“Ganito Noon; Paano Ngayon?” The Dignity and Mission of the Laity

Part 2

In the Period of Tradition. The Greek term laikos/laikoi first appeared in Clement of Rome’s Epistle to the Corinthians (40, 6) in the first century. It must have been derived from the word laos. It was used by Clement to denote the larger body of Christians which he contrasted to the smaller group of individuals to whom special ecclesial tasks have been assigned. Laikos/laikoi here maintained its classical sense of the “People of God”, Consecrated and given a mission.

But when the Greek laikos was translated into Latin the word used was plebeius which meant a mass of the people with not special competence, so that in the second century, when the Church ha a clearly organized hierarchy and priesthood, the laity had become “second-class citizens” vis-à-vis the clergy. In some writings (of Clement of Alexandria; Strom V, 6, 33, 3; Paed III, 10, 83, 2) the term laikos contained already this pejorative sense.

In the following centuries, with the passing of the period of persecution, many dedicated individuals bore sacrificial witness to the Lord as hermits while others began to gather together in monastery-like groups. These consecrated persons were considered models of holiness. In effect, the laity became second to these consecrated individuals, hence “third class” members of the Church. They were the passive portion of the Church in contrast to the active Church leaders; they were perceived as profane in contrast to the holiness of the monks and nuns. (To be continued in next issue)