The Laity's Duty: Saving the Church from Within

“Who is going to save our Church? Not our Bishops, not our priests and religious. It is up to the people. You have the minds, the eyes, the ears to save the Church. Your mission is to see that your priests act like priests, your bishops like bishops and your religious act like religious.” -Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

These powerful words, spoken by the venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, serve as a clarion call to all Catholics, reminding us of our vital role in preserving the integrity and holiness of our Church.

As members of the Body of Christ, we are not mere spectators but active participants in the life and mission of the Church. While we respect and honor the ordained ministry of our priests, bishops, and religious, we must also recognize our own responsibility to ensure that they remain faithful to their sacred calling.

This responsibility is not a license to criticize or condemn but rather an invitation to support, encourage, and, when necessary, lovingly challenge our clergy and religious to live lives that reflect the holiness and grace of their vocation. We can do this through our prayers, our words of encouragement, and our own example of living a life centered on Christ.

Moreover, we must be vigilant in safeguarding the teachings and traditions of our faith. In a world that often seeks to undermine or distort the truth, we are called to be beacons of light, upholding the timeless wisdom of the Church and passing it on to future generations.

As lay people, we have the unique opportunity to witness to the transformative power of the Gospel in our daily lives – in our families, workplaces, and communities. By living our faith with authenticity and zeal, we can inspire others, including our clergy and religious, to strive for greater holiness and fidelity to Christ.

Let us take Archbishop Sheen’s words to heart and embrace our mission to be guardians of the faith. Through our prayers, our witness, and our loving support of our clergy and religious, may we work together to build up the Body of Christ and ensure that the Church remains a vibrant and holy presence in our world.