Lumen gentium e os leigos: a santificação do mundo a partir de dentro

Abstract

The Church over the centuries has come across the conviction that lay people “are Church" and are called to "become Church". For that, the magisterium, in special form that of twentieth century, welcomed such desires. In this sense, there is a process for the reception and development of the theme. The crowning of doctrine about ley people came out in the Second Vatican Council. The Christian is thus called to fully live in the world. Therefore, we see the newness and urgency to develop the theme here suggested. Hence, we see the necessity and urgency of the topic proposed here. For this reason, the doctrinal and magisterial development of the lay theology, has matured and been present in everyday ecclesial life. Mainly, the need for the academic development of this ecclesiological subject. In the course of the centuries, different meanings of the term Church, the council has brought to us, specifically that of God´s People. Such term illustrates the universal congregation of the faithful, the corpus Ecclesiarum. The variety of ecclesial meanings respond to the understanding that is connected to Tradition, and has come down through the centuries, and which develops theologically with the fulfillment of the Church in history. Therefore, the Council has realized that ecclesial hierarchy cannot be present in all places and circumstances in the world for the transmission of Church salvific mission. The lay people is an indispensable witness and instrument for mission of the Church.