Religious Education Study

MY ESSAY ON THE LAITY- LUMEN GENTIUM Why did the announcement of the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) shock the world? What makes this event so important in the history of the Catholic Church? "Many people maintained that with the definition of papal infallibility in 1870, councils were no longer needed. So it was a big surprise," Georgetown University professor Rev. John W. O'Malley says. (“Why is Vatican II So Important?’ Jordan G. Teicher) Between 1962 and 1965 over 2,000 bishops and many more members of the laity among others, gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. What emerged from this ground-breaking council was, in total, sixteen documents that shaped and structured the Catholic Church as we know it today. Of those documents, Lumen Gentium’s (1964) purpose was to present a dogmatic constitution that defined the nature of the Church. This is a document that embodies the principles concerning the faith and morals as laid down by the Church. The Latin title of this document translates as “Light” (Lumen) and “of nations, peoples, clans” (Gentium). We can therefore infer that Lumen Gentium’s core purpose was to provide a guiding light for the peoples of the Church. Lumen Gentium is divided into eight chapters and I will attempt to examine chapter four of Lumen Gentium, concerning the laity, and how this chapter is implicated in the shift in the Church’s self-understanding. Firstly, what is laity? Laity is understood as including all the faithful members of the Church outside of those in the clergy, or religious orders. The term ‘laity’ is derived from the Greek word laos, which means ‘people’. Are we not all the people (laity) of God? Clergy and laity alike? Neither the word clergy, nor the word laity appear in the Bible. “These are terms that are commonly used today to refer to “the person in the pulpit” versus “the people in the pews.” While believers have different callings and gifts (Romans 12:6), they are all servants of the Lord (Romans 14:4).” (http://www.gotquestions.org/clergy-and-laity.html) Vatican II and Lumen Gentium brought about revolutionary changes to the Church’s perspective of the role of the laity. To have an understanding of such a shift in the importance of the role, we must look at it in the context of the hierarchical structure of the Church. Prior to the Second Vatican Council, the laity were considered to be at the bottom of the Church’s hierarchical structure, which was presented in the order of the Pope, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, and finally, the Laity. During Vatican II, the bishops had identified the need to accept and recognise the vital role the laity play in the overall health and welfare of the Church. As Romans 14:4 states; ‘Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.’ Therefore, as we are all people/ laity of God, is it appropriate to use a hierarchical structure that places the importance of one above another? It goes against the very core of the teachings of Jesus Christ himself. Galatians 3:28 ‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’ One of the important shifts in thinking in regards in the laity, is the identification of the huge diversity within the laity. If this diversity is recognised, there is then the recognition of “equal privilege of faith through the justice of God. And if by the will of Christ some are made teachers, pastors, and dispensers of mysteries on behalf of others, yet all share a true equality with regard to the dignity and to the activity common to all the faithful for the building up of the Body of Christ.” (Lumen Gentium 32). We are all called to carry out the mission of the Church, and work together, clergy and laity alike, using our personal gifts and strengths to work towards this common goal. “This very diversity of graces, ministries and works gathers the children of God into one, because all these things are the work of one and the same Spirit.” (Lumen Gentium 32). Another ground-breaking shift in thinking that came about during Vatican II was the role of the lay apostolate, meaning “laypeople and consecrated religious who exercise a ministry in cooperation with the Catholic Church.” (Wikipedia). Lumen Gentium identifies the importance of the laity actively participating in roles within the Church. “Now the laity are called in a special way to make the Church present and operative in those places and circumstances where only through them can it become salt of the earth. Thus every layman, in virtue of the very gifts bestowed upon him, is at the same time a witness and a living instrument of the mission of the Church itself according to the measure of Christ’s bestowal.” (Lumen Gentium 33). This shift virtually turns the previous organisation of the hierarchical structure of the Church with the laity at the bottom, on its head, and gives upmost importance to the role the laity play in the mission of the Church. It is therefore, the noblest duty of all Christians to work for the salvation of mankind across all nations and all periods of time. (Lumen Gentium 33). This shift in hierarchical structure and understanding of the role of the laity brings us to some important questions to reflect upon; How do we as laity answer our call of duty? What do we offer our Church and our faith in terms of the roles the laity can and should fulfil? After all, how we contribute as individual members of the laity has an impact on the overall health and vibrancy not only of our own parishes, but our religion.

MODULE 1: Sacrament and Sacramentality

Section 1:Psychology and the Sacraments

1.1 If you think of a mystery as a spiritual reality that is experienced but only partially understood, what sorts of things would you consider mysteries? I consider the Holy Trinity a mystery as we are not able to fully comprehend what this means and how it is. I also consider Eucharist a mystery- the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

Section 2:Sociology and the Sacraments

2.1 Give an example of how regular participation in Sunday worship both expresses people’s commitment to Christianity and helps them to interiorise Christian beliefs and values. How might this be true of family rituals as well? “For committed Catholic Christians ‘consciously and deliberately participating in the eucharistic liturgy and other sacraments does much more than fulfil external religious obligations’ “. (pg 41 Martos, J. (2009) The sacraments: An interactive and interdisciplinary study. When we participate in the eucharistic liturgy we are deepening our relationship with God. By participating in Sunday worship regularly you are also making an outward display of your faith and commitment, and as an example for other, I think that this is important. Not attending mass may result in a loss of beliefs and values as Church and faith can become something distant if you are not participating regularly. Just as a Church gathers as a family, the same applies for a family unit. Upholding the values and beliefs of a family unit requires commitment and participation from/by all members.

Section 3: Ritual studies and the sacraments

3.1 Martos describes six major categories of ritual, showing their relevance to understanding the sacraments: How might these help us understand our sacraments and also something that is precious to us? A sacrament is considered a mystery and so too rituals have a mysterious element. Martos’ six major categories of ritual help us to understand our sacraments because we can see the ritualistic nature of our sacraments. He categorizes and explains rituals simply in a way that is easy to understand and relate to. Sacraments are symbolic rituals that celebrate religious commitment. “Such spiritual realities have every right to be called mysteries in the basic sense of the Greek mysterion, meaning hidden from view….Even though they are elusive realities, we are keenly aware when they are absent from our lives.” (pg 98 Martos, J. 2009)

Section 4: The Sacraments in history

4.1 Explain in your own words the idea that Jesus was and is a sacrament of God and how this might help us appreciate what lies at the heart of each of the sacraments. Jesus is the ultimate mystery and the gift from God that allows us to have a relationship with Him. We can relate more to the divine mystery as He lived as fully human and is fully God. Without Jesus, and the connections we can make through Him, the sacraments may be too far removed from what humans can understand and may have been a mystery that was too beyond the limits of our comprehension. Eucharist, for example, is relatable for us as humans, because Jesus himself gave us this gift during the Last Supper. He told us this was the way we could have a relationship with God through Him.

Include in your journal any questions this Module has raised for you. How do we best (most simply) explain the mystery of the Trinity to children?

MODULE 2: Sacraments of initiation: Baptism and confirmation

Section 1:Sacraments of Initiation

1.1 Mick states that sacraments should not be seen as isolated moments, but rather that rituals ‘express and celebrate what God has been doing’  in people’s lives. Is this a new idea for you? How might this insight affect the way you and/ or your parish or school prepare for and celebrate the sacraments? This is not a new idea for me, but a good reminder that sacraments are not isolated events from time to time, and should be thought about, reflected upon and discussed regularly.  I think it’s also important, as Mick points out, that the community should be involved and the sacraments celebrated together. At school we make an effort to all celebrate the sacraments together.

Section 2: Infant Baptism

2.1 If the adult rites of initiation are the model for understanding baptism, how would you explain infant baptism today? Can you explain why a priest, on behalf of the community, may sometimes have to postpone the baptism of an infant? Infant baptism is more about peace of mind for the family- they may fear for their infant’s soul if he or she happens to die unbaptised. We know that God is not a God who would condemn innocent children. The process of initiation is a life-long commitment and faith journey, and if a child is baptised young, it is therefore the responsibility of the family and community to raise that child in faith. Perhaps at times a priest postpones a baptism of an infant if he feels the family and community are not ready to raise the child in faith? I have actually not heard of this happening.

Section 3: Confirmation

3.1 In Aotearoa New Zealand there is not common practice in the celebration of the sacrament of confirmation. In your estimation when is the best age to celebrate this sacrament? At our school, the children are confirmed at Year 4- age approximately 8 years old. I think this is an appropriate age as the children have developed their sense of faith, spent several years in the religious education system (usually) and are more aware of the significance.

Section 4: The Development of the Catechumenate

4.1 What strikes you about the RCIA as it is presented here? Note 3 or more aspects of the process that particularly appeal to you. Pay attention to the elaborate nature of baptism and how this shaped the catechumenate. I personally went through the entire process only a couple of years ago. It was lengthy, serious (not in a negative way) and had a great sense of importance and reverence. What strikes me in this article is exactly as I experienced it personally. It was a large and important event and I was personally touched at how complete strangers were so genuinely happy for me. The actual event itself felt like a true celebration and a momentous time in my life. In this sense, I can see the benefits of doing it this way. I felt well informed through the RCIA programme and had plenty of time to address any concerns or questions as they arose. I felt very well supported. Now as soem of my older students are choosing to be baptised, it touches me deeply and I see it as a truley special ev

Include in your journal any questions this Module has raised for you.