“Consecrated persons are a sign of God in different areas of life, they are yeast for the growth of a more just and fraternal society, a prophetic sign of sharing with the poor and little ones.
Understood and lived in this way, consecrated life shows itself as it really is: it is a gift from God, a gift of God to the Church, a gift of God to his people! Every consecrated person is a gift to the people of God on its journey.” This is what Pope Francis said at the Angelus of February 2.
The Year of Consecrated Life, “a time of grace for Consecrated Life and for the Church,” was planned in the context of the 50 years of the Second Vatican Council; and more particularly on the anniversary of 50 years since the publication of the Council Decree Perfectae Caritatis on the renewal of consecrated life.
In the presentation to the press, Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, explains how the “Council has been a breath of the Spirit not only for the whole Church, but perhaps in particular, for the consecrated life. We also believe that in these 50 years it has undertaken a fruitful journey of renewal, certainly not free from difficulties and hardships, in the commitment to follow what the Council has asked them: fidelity to the Lord, to the Church, to their own charism and to mankind today (cf. PC 2).” And it is on renewal that Pope Francis insists, speaking to the religious on the eve of the beginning of the Year: “We must not be afraid to leave the “old wineskins”: that is, to renew those habits and structures which, in the life of the Church and so also in the consecrated life, we recognize as no longer responding to what God asks us today to advance his Kingdom in the world. “
What are the objectives? Firstly, “We want it to be an opportunity to make ‘grateful memory’ of this recent past – continues Cardinal de Aviz – (…); recognize and confess our weakness, but also ‘shout’ to the world with strength and joy, about the holiness and vitality that are present in the consecrated life.” Second objective: “To embrace the future with hope. We are well aware that the present moment is difficult and trying (…) but we want to take this crisis as an opportunity to grow in depth (…). With so many “prophets of doom”, we want to remain men and women of hope.” Third goal: “To live the present with passion. Passion is about falling in love, true friendship, of profound communion (…). To witness the beauty of following Jesus in the many forms in which our life is expressed. In this Year the consecrated want to “wake up the world” with their prophetic witness, especially with their presence in the existential peripheries of poverty and of thought. “
Mons. José Rodríguez Carballo, Secretary of the Congregation, outlined some of the events that will take place during the year: “A number of international meetings in Rome, for young men and women religious, a meeting for those responsible for formation; an International Congress on the theology of consecrated life, with the collaboration of the Pontifical Universities, on the theme: “Renewal of consecrated life in the light of the Council and prospects for the future”; an international exhibition on: “The Consecrated Life and Gospel in human history”, with several stands representing the various charisms; a symposium on the management of economic goods and property by religious; also for contemplative nuns we plan a “World Chain of Prayer among the monasteries.’”
The religious men and women of the Focolare Movement, will invite everyone with a letter, to “live with one heart, as one body, so that this Year will be another step towards the ut omnes”, the unity requested by Jesus to the Father.
The closing of the Year is scheduled for February 2, 2016, the World Day of Consecrated Life.
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