VATICAN: Religious Urged to be Architects of Universal Brotherhood Ahead of World Day of Consecrated Life

Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA

As the Catholic Church prepares for the 25^th World Day of Consecrated Life marked February 2 every year, the Vatican’s Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life has urged all Religious men and women to strive towards revitalizing people’s lives.

In a co-signed statement by João Braz Cardinal de Aviz and Archbishop José Rodríguez Carballo the Prefect and Secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life respectively, the Church leaders have reminded the Religious to implement Pope Francis’ message in his latest Encyclical Fratelli Tutti and “act together” so as “to bring about a rebirth in everyone.”

“Dream together so that “in the face of present-day attempts to eliminate or ignore others, we may prove capable of responding with a new vision of fraternity and social friendship,” the statement dated Monday, January 18, and shared with AMECEA Online reads in part.

They reminded all the Religious that the emphasis of his Holiness on fraternity and social friendship should be reflected in the ministry and formation of the Consecrated persons.

“Consecrated men and women in Religious, monastic and contemplative institutes, in secular institutes and new institutes, members of the Ordo Virginum (Order of Virgins), hermits, members of societies of apostolic life, we ask all of you to place this Encyclical at the center of your life, formation and mission,” the Vatican-based leadership stressed.

They further emphasized that the Religious cannot disregard the truth in the prayer of “Our Father” that “we are all brothers and sisters” and that “without an openness to the Father of all, there will be no solid and stable reasons for an appeal to fraternity.”

The Dicastery has observed that the Religious have “a new call from the Holy Spirit” on the “Church-communion” hence they are all invited “to be architects of universal brotherhood, custodians of the common home: of the earth and of every creature… regardless of faith, culture and traditions.”

Relating the concern on care for common home to Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si’ the two Church leaders stated that the Religious need to develop “projects to promote a culture of encounter and dialogue between different peoples and generations; of starting with one’s own vocational community and then reaching to every corner of the earth and every creature because never as during this pandemic, have we experienced how everything is linked, everything is related, everything is connected .”

“Let us dream, then, as a single human family, as fellow travelers sharing the same flesh, as children of the same earth which is our common home, each of us bringing the richness of his or her beliefs and convictions, each of us with his or her own voice, brothers and sisters all,” they added encouraging the Religious men and women on the significance of communion.

The statement concludes by entrusting each and every Religious to Mary, Mother of the Church, faithful woman and the spouse of Saint Joseph for strength in their loving faith, certain and joyful hope, humble and active charity.