Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 139 - Part IV.

YOUCAT Question n. 139 - Part IV. What is the lay vocation?

(Youcat answer - repeated) The Laity are sent to engage in society so that the kingdom of God can grow among men.           

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 902) In a very special way, parents share in the office of sanctifying "by leading a conjugal life in the Christian spirit and by seeing to the Christian education of their children" (CIC, can. 835 § 4).     

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) A lay person is not a second-class Christian, for he shares in the priestly ministry of Christ (the universal priesthood). He sees to it that the people in his walk of life (in school, family and work) come to know the Gospel and learn to love Christ. Through his faith he leaves a mark on society, business, and politics. He supports the life of the Church, for instance, by becoming a lector or an extraordinary minister, by volunteering as a group leader, or by serving on church committees and councils (for example, the parish council or the board of directors of an institution). Young people especially should give serious thought to the question of what place God might want them to have in the Church.

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 903) Lay people who possess the required qualities can be admitted permanently to the ministries of lector and acolyte (Cf. CIC, can. 230 § 1). When the necessity of the Church warrants it and when ministers are lacking, lay persons, even if they are not lectors or acolytes, can also supply for certain of their offices, namely, to exercise the ministry of the word, to preside over liturgical prayers, to confer Baptism, and to distribute Holy Communion in accord with the prescriptions of law" (CIC, can. 230 § 3).       

(This question: What is the lay vocation? is continued)