The ‘Seed’ of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience
From the very beginning of the Church, there have been men and women who have been drawn by the Holy Spirit to follow Christ with greater freedom. They have sought to imitate Him through committing themselves to poverty, chastity and obedience (these are called the “evangelical counsels”). This means that consecrated people commit to giving everything (poverty) and doing anything (obedience) in God’s service, as a loving response to God’s love for them (chastity).
Consecrated means “set apart.” Those called to consecrated life are “set apart” by God for this particular way of life which “expresses the deepest nature of the Christian vocation and the yearning of the Church as the Bride for union with her sole Spouse.” In this “we see the hand of God who, in his Spirit, calls certain individuals to follow Christ more closely, to translate the Gospel into a particular way of life, to read the signs for the times with the eyes of faith and to respond creatively to the needs of the Church” (Pope Francis, Letter to all Consecrated People).
Like all vocations, consecrated life is not an end in itself but it serves to sanctify the individual and to build of the body of Christ.
World Day for Consecrated Life
The World Day for Consecrated Life is celebrated each year on 2nd February to coincide with the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord or “Candlemas Day”. On this day, 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. Sydney Vocation Centre presents a beautiful insight into female consecrated life, a video that features 6 communities residing in Sydney. Many of the orders seen in this video were invited to serve the Archdiocese of Sydney by Cardinal George Pell. Requiescat in Pace.
OTHER RESOURCES
Lord, You Want Me? All of Me?
A Vocation Centre produced publication on consecrated chastity. Download the PDF or e-mail us for a copy.
Banner Photo Credit: Telepace Australia