CATHOLIC ACTIONin Vatican Council II

Explicit quotations

•Christus Dominus 17Decree on the pastoral ministry of Bishops.

•Apostolicam Actuositatem 20 Decree on the apostolate of the laity.

•Ad Gentes 15 Decree on the missionary activity of the Church.

Catholic Action in Vatican Council II

Catholic Action inChristus Dominus 17

• Various forms of apostolate should be encouraged, and in the whole diocese.

• The faithful should be strongly urged to assume their duty of carrying out the apostolate, each according to his state in life and his ability. They should be invited to join or assist the various works of the lay apostolate, especially Catholic Action.

Associations, which directly or indirectly have a supernatural goal should also be promoted and supported.

These forms of apostolate should be adapted to current needs…

Catholic Action in Vatican Council II

Catholic Action in Apostolicam Actuositatem 20

• History• Characteristics:

a) The immediate aim of these associations is the Church’s apostolic aim.

b) The laity, in their own way,…assume the responsibility of running these organizations.

c) The laity act together in the same manner in which an organic body works.

d) These lay people…act under the superior guidance of their Hierarchy .

• Invitation

Acción Católica en el Concilio Vaticano II

Catholic Action in Ad Gentes

After having described the mission that of announcing the good news [1-13] and having stressed the importance of the catechumenate and of Christian initiation [14], when it speaks about the formation of the Christian Community it says :

Lay people have an important part to play in the attainment of these goals and as such they deserve special attention …

Catholic Action in Vatican Council II

Catholic Action in Ad Gentes 15

Besides, various types of ministries are necessary for the building of the Church and for the growth of the Christian Community. These should stem from divine inspiration from among the faithful and should be carefully fostered and cultivated by all. Among these are the offices of priests, deacons and catechists as well as of Catholic Action.

Catholic Action in Vatican Council II

Non explicit Quotation

•Lumen Gentium 33Dogmatic Constitution on the Church.

•Apostolicam Actuositatem 24 Decree on the apostolate of the laity.

•Ad Gentes 21 Decree on the missionary activity of the Church.

Catholic Action in Vatican Council II

Relevant Aspectsin the conciliar documents

Catholic Action in Vatican Council II

Catholic Action is in principle diocesan or it is non existent:

•It is the Bishop who invites and encourages the lay faithful entrusted to him to involve themselves in apostolic work. He is the one to appeal for active participation and to convene Catholic Action.

•It is the Bishop who invites and encourages priests to promote these forms of lay apostolate.

Catholic Action in Vatican Council II

• Relevant Aspects in the conciliar documents

Catholic Action is a vocation which:

•Traces its origin in the Apostolic Community.

•Has a charism which is identified by these four characteristics:It is – Missionary, Lay, Organic, Diocesan.

•As an organization it may exist under a different name but its vocation should be the same.

Acción Católica en el Concilio Vaticano II

• Relevant Aspects in the conciliar documents

Catholic Action is a ministry which is carried out by lay people:

•They are called by God and they receive their “mandate” from the Church.

•They are at the service of the Community and adapt themselves to it thus contributing towards the building, consolidation and growth of the Church.

Catholic action in Vatican Council II

• Relevant aspects in the conciliar documents

The importance of associated apostolate:

•this type of apostolate is an answer to human and Christian exigencies,

•at the same time it signifies the communion and unity of the Church in Christ.

•very often this requires a combined effort in Church communities as well as in various other spheres (AA 18).

Catholic Action in Vatican Council II

• Relevant Aspects in conciliar documents

The mission of apostolic associations:

•offer support to their members and prepare them for apostolic work.

•organize and regulate their apostolic work.

•better results can be expected than if each member were to act on his own (AA18).

Catholic Action in Vatican Council II

• Relevant Aspects in conciliar documents

“You have chosen to live, as lay people, for the Church and for its entire mission ...”

John Paul II

“The Pope has a dream in your regard: to see Catholic Action groups being set up and spreading in apartment blocks and in whole districts…so that they may be a presence which radiates the joy of Christ ”

John Paul II

“commit yourself to announce the Gospel in a world which changes…Alone, this is difficult, together this possible and this is precisely the support given by an association”

John Paul II

“As lay people you have chosen to organize yourselves as an Association, where the unique link with your Pastors, reflects and promotes the constitutive lay character of the members”

John Paul II

“The spirit of that “syntax of communion” which characterizes the ecclesiology of Vatican II and the rules, regarding the democratic participation in the associative life of the group, help you to express, in all its fullness, the unity of all the ecclesial Body of Christ”

John Paul II