VATICAN - “Consecrated persons have the task of bearing witness to the transforming presence of God in a world ever more disoriented and confused”: Pope Benedict XVI receives in audience Superiors of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life

Monday, 22 May 2006

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “I hope this encounter and profound communion with the Pope will be for each of you encouragement and comfort in a task ever more demanding and at times contrasted. The service of authority calls for constant presence, ability to love and propose, to recall the raison d’etre of consecrated life, to help the people entrusted to you respond with renewed fidelity to the call of the Spirit.” With these words Pope Benedict XVI addressed of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life whom he received in audience this morning 22 May.
The Holy Father underlined the grave responsibility of General Superiors to sustain and guide their brothers and sisters “in an epoch which is not easy, marked by many dangers. Consecrated men and women of today have the task of bearing witness to the transforming presence of God in a world ever more disoriented and confused, a world in which shades have replaced clear and distinguishing colours. To be able to see our times through the eyes of faith means to see mankind, the world, and history in the light of Christ, who is crucified and Risen”.
Continuing his address the Pope said “secularised culture has penetrated the minds and hearts of no few consecrated persons” and therefore “consecrated life today encounters the dangers of mediocrity, acceptance of middle-class values, consumer mentality … a condition demanded for the following of Christ, is renunciation, detachment from all which is not Him. The Lord wants men and women who are free, not bound, able to leave everything to follow Him and in Him find their everything”. The Benedict XVI stressed the importance of “courageous decision at the personal and community level which impress new discipline on the life of consecrated persons leading them to rediscover the totalising dimension of following Christ.”
The Pope then spoke about belonging to the Lord: “this is the mission of men and women who have chosen to follow Christ, chaste, poor and obedient that the world may believe and be saved: to belong totally to Christ so as to become incessant confession of faith, unequivocal proclamation of the truth which makes man free from the seduction of false idols by which the world is dazed”. To ensure nourishment of interior life which keeps the inward flame of love ever burning, prayer and daily participation in the Eucharist are necessary. Pope Benedict XVI then stressed the need for consecrated persons to live in chastity which means “renouncing the need to appear, assuming a simple and humble style of life. Religious men and women are called to show this in the choice of habit, simple dress, a sign of poverty lived in union with Christ who was rich and became poor that we might be rich in his poverty”.
Concluding his address the Holy Father encouraged consecrated persons “to be for the world credible and shining signs of the Gospel and its paradoxes, not adapting their mentality to this world but transforming themselves and renewing their commitment continually in order to discern the will of God, all that is good, pleasing to him and perfect.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 22/5/2006 - righe 38; parole 566)


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