you received in your baptism and confirmation. ~ Address to LayChurch Workers in West Germany, November 18, 1980
You who are lay persons in the Church and who profess faith, the greatest of all resourcesyou have a unique opportunity and crucial responsibility. Through your lives in the midst of your daily activities in the world, you show the power that faith has to transform the world and to renew the family of man. ~ Homily at Accra, Ghana, May 8, 1980
It is a blessing for the Church that in so many parishes the lay faithful assist priests in a variety of ways: in religious education, pastoral counseling, social service activities, administration, etc. This increased participation is undoubtedly a work of the Spirit renewing the Churchs vigor. ~ On Parishes, Lay Ministry and Womens Roles Ad Limina Address to the U.S. Bishops of Baltimore, Washington, Atlanta, and Miami, July 2, 1993
As members of the laity, you are called to take an active part in the sacramental and liturgical life of the Church, especially in the Eucharistic sacrifice. At the same time you are called to spread the Gospel actively through the practice of charity and through involvement in catechetical and missionary efforts, according to the gifts which each one of you has received (cf. 1 Cor 12:4ff). ~ Homily at Accra, Ghana, May 8, 1980
The Christian faith does not provide you with ready-made solutions to the complex problems affecting contemporary society. But it does give you deep insights into the nature of man and his needs, calling you to speak the truth in love, to take up your responsibilities as good citizens and to work with your neighbors to build a society where true human values are nourished and deepened by a shared Christian vision of life. ~ Homily at Nairobi, Kenya, May 7, 1980
These quotes have been taken from "The Wisdom of John Paul II: The Pope on Life's Most Vital Questions" Compiled by Nick Bakalar and Richard Balkin, with an introduction by Father John White. Vintage Spiritual Classics, New York. 2001
