Epilogue

                             OCDS CONSTITUTIONS

                       EPILOGUE

The Constitutions of the Secular Order

   were drawn up

   to strengthen the life purpose of its members,
   who form part of the Order of the Teresian Carmel.

They are called to

 "to testify how the Christian faith constitutes

   the only fully valid response

   to the problems and hopes
   that life poses to every person and society.”   [44]

                     

                           [76]  Christifideles Laici 34

Christifideles Laici 34


POST-SYNODAL APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION
CHRISTIFIDELES LAICI
OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II

ON THE VOCATION AND THE MISSION
OF THE LAY FAITHFUL
IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE WORLD

To Bishops To Priests and Deacons 
To Women and Men Religious 
and to All the Lay Faithful

INTRODUCTION

1. 
THE LAY MEMBERS of Christ's Faithful People 
(Christifideles Laici), 
whose "Vocation and Mission 
in the Church and in the World 
Twenty Years after the Second Vatican Council" 
was the topic of the 1987 Synod of Bishops, 
are those who form 
that part of the People of God 
which might be likened 
to the labourers in the vineyard 
mentioned in Matthew's Gospel...


The Hour Has Come for a Re-Evangelization

34. 
Whole countries and nations 
where religion and the Christian life 
were formerly flourishing 
and capable of fostering 
a viable and working community of faith, 
are now put to a hard test, and in some cases, 
are even undergoing a radical transformation, 
as a result of a constant spreading 
of an indifference to religion,
of secularism and atheism. 

This particularly concerns 
countries and nations 
of the so-called First World, 
in which economic well-being 
and consumerism,
even if coexistent with a tragic situation 
of poverty and misery, 
inspires and sustains a life lived 
"as if God did not exist". 

This indifference to religion and 
the practice of religion 
devoid of true meaning 
in the face of life's very serious problems, 
are not less worrying and upsetting 
when compared with declared atheism. 

Sometimes the Christian faith as well, 
while maintaining some of the externals 
of its tradition and rituals, 
tends to be separated from those moments 
of human existence 
which have the most significance, 
such as, birth, suffering and death. 

In such cases, 
the questions and formidable enigmas 
posed by these situations, 
if remaining without responses, 
expose contemporary people 
to an inconsolable delusion 
or to the temptation of eliminating 
the truly humanizing dimension of life 
implicit in these problems.

On the other hand, in other regions or nations 
many vital traditions 
of piety and popular forms of Christian religion 
are still conserved; 

But today this moral and spiritual patrimony 
runs the risk of being dispersed 
under the impact 
of a multiplicity of processes, 
including secularization and the spread of sects. 

Only a re-evangelization can assure the growth 
of a clear and deep faith, 
and serve to make these traditions a force 
for authentic freedom.

Without doubt 
a mending of the Christian fabric of society 
is urgently needed in all parts of the world. 

But for this to come about 
what is needed is to first 
remake the Christian fabric 
of the ecclesial community itself 
present in these countries and nations.

At this moment the lay faithful, 
in virtue of their participation 
in THE PROPHETIC MISSION OF CHRIST, 
are fully part of this work of the Church. 

Their responsibility, in particular, 
is to testify 
HOW THE CHRISTIAN FAITH CONSTITUTES 
THE ONLY FULLY VALID RESPONSE

 - consciously perceived and stated 
   by all in varying degree s-

TO THE PROBLEMS AND HOPES 
THAT LIFE POSES TO EVERY PERSON AND SOCIETY. 

This will be possible 
if the lay faithful will know how
to overcome in themselves 
the separation of the Gospel from life, 
to again take up in their daily activities 
in family, work and society, 
AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO LIFE 
THAT IS FULLY BROUGHT ABOUT 
BY THE INSPIRATION AND STRENGTH 
OF THE GOSPEL.

To all people of today 
I once again repeat the impassioned cry 
with which I began my pastoral ministry: 

"Do not be afraid! 

Open, in deed, open wide 
the doors to Christ! 

Open to his saving power 
the confines of states, 
and systems political and economic, 
as well as the vast fields 
of culture, civilization, and development. 

Do not be afraid! 

Christ knows 'what is inside a person'. 

Only he knows! 

Today too often people do not know 
what they carry inside, 
in the deepest recesses of their soul, 
in their heart. 

Too often people are uncertain 
about a sense of life on earth. 

Invaded by doubts they are led into despair. 

Therefore 
 - with humility and trust 
   I beg and implore you -
allow Christ to speak to the person in you. 

Only he has the words of life, 
yes, eternal life"   
    (124).

     124. John Paul II, 
           Homily of His Holiness 
           at the Beginning of His Ministry 
           as Supreme Shepherd of the Church 
           (October 22, 1978):
           AAS 70 (1978), 947. 


Opening wide the doors to Christ, 
accepting him into humanity itself 
poses absolutely no threat to persons, 
indeed it is the only road to take 
to arrive at the total truth and 
the exalted value of the human individual.

This vital synthesis will be achieved 
when the lay faithful know 
how to put the gospel 
and their daily duties of life 
into a most shining and convincing testimony, 
where, not fear 
but the loving pursuit of Christ 
and adherence to him 
will be the factors determining 
how a person is to live and grow, 
and these will lead to new ways of living 
more in conformity with human dignity.

Humanity is loved by God! 

This very simple yet profound proclamation 
is owed to humanity by the Church. 

Each Christian's words and life 
must make this proclamation resound: 
God loves you, 
Christ came for you, 
Christ is for you 
 "the Way, the Truth and the Life!"    
    (Jn 14:6).

This re-evangelization is directed 
not only to individual persons 
but also to entire portions of populations 
in the variety 
of their situations, surroundings and cultures. 

Its purpose is the formation 
of mature ecclesial communities, 
in which the faith might radiate and fulfill 
the basic meaning 
of adherence to the person 
of Christ and his Gospel, 
of an encounter and sacramental communion 
with him, 
and of an existence lived 
in charity and in service.

The lay faithful have their part to fulfill 
in the formation of these ecclesial communities, 
not only through an active 
and responsible participation 
in the life of the community, 

in other words, 
through a testimony that only they can give, 
but also through a missionary zeal and activity 
towards the many people 
who still do not believe and 
who no longer live the faith received at Baptism.

In the case of coming generations, 
the lay faithful must offer 
the very valuable contribution, 
more necessary than ever, 
of a systematic work in catechesis. 

The Synod Fathers have gratefully taken note 
of the work of catechists, 
acknowledging that they "have a task 
that carries great importance 
in animating ecclesial communities"  
    (125). 

It goes without saying 
that Christian parents are 
the primary and irreplaceable catechists 
of their children, 
a task for which they are given the grace 
by the Sacrament of Matrimony. 

At the same time, however, 
we all ought to be aware of the "rights" 
that each baptized person has 
to being instructed, 
educated and supported in the faith 
and the Christian life.


125. Propositio 10. 

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii
/apost_exhortations/documents
/hf_jp-ii_exh_30121988_
christifideles-laici_en.html

 

This they fulfill as Carmelite Seculars
if, beginning with a commitment to contemplation,
  they succeed in giving daily witness
    in their family and social life
  to “an integrated approach to life

  that is fully brought about

  by the inspiration and strength 
    of the Gospel.”                             [77] 

                                             

                     [ 77]    Christifideles Laici 34

Christifideles Laici 34 
 
...At this moment the lay faithful, 
in virtue of their participation 
in THE PROPHETIC MISSION OF CHRIST, 
are fully part of this work of the Church. 

Their responsibility, in particular, 
is to testify 
HOW THE CHRISTIAN FAITH CONSTITUTES 
THE ONLY FULLY VALID RESPONSE

    - consciously perceived and stated 
       by all in varying degrees -

TO THE PROBLEMS AND HOPES 
THAT LIFE POSES 
TO EVERY PERSON AND SOCIETY. 

This will be possible 
if the lay faithful will know how
to overcome in themselves 
the separation of the Gospel from life, 
to again take up in their daily activities 
in family, work and society, 
AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO LIFE 
THAT IS FULLY BROUGHT ABOUT 
BY THE INSPIRATION AND STRENGTH 
OF THE GOSPEL...



 

As Carmelite Seculars,  sons and daughters

   of Teresa of Jesus and John of the Cross,

they are called to 
   “stand before the world as 
    a witness to the resurrection and life
         of the Lord Jesus 
                and
    a symbol of the living God",     [78]        
    
                 [78]  Lumen Gentium 38

Lumen Gentium 38

DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH 
LUMEN GENTIUM
SOLEMNLY PROMULGATED BY HIS HOLINESS
POPE PAUL VI
ON NOVEMBER 21, 1964 

CHAPTER I 

THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH

1. 
Christ is the Light of nations. 
Because this is so, this Sacred Synod 
gathered together in the Holy Spirit 
eagerly desires, by proclaiming the Gospel 
to every creature,  
to bring the light of Christ to all men, 
a light brightly visible 
on the countenance of the Church...

        . . . . . . . . .

38. 
Each individual layman must 
STAND BEFORE THE WORLD 
AS A WITNESS TO THE RESURRECTION 
AND LIFE OF THE LORD JESUS AND 
A SYMBOL OF THE LIVING GOD. 

All the laity as a community 
and each one according to his ability
must nourish the world with spiritual fruits.   
    (212) 

They must diffuse in the world
that spirit which animates 
the poor, the meek, the peace makers

  — whom the Lord in the Gospel 
    proclaimed as blessed.  
    (213) 

In a word, 
"CHRISTIANS MUST BE TO THE WORLD 
 WHAT THE SOUL IS TO THE BODY."   
    (9*) 



212 
Cf. Gal. 5:12.

213 
Cf Mt. 5:3-9.

(9*) 
Epist. ad Diogneum, 6: 
ed. Funk, I, p. 400. 

Cfr. S. Io.Chrysostomus, 
In Matth. Hom. 46 (47) 2: 
PG 58, 78, de fermento in massa.

 
http://www.vatican.va/
archive/hist_councils/
ii_vatican_council/documents/
vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html

 

 by means  of a life

    of prayer,
    of service to evangelization and

 by means of the witness
    of a Christian and Carmelite community.

“All the laity

    as a community and
    each one according to his ability
 must nourish the world with spiritual fruits

                       (cf. Gal 5:22).

Gal 5:22

22  
But the fruit of the Spirit is, 
charity, joy, peace, patience, 
benignity, goodness, longanimity,
 
23    
Mildness, faith, modesty, 
continency, chastity

 

They must diffuse in the world that spirit

which animates the poor,
    the meek, the peace makers
whom the Lord in the Gospel proclaimed as blessed

                        (cf. Mt 5:3-9).

Mt 5: 3- 10

Blessed are the poor in spirit: 
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are they that mourn: 
for they shall be comforted. 

Blessed are the meek: 
for they shall possess the land. 

Blessed are they 
that hunger and thirst after justice: 
for they shall have their fill. 

Blessed are the merciful: 
for they shall obtain mercy. 

Blessed are the clean of heart: 
for they shall see God. 

Blesses are the peacemakers: 
for they shall be called children of God. 

Blessed are they 
that suffer persecution for justice' sake: 
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 


 

In a word,
Christians (and Carmelites) must be to the world
what the soul is to the body.”                     [79]

                       [79]    Lumen Gentium 38

"CHRISTIANS MUST BE TO THE WORLD   
WHAT THE SOUL IS TO THE BODY."     

from Lumen Gentium 38 
(See above) 
                          
  

____________________________________________________

Rule of  St Albert

OCDS Constitutions

Order of  Secular Discalced Carmelites ( Secular Carmelite Rule of Life )       Preface       Section 1      Our Identity, Values, and Committment        Section 11     Following Jesus                           in the Teresian Secular Carmel       Section 111    Witness to the experience of God       Section 1V     Serving God's Plan        Section V      With Mary, the Mother of Jesus       Section V1     Formation in the School of Carmel       Section V11    Organization and Government       Epilogue