Yesterday's post on Lay Spirituality got me to thinking about Pope Benedict XVI's first Enclyclical, Deus Caritas Est. In it we find this from paragraph 29:
The direct duty to work for a just ordering of society, on the other hand, is proper to the lay faithful. As citizens of the State, they are called to take part in public life in a personal capacity. So they cannot relinquish their participation “in the many different economic, social, legislative, administrative and cultural areas, which are intended to promote organically and institutionally the common good.” [21] The mission of the lay faithful is therefore to configure social life correctly, respecting its legitimate autonomy and cooperating with other citizens according to their respective competences and fulfilling their own responsibility.[22] Even if the specific expressions of ecclesial charity can never be confused with the activity of the State, it still remains true that charity must animate the entire lives of the lay faithful and therefore also their political activity, lived as “social charity”.[23] (emphasis added)
Here we have a recognition of the unique role of the laity. I would like to see a greater recognition that it is the private sector that creates wealth, jobs and purpose for the majority of people.
Even with this, there is much more to be said about lay spirituality in the world. The first part of the enclyclical, with its emphasis on love as eros as well as agape is fundamental to lay spirituality within the context of marriage.
I will build on this in later posts.
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