1. The Lived Mission OF the Church
Section 4:
The Lived Mission OF the Church

2. Many Vocations to Holiness
Section 4, Part 2:
Many Vocations to
Holiness

3. Introduction
All are called to holiness, not just members of the hierarchy
Do so through the evangelical counsels according to one’s vocation
Poverty, chastity, & obedience
Also through Christ’s three munera or offices—priestly, prophetic, & kingly
Laity—parents in the family or domestic church through Marriage have a unique vocation
Procreation & education of children
Consecrated life—public profession of the E. Counsels & a communal life centered around prayer
Origins in Eastern desert monasticism
New forms of consecrated life—secular institutes & consecrated virgins
5 Articles
(A. 44) – The Evangelical Counsels
(A. 45) – The Mission of the Laity
(A. 46) – The Work and Vocation of the Laity
(A. 47) – The Consecrated Life: Religious Orders
(A. 48) – Other Types of Consecrated Life

4. Article 44: The Evangelical Counsels
Diocesan priests make 2 promises (free commitment to other persons, the Church, to God):
Celibacy – promise to remain unmarried to devote oneself to the Church & God
Obedience – promise to remain obedient to the local bishop
Religious Order priests make three vows:
Celibacy, Obedience, Poverty (a promise to focus
on spiritual riches, rather than earthly wealth)
Evangelical Counsels – A spiritual commitment to live the vows of Poverty, Chastity & Obedience that all are called to make
Consecrated life - A state of life recognized by the Church in which a person publically professes vows of poverty, chastity & obedience

5. You Tube Video: The Evangelical Counsels
Faith Exposed: The Evangelical Counsels

6. A. 44 cont.: The Evangelical Counsels
Poverty
Jesus told the rich man, “Sell everything, give the money
to the poor, then come follow me.” (Mk. 10: 21)
What is meant by Poor in Spirit?
The Evangelical Counsel of Poverty, reminds us to commit to not focus on material wealth but on moderation
Thomas Aquinas said all things are good in moderation
Hard for the rich man to enter heaven (Mt. 19: 23)

7. A. 44 cont.: The Evangelical Counsels
Chastity
A healthy integration of sexuality into ones
life according to their state in life
A virtue & one of the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Chaste is positive and means to:
Control ones sexual desires
Understand & use sexual activity to express a love relationship
Even married couples are called to be chaste (sexual fidelity)
Natural Family Planning uses a full awareness of natural biological cycles to time births in a marriage

8. A. 44 cont.: The Evangelical Counsels
Abstinence – any self-restraint, self-denial, or self-control of a desire
All pornography is a violation of chastity
Self control is counter-cultural in a world that preaches YOLO
Consider how Jesus lived & expected his Apostles to live…
Chastity requires discipleship & leads to respecting self & future vocation
One lives a chaste life when making the vow of celibacy
Celibacy is a unique & positive way of living chastity for diocesan & religious priests
Celibacy is both a sign & a motive of pastoral care; and a sign for
the world of the importance of another world (p. 171 shadow box)

9. A. 44 cont.: The Evangelical Counsels
Obedience
All Christians are called to obey Christ
Definition of being a disciple
All Catholics also must obey the Magisterium—Vicars of Christ
Bishops have been given divine authority to teach God’s revealed truths
As Americans, it is counter-cultural to fully accept “the truth” from another
Jesus did the same “becoming obedient to the Father, accepting death on a cross.” (Phil. 2: 8)
Consecrated & clerics take as a vow or promise to superior or bishop

10. Homework Read AA. 45-46 in the e-book for discussion tomorrow
Section 4, Part 2 review question # 1
Looking Ahead
Section 4, Part 2 review questions #’s 1-9 due Monday
Section 4, Part 2 quiz Tuesday

11. A. 45: The Mission of the Laity
All baptized, non-ordained & non-religious Christians are part of the laity—special role
The clergy’s (hierarchy) primary role is to lead the Church
The laity’s primary role is to witness to God’s love in the world
We are to be Christ’s hands, feet, voice, & ears in sharing
the Good News
Unique duty & responsibility since we live in the world
Social, political, economic collaboration with the hierarchy
Think about Drive – 1,000 kids doing something small makes
a huge impact
Laity participate in the Priestly, Prophetic, Kingly offices (munera)
of Christ

12. A. 45 cont.: The Mission of the Laity
The Priestly Office of the Laity
Through our daily spiritual sacrifice, we act as “priests” to live out
Baptism & Confirmation
Daily work & prayer, especially Eucharist & Reconciliation
The Ministerial Priesthood
Sacred power for teaching, sanctifying, & governing
The Lay (Royal/Davidic) Priesthood – liturgical & daily roles
Lectoring, EME, serving, music ministry (signing/playing)
Laity & the Culture of Life (The Gospel of Life, JPII – shadow box)
Caring for the weak; teaching NFP; supporting single mothers;
encouraging those who care for the sick (doctors/nurses/aids);
influencing political & legislative processes; rethinking “labor”
& society’s economic policies
Especially prophetic but also priestly & kingly--overlap

13. A. 45 cont.: The Mission of the Laity
The Prophetic Office of the Laity
Jesus provides the laity with sensus fedei, a sense of faith
A readiness to accept the true teaching of the Church in
faith & morals
A prophet shares God’s word with those that need to
hear it (every person in every circumstance) through:
Evangelization—witness & proclamation
Catechists–capable & trained
Catholic views via media, especially social media
Making a Catholic opinion known—even respectfully to hierarchy

14. A. 45 cont.: The Mission of the Laity
The Kingly Office of the Laity
The Kingly Office is about choosing what is right / wrong
Self-discipline—begins with self, God, & others
It is being committed to God’s Kingdom now
Living a life of service; caring for those in need
Christ is our example
Exercising leadership roles with integrity & Christian values
Assist in parish governance through committees
Some at higher levels
For us, school, parish, family, work, …

15. You Tube Video: The Mission of the Laity
Faith Exposed: The Laity & The Christian Mission

16. A. 46: The Work & Vocation of the Laity
The Work of the Laity
All laypersons are called to live out their faith through their chosen life’s work— participate in Christ’s mission in a unique way
Witness to the Kingdom of God
For students, it is in being the best student they can be
Honest, appreciative, friendly, respectful, spiritual, caring, joyful, …
Witness in chastity & Marriage (Procreative & Exclusive Union)
Civil servants should serve with truth, freedom, solidarity & justice for the common good—special & important role
The work of Consecrated celibates (religious & lay) will be discussed in AA
Lay singlehood is a valid vocation in the Church

17. A. 46 cont.: The Work & Vocation of the Laity
The Family: The Domestic Church
A believing family is a “domestic church”
Family is where children first hear about Jesus and God’s word
Christian family’s share sin God’s Trinitarian love, moral living, & prayer
In the early Church, an entire household would be baptized & 1st churches
Parents have a unique & extremely special duty to teach & model a Christian lifestyle to their children
Not only material but also spiritual
Growth in holiness & discernment of vocation
Example of St. Gianna Molla ( )

18. A. 46 cont.: The Work & Vocation of the Laity
Third Orders
Associations of laypeople connected to a particular order in the Church
Practice the Religious Order’s spirituality
Do not take Evangelical vows
Are involved in ministries & outreach of Order
3rd Order Religious Organizations:
Franciscans, Capuchins, Dominicans, Carmelite
Basilians, Christian Brothers, Maryknoll, …
Consecrated Single Persons—Widows, Virgins, etc…
Unconsecrated Single Persons

19. Homework Read AA. 47-48 in the e-book for discussion tomorrow
Section 4, Part 2 review questions # 2-5
Looking Ahead
Section 4, Part 2 review questions #’s 1-9 due Monday
Section 4, Part 2 quiz Tuesday

20. A. 47: The Consecrated Life: Religious Orders
Religious Orders – Basilian, Franciscan, Capuchin, Jesuit, Benedectine…
Based on the charism of the founder
Public profession of the evangelical counsels as vows = consecrated life
Religious orders are most popular form but not the only one
Religious Orders
Men & women who live in community
Profess a formal, public commitment to live evangelical vows
(Poverty, Chastity, Obedience)
Share a liturgical character
Belong to an Institute recognized by the Church

21. Article 47: The Consecrated Life: Religious Orders cont.
History of Religious Orders
Monastic – derived from Greek “alone”
Hermits – withdrew from society to the desert to “be” alone with Christ; committed to a life of prayer & solitude
Hermits gradually formed communities—St. Pachomias
These men were eventually called “monks” & “nuns”
These communities eventually were called “Religious Orders”
Members can be both Lay (Brothers & Sisters) & Ordained (Deacons & Priests)
Bishops & pope are special cases
Members follow a common religious “rule”, typically formed by the
founder
Catholic Religious Orders must be approved by the Pope

22. A. 47 cont.: The Consecrated Life: Religious Orders
Variety of Religious Orders (ROs)
ROs have been formed to respond to needs in the world—Nano Nagle & the
Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Dominicans – teachers & preachers to combat Albigensianism
Franciscans – restore the Gospel life of simplicity & poverty
Jesuits – missionaries & intellectuals during Catholic
Counter Reformation in parishes & schools
Basilians – Run Catholic Schools & priestly training
Christian Brothers (French & Irish)--Schools
ROs were the primary missionaries to foreign lands
Some ROs are devoted to contemplative prayer (Cloister)
vs. active apostolates
Benedictines, Carthusians, Cistercians, …

23. A. 47 cont.: The Consecrated Life: Religious Orders
Prayer as the Rhythm of Religious Life
Religious life is characterized by prayer
Especially Liturgy of the Hours--The Divine Office
Follow what St. Paul said, “Pray without ceasing”
Morning (Lauds), Mid-day, Noon, Afternoon, Evening (Vespers), Office of Readings, & Compline (7 hours)
The Office focuses on reading the Psalms, New Testament, Writings of Church Fathers & Doctors, Prayers & Response

24. You Tube Videos: Consecrated Life
Consecrated Life: Traditional Forms
Consecrated Life: New Forms

25. A. 48: Other Types of Consecrated Life
Hermits: The Eremitic Life
Hermits separate themselves (varies)form the world to devote
their lives to prayer, penance & purification
Hermits are a witness to the interior aspect of the Church
Their focus is on union with God to symbolize Church’s union with Christ
Their prayer is for the universal Church
St. Anthony is the best known desert father (eremitic) (250 AD)
Consecrating a Bride of Christ (shadow box)
Theresa Ivers “married” Christ in a “wedding” ceremony
of commitment as a consecrated virgin

26. A. 48 cont.: Other Types of Consecrated Life
Consecrated Virgins & Widows
Women who dedicate their state of life as a celibate to be
married mystically to Christ for the Kingdom of God
They are formally consecrated by a bishop, but remain active in the world working a secular job
Frequently will be very involved in a parish or volunteer ministry
Secular Institutes
Secular communities dedicated to witnessing to the
Gospel (Charitas Christi)--Pope Pius XII in 1947
Societies of Apostolic Life
Lay & clergy who minister, but take promises not public
vows (Maryknoll, Oblates of Phillip Neri, SOLT, Paulist)

27. Homework Section 4, Part 2 review questions #’s 6-9
Section 4, Part 2 review questions #’s 1-9 due Monday
Section 4, Part 2 quiz (AA ) Tuesday