Pope Francis and the Reform of the Laity

NCReg: Pope Francis and the Reform of the Laity
COMMENTARY: The Holy Father has identified ‘ecclesiastical narcissism’ as the fundamental illness the Church needs to address.

This was based on remarks made to the cardinals before the conclave - has he changed his mind since then?

Cardinal Bergoglio was the principal author and presenter of the Aparecida Document, which not only echoes many of his fundamental themes but is a reliable indicator of his thought.

The reform of the laity, the document says, must involve re-forming them to become “missionary disciples in communion.”

Those four words define the lay vocation: converted followers of Jesus, who together with others who share Jesus’ life, faithfully seek to spread their joy, life and love to those who have not yet come into that two-fold communion.

It’s a community of believers trained and inspired to go out to transform politics, society, education, neighborhoods, family and marriages.

It’s a brotherhood of Good Samaritans drawing near to neighbors with love and mercy.

It’s the faithful who are salt of the earth and not just salty critics of the Church.

It’s a body of torchbearers radiating Christ’s light rather than hiding it within the bushel basket of self-referential, spiritually worldly and ultimately “sick” parochial or diocesan structures.

Pope Francis has begun the exodus leading to this reform, taking us by example to the outskirts of human existence and sketching for us the journey ahead.

The real work, however, still needs to take place in hearts, homes, parishes, movements and schools across the Catholic world.

First things first - the laity need to be taught about the order of charity and the meaning of friendship before parish life can then be reinvigorated - only then can any large-scale (i.e. at the level of the parish and the local Church) credible evangelization effort be launched and maintained. Otherwise, Christians are open to the following criticism:

"You Christians talk about love, but you live like the rest of us, in your homes, without any real friendships, even with your fellow Christians. How can you talk about the love of neighbor when you do not live it?")


Related:
APARECIDA - Concluding Document
The Unprecedented "Presumption" of Changing the World
Vatican Diary / The reform of the curia has already begun
Francis: A Step Towards Collegiality - Pope Francis' reasons for deciding to appoint eight cardinal advisers
Mercy. The first encyclical of Pope Francis