I
irishpatrick
Guest
The Church needs the laity and they should not be “clericalised”, Francis said in this morning’s audience with Italian Catholic radio and television network Corallo.
“Who’s more important? The Pope or that little old lady who recites the rosary every day?” Francis asked this question to representatives of local television channels, admitting that he himself did not know the answer.
The Pope criticised the tendency some prelates have of pushing lay people who do a lot of great work in their parishes - they may be great organisers, for example - to be come deacons. Another thing that often happens, Francis said in his off-the-cuff address to representatives of Italian diocesan broadcasters, is that “when there is a lay person who does a good job and is committed, their parish priest goes to the local bishop – and this happened to me in Buenos Aires – and says: “Why don’t we make him a deacon?” This is a mistake: **if we have a good lay person, let him carry on being just that,” the Pope stressed. **
vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/detail/articolo/francesco-francis-francisco-corallo-32897/
I believe it is too often forgotten that lay Catholics can become saints right where they are, praying, working, and living out the Gospel. They do not need to be “known” as saints, yet they often try to live as saints–and we need many, many more millions of those. The Holy Father’s question *(“Who’s more important? The Pope or that little old lady who recites the rosary every day?”), * is an important query because it shines a light on how important the prayers and faith of lay Catholics are. A person saying the rosary every day, with a proper disposition, is performing a critical and holy work for the Body of Christ–again, we need many more lay Catholics who seek sanctification right where they are, no bells and whistles, no public proclamations, just a strong and holy and Christ loving faith.
“Who’s more important? The Pope or that little old lady who recites the rosary every day?” Francis asked this question to representatives of local television channels, admitting that he himself did not know the answer.
The Pope criticised the tendency some prelates have of pushing lay people who do a lot of great work in their parishes - they may be great organisers, for example - to be come deacons. Another thing that often happens, Francis said in his off-the-cuff address to representatives of Italian diocesan broadcasters, is that “when there is a lay person who does a good job and is committed, their parish priest goes to the local bishop – and this happened to me in Buenos Aires – and says: “Why don’t we make him a deacon?” This is a mistake: **if we have a good lay person, let him carry on being just that,” the Pope stressed. **
vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/detail/articolo/francesco-francis-francisco-corallo-32897/
I believe it is too often forgotten that lay Catholics can become saints right where they are, praying, working, and living out the Gospel. They do not need to be “known” as saints, yet they often try to live as saints–and we need many, many more millions of those. The Holy Father’s question *(“Who’s more important? The Pope or that little old lady who recites the rosary every day?”), * is an important query because it shines a light on how important the prayers and faith of lay Catholics are. A person saying the rosary every day, with a proper disposition, is performing a critical and holy work for the Body of Christ–again, we need many more lay Catholics who seek sanctification right where they are, no bells and whistles, no public proclamations, just a strong and holy and Christ loving faith.
