The Spirituality of Lay People:A Spiritulaity rooted in Prayer

THE SPIRITUALITY OF LAY PEOPLE, A SPIRITUALITY ROOTED IN PRAYER

IBIYEMI VICTOR

INTRODUCTION

 Yves Congar in 1959 began a long and careful work on the laity with the observation that the word laikos where “lay” is derived is not found anywhere in the Bible. In the New Testament, the noun Laos is however used frequently and often carries the meaning people. However, another sense of the term laity emerges in parallel fashion, used in contrast to priests, Levites and prophets. The laity therefore is that part of the church subject to the leadership and control of the church’s hierarchy. (Edward Schillebeeckx, the Layman in the Church (New York: St Paul Publications, 1963), pp. 35-36). In modern dispensation with the events of the Vatican II Council, there are new dimensions to understanding the term “laity” most especially as not just subjects of clericalism but also as helpers in the kingdom of God. Hence, as recently as thirty years ago, C.A Bouman answers negatively to this question: Is there a “Lay Spirituality”? He answers in such fashion because of the understanding that the lay must emulate the religious life especially in spirituality. The entire structure here is that the religious life is superior and that living in the world is detrimental to spirituality. Nevertheless, there must be “a spirituality” for the laity which helps them to ascend to God even in their own state of life.       

CATHOLIC SPIRITUALITY

Catholic spirituality is the Spiritual practice of living out a personal act of faith (fides qua creditor) following the acceptance of faith (fides quae creditor). Although all Catholics are expected to pray together at Mass, there are many different forms of spirituality and private prayers which have developed over the centuries.  These different forms of spiritualities are unique because they are ways of approaching God in prayer and living out the gospel.   

LAY SPIRITUALITY ROOTED IN CHRIST THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT

You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5: 48)

The life of intimate union with Christ in the Church is maintained by the spiritual helps common to all the faithful, chiefly by active participation in the liturgy. Laymen should make such a use of these helps that, while meeting their human obligations in the ordinary conditions of life, they do not separate their union with Christ from their ordinary life: but through the very performance of their tasks, which are God’s will for them, actually promote the growth of their union with him (Decree on the Apostolate of Lay people, Apostolicam Actuositatem, Ch. 14)

In a general audience of Pope John Paul in December 1, 1993, the pope opines that the specific role of lay people in the Church requires them to have a deep spiritual life. This is based on the assumption that every baptized person is called to holiness (I Peter 1:16). The way this call is put into practice varies according to different factors. All Christian spirituality must be based on what Jesus said about the need for vital union with him: “Remain in me… whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit” (Jn. 15:4-5). Christ is the foundation for any spirituality. Hence, the lay spirituality is built on Christ who is the solid rock and who is the living water given to us all to drink (I Cor.12:13).     

The Holy Spirit is the life force of every Christian. The union with Christ is a gift of the Holy Spirit, who instills it in our soul. Without the Holy Spirit, no one would recognize Jesus as the Son of God. It means therefore that, the lay spirituality rests on a devout attentiveness to the dictates of the Holy Spirit. There must be a strong bon and connection between faithful and the Holy Spirit, without that nexus with the Spirit of God, there can be no Spirituality.  Since it is the gift of the Holy Spirit, union with Christ must be asked for in prayer. Doubtless, when work is performed according to God’s will, something pleasing to the Lord of being done, and this is a form of prayer.   

LAY SPIRITUALITY DRAWN ESSENTIALLY FROM THE LITURGY

Nevertheless, the liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the church is directed; at the same time it is the font from which all her power flows… the liturgy in turn moves the faithful, filled with “the paschal sacraments” to be one in holiness. (Sacrosanctum Concilium no. 10)

The prayer life of every member of the faithful, including the laity, must involve participation in the liturgy, recourse to the sacrament of Reconciliation and above all the celebration of the Eucharist. Sacramental communion with Christ is the source of that kind of mutual immanence between the soul and Christ which himself proclaimed: “whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him” (Jn. 6:56). The Eucharist banquet guarantees the spiritual nourishment that makes it possible to produce abundant fruit. Sacramental participation in Sunday Mass should be the source of both their spiritual life and their apostolate. Blessed are they who, in addition to Sunday Mass and communion, feel attracted and encouraged to receive communion more frequently, as many saints recommended, especially in recent times with ever greater development of the apostolate of the laity.    

THE SPIRITUALITY AND APOSTOLATE OF THE LAITY IN OUR MODERN WORLD

The Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People, Apostolicam Actuositatem proclaimed by his holiness, Pope Paul VI on November 18, 1965 argues that the main apostolate of the laity is pictured in the framework of the commission given to the church by Christ. The church’s mission is concerned with the salvation of men; and men win salvation through the grace of Christ and faith in him. The apostolate of the Church therefore, and of each of its members, aims primarily at announcing to the world by the word and action the message of Christ and communicating to the world the grace of Christ. The council earnestly exhorts the laity to take a more active part, each according to his talents and knowledge and in fidelity to the mind of the church, in the explanation and defense of Christian principles and in the correct application of them to the problems of our times. (Apostolicam Actuositatem, no.6) n c. In the third chapter of Apostolicam Actuositatem, the various fields of the apostolate are identified. Majorly, the laity must effectively manifest its presence in the church communities engaging itself zealously in the apostolic works of the community. Also, the family, the mission of being the primary vital cell of the society has been given to the family by God himself. This mission will be accomplished if the family, by the mutual affection of its members and by family prayer, presents itself as a domestic sanctuary of the church; if the whole family takes its part in the church’s liturgical worship and finally, if it offers active hospitality and practices justice and other good works for the benefit of all its brothers suffering from want.          

A SPIRITUALITY ROOTED IN PRAYER 

Spirituality and prayer are not separable. An individual transcends the empirical and material world into the divine realm through prayer. Hence, a spiritual soul meets God only in the act of prayer conversing with the divine master. Therefore, all genuine spiritualities are imbued and embedded in prayer, since; prayer is the raising and lifting of our minds to God. The lay spirituality is not an exception. As Apostle Paul has urged, the tempo that regulates our prayer life should be ceaseless. Pray in and out of season (Eph. 6:18). The lay faithful are enjoined to pray at all times. Without prayer, an individual is cut off from the graces and providence of the creator. A Christian that never prays can never follow the master, who is the teacher of prayer. (Matt. 6:9ff).          

Prayer is the master key that opens all doors. Only a constant Christian gets the prize of victory won. Catherine McAuley says: “the time given to prayer… we must consider as employed to obtain grace, strength and animation n without which all our efforts would be fruitless”…

SPIRITUALITY AND THE EARTHLY EVENTS OF LIFE

Neither family concerns nor others secular affairs should be irrelevant  to their spiritual life, in keeping with the words of the Apostle “whatever you do in word or work, so all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col 3:17). In the midst of life’s activities, the lay faithful are called to live out their own unique spirituality. In fact, the laity better preaches the message of Christ to the society; they become altars where the love of God is manifested and made known. They disseminate and diffuse this love rapidly and practically. It is therefore, a prerogative that the faithful must take it upon themselves to communicate Christ in all the things they do.    

A SPIRITUALITY BASED ON FAITH

…but my righteous one will live by faith (Heb. 10:38)

It is good to also remark that the spirituality of the laity is based on faith. The laity life calls for a continuous exercise of faith, hope and charity. Only the light of faith and meditation on the Word of God can enable us to find everywhere and always the God “in whom we live and exist” (Acts 17:28); only thus can we seek his will in everything, see Christ in all men, acquaintance or stranger, make sound judgments on the true meaning and value of temporal realities both in themselves and in the relation to man’s end.  (Apostolicam Actuositatem, no.4).

CONCLUSION

This lay spirituality will take its particular character from the circumstances of one’s state in life (married and family life, celibacy, widowhood), from one’s state of health and from one’s professional and social activities. (Apostolicam Actuositatem, no.4).