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October 22, 2004
Finding New Ways to Grow in Holiness: Lay Movements in the Church
Throughout the history of the Church different lay movements or organizations have risen up to serve various spiritual needs of Catholics all over the world. Some of these lay organizations are more formal requiring membership and involvement.
One of the best known formal Catholic organizations is the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic men's fraternal benefit society that was formed to render financial aid to members and their families. Mutual aid and assistance are offered to sick, disabled and needy members and their families. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief and public relief works. They are also very involved in the supporting of priestly and religious vocations and the pro-life movement. To learn more about this organization visit their website at:
The Knights of Columbus
Another formal organization is the Legion of Mary, the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church, with well over 3 million active members in almost every country of the world. It has been active in the United States since 1931, has been approved by the last 6 Popes, and was endorsed by the Second Vatican Council. The Legion sees as its priority the spiritual and social welfare of each individual. The members participate in the life of the parish through visitation of families, the sick, both in their homes and in hospitals and through collaboration in every apostolic and missionary undertaking sponsored by the parish. To learn more about the Legion of Mary visit their website:
The Legion of Mary
Some Catholic Lay Movements focus on very specific needs or causes. For example the following Lay Movements are involved in the pro-life cause:
Priests for Life - Priests for Life was started in 1991 to do one of the most important tasks in the Church today . . . to help priests around the world spread the Gospel of Life to their people. Their site is an excellent resource for up-to-date information on the various pro-life issues. I highly recommend this site.
Human Life International - The mission of HLI is to promote and defend the sanctity of life and family around the world according to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church through prayer, service and education. In fulfilling this mission we strive to train, organize and equip pro-life leaders around the world. As a non-profit, educational apostolate, HLI takes a total approach to the life issues from the moment of natural fertilization to the moment of natural death. This holy mission is consecrated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Mother of Life, and St. Joseph, Her most chaste spouse. This is another highly recommend organization.
Some deal with moral issues like homosexuality:
Courage - Courage is an apostolate of the Roman Catholic Church that ministers to those with same-sex attractions and their loved ones. They have been endorsed by the Pontifical Council for the Family.
Other Lay Movements support apologetic needs:
Catholic Answers
Catholics United for the Faith
If you feel that you are being called to do more in your spiritual life I recommend that you look into a few of these organizations and see if one of them might be right for you. There are many other worthwhile Catholic Lay Movements that I have not mentioned here. If you know of any that you are specifically involved with and would like to mention please comment below. If they have a website I will create a link to the organization. Please only post valid Catholic Lay Organizations that are faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church.
May the Holy Family continue to bless and guide you and your family. Amen.
Posted by HolyFamily at October 22, 2004 10:10 AM
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Comments
to which I would add Contemplative Outreach forstering Centering Prayer; cursillo ; and Marriage Encounter .
Posted by: Herb Ely at January 11, 2005 1:08 PM
There are lots more lay movements, such as Regnum Christi (www.regnumchristi.org) Charismatic Renewal, Opus Dei (which is slightly different, as it is a Personal Prelature,) Worldwide Marriage Encounter, Cursillo, Communion & Liberation, Focolare, etc. A lay movement is a group of lay people, usually started by a faithful founder, that is devoted to helping their members grow in the faith by providing resources (retreats, meetings, seminars, spiritual direction, etc.) Each movement has a different calling or Charism. Like spreading the Gospel, promoting marriage, protecting the unborn or the disabled, promoting the gifts of the Holy Spirit, etc. The members of movements are usually able to gain more support and resources then traditional parishes can give. Members of movements are expected to help their local parish and diocese in God's work. They are not to compete, or set up a parallel church, but to aid in helping others and the faithful.
Here are two articles that give more info on movements: Crisis Magazine's "Groundswell: The Pope, the New Movements, and the Church" By Tom Hoopes http://www.crisismagazine.com/december2004/hoopes.htm and Envoy Magazine's "The Dramatic Rise of Lay Movements in the Twentieth Century" By Jay Dunlap http://www.envoymagazine.com/backissues/article.asp?ID=73 I have found that since I have joined Regnum Christi that the Lord has brought my spiritual life aflower. I have learned and gained more in this past year then ever since I came back to the church. Just going to Mass on Sunday, and hoping Father could talk to you occasionally to help you along the way, and maybe reading a few books, did not cut it. I needed real resources and the people you meet at movements are real strong Catholics devoted to Jesus and the Church. There is a reason John Paul II loved the movements in the Church. It is because they really help people get closer to God.
Posted by: Marcy at September 9, 2005 9:21 PM
Yeah, actually what you are describing here aren't really the lay movements that the Pope regards as part of the new evangelization necessarily. The movements, or charisms, he speaks of are much more vibrant and youthful and are characterized by missions of renewal and revitalization of the Church. The main movements to watch in this endeavor (and that are growing by leaps and bounds) are Communion and Liberation, The Neocatechumenals, Schoenstatt, Focolare,and Opus Dei which is different since it is a personal prelature with its own "world" diocese and Bishop. These groups at this moment truly represent the forefront of Catholic revitalization and show fervent commitment to the Pope and his message of hope for true Chrtian renewal in an age of great western crisis. These are truly well formed and educated groups that are renewing the church at astounding speed and with astounding clarity of message. clonline.us
Posted by: Tim Herrmann at March 15, 2008 4:22 PM
