Vatican City, 2 February 2014 (VIS) –
After celebrating Holy Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, on the 18th Day
of Consecrated Life, the Pope appeared at the window of his study to
pray the Angelus with thousands of people gathered below, despite
heavy rain, in St. Peter's Square.
The Bishop of Rome, after thanking the
many faithful and pilgrims for their presence, commented on today's
Gospel reading, in which St. Luke narrates the presentation of Jesus
in the Temple; an episode which is also “an icon of the giving of
their lives by those who, through a gift of God, take on the typical
traits of Jesus, chaste, poor and obedient”.
“The offering of oneself to God
relates to every Christian, because we are all consecrated to Him
through baptism … making a generous gift of our life, in the
family, at work, in the service the Church, in works of mercy.
Nevertheless, this consecration is lived in a particular way by the
religious, monks, consecrated lay people, who with the profession of
vows, fully and exclusively belong to God. Totally consecrated to
God, they are totally consigned to their brethren, to bring the light
of Christ there where the darkness is densest and to spread His hope
in the hearts of the disheartened".
After emphasising that consecrated
persons are a sign of God in the various contexts of life and “leaven
for the growth of a more just and fraternal society”. The Pope
repeated the need for these presences, “which fortify and renew
commitment to the spread of the Gospel, of Christian education, of
charity towards the neediest, of contemplative prayer; commitment to
human formation, the spiritual formation of the young, of families;
commitment for justice and peace in the human family. Let us imagine
a moment what would happen if there were no nuns in hospitals, no
nuns in missions, no nuns in schools. Imagine a church without nuns!
It is unimaginable. They are … the yeast that carries forward the
people of God. These women, who consecrate their lives to God, who
bring forward the message of Jesus, are great”.
The Church and the world need “this
witness of love and of God's mercy. Consecrated and religious persons
offer witness that God is good and merciful. … We must pray that
many young people answer 'yes!' to the Lord who calls to them to
consecrate themselves fully to Him, in the disinterested service of
their brothers, who consecrate their lives to serving God and their
brothers”.
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