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Looking Forward and Beyond
46. “Sentinels of the Dawn”: young men and women are
also found among consecrated persons.141 We truly need
courageous young people
who, allowing themselves to be configured by the
Father with the work of the Spirit and becoming “persons conformed to Christ”,142
offer to all a joyful and transparent witness of their “specific
acceptance of the mystery of Christ”143 and of the
particular spirituality of their own Institute.144
May they therefore be seen more
decisively as protagonists of their own formation.145 Since,
for generational motives, they will have to carry on the renewal of their own
institutes, it is fitting that—following an adequate preparation—they gradually
assume guiding and governing tasks. Strengthened by their spark of idealism
they become true witnesses to the striving for holiness, to the high standard of Christian living.146
The future of consecrated life and its mission rests in a large part on the
strength of their faith, on the attitudes which they have joyfully manifested
and on what the Spirit wishes to tell them.
Let us look upon Mary, Mother and
Teacher of all. She, the first consecrated person, lived the fullness of
charity. Fervent in the Spirit, she served the Lord, joyful in hope, strong in
trial, persevering in prayer; she intercedes for us (cf. Rom 12:11-13). She reflects all the aspects of the Gospel; all the
charisms of consecrated life are mirrored and renewed in her. She supports us
in our daily commitments, making them a splendid witness of love in accord with
the invitation of St. Paul: “Live a life worthy of the calling you have
received!” (Eph 4:1).
We once again turn to the words of
John Paul II to confirm these orientations, because in them we find the
encouragement and confidence which we all need to face the task which seems
beyond our strength: “A new century, a new millennium are opening in the light
of Christ. But not everyone can see this light. Ours is the wonderful and
demanding task of becoming its 'reflection'...
This is a daunting task if we consider our human weakness, which so often
renders us opaque and full of shadows. But it is a task which we can accomplish
if we turn to the light of Christ and open ourselves to the grace which makes
us a new creation”.147 This is the hope
proclaimed in the Church by consecrated men and women as through the centuries,
with their brothers and sisters, they encounter the Risen Christ.
On May 16, 2002 the Holy Father approved this Document of the
Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic
Life.
Rome, 19 May 2002, The Solemnity of Pentecost.
Eduardo Card. Martínez Somalo
Prefect
Piergiorgio Silvano Nesti, CP
Secretary
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