As
baptized Catholics, we the laity are
co-responsible for the life and mission
of the Church. We evangelize, form associations,
do social work. This is not dependent
on the approval of the bishop or the
clergy, but inherent in our being a
child of God, a disciple of Christ,
and a member of the Church.
New ecclesial movements, of which CFC-FFL
is one, are raised by the Holy Spirit,
especially during this challenging third
millennium. They are intended by God
to bring the laity to the cutting edge
of the work of evangelization, family
renewal and defense of the culture of
life, among other works. Such is our
privilege and responsibility.
At the same time, we as CFC-FFL desire
to be a servant to the Church, not only
in living out our charism as a new ecclesial
movement, but in serving the parishes
of which we are a part. Thus we have
also become parish-based, looking to
the authority of the parish priest in
our parochial work. In humility, let
us just not forget the Holy Father's
clarification of our role not merely
as collaborators but as co-responsible
for the life and mission of our Church.
Laity Are Not Priests' Collaborators,
Says Pope
Clarifies That All Are Co-responsible
for the Church
ROME, MARCH 7, 2010 (Zenit.org).-
Benedict XVI today told parishioners
of a Roman parish that there is a need
to change mentalities, so as to see
laypeople as co-responsible for the
Church, not merely as collaborators
of the clergy.
The
Pope made this reflection today when
he celebrated Sunday Mass at one of
the parishes in the north of the Diocese
of Rome, San Giovanni della Croce in
Colle Salario.
The
Bishop of Rome made various concrete
exhortations at the parish.
Regarding
movements and new ecclesial communities,
he lauded the fact that the parish has
been open to them from the beginning,
thus "developing a wider awareness
of the Church and experiencing
new forms of evangelization."
However,
he added: "I call on you to continue
in this direction with courage but also
to dedicate yourselves to bring
all of these realities together into
a unified pastoral project."
The
Pontiff expressed his satisfaction that
the community "wishes to promote,
in regard to the vocations and the role
of consecrated persons and the laity,
the co-responsibility of all the members
of the People of God."
To
do this, he said, "demands
a change in mentality, above all with
regard to the laity, 'moving from considering
them ‘collaborators’ of
the clergy to recognizing them as truly
‘co-responsible’ for the
being and action of the Church,
promoting a mature and dedicated laity
in this way.'"
Finally,
the Holy Father exhorted the Christian
families and youth of the parish to
"let yourselves be more and more
drawn by the desire to proclaim the
Gospel of Jesus Christ."
"Do
not wait until others bring you other
messages that do not lead to life, but
make yourselves missionaries of Christ
for the brothers and sisters where you
live, work, study or only pass your
free time," he encouraged. "You
should also establish here a strong
and organic vocational program that
educates families and young people in
prayer and the living of life as a gift
that comes from God."
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On
ZENIT's Web page:
Full
text: www.zenit.org/article-28565?l=english
"For
to me to live is Christ, and to die
is gain." (Phil 1:21)