Section 4:
THE LIVED MISSION OF
THE CHURCH (PP. 149-196)
Section 4,
Part 2:
MANY VOCATIONS TO
HOLINESS (PP. 168-185)
Introduction (p. 168)
•All are called to holiness, not just members of the hierarchy
•Do so through the evangelical counsels according to one’s vocation
• Poverty, chastity, and obedience
•Also through Christ’s three munera or offices—priestly, prophetic, and kingly
•Laity—parents in the family or domestic church through Marriage have a unique vocation
• Procreation and education of children
• Consecrated life—public profession of the counsels and a communal life centered around prayer
• Origins in Eastern desert monasticism
• New forms of consecrated life—secular institutes and consecrated virgins
•5 Articles
•
•
•
•
•
(A. 44) – The Evangelical Counsels (pp. 169-172)
(A. 45) – The Mission of the Laity (pp. 172-175)
(A. 46) – The Work and Vocation of the Laity (pp. 176-179)
(A. 47) – The Consecrated Life: Religious Orders (pp. 179-182)
(A. 48) – Other Types of Consecrated Life (pp. 182-184)
Article 44: The Evangelical Counsels (pp. 169-172)
oDiocesan priests make two vows (a freely made commitment to other persons, the Church, to
God):
◦ Celibacy – promise to remain unmarried to devote oneself to the Church and God
◦ Obedience – promise to remain obedient to the local bishop
oReligious Order priests make three vows:
◦ Celibacy, Obedience, Poverty (a promise to focus on spiritual
riches, rather than earthly wealth)
oEvangelical Counsels – A spiritual commitment to live the vows of Poverty, Chastity and
Obedience that all are called to make
oConsecrated life - A state of life recognized by the Church in which a person publically professes
vows of poverty, chastity and obedience
Faith Exposed: The Evangelical Counsels
https://youtu.be/3mu0xG0-Gek
A. 44 cont.: The Evangelical Counsels (pp. 169-172)
oPoverty
o Jesus told the rich man, “Sell everything, give the money
to the poor, then come follow me.” (Mk. 10: 21)
o What is meant by Poor in Spirit?
o The Evangelical Counsel of Poverty, reminds us to commit to not focus on
material wealth but on moderation
o Thomas Aquinas said all things are good in moderation
o Hard for the rich man to enter heaven (Mt. 19: 23)
A. 44 cont.: The Evangelical Counsels (pp. 169-172)
oChastity
oA healthy integration of sexuality into ones
life according to their state in life
oA virtue & one of the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit
o Chaste is positive and means to:
o Control ones sexual desires
o Understand and use sexual activity to express a love relationship
o Even married couples are called to be chaste (sexual fidelity)
o Natural Family Planning uses a full awareness of natural biological cycles to
time births in a marriage
A. 44 cont.: The Evangelical Counsels (pp. 169-172)
oAbstinence – any self-restraint, self-denial, or self-control of a desire
o All pornography is a violation of chastity
o Self control is counter-cultural in a world that preaches YOLO
o Consider how Jesus lived, and expected his Apostles to live…
o Chastity requires discipleship and leads to respecting self and future vocation
o One lives a chaste life when making the vow of celibacy
o Celibacy is a unique & positive way of living chastity for diocesan & religious priests
o Celibacy is both a sign and a motive of pastoral care; and a sign for
the world of the importance of another world (p. 171 shadow box)
A. 44 cont.: The Evangelical Counsels (pp. 169-172)
oObedience
o All Christians are called to obey Christ
o Definition of being a disciple
o All Catholics also must obey the Magisterium—Vicars of Christ
o Bishops have been given divine authority to teach God’s revealed truths
o As Americans, it is counter-cultural to fully accept “the truth” from another
o Jesus did the same “becoming obedient to the Father, accepting death on a
cross.” (Phil. 2: 8)
o Consecrated and clerics take as a vow or promise to bishop or superior
Homework
•Read pp. 172-179 in the e-book for discussion Monday
•p. 185; 1-2
•Looking Ahead
•HW #11 and Q#11 on Section 4, Part 2 next Wednesday
A. 45: The Mission of the Laity (pp. 172-175)
•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
A. 45 cont.: The Mission of the Laity (pp. 172-175)
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 and 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 and 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 and legislative processes; rethinking “labor”
and society’s economic policies
• Especially prophetic but also priestly & kingly--overlap
A. 45 cont.: The Mission of the Laity (pp. 172-175)
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
A. 45 cont.: The Mission of the Laity (pp. 172-175)
The Kingly Office of the Laity
• The Kingly Office is about choosing what is right / wrong
• Self-discipline—begins with self, God, and others
• It is being committed to God’s Kingdom now
• Living a life of service; caring for those in need
• Christ is out example
• Exercising leadership roles with integrity & Christian values
• Assist in parish governance through committees
• Some at higher levels
• For us, school, parish, family, work, …
Faith Exposed: The Laity & The Christian Mission
https://youtu.be/K-roDCs0eas
A. 46: The Work & Vocation of the Laity (pp. 176-179)
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 and Marriage (Procreative & Exclusive Union)
• Civil servants should serve with truth, freedom, solidarity & justice for the common
good—special and important role
• The work of Consecrated celibates (religious & lay) will be discussed in AA. 47-48
• Lay singlehood is a valid vocation in the Church
A. 46 cont.: The Work & Vocation of the Laity (pp. 176-179)
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 and discernment of vocation
• Example of St. Gianna Molla (1922-1962)
A. 46 cont.: The Work & Vocation of the Laity (pp. 176-179)
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 and outreach of Order
• 3rd Order Religious Organizations:
• Franciscans, Capuchins, Dominicans, Carmelite
• Basilians, Christian Brothers, Maryknoll, …
•Consecrated Single Persons—Widows, Virgins, etc…
•Unconsecrated Single Persons
Homework
•Read pp. 179-184 in the e-book for discussion tomorrow
•p. 185; 3-5
•Looking ahead
•HW #11 and Q#11 on Section 4, Part 2 this Wednesday
A. 47: The Consecrated Life: Religious Orders (pp. 179-182)
oReligious 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
o Religious Orders
◦ Men and 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
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 and solitude
◦ Hermits gradually formed communities—St. Pachomias
◦ These men were eventually called “monks” and “nuns”
◦ These communities eventually were called “Religious Orders”
◦ Members can be both Lay (Brothers & Sisters) and Ordained (Deacons & Priests)
◦ Bishops and pope are special cases
◦ Members follow a common religious “rule”, typically formed by the
founder
◦ Catholic Religious Orders must be approved by the Pope
A. 47 cont.: The Consecrated Life: Religious Orders (pp. 179-182)
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 and poverty
◦ Jesuits – missionaries and intellectuals during Catholic
Counter Reformation in parishes and schools
◦ Basilians – Run Catholic Schools and priestly training
◦ Christian Brothers (French and Irish)--Schools
◦ ROs were the primary missionaries to foreign lands
◦ Some ROs are devoted to contemplative prayer (Cloister)
vs. active apostolates
◦ Benedictines, Carthusians, Cistercians, …
A. 47 cont.: The Consecrated Life: Religious Orders (pp. 179-182)
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
Consecrated Life: Traditional & New Forms
https://youtu.be/FYyk10yXeRs
https://youtu.be/ade-9pMI32g
A. 48: Other Types of Consecrated Life (pp. 182-184)
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
A. 48 cont.: Other Types of Consecrated Life (pp. 182-184)
Consecrated Virgins and 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 and clergy who minister, but take promises not public
vows (Maryknoll, Oblates of Phillip Neri, SOLT, Paulist)
Homework
•p. 185; 6-9
•Section 4, Part 2 HW #11 (p. 185; 1-9) due tomorrow
•Section 4, Part 2 Q#11 (pp. 168-185; AA 44-48) tomorrow