LESSON 12 THE LAITY
CCC897
897 "The term 'laity' is here understood to mean all the faithful except those in Holy Orders and those who belong to a religious state approved by the Church. That is, the faithful, who by Baptism are incorporated into Christ and integrated into the People of God, are made sharers in their particular way in the priestly, prophetic, and kingly office of Christ, and have their own part to play in the mission of the whole Christian people in the Church and in the World."
CCC 901
901 "Hence the laity, dedicated as they are to Christ and anointed by the Holy Spirit, are marvelously called and prepared so that even richer fruits of the Spirit may be produced in them. For all their works, prayers, and apostolic undertakings, family and married life, daily work, relaxation of mind and body, if they are accomplished in the Spirit - indeed even the hardships of life if patiently born - all these become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. In the celebration of the Eucharist these may most fittingly be offered to the Father along with the body of the Lord. And so, worshipping everywhere by their holy actions, the laity consecrate the world itself to God, everywhere offering worship by the holiness of their lives."
CCC 905
905 Lay people also fulfill their prophetic mission by evangelization, "that is, the proclamation of Christ by word and the testimony of life." For lay people, "this evangelization . . . acquires a specific property and peculiar efficacy because it is accomplished in the ordinary circumstances of the world."
e become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. In the celebration oo that fruits of the Spirit maybe produced in the
ACTIVITY
ACTIVITY
1.Without you outwardly speaking it or without anyone knowing your name, would people know you are Christian?
2.How can we share our Catholic faith with others?
3.Write one good thing you can do at home, at school or at play that will show that we live like Jesus.
4.List the duties performed by lay people in our church.
The Role of the Laity in the Catholic Church
Catholic Church operates on a hierarchy with the pope at the top and laity at the bottom. Despite the bottom-rung status, the laity compose the majority of the Church.Even though not of the clergy, lay people in the Catholic Church are still expected to strive to embody the teachings of the Church and to share the gift of the Catholic faith; lay men and women should be active members of their own parishes and in the greater world. Lay people can act as everyday ministers of the faith, bringing the principles of Christianity and Catholicism to work, school, and home.
Catholic Church operates on a hierarchy with the pope at the top and laity at the bottom. Despite the bottom-rung status, the laity compose the majority of the Church.Even though not of the clergy, lay people in the Catholic Church are still expected to strive to embody the teachings of the Church and to share the gift of the Catholic faith; lay men and women should be active members of their own parishes and in the greater world. Lay people can act as everyday ministers of the faith, bringing the principles of Christianity and Catholicism to work, school, and home.
Lay people can also take part in some of the sacred rituals of the Church by being altar servers, lectors, and lay ministers who can help distribute the Holy Eucharist during Mass and bring Holy Communion to shut-ins and those in hospital
a. Every baptized person has a share in the total mission of the Church. Every Christian is called to evangelize, according to the person’s state of life;
b. clerics and laity cooperate in inner-Church affairs;
c. in the secular area, the laity are to take on full responsibility;
d. from clerics, the laity receive the strength given by the sacraments and by dynamic exposition of Church doctrine, and then encouragement to evangelize the secular order;
e. the laity are not pastors in the Church. Bishops and priests are the pastors. The lay apostolate is not power struggle in the Church;
f. when we say “Church,” we mean all the baptized, that is, the laity (who are 99.9 percent of the Church), the clergy, and the religious;
g. Jesus Christ is our Master. All of us, pope, bishops, priests, religious, and laity are servants, brothers and sisters in the service of Christ and our neighbour.
Bible sharing:LETTER OF ST PAUL TO THE ROMANS 12:1-21
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
BIBLE VERSES OF SIGNIFICANCE:
MATTHEW 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
ISAIAH 49:1 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;your walls are ever before me.
PSALM 139 :13-17 For you created my inmost being;you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place,when I was woven together in the depths of the earth .16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!How vast is the sum of them!
JEREMIAH 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Closing Prayer
Lord, grant that I may always allow myself to be guided by you, always follow your plans, and perfectly accomplish your holy will. Grant that in all things, great and small, today and all the days of my life, I may do whatever you require of me. Help me respond to the slightest prompting of your grace so that I may be your trustworthy instrument for your honor.May your will be done in time and in eternity by me, in me and through me.Amen.
Lord, grant that I may always allow myself to be guided by you, always follow your plans, and perfectly accomplish your holy will. Grant that in all things, great and small, today and all the days of my life, I may do whatever you require of me. Help me respond to the slightest prompting of your grace so that I may be your trustworthy instrument for your honor.May your will be done in time and in eternity by me, in me and through me.Amen.
homework : letter to FR PAULINO
RELIGIOUS IN THE CHURCH -CHAPTER 13
RELIGIOUS IN THE CHURCH -CHAPTER 13
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