Decree on the apostolate of the laity. ; ic*« Council Q<2Ci'vft-*rvi <2 &a ikbfe ,• c 3 WfMOWAt LieffAltr 'tti 1 & 1979 *^555 lM>***v *w»gh me Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 i ' https://archive.org/details/decreeonapostolavati_O Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity This booklet is the text of an English translation relayed from Vatican City to the Press Department of the National Catholic Welfare Con- ference, Washington, D.C. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. BY OUR SUNDAY VISITOR INC. HUNTINGTON, INDIANA 46750 Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity Hollowing is the text of an English translation of the Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity promulgated by Pope Paul VI on Nov. 18, 1965. INTRODUCTION 1. To intensify the apostolic activity of the people of God, the most holy synod earnestly addresses itself to the laity, whose proper and indispens- able role in the mission of the Church has already been dealt with in other documents. The apostolate of the laity derives from their Christian vocation and the Church can never be without it. Sacred Scripture clearly shows how spontaneous and fruitful such activity was at the very beginning of the Church (cf. Acts 11:19-21; 18:26; Rom. 16:1-16; Phil. 4:3). Our own times require of the laity no less zeal: in fact, mod- ern conditions demand that their apostolate be broadened and intensified. With a con- stantly increasing population, continual progress in science and technology, and closer in- terpersonal relationships, the areas for the lay apostolate have been immensely widened particularly in fields that have been for the most part open to the laity alone. These factors have also occasioned new prob- lems which demand their ex- pert attention and study. This apostolate becomes more im- perative in view of the fact that many areas of human life have become increasingly autonom- ous. This is as it should be, but it sometimes involves a degree of departure from the ethical and religious order and a ser- ious danger to Christian life. Besides, in many places where priests are very few or, in some instances, deprived of due free- dom for priestly work, the Church could scarcely exist and function without the activity of the laity. An indication of this mani- fold and pressing need is the unmistakable work being done today by the Holy Spirit in making the laity ever more con- scious of their own responsibil- 3 ity and encouraging them to serve Christ and the Church in all circumstances. In this decree the Council seeks to describe the nature, character, and diversity of the lay apostolate, to state its bas- ic principles, and to give pas- toral directives for its more ef- fective exercise. All these should be regarded as norms when the canon law, as it per- tains to the lay apostolate, is revised. K CHAPTER ONE The Vocation of the Laity to the Apostolate 2. The Church was founded for the purpose of spreading the kingdom of Christ through- out the earth for the glory of God the Father, to enable all men to share in His saving re- demption, and that through them the whole world might enter into a relationship with Christ. All activity of the Mys- tical Body directed to the at- tainment of this goal is called the apostolate, which the Church carries on in various ways through all her members. For the Christian vocation by its very nature is also a voca- tion to the apostolate. No part of a living body is merely passive but has a share in the functions as well as life of the body: so, too, in the body of Christ, which is the Church, “the whole body ... in keep- ing with the proper activity of each part, derives its increase from its own internal develop- ment” (Eph. 4:16). Indeed, the organic union in this body and the structure of the members are so compact that the member who fails to make his proper contribution to the development of the Church must be said to be use- ful neither to the Church nor to himself. In the Church there is a di- versity of ministry but a one- ness of mission. Christ con- ferred on the Apostles and their successors the duty of teaching, sanctifying, and rul- ing in His name and power. 4 But the laity likewise share in the priestly, prophetic, and royal office of Christ and therefore have their own share in the mission of the whole people of God in the Church and in the world. They exercise the apostolate in fact by their activity direct- ed to the evangelization and sanctification of men and to the penetrating and perfecting of the temporal order through the spirit of the Gospel. In this way, their temporal activity openly bears witness to Christ and promotes the salvation of men. Since the laity, in accord- ance with their state of life, live in the midst of the world and its concerns, they are called by God to exercise their apos- tolate in the world like leaven, with the ardor of the spirit of Christ. 3. The laity derive the right and duty to the apostolate from their union with Christ the head; incorporated into Christ’s Mystical Body through Baptism and strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit through Confirmation, they are assigned to the apostolate by the Lord Himself. They are consecrated for the royal priesthood and the holy people (cf. 1 Peter 2:4-10) not only that they may offer spiritual sacrifices in everything they do but also that they may witness to Christ throughout the world. The sacraments, however, es- pecially the most holy Euchar- ist, communicate and nourish that charity which is the soul of the entire apostolate. One engages in the apos- tolate through the faith, hope, and charity which the Holy Spirit diffuses in the hearts of all members of the Church. In- deed, by the precept of char- ity, which is the Lord’s great- est commandment, all the faith- ful are impelled to promote the glory of God through the com- ing of His kingdom and to ob- tain eternal life for all men — that they may know the only true God and Him whom He sent, Jesus Christ (cf. John 17:3). On all Christians there- fore is laid the preeminent re- sponsibility of working to make the divine message of sal- vation known and accepted by all men throughout the world. For the exercise of this apos- tolate, the Holy Spirit Who sanctifies the people of God through ministry and the sac- raments gives the faithful spe- cial gifts also (cf. 1 Cor. 12:7), “allotting them to everyone according as He wills” (1 Cor. 12:11) in order that individu- als, administering grace to others just as they have re- ceived it, may also be “good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10), to build up the whole body in charity (cf. Eph. 4:16). From the acceptance of these char- isms, including those which are more elementary, there arise for each believer the right and 5 duty to use them in the Church and in the world for the good of men and the building up of the Church, in the freedom of the Holy Spirit who “breathes where He wills” (John 3:8). This should be done by the la- ity in communion with their brothers in Christ, especially with their pastors who must make a judgment about the true nature and proper use of these gifts not to extinguish the Spirit but to test all things and hold for what is good (cf. 1 Thess. 5:12, 19, 21). 4. Since Christ, sent by the Father, is the source and origin of the whole apostolate of the Church, the success of the lay apostolate depends upon the laity’s living union with Christ, in keeping with the Lord’s words, “He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). This life of intimate union with Christ in the Church is nourished by spiritual aids which are com- mon to all the faithful, especi- ally active participation in the sacred liturgy. These are to be used by the laity in such a way that while correctly fulfilling their secular duties in the or- dinary conditions of life, they do not separate union with Christ from their life but rather performing their work according to God’s will they grow in that union. In this way the laity must make progress in holiness in a happy and ready spirit, trying prudently and patiently to overcome difficul- ties. Neither family concerns nor other secular affairs should be irrelevant to their spiritual life, in keeping with the words of the Apostle, “Whatever you do in word or work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col. 3:17). Such a life requires a contin- ual exercise of faith, hope, and charity. Only by the light of faith and by meditation on the word of God can one always and everywhere recognize God in Whom “we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28), seek His will in every event, see Christ in everyone whether he be a relative or a stranger, and make correct judgments about the true meaning and value of temporal things both in themselves and in their relation to man’s final goal. They who have this faith live in the hope of the revelation of the sons of God and keep in mind the cross and resurrection of the Lord. In the pilgrimage of this life, hidden with Christ in God and free from enslave- ment to wealth, they aspire to those riches which remain for- ever and generously dedicate themselves wholly to the ad- vancement of the kingdom of God and to the reform and im- provement of the temporal or- der in a Christian spirit. 6 Among the trials of this life they find strength in hope, con- vinced that “the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that will be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18). Impelled by divine charity, they do good to all men, es- pecially to those of the house- hold of the faith (cf. Gal. 6:10), laying aside “all malice and all deceit and pretense, and envy, and all slander” ( 1 Peter 2:1), and thereby they draw men to Christ. This charity of God, “which is poured forth in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Rom. 5:5), enables the laity really to express the spirit of the beati- tudes in their lives. Following Jesus in His poverty, they are neither depressed by the lack of temporal goods nor inflated by their abundance; imitating Christ in His humility, they have no obsession for empty honors (cf. Gal. 5:26) but seek to please God rather than men, ever ready to leave all things for Christ’s sake (cf. Luke 14:26) and to suffer persecu- tion for justice sake (cf. Matt. 5:10), as they remember the words of the Lord, “If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matt. 16:24). Promoting Christian friendship among themselves, they help one another in every need whatsoever. This plan for the spiritual life of the laity should take its particular character from their married or family state or their single or widowed state, from their state of health, and from their professional and so- cial activity. They should not cease to develop earnestly the qualities and talents bestowed on them in accord with these conditions of life, and they should make use of the gifts which they have received from the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, the laity who have followed their vocation and have become members of one of the associations or in- stitutes approved by the Church try faithfully to adopt the special characteristics of the spiritual life which are proper to them as well. They should also hold in high es- teem professional skill, family and civic spirit, and the virtues relating to social customs, namely, honesty, justice, sin- cerity, kindness, and courage, without which no true Chris- tian life can exist. The perfect example of this type of spiritual and apostolic life is the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Apostles, who while leading the life common to all here on earth, one filled with family concerns and labors, was always intimately united with her Son and in an entirely unique way cooperated in the work of the Savior. Hav- ing now been assumed into heaven, with her maternal 7 charity she cares for these brothers of her Son who are still on their earthly pil- grimage and remain involved in dangers and difficulties un- til they are led into the happy fatherland. All should devoutly venerate her and commend their life and apostolate to her maternal care. CHAPTER TWO Objectives 5. Christ’s redemptive work, while essentially concerned with the salvation of men, in- cludes also the renewal of the whole temporal order. Hence the mission of the Church is not only to bring the message and grace of Christ to men but also to penetrate and per- fect the temporal order with the spirit of the Gospel. In ful- filling this mission of the church, the Christian laity exer- cise their apostolate both in the Church and in the world, in both the spiritual and the tem- poral orders. These orders, al- though distinct, are so connect- ed in the singular plan of God that He Himself intends to raise up the whole world again in Christ and to make it a new creation, initially on earth and completely on the last day. In both orders the layman, being simultaneously a believer and a citizen, should be continuous- ly led by the same Christian conscience. 6. The mission of the Church pertains to the salvation of men, which is to be achieved by belief in Christ and by His grace. The apostolate of the Church and of all its members is primarily designed to mani- fest Christ’s message by words and deeds and to communicate His grace to the world. This is done mainly through the min- istry of the Word and the sac- raments, entrusted in a special way to the clergy, wherein the laity also have their very im- portant roles to fulfill if they are to be “fellow workers for the truth” (3 John 8). It is es- pecially on this level that the apostolate of the laity and the pastoral ministry are mutually complementary. There are innumerable op- 8 portunities open to the laity for the exercise of their apos- tolate of evangelization and sanctification. The very testi- mony of their Christian life and good works done in a su- pernatural spirit have the pow- er to draw men to belief and to God; for the Lord says, “Even so let your light shine before men in order that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). However, an apostolate of this kind does not consist only in the witness of one’s way of life; a true apostle looks for opportunities to announce Christ by words addressed either to non-believers with a view to leading them to faith, or to the faithful with a view to instructing, strengthening, and encouraging them to a more fervent life. “For the charity of Christ impels us” (2 Cor. 5:14). The words of the Apostle should echo in all hearts, “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel” (I Cor. 9:16). Since, in our own times, new problems are arising and very serious errors are circulating which tend to undermine the foundations of religion, the moral order, and human so- ciety itself, this sacred synod earnestly exhorts laymen—each according to his own gifts of intelligence and learning — to be more diligent in doing what they can to explain, defend, and properly apply Christian principles to the problems of our era in accordance with the mind of the Church. 7. God’s plan for the world is that men should work to- gether to renew and constantly perfect the temporal order. All those things which make up the temporal order, namely, the good things of life and the prosperity of the family, cul- ture, economic matters, the arts and professions, the laws of the political community, interna- tional relations, and other mat- ters of this kind, as well as their development and progress not only aid in the attainment of man’s ultimate goal but also possess their own intrinsic value. This value has been es- tablished in them by God, whether they are considered in themselves or as parts of the whole temporal order. “God saw that all He had made was very good” (Gen. 1:31). This natural goodness of theirs takes on a special dignity as a result of their relation to the human person, for whose service they were created. It has pleased God to unite all things, both natural and supernatural, in Christ Jesus “so that in all things He may have the first place” (Col. 1:18). This destin- ation, however, not only does not deprive the temporal order of its independence, its proper goals, laws, supports, and sig- nificance for human welfare but rather perfects the tempor- 9 al order in its own intrinsic strength and worth and puts it on a level with man’s whole vocation upon earth. In the course of history, the use of temporal things has been marred by serious vices. Affected by original sin, men have frequently fallen into many errors concerning the true God, the nature of man, and the principles of the moral law. This has led to the cor- ruption of morals and human institutions and not rarely to contempt for the human per- son himself. In our own time, moreover, those who have trusted excessively in the prog- ress of the natural sciences and the technical arts have fallen into an idolatry of temp- oral things and have be- come their slaves rather than their masters. The whole Church must work vigorously in order that men may become capable of rectify- ing the distortion of the temp- oral order and directing it to God through Christ. Pastors must clearly state the principles concerning the purpose of crea- tion and the use of temporal things and must offer the mor- al and spiritual aids by which the temporal order may be re- newed in Christ. The laity must take up the renewal of the temporal order as their own special obligation. Led by the light of the Gospel and the mind of the Church and motivated by Christian charity, they must act directly and in a definite way in the temporal sphere. As citizens they must cooperate with other citizens with their own particular skill and on their own responsibil- ity. Everywhere and in all things they must seek the jus- tice of God’s kingdom. The temporal order must be re- newed in such a way that, with- out detriment to its own prop- er laws, it may be brought into conformity with the higher principles of the Christian life and adapted to the shifting cir- cumstances of time, place, and peoples. Preeminent among the works of this type of aposto- late is that of Christian social action which the sacred synod desires to see extended to the whole temporal sphere, includ- ing culture. 8. While every exercise of the apostolate should be motivated by charity, some works by their very nature can become specially vivid expressions of this charity. Christ the Lord wanted these works to be signs of His messianic mission (cf. Matt. 11:4-5). The greatest commandment in the law is to love God with one’s whole heart and one’s neighbor as oneself (cf. Matt. 22:37-40). Christ made this commandment of love of neighbor His own and enriched it with a new meaning. For He wanted to equate Himself with His brethren as the object of 10 this love when He said, “as long as you did it for one of these, the least of My brethren, you did it for Me” (Matt. 25: 40). Assuming human nature, He bound the whole human race to Himself as a family through a certain supernatural solidarity and established char- ity as the mark of His disciples, saying, “By this will all men know that you are My dis- ciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). In her very early days, the holy Church added the agape to the eucharistic supper and thus showed itself to be wholly united around Christ by the bond of charity. So, too, in ev- ery era it is recognized by this sign of love, and while it re- joices in the undertakings of others, it claims works of char- ity as its own inalienable duty and right. For this reason, pity for the needy and the sick and works of charity and mutual aid intended to relieve human needs of every kind are held in highest honor by the Church. At the present time, with the development of more rapid fa- cilities for communication, with the barrier of distance separating men greatly re- duced, with the inhabitants of the entire globe becoming one great family, these charitable activities and works have be- come more urgent and univer- sal. These charitable enterprises can and should reach out to all persons and all needs. Where- ever there are people in need of food and drink, clothing, hous- ing, medicine, employment, ed- ucation; wherever men lack the facilities necessary for living a truly human life or are afflicted with serious distress or illness or suffer exile or imprison- ment, there Christian charity should seek them out and find them, console them with great solicitude, and help them with appropriate relief. This obliga- tion is imposed above all upon every prosperous nation and person. In order that the exercise of charity on this scale may be unexceptionable in appearance as well as in fact, it is alto- gether necessary that one should consider in one’s neigh- bor the image of God in which he has been created, and also Christ the Lord to Whom is really offered whatever is giv- en to a needy person. It is im- perative also that the freedom and dignity of the person be- ing helped be respected with the utmost consideration, that the purity of one’s charitable intentions be not stained by seeking one’s own advantage or by striving for domination, and especially that the demands of justice be satisfied lest the giv- ing of what is due in justice be represented as the offering of a charitable gift. Not only the effects but also the causes of these ills must be removed and the help be given in such a way that the recipients may gradu- 11 ally be freed from dependence on outsiders and become self- sufficient. Therefore, the laity should hold in high esteem and, ac- cording to their ability, aid the works of charity and projects for social assistance, whether public or private, including in- ternational programs whereby effective help is given to needy individuals and peoples. In so doing, they should cooperate with all men of good will. CHAPTER THREE The Various Fields of the Apostolate 9. The laity carry out their manifold apostolate both in the Church and in the world. In both areas there are various opportunities for apostolic ac- tivity. We wish to list here the more important fields of ac- tion, namely, church commun- ities, the family, youth, the social milieu, and national and international levels. Since in our times women have an ever more active share in the whole life of society, it is very im- portant that they participate more widely also in the various fields of the Church’s aposto- late. 10. As sharers in the role of Christ as priest, prophet, and king, the laity have their work cut out for them in the life and activity of the Church. Their activity is so necessary within the Church communities that without it the apostolate of the pastors is often unable to achieve its full effectiveness. In the manner of the men and women who helped Paul in spreading the Gospel (cf. Acts 18:18, 26; Rom. 16:3) the laity with the right apostolic at- titude supply what is lacking to their brethren and refresh the spirit of pastors and of the rest of the faithful (cf. I Cor. 16:17-18) . Strengthened by ac- tive participation in the litur- gical life of their community, they are eager to do their share of the apostolic works of that community. They bring to the Church people who perhaps are 12 far removed from it, earnestly cooperate in presenting the word of God especially by means of catechetical instruc- tion, and offer their special skills to make the care of souls and the administration of the temporalities of the Church more efficient and effective. The parish offers an obvious example of the apostolate on the community level inasmuch as it brings together the many human differences within its boundaries and merges them into the universality of the Church. The laity should ac- custom themselves to working in the parish in union with their priests, bringing to the Church community their own and the world’s problems as well as questions concerning human salvation, all of which they should examine and re- solve by deliberating in com- mon. As far as possible the laity ought to provide helpful collaboration for every apos- tolic and missionary undertak- ing sponsored by their local parish. They should develop an ever-increasing appreciation of their own diocese, of which the parish is a kind of cell, ever ready at their pastor’s invita- tion to participate in diocesan projects. Indeed, to fulfill the needs of cities and rural areas, they should not limit their co- operation to the parochial or diocesan boundaries but strive to extend it to interparochial, interdiocesan, national, and in- ternational fields. This is con- stantly becoming all the more necessary because the daily in- crease in mobility of popula- tions, reciprocal relationships, and means of communication no longer allow any sector of society to remain closed in upon itself. Thus they should be concerned about the needs of the people of God dispersed throughout the world. They should especially make mis- sionary activity their own by giving material or even person- al assistance. It is a duty and honor for Christians to return to God a part of the good things that they receive from Him. 11. Since the Creator of all things has established conjugal society as the beginning and basis of human society and, by His grace, has made it a great mystery in Christ and the Church (cf. Eph. 5:32), the apostolate of married persons and families is of unique im- portance for the Church and civil society. Christian husbands and wives are cooperators in grace and witnesses of faith for each other, their children, and all others in their household. They are the first to communicate the faith to their children and to educate them by word and example for the Christian and apostolic life. They prudently help them in the choice of their vocation and carefully 13 promote any sacred vocation which they may discern in them. It has always been the duty of Christian married partners but today it is the greatest part of their apostolate to manifest and prove by their own way of life the indissolubility and sa- credness of the marriage bond, strenuously to affirm the right and duty of parents and guar- dians to educate children in a Christian manner, and to de- fend the dignity and lawful au- tonomy of the family. They and the rest of the faithful, therefore, should cooperate with men of good will to en- sure the preservation of these rights in civil legislation and to make sure that governments give due attention to the needs of the family regarding hous- ing, the education of children, working conditions, social se- curity, and taxes; and that in policy decisions affecting mi- grants their right to live to- gether as a family should be safeguarded. This mission—to be the first and vital cell of society — the family has received from God. It will fulfill this mission if it appears as the domestic sanctu- ary of the Church by reason of the mutual affection of its members and the prayer that they offer to God in common, if the whole family makes it- self a part of the liturgi- cal worship of the Church, and if it provides active hospitality and promotes justice and other good works for the service of all the brethren in need. Among the various activities of the family apostolate may be enumerated the following: the adoption of abandoned infants, hospitality to strangers, assist- ance in the operation of schools, helpful advice and ma- terial assistance for adoles- cents, help to engaged couples in preparing themselves better for marriage, catechetical work, support of married couples and families involved in material and moral crises, help for the aged not only by providing them with the necessities of life but also by obtaining for them a fair share of the benefits of an expanding economy. At all times and places but particularly in areas where the first seeds of the Gospel are be- ing sown, or where the Church is just beginning, or is involved in some serious difficulty, Christian families can give ef- fective testimony to Christ be- fore the world by remaining faithful to the Gospel and by providing a model of Chris- tian marriage through their whole way of life. To facilitate the attainment of the goals of their apostolate, it can be useful for families to be brought together into groups. 12. Young persons exert very important influence in modern society. There has been a radi- cal change in the circumstances 14 of their lives, their mental at- titudes, and their relationships with their own families. Fre- quently they move too quickly into a new social and economic status. While their social and even their political importance is growing from day to day, they seem to be unable to cope adequately with their new re- sponsibilities. Their heightened influence in society demands of them a pro- portionate apostolic activity, but their natural qualities also fit them for this activity. As they become more conscious of their own personalities, they are impelled by a zest for life and a ready eagerness to as- sume their own responsibility, and they yearn to play their part in social and cultural life. If this zeal is imbued with the spirit of Christ and is inspired by obedience and love for the Church, it can be expected to be very fruitful. They should become the first to carry on the apostolate directly to other young persons, concentrating their apostolic efforts within their own circle, according to the needs of the social environ- ment in which they live. Adults ought to engage in such friendly discussion with young people that both age groups, overcoming the age barrier, may become better ac- quainted and share the special benefits each generation can offer the other. Adults should stimulate young persons first by good example to take part in the apostolate and, if the op- portunity presents itself, by of- fering them effective advice and willing assistance. By the same token young people should cultivate toward adults respect and trust, and although they are naturally attracted to nov- elties, they should duly apprec- iate praiseworthy traditions. 13. The apostolate in the so- cial milieu, that is, the effort to infuse a Christian spirit into the mentality, customs, laws, and structures of the commun- ity in which one lives, is so much the duty and responsibil- ity of the laity that it can never be performed properly by others. In this area the laity can exercise the apostolate of like toward like. It is here that they complement the testimony of life with the testimony of the word. It is here where they work or practise their profes- sion or study or reside or spend their leisure time or have their companionship that they are more capable of helping their brethren. The laity fulfill this mission of the Church in the world es- pecially by conforming their lives to their faith so that they become the light of the world as well as by practising hon- esty in all their dealings so that they attract all to the love of the true and the good and fin- ally to the Church and to Christ. They fulfill their mission also by fraternal charity which 15 presses them to share in the living conditions, labors, sor- rows, and aspirations of their brethren with the result that the hearts of all about them are quietly prepared for the work- ings of saving grace. Another requisite for the accomplish- ment of their task is a full con- sciousness of their role in building up society whereby they strive to perform their domestic, social, and profes- sional duties with such Chris- tian generosity that their man- ner of acting should gradually penetrate the whole world of life and labor. This apostolate should reach out to all wherever they may be encountered; it should not exclude any spiritual or temp- oral benefit which they have the ability to confer. True apostles, however, are not con- tent with this activity alone but endeavor to announce Christ to their neighbors by means of the spoken word as well. For there are many persons who can hear the Gospel and rec- ognize Christ only through the laity who live near them. Children also have their own apostolic work to do. Accord- ing to their ability they are true living witnesses of Christ among their companions. 14. A vast field for the apos- tolate has opened up on the na- tional and international levels where the laity especially assist with their Christian wisdom. In loyalty to their country and in faithful fulfillment of their ci- vic obligations, Catholics should feel themselves obliged to promote the true common good. Thus they should make the weight of their opinion felt in order that civil authority may act with justice and that legislation may conform to moral precepts and the com- mon good. Catholics skilled in public affairs and adequately enlightened in faith and Chris- tian doctrine # should not refuse to administer public affairs since by doing this in a worthy manner they can both further the common good and at the same time prepare the way for the Gospel. Catholics should try to coop- erate with all men and women of good will to promote what- ever is true, whatever just, whatever holy, whatever lov- able (cf. Phil. 4:8). They should hold discussions with them, ex- cel them in prudence and courtesy, and initiate research on social and public practices which should be improved in line with the spirit of the Gos- pel. Among the signs of our times, the irresistibly increas- ing sense of the solidarity of all peoples is especially note- worthy. It is a function of the lay apostolate sedulously to promote this awareness and to transform it into a sincere and genuine love of brotherhood. Furthermore, the laity should be aware of the international 16 field and of the questions and solutions, doctrinal as well as practical, which arise in this field, with special reference to developing nations. All who work in or give help to foreign nations must re- member that relations among peoples should be a genuine fraternal exchange in which each party is at the same time a giver and a receiver. Travelers, whether their interest is inter- national affairs, business, or leisure, should remember that they are itinerant heralds of Christ wherever they go and should act accordingly. CHAPTER FOUR The Various Forms of the Apostolate 15. The laity can engage in their apostolic activity either as individuals or together as members of various groups or associations. 16. The individual apostolate, flowing generously from its source in a truly Christian life (cf. John 4:14), is the origin and condition of the whole lay apostolate, even of the organ- ized type, and it admits of no substitute. Regardless of status, all lay persons (including those who have no opportunity or possi- bility for collaboration in as- sociations) are called to this type of apostolate and obliged to engage in it. This type of apostolate is useful at all times and places, but in certain cir- cumstances it is the only one appropriate and feasible. There are many forms of the apostolate whereby the laity build up the Church, sanctify the world, and give it life in Christ. A particular form of the individual apostolate as well as a sign specially suited to our times is the testimony of the whole lay life arising from faith, hope, and charity. It 17 manifests Christ living in those who believe in Him. Then by the apostolate of the spoken and written word, which is ut- terly necessary under certain circumstances, lay people an- nounce Christ, explain and spread His teaching in accord- ance with one’s status and abil- ity, and faithfully profess it. Furthermore, in collaborat- ing as citizens of this world, in whatever pertains to the up- building and conducting of the temporal order, the laity must seek in the light of faith loftier motives of action in their fam- ily, professional, cultural, and social life and make them known to others when the oc- casion arises. Doing this, they should be aware of the fact that they are cooperating with God the creator, redeemer, and sanctifier and are giving praise to Him. Finally, the laity should vi- vify their life with charity and express it as best they can in their works. They should all remember that they can reach all men and contribute to the salvation of the whole world by public worship and prayer as well as by penance and voluntary ac- ceptance of the labors and hardships of life whereby they become like the suffering Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 4:10; Col. 1:24). 17. There is a very urgent need for this individual apos- tolate in those regions where the freedom of the Church is seriously infringed. In these trying circumstances, the laity do what they can to take the place of priests, risking their freedom and sometimes their life to teach Christian doctrine to those around them, training them in a religious way of life and a Catholic way of thinking, leading them to receive the sac- raments frequently and de- veloping in them piety, es- pecially Eucharistic devotion. While the sacred synod heart- ily thanks God for continuing also in our times to raise up lay persons of heroic fortitude in the midst of persecutions, it embraces them with fatherly affection and gratitude. The individual apostolate has a special field in areas where Catholics are few in number and widely dispersed. Here the laity who engage in the aposto- late only as individuals, whether for the reasons already mentioned or for special rea- sons including those deriving also from their own profes- sional activity, usefully gather into smaller groups for serious conversation without any more formal kind of establishment or organization, so that an in- dication of the community of the Church is always apparent to others as a true witness of love. In this way, by giving spiritual help to one another through friendship and the communicating of the bene- fit of their experience, they 18 are trained to overcome the disadvantages of excessively isolated life and activity and to make their apostolate more productive. 18. The faithful are called to engage in the apostolate as in- dividuals in the varying cir- cumstances of their life. They should remember, nevertheless, that man is naturally social and that it has pleased God to unite those who believe in Christ in- to the people of God (cf. 1 Peter 2:5-10) and into one body (cf. 1 Cor. 12:12). The group apostolate of Christian believ- ers then happily corresponds to a human and Christian need and at the same time signifies the communion and unity of the Church in Christ, who said, “Where two or three are gath- ered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20). For this reason the faithful should participate in the apos- tolate by way of united effort. They should be apostles both in their family communities and in their parishes and dio- ceses, which themselves express the community nature of the apostolate, as well as in the in- formal groups which they de- cide to form among themselves. The group apostolate is very important also because the apostolate must often be per- formed by way of common ac- tivity in both the Church com- munities and the various spheres. For the associations established for carrying on the apostolate in common sustain their members, form them for the apostolate, and rightly or- ganize and regulate their apos- tolic work so that much bet- ter results can be expected than if each member were to act on his own. In the present circumstances, it is quite necessary that, in the area of lay activity, the united and organized form of the apostolate be strengthened. In fact, only the pooling of re- sources is capable of fully achieving all the aims of the modern apostolate and firmly protecting its interests. Here it is important that the aposto- late encompass even the com- mon attitudes and social con- ditions of those for whom it is designed. Otherwise those en- gaged in the apostolate are often unable to bear up un- der the pressure of public opin- ion or of social institutions. 19. There is a great variety of associations in the aposto- late. Some set before them- selves the broad apostolic purpose of the Church: others aim to evangelize and sanctify in a special way. Some purpose to infuse a Christian spirit into the temporal order; others bear witness to Christ in a special way through works of mercy and charity. Among these associations, those which promote and en- courage closer unity between the concrete life of the mem- 19 bers and their faith must be given primary consideration. Associations are not ends unto themselves; rather they should serve the mission of the Church to the world. Their apostolic dynamism depends on their conformity with the goals of the Church as well as on the Christian witness and evangeli- cal spirit of every member and of the whole association. Now, in view of the progress of social institutions and the fast-moving pace of modern society, the global nature of the Church’s mission requires that apostolic enterprises of Catholics should more and more develop organized forms in the international sphere. Catholic international organi- zations will more effectively achieve their purpose if the groups comprising them, as well as their members, are more closely united to these interna- tional organizations. Maintaining the proper rela- tionship to Church authorities, the laity have the right to found and control such associ- ations and to join those already existing. Yet the dispersion of efforts must be avoided. This happens when new associa- tions and projects are pro- moted without a sufficient rea- son, or if antiquated associa- tions or methods are retained beyond their period of useful- ness. Nor is it always fitting to transfer indiscriminately forms of the apostolate that have been used in one nation to other nations. 20. Many decades ago the laity in many nations began to dedicate themselves increasing- ly to the apostolate. They grouped themselves into vari- ous kinds of activities and so- cieties which, while maintain- ing a closer union with the hierarchy, pursued and con- tinue to pursue goals which are properly apostolic. Of these associations, or even among similar and older institutions, those are specially noteworthy which followed different meth- ods of operation and yet pro- duced excellent results for Christ’s kingdom. These socie- ties were deservedly recom- mended and promoted by the popes and many bishops, from whom they received the title of “Catholic Action,” and were often described as the collabor- ation of the laity in the apos- tolate of the hierarchy. Whether these forms of the apostolate have the name of “Catholic Action” or some other title, they exercise an apostolate of great value for our times and consist in the combination and simultaneous possession of the following characteristics: a) The immediate aim of or- ganizations of this kind is the Church’s apostolic aim, that is, the evangelization and sanc- tification of men and the form- ation of a Christian conscience among them so that they can 20 infuse the spirit of the Gospel into various communities and departments of life. b) Cooperating with the hierarchy in their own way, the laity contribute the benefit of their experience to, and assume responsibility for the direction of these organizations, the consideration of the conditions in which the pastoral activity of the Church is to be conduct- ed, and the elaboration and ex- ecution of the plan of things to be done. c) The laity act together in the manner of an organic body so that the community of the Church is more fittingly sym- bolized and the apostolate ren- dered more effective. d) Whether they offer them- selves spontaneously or are in- vited to action and direct co- operation with the apostolate of the hierarchy, the laity func- tion under the higher direction of the hierarchy itself, and the latter can sanction this cooper- ation by an explicit mandate. Organizations in which, in the opinion of the hierarchy, the ensemble of these charac- teristics is realized, must be considered to be Catholic Ac- tion even though they take on various forms and titles be- cause of the needs of different regions and peoples. The most holy council earn- estly recommends those associ- ations, which surely answer the needs of the apostolate of the Church among many peoples and countries, and invites the clergy and laity working in them to develop the above- mentioned characteristics to an ever greater degree and to co- operate at all times with all other forms of the apostolate in a fraternal manner in the Church. 21. All associations of the apostolate must be given due appreciation. Those, however, which the hierarchy have praised or recommended as re- sponsive to the needs of time and place, or have ordered to be established as particularly urgent, must be held in highest esteem by priests, Religious, and laity and promoted accord- ing to each one’s ability. Among these associations, moreover, international associ- ations or groups of Catholics must be specially appreciated at the present time. 22. Deserving of special hon- or and commendation in the Church are those lay people, single or married, who devote themselves with professional experience, either permanently or temporarily, to the service of associations and their activ- ities. There is a source of great joy for the Church in the fact that there is a daily increase in the number of lay persons who offer their personal service to apostolic associations and ac- tivities, either within the lim- its of their own nation or in the international field or es- pecially in Catholic mission 21 communities and in regions where the Church has only re- cently been implanted. The pastors of the Church should gladly and gratefully welcome these lay persons and make sure that the demands of justice, equity, and charity rel- ative to their status be satis- fied to the fullest extent, par- ticularly as regards proper sup- port for them and their fam- ilies. They should also take care to provide for these lay people the necessary formation, spir- itual consolation, and incentive. CHAPTER FIVE External Relationships 23. Whether the lay aposto- late is exercised by the faithful as individuals or as members of organizations, it should be incorporated into the aposto- late of the whole Church ac- cording to a right system of relationships. Indeed, union with those whom the Holy Spirit has assigned to rule His Church (cf. Acts 20:28) is an essential element of the Chris- tian apostolate. No less neces- sary is cooperation among var- ious projects of the apostolate which must be suitably direct- ed by the hierarchy. Indeed the spirit of unity should be promoted in order that fraternal charity may be resplendent in the whole apos- tolate of the Church, common goals may be attained, and de- structive rivalries avoided. For this there is need for mutual esteem among all the forms of the apostolate in the Church and, with due respect for the particular character of each or- ganization, proper coordina- tion. This is most fitting since a particular activity in the Church requires harmony and apostolic cooperation on the part of both branches of the clergy, the Religious, and the laity. 24. The hierarchy should promote the apostolate of the laity, provide it with spiritual principles and support, direct the conduct of this apostolate to the common good of the Church, and attend to the pres- ervation of doctrine and order. Indeed, the lay apostolate 22 admits of different types of re- lationships with the hierarchy in accordance with the various forms and objects of this apos- tolate. For in the Church there are many apostolic undertak- ings which are established by the free choice of the laity and regulated by their prudent judgment. The mission of the Church can be better accom- plished in certain circumstances by undertakings of this kind, and therefore they are fre- quently praised or recommend- ed by the hierarchy. No project, however, may claim the name “Catholic” unless it has ob- tained the consent of the law- ful Church authority. Certain forms of the aposto- late of the laity are given ex- plicit recognition by the hier- archy, though in various ways. Because of the demands of the common good of the Church, moreover, ecclesiasti- cal authority can select and promote in a particular way some of the apostolic associa- tions and projects which have an immediately spiritual pur- pose, thereby assuming in them a special responsibility. Thus, making various dispositions of the apostolate according to cir- cumstances, the hierarchy joins some particular form of it more closely with its own apostolic function. Yet the proper nature and distinctiveness of each apostolate must be preserved, and the laity must not be de- prived of the possibility of act- ing on their own accord. In various Church documents this procedure of the hierarchy is called a mandate. Finally, the hierarchy en- trusts to the laity certain func- tions which are more closely connected with pastoral duties, such as the teaching of Chris- tian doctrine, certain liturgical actions, and the care of souls. By virtue of this mission, the laity are fully subject to higher ecclesiastical control in the per- formance of this work. As regards works and in- stitutions in the temporal or- der, the role of the ecclesiasti- cal hierarchy is to teach and authentically interpret the moral principles to be follow- ed in temporal affairs. Further- more, they have the right to judge, after careful considera- tion of all related matters and consultation with experts, whether or not such works and institutions conform to moral principles and the right to de- cide what is required for the protection and promotion of values of the supernatural or- der. 25. Bishops, pastors of par- ishes, and other priests of both branches of the clergy should keep in mind that the right and duty to exercise this apostolate is common to all the faithful, both clergy and laity, and that the laity also have their own roles in building up the Church. For this reason they should 23 work fraternally with the laity in and for the Church and take special care of the lay persons in these apostolic works. Special care should be taken to select priests who are cap- able of promoting particular forms of the apostolate of the laity and are properly trained. Those who are engaged in this ministry represent the hier- archy in their pastoral activity by virtue of the mission they receive from the hierarchy. Al- ways adhering faithfully to the spirit and teaching of the Church, they should promote proper relations between laity and hierarchy. They should de- vote themselves to nourishing the spiritual life and an apos- tolic attitude in the Catholic societies entrusted to them; they should contribute their wise counsel to the apostolic activity of these associations and promote their undertak- ings. Through continuous dia- logue with the laity, these priests should carefully inves- tigate which forms make apos- tolic activity more fruitful. They should promote the spirit of unity within the association as well as between it and others. Finally, in keeping with the spirit and norms of their so- cieties, Religious Brothers and Sisters should value the apos- tolic works of the laity and willingly devote themselves to promoting lay enterprises. They should also strive to sup- port, uphold, and fulfill priest- ly functions. 26. In dioceses, in so far as possible, there should be coun- cils which assist the apostolic work of the Church either in the field of evangelization and sanctification or in the charit- able, social, or other spheres, and here it is fitting that the clergy and Religious should co- operate with the laity. While preserving the proper character and autonomy of each organi- zation, these councils will be able to promote the mutual co- ordination of various lay as- sociations and enterprises. Councils of this type should be established as far as possible also on the parochial, interpa- rochial, and interdiocesan level as well as in the national or in- ternational sphere. A special secretariat, more- over, should be established at the Holy See for the service and promotion of the lay apos- tolate. It can serve as a well- equipped center for communi- cating information about the various apostolic programs of the laity, promoting research into modern problems arising in this field, and assisting the hierarchy and laity in their apostolic works with its advice. The various movements and projects of the apostolate of the laity throughout the world should also be represented in this secretariat, and here clergy and Religious also are to co- operate with the laity. 24 27. The quasi-common herit- age of the Gospel and the com- mon duty of Christian witness resulting from it recommend and frequently require the co- operation of Catholics with other Christians, on the part of individuals and communities within the Church, either in activities or in associations, in the national or international field. Likewise, common human values not infrequently call for cooperation between Christians pursuing apostolic aims and those who do not profess Christ’s name but acknowledge these values. By this dynamic and prudent cooperation, which is of special importance in temporal activ- ities, the laity bear witness to Christ, the Savior of the vrorld, as well as to the unity of the human family. CHAPTER SIX Formation for the Apostolate 28. The apostolate can attain its maximum effectiveness only through a diversified and thor- ough formation. This is de- manded not only by the con- tinuous spiritual and doctrinal progress of the lay person him- self but also by the accommo- dation of his activity to cir- cumstances varying according to the affairs, persons, and duties involved. This formation for the apostolate should rest upon those bases which have been stated and proclaimed by this most holy council in other documents. In addition to the formation which is common for all Christians, many forms of the apostolate demand also a specific and particular forma- tion because of the variety of persons and circumstances. 29. Since the laity share in their own way in the mission of the Church, their apostolic formation is specially charac- terized by the distinctively se- cular and particular quality of the lay state and by its own form of the spiritual life. The formation for the apos- tolate presupposes a certain human and well-rounded for- mation adapted to the natural abilities and conditions of each 25 lay person. Well-informed about the modern world, the lay person should be a member of his own community and ad- justed to its culture. However, the lay person should learn especially how to perform the mission of Christ and the Church by basing his life on belief in the divine mys- tery of creation and redemp- tion and by being sensitive to the movement of the Holy Spirit who gives life to the people of God and who urges all to love God the Father as 'well as the world and men in Him. This formation should be deemed the basis and condition for every successful apostolate. In addition to spiritual formation, a solid doctrinal in- struction in theology, ethics, and philosophy adjusted to differences of age, status, and natural talents, is required. The importance of general culture along with practical and tech- nical formation should also be kept in mind. To cultivate good human re- lations, truly human values must be fostered, especially the art of living fraternally and co- operating with others and of striking up friendly conversa- tion with them. Since formation for the apostolate cannot consist in merely theoretical instruction, from the beginning of their formation the laity should gradually and prudently learn how to view, judge and do all things in the light of faith as well as to develop and improve themselves along with others through doing, thereby enter- ing into active service to the Church. This formation, always in need of improvement be- cause of the increasing matu- rity of the human person and the proliferation of problems, requires an ever deeper knowl- edge and planned activity. In the fulfillment of all the de- mands of formation, the unity and integrity of the human person must be kept in mind at all times so that his harmony and balance may be safeguard- ed and enhanced. In this way the lay person engages himself wholly and ac- tively in the reality of the temporal order and effectively assumes his role in conducting the affairs of this order. At the same time, as a living member and witness of the Church, he renders the Church present and active in the midst of temporal affairs. 30. The training for the apos- tolate should start with the children’s earliest education. In a special way, however, adoles- cents and young persons should be initiated into the apostolate and imbued with its spirit. This formation must be perfected throughout their whole life in keeping with the demands of new responsibilities. It is evi- dent, therefore, that those who have the obligation to provide a Christian education also have 26 the duty of providing forma- tion for the apostolate. In the family parents have the task of training their chil- dren from childhood on to rec- ognize God’s love for all men. By example especially they should teach them little by lit- tle to be solicitous for the ma- terial and spiritual needs of their neighbor. The whole fam- ily in its common life, then, should be a sort of apprentice- ship for the apostolate. Chil- dren must be educated, too, in such fashion that transcending the family circle, they may open their minds to both ec- clesiastical and temporal com- munities. They should be so in- volved in the local community of the parish that they will ac- quire a consciousness of being living and active members of the people of God. Priests should focus their attention on the formation of the laity for the apostolate in their catechet- ics, their ministry of the word, their direction of souls, and in their other pastoral services. Schools, colleges, and other Catholic educational institu- tions also have the duty to de- velop a Catholic sense and apostolic activity in young per- sons. If young people lack this formation either because they do not attend these schools or because of any other reason, all the more should parents, pas- tors of souls, and apostolic or- ganizations attend to it. Teach- ers and educators on the other hand, who carry on a distin- guished form of the apostolate of the laity by their vocation and office, should be equipped with that learning and pedagog- ical skill that are needed for imparting such education ef- fectively. Likewise, lay groups and as- sociations dedicated to the apostolate or other supernatural goals should carefully and as- siduously promote formation for the apostolate in keeping with their purpose and condi- tion. Frequently these groups are the ordinary vehicle for harmonious formation for the apostolate inasmuch as they provide doctrinal, spiritual, and practical formation. Their members meet in small groups with their associates or friends, examine the methods and re- sults of their apostolic activity, and compare their daily way of life with the Gospel. Formation of this type must be so organized that it takes into account the whole lay apostolate, which must be car- ried on not only among the or- ganized groups themselves but also in all circumstances throughout one’s whole life, es- pecially one’s professional and social life. Indeed, everyone should diligently prepare him- self for the apostolate, this preparation being the more ur- gent in adulthood. For the ad- vance of age brings with it a more open mind, enabling each person to detect more readily 27 the talents with which God has enriched his soul and to exer- cise more effectively those charisms which the Holy Spirit has bestowed on him for the good of his brethren. 31. Various types of the apostolate demand also a spe- cially suitable formation. a) In regard to the apostolate for evangelizing and sanctify- ing men, the laity must be spe- cially formed to engage in con- versation with others, believ- ers, or non-believers, in order to manifest Christ’s message for all men. Since in our times, different forms of materialism are spread far and wide even among Catholics, the laity should not only learn doctrine more diligently, especially those main points which are the subjects of controversy, but should also exhibit the wit- ness of an evangelical life in contrast to all forms of mate- rialism. b) In regard to the Christian renewal of the temporal order, the laity should be instructed in the true meaning and value of temporal things, both in themselves and in relation to all the aims of the human per- son. They should be trained in the right use of things and the organization of institutions, at- tentive always to the common good in line with the principles of the moral and social teach- ing of the Church. Laymen should above all learn the prin- ciples and conclusions of the social doctrine so as to become capable of working for the de- velopment of this doctrine to the best of their ability and of rightly applying these same principles and conclusions to individual cases. c) Since the works of charity and mercy express the most striking testimony of the Christian life, apostolic for- mation should lead also to the performance of these works so that the faithful may learn from childhood on to have compassion for their brethren and to be generous in helping those in need. 32. There are many aids for lay persons devoted to the apostolate, namely, study ses- sions, congresses, periods of re- collection, spiritual exercises, frequent meetings, conferences, books, and periodicals directed toward the acquisition of a deeper knowledge of sacred Scripture and Catholic doc- trine, the nourishment of spir- itual life, the discernment of world conditions, and the dis- covery and development of suitable methods. These aids in formation take into consideration the various types of the apostolate in the milieu where it is exercised. For this purpose also centers or higher institutes have been erected, and they have already proved highly successful. The most holy council re- 28 joices over projects of this kind which are already flourishing in certain areas, and it desires that they may be promoted also in other areas where they may be needed. Furthermore, centers of documentation and study not only in theology but also in anthropology, psy- chology, sociology, and meth- odology should be established for all fields of the apostolate for the better development of the natural capacities of the laity — men and women, young persons and adults. Exhortation 33. The most holy council, then, earnestly entreats all the laity in the Lord to answer gladly, nobly, and promptly the more urgent invitation of Christ in this hour and the im- pulse of the Holy Spirit. Young- er persons should feel that this call has been directed to them especially and they should re- spond to it eagerly and gener- ously. Through this holy synod, the Lord renews His invitation to all the laity to come closer to Him every day, recognizing that what is His is also their own (Phil. 2:5), to associate themselves with Him in His sav- ing mission. Once again He sends them into every town and place where He will come (cf. Luke 10:1) so that they may show that they are co- workers in the various forms and modes of the one aposto- late of the Church, which must be constantly adapted to the new needs of our times. Ever productive as they should be in the work of the Lord, they know that their labor in Him is not in vain (cf. 1 Cor. 15:58). 29