Joshua Bennett
The word apostolate comes from the Greek word apostello, meaning to send forth or dispatch. An apostolate is a Christian organization with the purpose of serving and evangelizing the world, often associated with the Catholic Church or Anglican Communion. The Catholic apostolate is a crucial part of the Church's mission, with laypeople actively spreading the word of Christ in their daily lives. Lay apostles are mentioned by St. Paul in the Epistle to the Romans and the Epistle to the Philippians. The laity's role is to spread the truth of Christianity through any means possible, and this can be achieved through participation in parish-based activities such as serving on the parish council or teaching classes. The right and duty to engage in individual apostolate are derived from baptism, and this can be achieved by living one's everyday life in the light of Christian faith.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Christian organisation | Evangelising the world |
| Association of persons dedicated to propagating a religion or a doctrine | Serving |
| Laity | Spreading the truth of Christianity |
| Run by laity | Spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Catholicism |
| Secular environment | Spontaneous |
| Parish-based activities | Fruitful |
| Individual apostolate | Baptisms |
| Confirmations |
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What You'll Learn
Understand the meaning of an apostolate
The word "apostolate" comes from the Greek word "apostello", which means "to send forth" or "to dispatch". In the Christian context, the word refers to the twelve apostles selected by Christ, who had a "special vocation, a formal appointment of the Lord to a determined office, with connected authority and duties".
An apostolate is a Christian organization "directed to serving and evangelizing the world", most often associated with the Anglican Communion or the Catholic Church. In more general usage, an apostolate is an association of persons dedicated to the propagation of a religion or a doctrine. An apostolate can be a Christian organization made up of the laity or of a specific Christian religious order. Within Anglican theology and Catholic theology, "ministry" pertains to the administration of a sacrament or the celebration of liturgy and all that pertains to the liturgical functioning of the Church; as such, it is specific to those with Holy Orders.
The laity have a distinct role within the apostolate, which is to spread the truth of Christianity in the world through whatever means possible. This is referred to as an apostolate. For example, Catholic Answers is a Catholic apostolate run by laypeople whose mission is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Catholicism.
The Christian vocation is, by its very nature, a vocation to the apostolate. This is because every part of a living body must actively share in the functions of the whole body. The laity share in the priestly, prophetic, and royal office of Christ and, therefore, in the mission of the whole People of God. Through baptism and confirmation, Christ assigns the laity to the apostolate, and through the Eucharist, they will receive and nourish the charity that is the soul of the apostolate. Charity demands that all the faithful promote God’s glory by making the message of salvation known to all.
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Learn about the lay apostolate
The word apostolate comes from the Greek word "apostello", which means "to send forth" or "dispatch". In a Christian context, it refers to an organisation of people dedicated to spreading and evangelising their religion.
The lay apostolate, as defined by Pope Paul VI in 1965, is rooted in early Church tradition and is a crucial part of the Church's mission. It involves laypeople, through baptism and confirmation, actively spreading the kingdom of Christ in their daily lives. This is distinct from the ministry, which is specific to those with Holy Orders.
Laypeople are called to participate in Christ's offices and share in his priestly, prophetic, and royal office through their baptism and confirmation. This is a duty that arises directly from these sacraments, and it is a role that is distinct from lay ministry, which happens within a church setting. Lay apostolate, on the other hand, occurs in the secular world and is something that all Catholic laypeople should be doing every day.
The role of the laity is to spread the truth of Christianity and the Gospel of Jesus Christ through whatever means they can. This can include parish-based activities such as serving on a parish council, teaching classes, or other activities that are not typically considered lay apostolate but are still admirable and excellent.
The need for a lay apostolate has increased due to various factors, including population growth, scientific and technological progress, and the few numbers of priests in many places. The laity are encouraged to serve Christ and the Church in all circumstances, and their activities are directed towards the purpose for which the Church was founded.
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The role of laity in the Church
The laity's role in the Catholic Church is crucial to its mission, as decreed by Pope Paul VI in 1965. The laity, or laypeople, are those who participate in Christ's offices through baptism and confirmation. They are called to actively spread the kingdom of Christ in their daily lives, outside of the church setting.
The laity's role is derived from the Christian vocation, which is a calling to the apostolate. This means that all parts of the Christian body must actively share in the functions of the whole. The laity, through their baptism and confirmation, are assigned by Christ to the apostolate, and through the Eucharist, they receive and nourish the charity that is the soul of this mission.
Lay apostles are mentioned by St. Paul in several of his epistles, and their role is to spread the truth of Christianity in the world through whatever means they can. This can include serving on a parish council, teaching, and other parish activities, but it primarily happens in a secular environment, in the midst of everyday life.
The need for the lay apostolate is greater than ever due to various societal changes. These include an increase in population, progress in science and technology, and the autonomy of many areas of human life from religious influence. Additionally, in some places, there are very few priests, and they may not have the freedom to carry out their priestly work. Thus, the laity must be conscious of their responsibility to serve Christ and the Church in all circumstances.
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Examples of Catholic apostolates
The word apostolate comes from the Greek word "apostello", which means "to send forth" or "to dispatch". An apostolate is a Christian organization directed to "serving and evangelizing the world", most often associated with the Anglican Communion or the Catholic Church.
Catholic Answers
Catholic Answers is an example of a Catholic apostolate run by laity. Their mission is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Catholicism in the world.
Opus Dei
Opus Dei is an organization of laypeople striving to spread the Catholic faith in their daily lives. They emphasize the importance of meditation and contemplation, seeking to "convert their work into prayer". Opus Dei members see themselves as "missionary disciples", proclaiming their love for God in Christ Jesus.
The Lay Apostolate
The Lay Apostolate, as defined by Pope Paul VI in 1965, is rooted in early Church tradition. It emphasizes the role of laypeople, who are called to actively spread the kingdom of Christ in their daily lives through baptism and confirmation. This form of apostolate is vital to the Church's mission, and its members are encouraged to serve Christ and the Church in all circumstances.
The Saint Martin Apostolate of Prayer
While this is an Anglican apostolate, it demonstrates the interdenominational nature of apostolates. This apostolate is dedicated to the "sanctification of all priests through the continual offering of prayers on their behalf by the faithful."
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How to spread the Gospel
The primary goal of a Catholic apostolate is to spread the Gospel and the teachings of Jesus Christ and Catholicism. Here are some ways in which this can be achieved:
Understanding the Mission
Firstly, it is important to understand the nature of the apostolate and its role in the Catholic Church. The word "apostolate" comes from the Greek "apostello", meaning "to send forth". In the Christian context, it refers to the twelve apostles chosen by Christ, who had a special vocation and authority to spread His message. The laity, or laypeople, are also called to participate in this mission through their baptism and confirmation.
Living the Faith
According to Vatican Council II, the individual apostolate comes first. This means that Catholics should live their everyday lives—in their roles as spouses, parents, workers, students, etc.—guided by their Christian faith, and give verbal testimony to that faith whenever possible.
Parish Activities
While not strictly considered apostolate, participating in parish activities such as serving on the parish council, teaching classes, or performing other chores around the church is still valuable and can contribute to the overall mission of the Church.
Spreading the Gospel
The ultimate goal of the apostolate is to spread the kingdom of Christ throughout the world and enable all people to share in His salvation. This can be done through various means, including creative and performing arts, community service, and outreach. With the advancements in science and technology, there are now even more opportunities to reach people with the Gospel message.
Prayer and Charity
Charity, or love, is described as the soul of the apostolate. Through the Eucharist, Catholics receive and nourish this love, which then motivates them to serve Christ and the Church. Prayer is also an important aspect, as seen in Anglican apostolates that focus on offering prayers for priests.
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Frequently asked questions
An apostolate is a Christian organisation "directed to serving and evangelising the world", most often associated with the Anglican Communion or the Catholic Church. In more general usage, an apostolate is an association of persons dedicated to the propagation of a religion or a doctrine.
A lay apostolate is when laypeople participate in Christ's offices through baptism and confirmation and are called to actively spread the kingdom of Christ in their daily lives.
An example of a Catholic apostolate is Catholic Answers, run by laity whose mission is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Catholicism.
Examples of lay apostolates include serving on the parish council, teaching an RCIA class, and other parish activities.
A lay ministry happens in a church setting, while a lay apostolate happens in the secular world.
