Identidade e missão do leigo na igreja e no mundo

Abstract

Lay people make up a large part of the Catholic Church. We see them in extra-ecclesial activities, as well as exercising numerous functions in communities, in parish movements. They are inserted into the mystical body of Christ by baptism, which regenerates them to new life and makes them adopted children of God. Through baptismal regeneration, all become God's people (Church) and participate in the same life of holiness of the head, which is Christ. This guarantees them rights and imposes duties on them. As members of the same body, their task is to spread the Gospel throughout the world and bear witness to Christ, especially in the exercise of secular activities. In the particularity of their vocation, whether they are single or consecrated by the sacrament of marriage, in married life as well as in the education of their children, they must, in accordance with their temporal realities, bear witness to Christ. Since the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) much has been said about the mission of the laity, it is clear that, however, the majority of the faithful in the communities do not recognize themselves as protagonists of their mission.