Lay Apostolate is the participation of lay Catholics in Christ's mission through witness, evangelization, sanctification, charity, and renewal of the temporal order.[1]
A baptismal vocation
Lay people receive both the right and duty to apostolate from union with Christ in Baptism and Confirmation, not merely from a shortage of priests or a delegation to perform parish tasks. Sharing in Christ's priestly, prophetic, and kingly offices, they witness to the faith, offer their lives to God, serve neighbors, and work so that the Gospel penetrates the structures and habits of society.[2]
The lay apostolate may be individual or organized, spontaneous or formally mandated. A parent handing on the faith, a worker acting justly, a scholar serving truth, a citizen defending human dignity, and an association conducting an approved work all act apostolically in different ways. The Eucharist and living union with Christ remain the source of fruitfulness.
In Church and world
Lay people can exercise ecclesial offices and ministries that law permits, but their distinctive secular vocation should not be reduced to filling sanctuary or chancery roles. They ordinarily reach places where ordained ministers cannot substitute for them: homes, professions, neighborhoods, science, media, economics, politics, and the arts.
Legitimate autonomy in temporal affairs is not independence from Catholic faith and morals. Lay Catholics form conscience through Scripture, Tradition, the Magisterium, prayer, and competent knowledge; they then make prudent judgments for which they are responsible. Pastors teach principles and guard communion without pretending that every contingent policy choice has been doctrinally settled.
References
- 1.Lumen gentium — Vatican II's dogmatic constitution on the mystery, constitution, and mission of the Church
- 2.Apostolicam actuositatem — Vatican II's decree on the vocation, formation, fields, and forms of the lay apostolate