ABSTRACT
In the Catholic Church, the Ecclesial Movements and the New Communities are a plural reality. They form a mosaic of charisms, with distinct and complementary emphases: conversion and fraternity, works of mercy and human promotion, charismatic and sacramental renewal, ecumenical spirituality, and unity of Christians. The purpose of this article is to analyze the II Vatican Council’s understanding of the lay charism and its emphasis in the later magisterium, considering the Movements and the Communities from the perspective of the baptismal vocation to holiness and apostolate. The theological and ecclesial elements underlined affirm the mission of the laity in the Church-communion (II Vatican Council), with their charisms open to the signs of the times (Paul VI), based on their own spirituality and discipline in view of the apostolate (John Paul II and Benedict XVI), and the recent call to the outgoing mission (Pope Francis). The analysis concludes that lay men and women (or laity) evangelize by virtue of baptism, according to the secular character of their vocation in the world; and assesses each pontiff’s emphasis on lay leadership in times of missionary reform of the Church.
KEYWORDS
Charisms; Ecclesial movements; Laity; Recent magisterium; Missionary reform