Apostolicam Actuositatem (Apostolic Activity), also known as the "Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity", is one of the 16 magisterial documents of the Second Vatican Council. The purpose of the decree was to encourage and guide lay Catholics in their Christian service. In this decree the Council sought "to describe the nature, character, and diversity of the lay apostolate or ministry, to state its basic principles, and to give pastoral directives for its more effective exercise". The decree quotes Colossians 3:17: "Whatever you do in word or work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him".

Background

Apostolicam Actuositatem follows upon Lumen gentium, the "Dogmatic Constitution on the Church", of 21 November 1964, which discusses the laity, by which the Council fathers mean all the faithful except those in Holy Orders or religious institutes, in chapter IV:

The decree notes that the Council's Decree on Instruments of Social Communication, Decree on Ecumenism, Decree on the Pastoral Duties of Bishops, the Declaration on Christian Education, the Decree on the Missionary Activity of Church and the Decree on Priestly Life and Ministry have already touched in the roles of lay people to some extent.

It had already been determined that the church's canon law would need to be revised after the Council, and so the decree looked ahead to revised provisions on the lay apostolate emerging in due course.

Contents

In its introduction, the decree refers to the earliest days of the Church and what it calls "our own times", advising that "no less zeal" (Latin: zelum laicorum) is needed now than was characteristic of the early church.

Subsequent developments

The Pontifical Council for the Laity had its foundation in section 26 of the decree. This body was created in January 1967 by Pope Paul VI's motu proprio Catholicam Christi Ecclesiam. In December 1976, the council was included as a permanent fixture of the Roman Curia. In September 2016, its functions were transferred to the new Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life.

See also

  • Associations of the faithful
  • Christifideles laici
  • Lay ecclesial ministry
  • List of Ecclesial movements

References

Further reading

  • Francis Cardinal Arinze, The Layperson's Distinctive Role, Ignatius Press, 2013
  • English translation of text at the Vatican
  • Original Latin text at EWTN