Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - The beatification of Charles De Foucauld, Maria Pia Mastena and Maria Crocifissa Curcio confirms once again what was said by the Second Vatican Council that “all the baptised are called to perfection in the Christian life: priests, religious and lay people, each according to their own specific vocation”. The witness of lay people addressed in the Lumen gentium Constitution on the Church and the decree on lay apostolate Apostolicam actuositatem was the focus of Pope Benedict XVI’s reflection before the Angelus prayer on Sunday 13 November.
The decree affirmed “that ‘the fecundity of lay apostolate depends on their vital union with Christ’, that is on a robust spirituality, nourished by active participation in the Liturgy and expressed in the style of the Beatitudes - the Pope said - . Of great importance for the laity, are professional competence, sense of family, a civic sense and social virtues. If it is true they are called individually to render personal witness, particularly important there where the Church’s freedom meets impediments, nevertheless the Council insists on the importance of organised apostolate, necessary to influence general mentality, social conditions and institutions”. The Fathers of the Council encouraged the many associations of lay people insisting also on their formation for the apostolate. The vocation and mission of the laity was the theme of the Synod of Bishops in 1987 which led to the publication of the post-synodal exhortation Christifideles laici.
Lastly Benedict XVI mentioned the beatification last Sunday in Vicenza, “of Eurosia Fabris, known as "Mamma Rosa", a model of Christian life in the lay state” and invited those present to pray that all baptised Christians may “realise they are called to work seriously and fruitfully in the Lord’s vineyard”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 14/11/2005; righe 24, parole 305)
