Apostolicam Actuositatem

Summary

Apostolicam Actuositatem, also known as the "Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity", is one of the 16 magisterial documents of the Second Vatican Council. The purpose of the decree was to encourage and guide lay Catholics in their Christian service. In this decree the Council sought "to describe the nature, character, and diversity of the lay apostolate or ministry, to state its basic principles, and to give pastoral directives for its more effective exercise". The spirituality of lay people focusses essentially on union with Christ, and the specific objectives of lay ministry are evangelization and sanctification, renewal of the "temporal order", and charitable works and social aid. The decree quotes Colossians 3:17: "Whatever you do in word or work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him".