“The consecrated life will not flourish as a result of brilliant vocation programs, but because the young people we meet find us attractive, because they see us as men and women who are happy!” ~Pope Francis
Go here for a particularly inspiring reflection on Consecrated Life penned by a Poor Clare nun.
“Every vocation to consecrated life is born in contemplation, from moments of intense communion and from a deep relationship of friendship with Christ, from the beauty and light which was seen shining on his face.” ~Starting Afresh from Christ: A Renewed Commitment to Consecrated Life in the Third Millennium, no. 9
Seeking God in Silence is a reflection on contemplative life written by Dr. Regis Martin, Professor of Theology and Faculty Associate with the Veritas Center for Ethics in Public Life at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio.
I’m thankful to Dr. Martin for writing about the necessity of contemplative life in the Church and the world. Those of us with a vocation to contemplative life are not necessarily gifted when it comes to writing about our vocation.
“One of the most perfectly constructed lines in English poetry is, ‘To err is human, to forgive, divine.’ How perfect is the balance of those words. They enshrine two of the greatest mysteries which, as Christians, we are bound to accept. The doctrine, I mean, that man, being what he is, can rebel against God; and the doctrine that God, being what He is, can forgive man.” ~Msgr. Ronald Knox
Here is a message from Archbishop Paul-André Durocher of Gatineau, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, to consecrated persons given on this past Monday’s World Day of Consecrated Life.
Yesterday Pope Francis, himself a man in Consecrated Life (Society of Jesus), gave a homily in which he reminded those of in Consecrated Life to “follow Jesus with joy” as a witness to the Church and the world. Go here for an article about his homily. Go here for an official English translation of the Pope’s homily.
National Catholic Register is carrying a five-part series on Consecrated Life beginning today.
You can read Part One here.
World Day for Consecrated Life, February 2, 2015
“In 1997, Pope John Paul II instituted a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life. This celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd. This Feast is also known as Candlemas Day; the day on which candles are blessed symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world. So too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to all peoples….” ~United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
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Prayer for Consecrated Persons
God our Father, we thank you for calling men and women to serve in your Son’s Kingdom as sisters, brothers, religious priests, consecrated virgins, and hermits, as well as members of Secular Institutes. Renew their knowledge and love of you, and send your Holy Spirit to help them respond generously and courageously to your will. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
“The church must suffer for speaking the truth, for pointing out sin, for uprooting sin. No one wants to have a sore spot touched, and therefore a society with so many sores twitches when someone has the courage to touch it and say: “You have to treat that. You have to get rid of that. Believe in Christ. Be converted.” ~Archbishop Oscar Romero, The Violence of Love
