Lumen Gentium: The Mystery of the Church (36)

Chapter IV of Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, is entitled “The Laity.” It continues as follows:

“36. Christ, becoming obedient even unto death and because of this exalted by the Father,(206) entered into the glory of His kingdom. To Him all things are made subject until He subjects Himself and all created things to the Father that God may be all in all.(207) Now Christ has communicated this royal power to His disciples that they might be constituted in royal freedom and that by true penance and a holy life they might conquer the reign of sin in themselves.(208) Further, He has shared this power so that serving Christ in their fellow men they might by humility and patience lead their brethren to that King for whom to serve is to reign. But the Lord wishes to spread His kingdom also by means of the laity, namely, a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace (4*). In this kingdom creation itself will be delivered from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the sons of God.(209) Clearly then a great promise and a great trust is committed to the disciples: ‘All things are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s’.(210)”

(206( Cf. Philippians 2:8-9.

(207) Cf. 1 Corinthians 15:27

(208) Cf. Romans 6:12.

(209) Cf. Romans 8:21.

(210) 1 Corinthians 3:23.

(4*) Ex Praefatione festi Christi Regis

 

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Dogmatic Constitution on the Church - Lumen Gentium