Pope Francis says "...among the People of God, sent to bring the Gospel to all men, you consecrated persons have a special role...by the very fact that you are wholly dedicated to God..."
MESSAGE FROM THE HOLY FATHER
TO CONSECRATED PEOPLE GATHERED IN THE BASILICA OF S. MARIA MAGGIORE
ON THE OCCASION OF WORLD DAY FOR CONSECRATED LIFE
Dear consecrated men and women!
I greet you with affection on the occasion of the World Day of Consecrated Life, as you are gathered for the Eucharistic celebration in the Basilica of Santa Maria Major. And I would like to embrace right now all the consecrated brothers and sisters in every part of the world.
The theme of this year's Day is "Brothers and Sisters for the mission". When you hear this message, I will be on a mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and I know that your prayers will accompany me. In my turn, I want to assure you of mine for the mission of each of you and your communities. All together we are members of the Church, and the Church has been on a mission from day one, sent by the Risen Lord, and will be so until the end, with the power of his Spirit. And among the People of God, sent to bring the Gospel to all men, you consecrated persons have a special role, which derives from the particular gift you have received: a gift which gives your testimony a special character and value, by the very fact that you are wholly dedicated to God and to his Kingdom, in poverty, virginity and obedience. If in the Church everyone is a mission, each and every one of you is so with a special grace as a consecrated person.
In addition to this fundamental gift, your mission is enriched by the charisms of your institutes and societies, the charisms of your founders and foundresses. In their stupendous variety, they are all given for the edification of the Church and for her mission. All charisms are for the mission, and they are precisely so with the incalculable richness of their variety; so that the Church can bear witness and proclaim the Gospel to everyone and in every situation.
Today we celebrate the feast of the Encounter: may the Virgin Mary obtain for us the grace that our life as consecrated persons will always be a feast of the encounter with Christ; and thus, like her, we will be able to bring everyone the light of her love: her light, not ours! Bring Him, not ourselves!
Dear friends, I am close to you and I thank you for who you are and for what you do. I pray for you and I encourage you to go forward in your prophetic mission. I bless you from my heart and entrust you to Maria Salus Populi Romani. Please don't forget to pray for me.
Rome, San Giovanni in Laterano, 2 February 2023, feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
Francis
TO CONSECRATED PEOPLE GATHERED IN THE BASILICA OF S. MARIA MAGGIORE
ON THE OCCASION OF WORLD DAY FOR CONSECRATED LIFE
Dear consecrated men and women!
I greet you with affection on the occasion of the World Day of Consecrated Life, as you are gathered for the Eucharistic celebration in the Basilica of Santa Maria Major. And I would like to embrace right now all the consecrated brothers and sisters in every part of the world.
The theme of this year's Day is "Brothers and Sisters for the mission". When you hear this message, I will be on a mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and I know that your prayers will accompany me. In my turn, I want to assure you of mine for the mission of each of you and your communities. All together we are members of the Church, and the Church has been on a mission from day one, sent by the Risen Lord, and will be so until the end, with the power of his Spirit. And among the People of God, sent to bring the Gospel to all men, you consecrated persons have a special role, which derives from the particular gift you have received: a gift which gives your testimony a special character and value, by the very fact that you are wholly dedicated to God and to his Kingdom, in poverty, virginity and obedience. If in the Church everyone is a mission, each and every one of you is so with a special grace as a consecrated person.
In addition to this fundamental gift, your mission is enriched by the charisms of your institutes and societies, the charisms of your founders and foundresses. In their stupendous variety, they are all given for the edification of the Church and for her mission. All charisms are for the mission, and they are precisely so with the incalculable richness of their variety; so that the Church can bear witness and proclaim the Gospel to everyone and in every situation.
Today we celebrate the feast of the Encounter: may the Virgin Mary obtain for us the grace that our life as consecrated persons will always be a feast of the encounter with Christ; and thus, like her, we will be able to bring everyone the light of her love: her light, not ours! Bring Him, not ourselves!
Dear friends, I am close to you and I thank you for who you are and for what you do. I pray for you and I encourage you to go forward in your prophetic mission. I bless you from my heart and entrust you to Maria Salus Populi Romani. Please don't forget to pray for me.
Rome, San Giovanni in Laterano, 2 February 2023, feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
Francis
Source: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2023/02/02/0099/00221.html
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