AA 32 finishes off lay formation and the last of the meat of the document. Lay people have, for their benefit:
- study sessions
- congresses
- periods of recollection
- spiritual exercises
- frequent meetings
- conferences
- books
- periodicals
for the purpose of
- deeper knowledge of sacred Scripture and Catholic doctrine
- the nourishment of spiritual life
- the discernment of world conditions
- the discovery and development of suitable methods.
For this purpose also centers or higher institutes have been erected, and they have already proved highly successful.
Indeed. We have such an institute in our very own diocese of Kansas City-St Joseph founded for this very purpose. AA32 also comments favorably on such efforts:
The most holy council rejoices over projects of this kind which are already flourishing in certain areas, and it desires that they may be promoted also in other areas where they may be needed. Furthermore, centers of documentation and study not only in theology but also in anthropology, psychology, sociology, and methodology should be established for all fields of the apostolate for the better development of the natural capacities of the laity-men and women, young persons and adults.
Imagine this! Subject matter beyond theology. Did you catch it? Those social sciences which are useful for furthering the Church’s mission: psychology, sociology, anthropology.
