Pope Francis greets Plenary of Congregation for
Consecrated Life
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Saturday said the Church is
facing a “hemorrhaging” of members of religious orders which is weakening
consecrated life, and at the same time, the Church herself.
The Pope was speaking to the Plenary Session of the
Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic
Life, which was discussing the theme “Fidelity and Abandonment,” which explored
why people leave their vocation.
The Holy Father said although some leave for good reasons,
because after discernment, they discover they do not have a vocation; but noted
others leave years after making their final profession, and asks “What
happened?”
“There are many factors which affect fidelity [to one’s
vocation] in this era of change, which is not only a changing era, in which it
is difficult to assume responsibilities which are serious and definitive,” Pope
Francis said.
The Holy Father said the primary factor is a “provisional”
culture, which leads to living an “à la carte” life which is “a slave to
fashion.”
“This culture induces the need to always have ‘side doors’
open to other possibilities; it feeds consumerism and forgets the beauty of a
simple and austere life, and in many cases causes an existential void,” – Pope
Francis said – “It has also produces a powerful practical relativism, according
to which everything is judged in terms of a self-realization which is often
extraneous to the values of the Gospel.”
The Holy Father added “we live in a society where economic
rules replace those of morality; laws that dictate and impose their own frames
of reference at the expense of the values of life; a society where the
dictatorship of money and profit proposes a vision of existence in which those
who do not render to it are discarded.”
The Pope then turned to the current “world of youth,” which
he described as “complex, but at the same time rich and challenging.”
The Holy Father said “young people seek a genuine spiritual
life,” but can be seduced by the logic of worldliness, “the search for success
at any price, easy money and easy pleasure.” He said this must be countered by
“infect[ing] them with the joy of the Gospel…this culture must be evangelized
if we do not want young people to succumb.”
Pope Francis finally turned to the situation within
institutes of consecrated life, warning against a “counter witness” to
fidelity.
“Such situations, among others, are: Routine, fatigue, the
weight of managing structures, internal divisions, the search for power, a
worldly manner of governing institutions, a service of authority that sometimes
becomes authoritarianism and other times is laissez-faire,” – the Pope
explained – “If the consecrated life wants to maintain its prophetic mission
and its fascination, continuing to be a school of faithfulness for those near
and those far, it must maintain the freshness and novelty of the centrality of
Jesus; its spiritual attractiveness and the strength of mission; and show the beauty
of following Christ and radiate hope and joy.”
The Pope urged them to pay particular attention to living
their fraternal life in community, “nourished by communal prayer, prayerful
reading of the Word, active participation in the sacraments of the Eucharist
and Reconciliation, fraternal dialogue and sincere communication among members,
fraternal correction, mercy towards brothers or sisters who sin, and sharing
responsibilities.”
Pope Francis concluded his remarks by bringing up the
importance of accompaniment, and the necessity of preparing qualified spiritual
guides.
“It is hard to remain faithful walking alone or walking with
the guidance of brothers and sisters who are not able to listen carefully and
patiently, or who lack adequate experience of consecrated life,” – the Holy
Father said – “We need brothers and sisters experienced in the ways of God…
Many vocations are lost for lack of good leaders.”
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