MISSIONARY ACTIVITY OF THE CHURCH (cc.

781-792)

I. Introductory Notes:
1917 CIC – norms regarding the missionary action of the Church were only few and
scattered throughout the Code
Vatican II Documents:
 Ad Gentes (Missionary Activity of the Church)
 Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church)
Post-Vatican II
 Evangelii Nuntiandi (On Evangelization in the Modern World)
Important Documents after 1983 CIC
 Redemptoris Missio (On the Permanent Validity of the Church’s Missionary
Mandate)
 Ecclesia in Africa (On the Church in Africa and its evangelizing mission)
 Ecclesia in Asia (On the Church in Asia)

MISSIONARY ACTIVITY IS FOR ALL (781)

Church is missionary by its nature. Evangelization is a fundamental duty of the People
of God (AG 2, 35)
“Full authority has been given to me both in heaven and on earth; go
therefore, and make disciples of all the nations; baptize them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to carry out
everything I have commanded you. And know that I am with you always
until the end of the world.” (Mt. 28:18-20)
How do you start your missionary task?
o The witness of a Christian life is the first and irreplaceable form of mission (RMi,
42).
II. Duties of Pope, Bishops
o Pope and College of Bishops direct and coordinate the Church’s missionary effort (782)
o Individual bishops share this concern, foster it in their own dioceses (782)
o Those bishops in mission territories are to supervise and coordinate the activity of
missionaries in their dioceses (790)
“All bishops as members of the body of bishops which succeeds to the college of
the Apostles, are consecrated not for one diocese alone, but for the salvation of the
whole world.” (AG, 38)
“Since the responsibility of preaching the Gospel throughout the world falls
primarily on the body of bishops…they should pay special attention to missionary
activity which is the greatest and holiest duty of the Church.” (AG, 29)
III. Duties of Episcopal Conferences
o 788,3: in relation to catechumenate
o 792 : to show hospitality towards those coming from mission territories
IV. Duties of Religious (783) – to engage in missionary activity depending on the nature of their
institute
 o By the witness of their consecrated life of prayer and penance
o Whether dedicated to the direct missionary effort or not, to aid the missions by their
prayers and other endeavors.
V. MISSIONARY ACTIVITY (786)
o Aims to implant the Church where it has not yet taken root
o Sending heralds of the gospel who have not heard it, until young churches are fully
established and able to mount their own evangelization efforts.
VI. MISSIONARIES (784) AND THEIR DUTIES
o Persons who are sent to engage in missionary work
o Any missionary must have been sent by the competent ecclesiastical authority
“Although the obligation of spreading the faith individually on every disciple of
Christ…the Holy Spirit, implants in the hearts of individuals a missionary vocation.
Having sent by legitimate authority they go forth in faith and obedience to those who
are far from Christ, as ministers of the Gospel, set aside for the work to which they
have been called.” (AG, 23)
o They are admonished to enter into missionary dialogue (787)
 Strive to establish sincere dialogue with non-Christians by means of their words
and the witness of their lives.
 Try to open ways for the non-baptized to come to an understanding of the gospel by
suitable inculturation of the expression of the faith and its practice.
 Teach the truths of the faith to those who seem ready to accept the gospel message,
so they can be baptized, if and when they request it.
VII. CATECHISTS (785) AND THEIR DUTIES
o Laypersons, well-instructed and known to be good Christians, who assist missionaries by
teaching the Gospel, leading liturgical celebrations, and promoting works of charity.
o Can perform various liturgical functions:
 Minister of baptism (861, 2)
 Extraordinary minister of the Eucharist (910, 2)
 Assist at marriage in the name of the Church (1112)
 Liturgy of the Word on Sundays and holy days of obligation in the absence of a
priest (1248, 2)
VIII. CATECHUMENS (788)
(Gk – katechoumenoi – the instructed)
o Those who show willingness to embrace the Christian faithful
o Initiated into the mystery of salvation and introduced to the life and apostolate of the
People of God
Catechumenate – period of suitable instruction (cf. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
IX. NEOPHYTES (789) – after baptism, the new Christian continues to grow in his
understanding of the gospel truths and his own Christian duties, he comes to love Christ and the
Church. They are accompanied by their parents, sponsors and the whole Christian community.
X. FOSTERING MISSIONARY COOPERATION (791)
o Vocations
o A priest to promote the missions
o Day for the missions
o Financial aid for the missions