Teach Sanctify Govern

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Two Cities

CCC873 The very differences which the Lord has willed to put between the members of his body serve its unity and mission. For "in the Church there is diversity of ministry but unity of mission. To the apostles and their successors Christ has entrusted the office of teaching, sanctifying and governing in his name and by his power. But the laity are made to share in the priestly, prophetical, and kingly office of Christ; they have therefore, in the Church and in the world, their own assignment in the mission of the whole People of God."387

Commentary

The Church

The vocation of the ordained, the bishop and his priests, is to teach, sanctify and govern the lay baptized in the Church.

The World

CCC898 "By reason of their special vocation it belongs to the laity to seek the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them according to God's will. . . . It pertains to them in a special way so to illuminate and order all temporal things with which they are closely associated that these may always be effected and grow according to Christ and maybe to the glory of the Creator and Redeemer."431

Sanctifying. The participation of lay people in Christ's priestly office. 902 In a very special way, parents share in the office of sanctifying "by leading a conjugal life in the Christian spirit and by seeing to the Christian education of their children."435

Teaching. Participation in Christ's prophetic office. 941 Lay people share in Christ's priesthood: ever more united with him, they exhibit the grace of Baptism and Confirmation in all dimensions of their personal family, social and ecclesial lives, and so fulfill the call to holiness addressed to all the baptized. 942 By virtue of their prophetic mission, lay people "are called . . . to be witnesses to Christ in all circumstances and at the very heart of the community of mankind" (GS 43 § 4).

Governing. Participation in Christ's kingly office. 943 By virtue of their kingly mission, lay people have the power to uproot the rule of sin within themselves and in the world, by their self-denial and holiness of life (cf. LG 36).

Commentary

Our vocation as lay men and women is to teach, sanctify and govern in the world. Governed by the laws of God, we govern our fellow citizens, we witness to Christ, and we teach the truth.

Lay men and women sanctify the world by their example, by their piety. Depending on the crowd you're hanging out with, piety can be a dirty word, or an affirmation of faithfulness. Of course, there is nothing wrong with the word. Piety is worshipping the Lord in the beauty of holiness (Ps. 96:9), worshipping God with undivided hearts and minds, and with hands of loving kindness extending God's peace and hope and love to our brothers and sisters who are in most need of God's mercy.

  1. Pious people are reverent people who earnestly desire to be closer to God, to be with Him here and now and for eternity. They take up spiritual practices to better dispose themselves to God's transforming grace.
  2. Pious people strive to embody the Gospel.
  3. Pious people strive to model their lives on Jesus, Mary and the saints.
  4. Pious people are 'in' the world but not 'of' it.
  5. The pious sanctify their workplaces by modelling virtue.
  6. The pious embody truth, goodness and the beauty of God.
  7. The pious teach as public educators and parents; they govern as politicians. They are doctors, nurses, lawyers, police officers, and members of the military.
  8. The pious seek grace to govern their passions and to direct their energies in the service of God and neighbour.
  9. The pious teach and sanctify others by standing up for the weak and innocent. They whole-heartedly defend the sacredness of human life.
  10. The pious refuse to cooperate with evil. They reject wrath, envy and the other deadly sins.

Both vocations, ordained and lay, are rooted in service, the selfless service modelled by Jesus, Mary and the saints.

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