The mission of the lay faithful in pastoral work in the past and today

Rasprava o poslanju vjernika laika, koja je sve učestalija, dugo se vodila isključivo s klerikalnog aspekta, zanemarujući cjelovitu bît Crkve u zajedništvu svećenika i vjernika laika. Redukcijski pristup laikatu imao je pogibeljne učinke, potičući laicizam i slabeći ‘sen- sus ecclesiae’. Oba su se učinka odrazila na crkvenu svijest i oblik pastorala. Budući da je tema poslanja i sudjelovanja vjernika laika u pastoralu veoma zamršena, autor prvotno razjašnjava terminologi- ju, odnosno nastanak pojma laik te njegovo svetopisamsko i antičko shvaćanje. Potom se osvrće na pozicioniranje vjernika laika tijekom povijesti, tj. na vrednovanje vjernika laika u pastoralnomu kontekstu i odraz njihova shvaćanja na život Crkve i društva. Zatim predočuje zaokret Drugoga vatikanskog sabora prema vjernicima laicima tema- tizirajući razlike i povezanost općega i ministerijalnoga svećeništva. Na kraju se s teološko-pastoralnog aspekta osvrće na sudjelovanje i suradnju vjernika laika prema organskom obliku pastorala, ističući njihovu važnost u poticaju rasta crkvenoga bića u sekularnim druš- tveno-kulturnim okolnostima.The mission of the lay faithful has been long discussed, and lately more and more frequently, exclusively from the clerical aspect ignoring the overall essence of the Church in communion of priests and believers. The reducing approach to laity has had fatal effects encouraging laicism and weakening sensus ecclesiae. Both effects are reflected on the Church awareness and form of pastoral. As the theme of the mission and participation of lay faithful in pastoral is very complicated, the author first explains the terminology, i.e. the emergence of the term layperson and its biblical and ancient under- standing. Then, he refers to the positioning of the lay faithful throu- ghout history, i.e. to the valuation of the lay faithful in the pastoral context and repercussion of their understanding on life of the Chur- ch and society. Also, the author presents a turn of Vatican II towards the lay faithful pointing out the differences and correlation betwe- en the common and ministerial priesthood. Finally, he refers from the theological-pastoral aspect to the participation and cooperation of the lay faithful toward the organic form of the pastoral emphasi- sing their importance in fostering the growth of the church being in secular social-cultural circumstances