CONSECRATED PERSONS: WITNESSES OF SOLIDARITY AND OF PEACE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 2, 2002 (VIS) - This afternoon in St. Peter's Basilica, Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, presided at a Eucharistic celebration marking the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord and the sixth Day of Consecrated Life.

The Pope was present at the Mass and delivered the homily: "Today," he affirmed, "in commemorating what happened on that day in Jerusalem, we too are invited to enter the Temple to meditate on the mystery of Christ, Only Begotten Son of the Father, Who with His Incarnation and Passion, became the first-born of redeemed humanity."

"In today's feast," he continued, "we celebrate the mystery of consecration: the consecration of Christ, the consecration of Mary, the consecration of all those who follow Christ for love of the Kingdom."

John Paul II reminded consecrated men and women that today's feast is especially dedicated to them, who represent "with singular eloquence the eschatological novelty of Christian life. You are called to be the light of truth and of justice; witnesses of solidarity and of peace."

The Holy Father gave special thanks to the numerous contemplative communities who, with their prayers, "cooperate in Christ's victory over hatred, vengeance and the structures of sin. Moreover, apart from your prayer, many of you build peace with the testimony of fraternity and communion."

"On many fronts there is no lack of male and female religious who pledge their active commitment to justice; working among the marginalized, intervening at the roots of conflict, and thus contributing to the construction of solid and stable peace. Wherever the Church commits herself to the defense and promotion of mankind and of the common good, there, dear consecrated people, you too are to be found."

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