The Council Fathers reminded us that, “in the Church there is a diversity of ministry but unity of mission.” In recognizing the vital role of laypersons throughout history in advancing the mission of Jesus Christ, they urged laypeople to help “the Gospel spirit to permeate and improve the temporal order (through) a life led in the midst of the world and of secular affairs.” They called on the laity to evangelize everyday public life “through the vigor of their Christian spirit (acting as) a leaven in the world” (AA, 2).

Lay leadership in the Church takes many forms, from service in Catholic health care, publishing, catechesis and parish schools, to finance and pastoral councils, to teaching in seminaries and centers of higher learning to direct work as missionaries in foreign countries, to hundreds of volunteer efforts to help the poor and suffering.

But the single most important thing laypeople can do in sanctifying the world is witness Jesus Christ in their daily relationships. Nothing is more powerful than raising a child, supporting a spouse, mentoring a friend and living our public lives with Christian integrity — and helping others understand why we choose to live the way we do. Holiness isn’t some magic formula available only to the obviously pious. It’s the simple, daily decision to live differently from the habits of the world; to place the needs of others before ourselves. We can all be holy. That’s our vocation. That’s why God created us. We only need to turn our good intentions into good actions — one day at a time.

The Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (“Cross for the Church and Pontiff”) is one of the highest honors the Holy Father can confer on any member of the Church. It’s a wonderful recognition, directly from the pope, of sustained and outstanding service to the Catholic faith. Each of the lay recipients announced this week — Noreen Begordis, Vincent Cook and Rodney Lenz — has touched scores of lives for the better, often without knowing it. They didn’t seek this honor, but their witness earned it. And equally important, in honoring them, the Holy Father honors many other women and men just like them who live the Gospel each day with the same devoted spirit.

Vatican II also reminded us that the Church draws special strength from the sacrifice of women and men religious who “join themselves to Christ by (the) gift of their whole life.” By their devotion to the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience, religious make the entire Church “more vigorous and fruitful in (her) apostolate” (PC, 1).
Sister Timothea Elliott, R.S.M., and Sister Sharon Ford, R.S.M., in different but very powerful ways, have helped shape hundreds of lives over the course of their religious vocations. These are extraordinary women who — quietly and invisibly, year in and year out — have proved how vital religious life remains for the mission of the Church. They have not merely earned the awards announced this week; we owe them our gratitude and prayers.

Please join me at the 6:30 p.m. Mass on Feb. 6 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception to congratulate the men and women honored by the Holy Father this week. And may their example be an invitation to each of us to love Jesus Christ and his Church with greater zeal.