Often well intended Catholics think that the priest has the “religious role” and they are to just go to Church and leave evangelization to the Priest. On the other hand some very well intended Catholics think that to be a good Catholic they need attend two Masses a day and make a Holy hour. The Church, however reminds the laity not to take either extreme, but rather to take the middle road.
Catholics are called to live out their faith in their daily lives through their specific vocation. One’s state in life will dictate how they live out their life. A young mother of three, for example, has an obligation to raise her children and as such most probably should not be attending two Masses and a Holy Hour every day. An older retired couple, however, may have more time and can make it to daily Mass and spend an hour in front of the Eucharist.
Living one’s faith out in the context of their state in life is not an excuse to not be united to the Trinity and the Church. Pope Paul VI’s decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, Apostolicam Actuositatem Is very clear that “neither family concerns nor other secular affairs should be irrelevant to their spiritual life.” (3) No matter what one’s state in life is all people must continue to keep in the forefront of their mind the fact that we are on a pilgrimage, returning to the Father.
I think to integrate one’s life with an authentic life of faith three things are required, frequent use of the Sacraments, frequent prayer with the Word of God, and the examples of the saints. As we continue on the journey to the Father we need the graces provided for us through frequent reception of the sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Confession. The frequent use of Lectio Devina is important so one can “always and everywhere recognize God.”(3) The lives of the saints also assist us by showing us in concrete ways how the triumphant were able to integrate their lives of faith in their hectic lives of the world.
No matter our state in life we are called to live a life of holiness. How we live this life will very from time to time in our life as our state in life changes but we never have an excuse to not live holy lives. All of us are called to be saints and through remembering that we are all on a pilgrimage back to the Father, the frequent reception of Holy Eucharist and Confession, frequent prayer with the Word of God and modeling our lives after the lives of the saints, most especially the Blessed Mother, we will live out lives of holiness in a very evil world, and be that light on the mountain top.
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