'Catholic Vote"
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One of the foundational documents of Vatican II, Lumen Gentium, outlines a problem that has come to fruition in our time 40 years later:' Even though incorporated into the Church, one who does not however persevere in charity is not saved. He remains indeed in the bosom of the Church, but “in body” not “in heart” . All children of the Church should nevertheless remember that their exalted condition results, not from their own merits, but from the grace of Christ. If they fail to respond in thought, word and deed to that grace, not only shall they not be saved, but also they shall be the more severely judged.',14.
Vast numbers of Catholics today are themselves unconverted, not living a life under the lordship of Jesus, led by the Spirit, loving the brethren, participating in mission.The problem facing us is that the sacraments are not supposed to be administered to unconverted people. The sacraments are supposed to equip or sustain people who want to live or are already living as committed Christians. The product of our relativistic age is those who are ‘sort of ‘ Christians. These people may have heard the truths of the Gospel, but either don’t understand them, or they don't want to take on the moral imperatives embedded in the call to radical Christian discipleship, involving self denial, self sacrifice and obedience. The core of the New Evangelization resides at the crossroads of comfortable cultural Catholicism, and the destructive moral relativism of our time. The laity are called in a special way to evangelize and sanctify the world.
Lavinia Spirito is the Founding Team Teaching Leader for Catholic Way Bible Study, currently distributed in over 42 states and internationally.
Though she grew up in Rome, Italy, Lavinia received her B.A. in Anthropology and Spanish from the University of Michigan; obtained her J.D. from The University of Kentucky College of Law; as well as a Masters in Theology from The Augustine Institute in Denver, Colorado. She is also Adjunct Lecturer for the Saint Meinrad Permanent Deacon Formation Program.
Lavinia prepares and delivers all the lectures for Catholic Way Bible Study, an in depth study of the Scriptures as applied to daily life. She travels and speaks nationally and internationally giving retreats, Priest Retreats, Parish Missions, and Days of Reflection.
She is co-host of “Real Living” a weekly podcast on Breadbox media on relevant issues facing today’s Catholics, as well as blogging and writing articles for various websites. Lavinia collaborates with Renewal Ministries in various ways, including id916. Finally she leads groups in pilgrimage to Rome, the Holy Land, and other interesting places.
She and her husband Michael live in Lexington, Kentucky and have two adult daughters.
