Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 138 - Part IV.
(Youcat
answer - repeated) In the Church there are the Laity and clerics (clergy). As
children of God, they are of equal dignity. They have equally important but
different tasks. The mission of the laity is to direct the whole world toward
the kingdom of God. In addition, there are the ordained ministers (clerics),
who have the duties of ecclesiastical governance, teaching, and sanctification.
In both states of life, there are Christians who place themselves at God’s
disposal in a special way through celibacy, poverty, and obedience (for
example, consecrated religious).
A deepening through CCC
(CCC 934)
"Among the Christian faithful by divine institution there exist in the
Church sacred ministers, who are also called clerics in law, and other
Christian faithful who are also called laity." In both groups there are
those Christian faithful who, professing the evangelical counsels, are
consecrated to God and so serve the Church's saving mission (cf. CIC, can. 207
§ 1, 2).
Reflecting and meditating
(Youcat comment)
Every Christian has the
duty to bear witness to the Gospel by his own life. But God walks a special
path with each person. Some he sends as laymen, so that they might build up the
kingdom of God by their family and occupation in the midst of the world. For
this purpose, he bestows on them in Baptism and Confirmation all the necessary
gifts of the Holy Spirit. Others he entrusts with the pastoral ministry; they
are to govern, teach, and sanctify his people. No one can take this duty upon
himself; the Lord himself must send him on his way with his divine power
through Holy Orders, so that he can act in the place of Christ and administer
the sacraments.
(CCC Comment)
(CCC 874)
Christ is himself the source of ministry in the Church. He instituted the
Church. He gave her authority and mission, orientation and goal: In order to
shepherd the People of God and to increase its numbers without cease, Christ
the Lord set up in his Church a variety of offices which aim at the good of the
whole body. The holders of office, who are invested with a sacred power, are,
in fact, dedicated to promoting the interests of their brethren, so that all
who belong to the People of God… may attain to salvation (LG 18).
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