In this talk, entitled The Lay Charism and Catholic Education, Dr. Timothy O’Donnell encourages the laity of the Church to return to the Word of Vatican II in order to find the true “Spirit of Vatican II.” He speaks of the three divisions of the Catholic Church: the Church Suffering (its members in Purgatory), the Church Triumphant (its members in Heaven), and the Church Militant (its members on Earth) and reminds us that so many on Earth have forgotten about their role in the battle for souls for Christ.

Dr. O’Donnell recognizes the laity as the solution to the anti-Christian attitude that permeates the public square.  The laity has a responsibility to “respond to the call of Christ” and fight the three enemies of the Church, which many do not even acknowledge: the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. He urges the laity to take Christ’s prayer to His Father to heart when He said that His disciples are in the world, but not of the world.