Consecration & Divine Vocation of Laity

[BarbTherese]

Both Christifideles Laici and Lumen Gentium are important documents for certainly (but not only) Laity to read, whether single or married.

The lay faithful are not taken out of the world but through Baptism are consecrated within the world into a spiritual house - "thus as worshippers whose every deed is holy, the lay faithful consecrate the world itself to God"

Quote:

christifideles laici "Vocationand Mission of the Lay Faithful in The Church and in The World" http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-pa...les-laici.html " the "world" thus becomes the place and the means for the lay faithful to fulfill their christian vocation, because the world itself is destined to glorify god the father in christ. The council is able then to indicate the proper and special sense of the divine vocation which is directed to the lay faithful......... ...........The lay faithful, in fact, "are called by God so that they, led by the spirit of the Gospel, might contribute to the sanctification of the world, as from within like leaven, by fulfilling their own particular duties. Thus, especially in this way of life, resplendent in faith, hope and charity they manifest Christ to others"[37].Thus for the lay faithful, to be present and active in the world is not only an anthropological and sociological reality, but in a specific way, a theological and ecclesiological reality as well. In fact, in their situation in the world God manifests his plan and communicates to them their particular vocation of "seeking the Kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and by ordering them according to the plan of God"[38]. ............. In another comparison, using the image of a building, the apostle Peter defines the baptized as "living stones" founded on Christ, the "corner stone", and destined to "be raised up into a spiritual building" (1 Pt 2:5 ff.). The image introduces us to another aspect of the newness of christian life coming from baptism and described by the second vatican council: "by regeneration and the anointing of the holy spirit, the baptized are consecrated into a spiritual house" .............Speaking of the lay faithful the Council says: "For their work, prayers and apostolic endeavours, their ordinary married and family life, their daily labour, their mental and physical relaxation, if carried out in the Spirit, and even the hardships of life if patiently borne-all of these become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Pt 2:5). During the celebration of the Eucharist these sacrifices are most lovingly offered to the Father along with the Lord's body Thus as worshipers whose every deed is holy, the lay faithful consecrate the world itself to God"

Quote:

lumen gentium "Dogmatic Constitiution on The Church" http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_c...entium_en.html the baptized, by regeneration and the anointing of the holy spirit, are consecrated as a spiritual house and a holy priesthood, in order that through all those works which are those of the christian man they may offer spiritual sacrifices and proclaim the power of him who has called them out of darkness into his marvelous light.(102) therefore all the disciples of christ, persevering in prayer and praising god,(103) should present themselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to god.(104) everywhere on earth they must bear witness to christ and give an answer to those who seek an account of that hope of eternal life which is in them.(105)

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