Pope John Paul II. - The Consecrated Life

POST-SYNODAL

APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION

VITA CONSECRATA

OF THE HOLY FATHER

JOHN PAUL II

TO THE BISHOPS AND CLERGY

RELIGIOUS ORDERS AND CONGREGATIONS

SOCIETIES OF APOSTOLIC LIFE

SECULAR INSTITUTES

AND ALL THE FAITHFUL

ON THE CONSECRATED LIFE AND ITS MISSION

IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE WORLD

United States Catholic Conference

Washington, D.C.

1. T HE CONSECRATED LIFE, deeply rooted in the example and teaching of Christ the Lord, is a gift of God the Father to his Church through the Holy Spirit. By the profession of the evangelical counsels the characteristic features of Jesus the chaste, poor and obedient one are made constantly visible in the midst of the world and the eyes of the faithful are directed towards the mystery of the Kingdom of God already at work in history, even as it awaits its full realization in heaven.

In every age there have been men and women who, obedient to the Fathers call and to the prompting of the Spirit, have chosen this special way of following Christ, in order to devote themselves to him with an undivided heart (cf. 1 Cor 7:34). Like the Apostles, they too have left everything behind in order to be with Christ and to put themselves, as he did, at the service of God and their brothers and sisters. In this way, through the many charisms of spiritual and apostolic life bestowed on them by the Holy Spirit, they have helped to make the mystery and mission of the Church shine forth, and in doing so have contributed to the renewal of society.

2. Because the role of consecrated life in the Church is so important, I decided to convene a Synod in order to examine in depth its significance and its future prospects, especially in view of the approaching new millennium. It was my wish that the Synodal Assembly should include, together with the Bishops, a considerable number of consecrated men and women, in order that they too might contribute to the common reflection.

We are all aware of the treasure which the gift of the consecrated life in the variety of its charisms and institutions represents for the ecclesial community. Together let us thank God for the Religious Orders and Institutes devoted to contemplation or the works of the apostolate, for Societies of Apostolic Life, for Secular Institutes and for other groups of consecrated persons, as well as for all those individuals who, in their inmost hearts, dedicate themselves to God by a special consecration.

The Synod was a tangible sign of the universal extension of the consecrated life, present in the local Churches throughout the world. The consecrated life inspires and accompanies the spread of evangelization in the different parts of the world, where Institutes from abroad are gratefully welcomed and new ones are being founded, in a great variety of forms and expressions.

Consequently, although in some parts of the world Institutes of Consecrated Life seem to be experiencing a period of difficulty, in other places they are prospering with remarkable vitality. This shows that the choice of total self-giving to God in Christ is in no way incompatible with any human culture or historical situation. Nor is the consecrated life flourishing within the Catholic Church alone. In fact, it is particularly vibrant in the monasticism of the Orthodox Churches, where it is an essential feature of their life. It is also taking root or re-emerging in the Churches and Ecclesial Communities which originated in the Reformation, and is the sign of a grace shared by all of Christs disciples. This fact is an incentive to ecumenism, which fosters the desire for an ever fuller communion between Christians, that the world may believe ( Jn 17:21).

3. Its universal presence and the evangelical nature of its witness are clear evidenceif any were neededthat the consecrated life is not something isolated and marginal , but a reality which affects the whole Church. The Bishops at the Synod frequently reaffirmed this: de re nostra agitur , this is something which concerns us all.

The present difficulties which a number of Institutes are encountering in some parts of the world must not lead to a questioning of the fact that the profession of the evangelical counsels is an integral part of the Churchs life and a much-needed incentive towards ever greater fidelity to the Gospel. The consecrated life may experience further changes in its historical forms, but there will be no change in the substance of a choice which finds expression in a radical gift of self for love of the Lord Jesus and, in him, of every member of the human family. This certainty , which has inspired countless individuals in the course of the centuries, continues to reassure the Christian people , for they know that they can draw from the contribution of these generous souls powerful support on their journey towards the heavenly home.

4. In response to the desire expressed by the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops which met to discuss the theme The Consecrated Life and its Mission in the Church and in the World, I intend to set forth in this Apostolic Exhortation the results of the Synod process and to point out to all the faithfulBishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons and laity, and to any others who might be interestedthe wondrous things which today too the Lord wishes to accomplish through the consecrated life.

This Synod, coming after the ones dedicated to the lay faithful and to priests, completes the treatment of the distinctive features of the states of life willed by the Lord Jesus for his Church. Whereas the Second Vatican Council emphasized the profound reality of ecclesial communion, in which all gifts converge for the building up of the Body of Christ and for the Churchs mission in the world, in recent years there has been felt the need to clarify the specific identity of the various states of life , their vocation and their particular mission in the Church.

Communion in the Church is not uniformity, but a gift of the Spirit who is present in the variety of charisms and states of life. These will be all the more helpful to the Church and her mission the more their specific identity is respected. For every gift of the Spirit is granted in order to bear fruit for the Lord in the growth of fraternity and mission.

5. How can we not recall with gratitude to the Spirit the many different forms of consecrated life which he has raised up throughout history and which still exist in the Church today? They can be compared to a plant with many branches Such service is itself a sign of how the consecrated life manifests the organic unity of the commandment of love , in the inseparable link between love of God and love of neighbour.

The Synod recalled this unceasing work of the Holy Spirit, who in every age shows forth the richness of the practice of the evangelical counsels through a multiplicity of charisms. In this way too he makes ever present in the Church and in the world, in time and space, the mystery of Christ.

6. The Synod Fathers from the Eastern Catholic Churches and the representatives of the other Churches of the East emphasized the evangelical values of monastic life , which appeared at the dawn of Christianity and which still flourishes in their territories, especially in the Orthodox Churches.