5. LAY PEOPLE

Every human being is a spokesperson for the universe and its priest as well.  He or she reads the book of human realities and praises their Author, Lord, and Father. Lay people discover the signs of eternity in temporal realities and make them known. They are the priests of the home and of civil society.

They are apostles of truth, of word, of example, of charity, of true civilization, of genuine progress.  By baptism, they are priests; by confirmation, soldiers and witnesses.

In cooperation and in communion with the ministerial priesthood, they make a distinctive and indispensable contribution to the Christian rebirth of the world.  The Church belongs to them as much as it belongs to the ecclesiastics.  Since it belongs to them, they love it, defend, it and proclaim it with courage.  They are not ashamed of the gospel.  In a secularized world they openly give witness to it by a forthright profession of faith, by fidelity, by the vigor of their personal convictions, and by concerted and disciplined effort.