Christifideles laici

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Christifideles laici on the vocation and mission of the laity in the Church and in the world is the title of the post-synodal apostolic letter of Pope John Paul II , which he published on December 30, 1988. It is the summary result of the seventh ordinary Synod of Bishops , which was held in Rome from October 1 to 30, 1987 .

Table of contents

In the introduction it says:

“The laity (Christifideles laici), whose vocation and mission in church and world was the subject of the Synod of Bishops in 1987 twenty years after the Second Vatican Council, belong to that people of God, for whom the vineyard workers stand in the Gospel of Matthew: 'Because there is with the kingdom of heaven it is like a landowner who left his house early in the morning to recruit workers for his vineyard. He agreed with the workers on one denarius for the day and sent them to his vineyard ( Mt 20 : 1-2  EU ). ' The parable of the gospel opens our eyes to the vast vineyard of the Lord and to the great multitudes of men and women he calls and sends to work in it. The vineyard is the whole world ( Mt 13.38  EU ) "

The papal document begins with the parable of the workers in the vineyard , it is based on the catechetical requirements and interprets the lay work on the whole breadth of the Gospel . The connection with the encyclical Sollicitudo rei socialis and the apostolic letter Mulieris dignitatem (on the dignity and vocation of women) is also clear.

Services and duties of the laity

The section on the ministries and responsibilities of the layperson states:

“The salvation mission of the Church in the world is not only realized by the ministers based on the sacrament of the Ordo, but also by all lay people. As baptized and by virtue of their specific vocation, they participate in the priestly, prophetic and royal office of Christ to the extent that suits each one. Therefore, shepherds must recognize and promote the ministries, roles and functions of lay people. These have their sacramental basis in baptism and confirmation and in many cases also in marriage. "

John Paul II and the Synod of Bishops intended to respond to numerous requests from bishops , priests and lay people. At the same time, the writing is intended to reflect new forms of pastoral activities by lay people in the Church. The laity are “called by God to exercise their peculiar task, guided by the Spirit of the Gospel, and to contribute like a leaven to the sanctification of the world from within, and above all through the testimony of their lives, in the splendor of faith, hope and Love Christ to make known to others. "

The Second Vatican Council had already expressed that the mission of the laity was so necessary "that without it the apostolate of the pastors usually cannot achieve its full effect". Christifideles laici adds that all ministries and charisms, since they are different and complement each other, are “necessary for the growth of the Church, according to each of its kinds.” Especially before the present day, the laity are too committed to their parishes “and for awakening missionary vigor towards non-believers and believers who have given up religious practice in whole or in part ”.

Lay charismata

The apostolic letter emphasizes the importance of the various charisms as gifts of the Holy Spirit , which can be "extraordinary or humble and simple". (No. 24). In the church, the grateful acceptance of charisms is necessary, but also their distinction: “The judgment on their authenticity and their orderly use rests with those who are in charge of the church and who have a special responsibility not to extinguish the spirit, but to test everything and keep what is good ”(n. 24).

The Synod Fathers of the Second Vatican Council repeated Christ's invitation to go to his vineyard and work. “You too go” is directed not only to the bishops, priests and the consecrated life , the laity are also “called personally by the Lord, and they receive from him a mission for the Church and for the world” first space for the social commitment of the individual and “cradle of life”.

literature

  • Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace: Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church . Herder Verlag, Freiburg im Breisgau, 2006, ISBN 3-451-29078-2

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Statement of the Presidium of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) on the apostolic letter. PDF file; 68 kB ( Memento from October 26, 2007 in the Internet Archive )