VATICAN - The Pope recalls the Lumen Gentium Constitution promulgated 40 years ago by Vatican II: “a milestone on the Church’s pilgrimage along the roads of the modern world”. Appeal to support communities of contemplative life

Vatican City (Fides Service) - “Today, the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year, we celebrate the solemnity of Jesus Christ King of the Universe. It was to Him that the Council Fathers looked when they promulgated on 21 November forty years ago the dogmatic Constitution which begins with the Lumen gentium cum sit Christus, ‘Since Christ is the light of the peoples.” On Sunday 21 November, at the Angelus prayer, Pope John Paul II referred to the 40th anniversary of the Lumen Gentium and he recalled the duty of all baptised Christians, the laity especially, to build the Kingdom of Christ.
“Lumen gentium was a milestone on the Church’s pilgrimage on the roads of the modern world - the Pope said - and it encouraged the People of God to assume with greater decision their responsibility to build up the Kingdom of Christ which will only be completed at the end of history. It is in fact the duty of every baptised person, the laity in particular, to evangelise the temporal order.”
The Pope said “all human endeavour must be supported by prayer if it is to reach its goal” and, entrusting communities of contemplative life to the special care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, yesterday was “Day pro orantibus”, he said these communities need ongoing “spiritual and material support of all the faithful”.
(S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 22/11/2004 - Righe 16; Parole 219)