A summary on the Lay Apostolate in Lumen Gentium
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Why this document matters
When the bishops gathered for Vatican II, they knew they needed to answer a simple but profound question:
What is the Church, really — and who belongs to her?
For centuries, the Church had often been described mainly in terms of hierarchy and structure. But the Council wanted to recover something deeper and more biblical: the Church as the People of God, a living body where every member has a real part to play.
This is why Lumen Gentium — the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church — became the heart of Vatican II. It explains:
• who the Church is,
• how she understands herself,
• and how every baptised person shares in Christ’s mission.
The youtube video is from the RC Diocese of Phoenix.
