Papal letters on the laity

[Magnum_V8]

Can you point me to any of John Paul II’s or Benedict XVI’s letters that discussed the importance of the laity, the need for a fiery laity…anything along those lines?

I am trying to put together some material to reference when I go to my first parish council meeting in September.

Our parish is very stale, with a complacent and “conformist” type congregation. We are missing that FIRE of the Holy Spirit.

I figure that maybe with some “big guns” backin’ me up, it may be a little better received.

 

[jaaraf]

You may want to search the official vatican website with laity as a key word to point you to such letters which are online. www.vatican.va

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Can you point me to any of John Paul II’s or Benedict XVI’s letters that discussed the importance of the laity, the need for a fiery laity…anything along those lines?

I am trying to put together some material to reference when I go to my first parish council meeting in September.

Our parish is very stale, with a complacent and “conformist” type congregation. We are missing that FIRE of the Holy Spirit.

I figure that maybe with some “big guns” backin’ me up, it may be a little better received.

Start with Vatican II document on the Laity, *
Apostolicam Actuositatem*,

Paul VI on Evangelization, *
Evangelii Nuntiandi
*
John Paul II’s Encyclical on the Laity,
*Christifideles Laici
*
The U.S. Bishops have two documents on the laity
Called and Gifted and One Body Many Gifts

and one on Evnangelization and the laity,
Go Make Disciples

I believe that is another on the laity and Social Justice called Salt and Light or something like that.

 

[Genesis315]

What Br. Rich said.

I would also point out that the Second Vatican Council spoke on this a lot, not just in the decree concerning the laity.