Part I Continued

Catholic Evangelization is rooted in the gospel and mandated anew by the Second Vatican Council

The documents of the Second Vatican Council catapulted evangelization into prominence. It has made a definite paradigm shift from maintenance to mission. In The Decree on the Church (Lumen Gentium, November 1964), and in The Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity (Ad Gentes, December 1965), the Council explained the mandate to evangelize:

The church on earth is by its very nature missionary since, according to the plan of the Father, it has its origin in the mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity, Vatican II, #2)

All disciples of Christ are obliged to spread the faith to the best of their ability. (The Decree on the Church, Vatican II, #17)

The Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity defined the role of the Church in spreading the Good News through missionary activity: “The entire church is called to carry on the work of making disciples. It has the obligation and sacred right to evangelize.” (#7) This document further makes the distinction that discipleship to Christ is of primary importance: “Let everyone be aware that the primary and most important contribution they can make to the spread of the faith is to lead a profound Christian life.”(#36)

The Second Vatican Council did not leave evangelizing to bishops and priests alone. All of the laity were encouraged to participate in the mission of evangelization. In the opening chapter of The Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People (Apostolicam Actuositatem, November 1965), the Council explicitly stated the laity’s role:

In the concrete, their (laity) apostolate is exercised when they work to evangelize people and make them holy; it is exercised, too, when they endeavor to have the Gospel spirit permeate and improve temporal order, going about it in a way that bears clear witness to Christ and helps move forward the salvation of humanity. (#2)