A espiritualidade laical e sua índole secular à luz do concílio ecumênico Vaticano II : a santidade no cotidiano

Abstract

The thesis seeks to identify the fundamental elements that characterize the spirituality to which the lay faithful are called to live as a possibility to follow Jesus Christ in the simplicity of the normal life (GE, n. 11). The study is carried out in the perspective of the II Vatican Council who elaborated a new form of Christian existence in the world and recognized the secular character as proper and specific to the laity. It considers that the authentic Christian experience moves away from the possibility of an intimate spirituality of evasion or social activism. It describes the Christian spirituality, the identity and vocation of the lay faithful to subsequently scrutinize the theme of the lay Christian life. It finds, in its vocation to sanctity and in the theological character of secularity, the corresponding theological foundation. The theological life and the experience of God in the world are considered constitutive dimensions of lay spirituality, in which the meaning of suffering and death, as well as the concept of “unity between faith and life” are considered essential elements. It develops the lay spirituality as a secular modality of the unique Christian spirituality based on the teachings of the II Vatican Council and in the post-conciliar development. It establishes accurate reference points for the lay life from an ecclesiological perspective, so as to find, in the appreciation of its vocation, the path to sanctity and, in the secular character, its relationship with God and brethren. Taking that into account, it concludes that the path to spirituality, in the life of the lay faithful, must be reflected and lived in an integral way, uniting contemplative life to action in everyday life, so that lay people may live the plenitude of the Christian life to which they are called.