The Apostolate of the Laity

1. Introduction

The word Apostolate comes from the Greek word ‘Apostolos’ which means to “sent out” and
according to the New Testament it means that the one who acts as a representative of others. But
it is normally used for the special functions in the Church. On the other hand, the word laity refers
to all the faithful except those who are in the holy orders and those who embrace the religious life.
All the faithful cooperate in Christ trough Baptism and they form the people of God. By the fact
of their dedication and commitment to the Church, they share the priestly kingly and prophetic
office of our Lord Jesus Christ. And their Secular character makes them different from the holy
orders.

2. Lay faithful in the Old Testament

From the beginning Lay people are called to serve God as we see in the Old Testament that Yahweh
proclaims that Israel has been formed “I have called you by name, you are mine” (Is 43:1). this
statement shows that all the lay faithful are the chosen race. They also share in the Royal
priesthood, and this title is derived from Ex.19: 6 Israel was conscious of being nation dedicated
to the service and priesthood, which is commonly possessed by all Christians. This is to be
distinguished from the ministerial priesthood which is function of the certain people who are set
apart for the special service to the community. They consecrate and sanctify the whole community.
At the same time we see that the people are also called A Holy Nation (Ex19: 6) means all the faith
full are set apart for the service of Yahweh. God’s own people (Ex.19: 6), here we see that the
proprietorship over us is established in baptism.

3. Lay apostolate in the New Testament

All the Christians as a member of the church have the duty to make known the message of Christ
by his works and life. At the time of Pentecost the young Christian community started to speak.
And this never stopped to the honor of our Lord, as it grew and developed and spread all over the
word. Thus, every lay faith full has an apostolate to play in the parish in order to develop the love
of God and the Gospel of their master, in their parish and the local community over there. “But
you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare
the wonderful deeds of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light”. (1 Pet 2:9).

4. The Role of Laity in the Church

The Church believes that the laity are called by God in a more special way than the clergy is. They
contribute in the transformation of the world through their faithful activities. This is simply
because the clergy is ‘ordained’ to perform special functions, which preclude their intimate
involvement in the political, social, cultural and economic aspects of society. In the words of Yves
Congar, “the work of the mystical Body involves the bringing together under Christ of all that the
wealth of creation and the virtual ties of mankind can achieve. These things can be done only by
lay people, for they belong both to the world and to the Church in a way that is neither of the clergy
nor of monks. And so the lay function as such is necessary to the Church’s mission and to the
economy of grace. Lay people are the proper and irreplaceable subject of some of the activities
through which this mission and this work are accomplished in their fullness”. (D’Souza, A. 2001.
P.108)

5. Vatican II and Laity

Vatican II also has the same view as it states “The term laity is here understood to mean all the
faithful except those in holy orders and those who belong to a religious state by approved by the
church. That is, the faithful who by baptism are incorporated into Christ, are placed in the people
of God, and their own way share the priestly, prophetic and kingly office of Christ, and to the best
of their ability carry on the mission of the whole Christian people in the Church and in the world.”

6. Theological Understanding

The word ‘Lay’ is not found anywhere in the Bible, but the word “Laos” is found very frequently.
It is translated as ‘people’. In the Old Testament ‘Laos’ is used to designate the ‘People of God’
and to distinguish them from the gentiles. Therefore the word ‘lay’ is connected with a word that
is used for Jews and later for Christians. It means properly the sacred people in opposition to the
peoples who were not consecrated. The laity is the entire people of God, the ‘chosen’ people, all
the people of the covenant. It is very important to bear in mind that, like the chosen people in the
OT, the people of God of the NT are specially chosen to fulfil God’s mission in the world. In his
first letter, Peter exhorts the people of God, “Be holy in all you do, since it is the Holy One who
has called you” (1-Pet 1:15).

7. Development of Laity

In early Christian literature a lay person was a member of the Church not otherwise distinguish as
being in major or minor orders. The traditional division makes distinction between clergy and laity.
It has always been most marked in the Roman Catholic Church, less so in the Church of England,
while some sects such as the Quakers admit no distinction at all. But with the passage of time, an
important new development in theology is the growing number of lay persons, as well as non-
ordained religious, who are professionally engaged as theologians. This return to an ancient
situation can only enrich the Church with new insights into the Scriptures and theology and deepen
our understanding of the Church itself. As the Code of Canon Law 207 says that only the laity are
those faithful who are not clerics and both clerics and laity can assume the consecrated life.

8. FABC Document

According to FABC document No. 46a the subject or agent of servant Church is the laity. So, the
central important of laity in the Church should be realized in our consciousness as well as in our
practice. The Church does not exist for herself but for all the people of the world. The laity is the
subject of the Church and not only recipients of her activity. Clergy and laity have the same
mission, and both play an active role in the mission of the Church. It also expressed that the laity
should be given the responsibilities in the areas of apostolate, which are proper to them, such, as
social work, education and Caritas, etc.

9. Lay Apostolate in Parishes

The Parish is the binding force of all the lay faithful in the Dioceses. Parish leads all the faithful
to the real home that is heaven. Parish also reminds the parishioners or the lay faithful that they
are pilgrims here. According to Christfideles Laici No. 26 parish is a family of God or it is a
fraternity (brotherhood and sisterhood) animated by the spirit of the unity. It is a family home to
the serves of all. It emphasis that suitable structures should be provided so that the laity can be
helped to play their proper role in the Church at the diocese and parish level.
10. Examples of Lay Apostolates
In these days the Lay apostolates are helpful to work against modern errors and vices. Through
their different responsibilities, the laity have taken up the mission of the Lord in the Church. They
work vigorously to promote our Catholic faith to the other people, though different activities. Such
as, Catechists, Sunday-School Teachers, Legion of Mary, Jesus’ Youth Group, Consecrated
people, different NGOs, and so on.

11. Conclusion
For summing up this assignment we can say that the most important fact is that no one within the
Church stands alone. Laity, clergy, and religious are all inexorably linked in the same goal of
building up the whole Church. Moreover, laity and clergy are not two separate groups but one
church. Laity is the backbone of the Church. The Church should provide them their basic
responsibilities. The Church’s most serious obligation is to arrange the Christian and theological
education for lay faithful. So, that they may be able to face the different challenges in the world.
On the other hand it is also the responsibility of every Christian lay faithful to understand their
role and to evangelize the world. Finally, through their active roles and participation they can fulfil
the mission of the Christ.