By Sr. Mary Margaret Ann, S.N.D.
Special to the HERALD
(From the issue of 2/5/04)

Sunday, Feb. 8 is to be set aside to honor the thousands of men and women who serve the Church by living the consecrated life. "Consecrated persons — monks and nuns, contemplatives, religious dedicated to the works of the apostolate, members of secular institutes and societies of apostolic life, hermits and consecrated virgins — truly deserve the gratitude of the ecclesiastical community" ("The Instruction," no. 5).

In 1997, Pope John Paul II began the practice of celebrating a World Day for Consecrated Life. It was traditionally situated close to the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, Feb. 2. All parishes are encouraged on Feb. 8 to incorporate into the fifth Sunday of ordinary time liturgies, special prayers for those who have embraced this way of life and homiletic reflections that foster understanding and appreciation.

Here in the Diocese of Arlington, we are blessed to have a contemplative community of The Poor Clares and the Order of Cistercian Monks whose vocation is to be "the soul and yeast of apostolic activity leaving the active participation in it to those whose vocation it is" ("Verbi Sponsa," 7). Several of our parishes benefit from the apostolic service of religious communities of priests and sisters who have responded to that call of the Spirit that impels them to live a life in imitation of Christ, Mary and the Apostles with an impassioned love for the good of the Church. Throughout the diocese, other members of the consecrated life make crucial contributions in ministries of charity and reconciliation to those who are engulfed in the poverty of our culture.

Although, those in the consecrated life do not seek praise and human appreciation for their often very hidden work, the Holy Father has taken the leadership to invite all in the world community to acknowledge their contributions and to give praise and thanks to God. "In a society where a culture of death often reigns, the evangelical counsels embraced for the love of God, appear as a way for the full realization of persons opposed to dehumanization. They are a powerful antidote to the pollution of spirit, life and culture; they proclaim the liberty of the children of God and the joy of living according to the evangelical beatitudes" ("The Instruction," no.13).

All Christians are called by reason of baptism, to a life of holiness and perfection. The consecrated life is a call to follow Jesus Christ more closely in His way of life through poverty, chastity and obedience. However, all are also committed to a life of communion in love, not unlike the Trinity whose light shines on the faces of all around us. By living a spirituality of communion, consecrated men and women are called to contribute their resources and experiences to building a world community of love.

Many young people today lack significant understanding of the commitment to religious life, although they also admit, "the lives of priests, brothers and sisters are inspiring." How does one learn more about this charismatic arm of the Church? One way is to contact the Arlington Diocese Office of Vocations or the Sisters Council. Others may wish to go directly to the individual Web sites for the various groups of consecrated life. A directory of communities working in the diocese is listed in the Diocesan Directory and can be obtained from any parish rectory office.

It is not unusual for young people to inquire, "How does one discern a call to the consecrated life? What makes it so special? I can minister in today’s Church without being a priest or religious."

The consecrated life is a "living memorial of Jesus’ way of living and acting as the Incarnate Word in relation to the Father and in relation to the brethren."

This implies a particular communion of love for Christ who has become the center of their life and the continual source of every initiative. It is an experience of a special grace of intimacy, becoming one with Christ, taking on His mind and His way of life. No one can live this way of life without a special grace.

A person first experiences a strong desire or call. "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. From there the desire to always be with the Lord — and to follow him — matures" ("Instruction," no.25).

In addition to this personal relationship with God, young people are encouraged through spiritual direction and prayer, to reflect on the qualities that the Church looks for in evaluating candidates: one’s health, intellectual ability, healthy relationships, sense of humor, ability to live celibacy, one’s faith and sense of integrity, capacity to serve and collaborate, as well as one’s ability to live simply, share a common life and make compromises for the common good.

Blessed Mother of Teresa of Calcutta has contributed much to an appreciation of the significance of the consecrated life for the world’s poor. However, Mother Teresa was also the first to describe the "poor" as those who have no room for the love of God in their lives. Those in the consecrated life are called to serve this category of poverty by their lifelong witness. For they have the unique vocation of consecrating the potential of their whole person in spousal love to this all-loving, every-faithful God.

Learning from the apostles of old, those in the consecrated life realize that they may not be the most talented or the most beautiful; however they have heard the call of Jesus and seek to make themselves most available for His work. They testify to a total trust in God’s power to sustain their lifelong commitment. They are free to be about the work of Jesus, praying, teaching reconciling, counseling and unconditionally serving anyone who is in need.

Jesus continues to call today, "If any one serves me, he must follow me." And Jesus waits for generous hearts to respond, "Send me."

This Feb. 8, let us praise and thank God for all of the men and women who have responded to this call of Jesus. And, joining the universal Church, we pray to Mary who reflects all aspects of the Gospel and mirrors all the charisms of the consecrated life to send us courageous, joyful and transparent witnesses of the mystery of Christ for our world today.