Transcript Events for the Year of Consecrated Life(from the USCCB)

The Year
of
Consecrated
Life
Events for the Year of Consecrated Life
(from the USCCB)
• February 8, 2015: Religious Open House.
– Events will be coordinated to also celebrate the World Meeting of
Families to take place in Philadelphia and will include tours,
open houses, receptions, family activities, and presentations on the
history of religious communities at convents, abbeys, monasteries and
religious houses
• Summer 2015: Day of Mission and Service with Religious.
– Events will include joining religious in their apostolates or special
service projects, such as assisting the elderly, ministering to the poor and
homeless, and caring for the less fortunate.
• September 13, 2015: Day of Prayer with Religious.
– Events will include vespers, rosary or holy hours in convents,
monasteries, religious houses, parishes and churches.
What
is the
Consecrated
Life?
All baptized Christians are
“consecrated” (made holy) by
the Sacraments and by their
reception, though unworthy, of
God’s freely given grace. That is
the most important consecration
that any Christian can receive,
to be initiated into God’s Church
What is Consecrated Life?
CCC 915 – the profession of the
evangelical counsels (poverty, chastity,
and obedience), within a permanent
state of life recognized by the Church,
that characterizes the life consecrated
to God.
There’s another part to CCC 915…
CCC 915
Christ proposes the evangelical counsels, in
their great variety, to every disciple. The
perfection of charity, to which all the faithful
are called, entails for those who freely follow
the call to consecrated life the obligation of
practicing chastity in celibacy for the sake of
the Kingdom, poverty and obedience. It is
the profession of these counsels, within a
permanent state of life recognized by the
Church, that characterizes the life consecrated
to God.
Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) #915:
Christ proposes
the evangelical
counsels, in their
great variety , to
every disciple.
Let’s read on…
CCC 916
The state of consecrated life is thus one way
of experiencing a “more intimate”
consecration, rooted in Baptism and
dedicated totally to God. In the consecrated
life, Christ’s faithful, moved by the Holy Spirit,
propose to follow Christ more nearly, to give
themselves to God who is loved above all and,
pursuing the perfection of charity in the
service of the Kingdom, to signify and
proclaim in the Church the glory of the world
to come.
Canon 573
The life consecrated through the profession
of the evangelical counsels is a stable form
of living by which the faithful, following
Christ more closely under the action of the
Holy Spirit, are totally dedicated to God
who is loved most of all, so that, having
been dedicated by a new and special title
to His honor, to the building up of the
Church, and to the salvation of the world,
they strive for the perfection of charity in
the service of the kingdom of God and,
having been made an outstanding sign in
the Church, foretell the heavenly glory.
USCCB Segment
“3 Minutes”
Forms of Consecrated Life
• Religious Life
– Contemplative
– Active
• Hermits
• Consecrated Virgins
• Secular Institutes
As Consecrated…
CCC 932:
- Follow and imitate Christ more nearly
- Manifest more clearly his selfemptying
- Encourage their brethren by their
example, as those who are on this
"narrower" path
Discernment
“Portraits of the Call”
Vita Consecrata Video Series
Video One
Video Two
Video Eight
Eremitic Life
(Hermit)
The Church recognizes the eremitic or
anchoritic life by which the Christian faithful
devote their life to the praise of God and
salvation of the world through a stricter
separation from the world, the silence of
solitude and assiduous prayer and penance.
Hermits bear witness to the impermanence
of the world and the fact that we must
always remember: that the most important
goal in life is to be with the Lord.
Vita Consecrata (7)
Eremitic Life
A hermit is recognized in the law as one
dedicated to God in a consecrated life if he or she
publicly professes the three evangelical counsels,
confirmed by a vow or other sacred bond, in the
hands of the diocesan bishop and observes his or
her own plan of life under his direction.
What all have in common is a commitment,
under vow to their bishop, to live poorly,
chastely, and obediently a life of prayer within
the silence of solitude.
Consecrated Virgins and Widows
- The call to a life as a Consecrated Virgin is
distinct from other forms of consecrated life
in that it is entered by virtue of the Prayer of
Consecration rather than by vows or
promises. Characterized by a spousal
spirituality with Christ, the consecrated virgin
lives individually under the direction of the
diocesan bishop, dedicates her prayer to the
mission of the Church and the people of God,
wears a ring of consecration, and earns her
own living.
Vita Consecrata (7)
Consecrated Virgins embody the image
of the Heavenly Bride and of the life
that is to come.
Consecrated widows and widowers
serve as a sign of the Kingdom of God,
devoting themselves to prayer and
service of the Church.
Secular Institutes
CCC 928
- An institute of consecrated life in which the Christian
faithful living in the world strive for the perfection of
charity and work for the sanctification of the world
especially from within."
CCC 929
- By a "life perfectly and entirely consecrated to [such]
sanctification," the members of these institutes share in
the Church's task of evangelization, "in the world and from
within the world," where their presence acts as "leaven in
the world." "Their witness of a Christian life" aims "to
order temporal things according to God and inform the
world with the power of the gospel." They commit
themselves to the evangelical counsels by sacred bonds
and observe among themselves the communion and
fellowship appropriate to their "particular secular way of
life.“
Societies of Apostolic Life
Code of Canon Law 731
- Societies of apostolic life resemble
institutes of consecrated life; their
members, without religious vows, pursue
the apostolic purpose proper to the society
and, leading a life in common as brothers or
sisters according to their proper manner of
life, strive for the perfection of charity
through the observance of the
constitutions.
- Among these are societies in which
members assume the evangelical counsels
by some bond defined in the constitutions.
Societies of Apostolic Life
One of the distinguishing characteristics of
these societies is that they are defined by their
apostolic goal.
They are bound by simple vows or “bonds”,
renewed annually, rather than perpetual vows
which are professed for life. Societies of
apostolic life live in community with their
lifestyle and spirituality in support of their
apostolic goal.
Examples:
- Daughters of Charity
- Maryknoll (Fathers, Brothers, and Sisters)
- Congregation of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri
(Oratorians)
Religious Life
CCC 925
…distinguished from other forms of consecrated life by
its liturgical character, public profession of the
evangelical counsels, fraternal life led in common, and
witness given to the union of Christ with the Church.
Code of Canon Law 607
Religious Life, as a consecration of the whole person,
manifests in the Church a wonderful marriage brought
about by God, a sign of the future age. Thus the
religious brings to perfection a total self-giving as a
sacrifice offered to God, through which his or her whole
existence becomes a continuous worship of God in
charity.
Religious Life
The Church is vital to this process. It acts as MEDIATOR
between God and the person called. It receives and
ratifies the vows of the consecrated one and assures
them of the grace needed to live the life of holy
consecration.
It shows forth the unbreakable and eternal bond of
love between Christ and His Bride, the Church.
There is nothing to come between the religious person
and God. There is nothing held back from Him. It is a
way of life that reflects the life of Heaven because it is a
life of TOTAL, LOVING UNION WITH GOD.
Religious Life
INSTITUTES OF RELIGIOUS
BROTHERS IN THE U.S.
•Alexian Brothers (CFA)
•Brigittine Monks (OSsS)
•Brotherhood of Hope (BH)
•Brothers of Charity (FC)
•Brothers of Christian Instruction (FIC)
•Brothers of Mercy (FMM)
•Brothers of Our Lady Mother of Mercy
(CFMM)
•Brothers of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
(FSR)
•Brothers of St. Patrick (FSP)
•Brothers of St. Pius X (CSPX)
•Brothers of Christian Schools (FSC)
•Brothers of the Holy Eucharist (FSE)
•Brothers of the Immaculate Heart of
Mary (IHM)
•Brothers of the Poor of St. Francis (CFP)
•Brothers of the Sacred Heart (SC)
•Christian Brothers – Bl. Edmund Rice
(CFC)
•Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn (OSF)
•Franciscan Brothers of Peace (FBP)
•Franciscan Brothers of the Holy Cross
(FFSC)
•Franciscan Missionary Brothers (OFM)
•Holy Cross Brothers (CSC)
•Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of God
(OH)
•Little Brothers of St. Francis (LBSF)
•Little Brothers of the Good Shepard
(BGS)
•Marist Brothers (FMS)
•Missionary Brothers of Charity (MC)
•Presentation Brothers (FPM)
•Xaverian Brothers (CFX)
Joy
Lumen Gentium (44)
“The profession of the evangelical counsels,
then, appears as a sign which can and ought
to attract all the members of the Church to an
effective and prompt fulfillment of the duties
of their Christian vocation. The people of
God have no lasting city here below, but look
forward to one that is to come. Since this is
so, the religious state, whose purpose is to
free its members from earthly cares, more
fully manifests to all believers the presence of
heavenly goods already possessed here
below. Furthermore, it not only witnesses to
the fact of a new and eternal life acquired by
the redemption of Christ, but it foretells the
future resurrection and the glory of the
heavenly kingdom.
Lumen Gentium cont.
Christ proposed to His disciples this form of
life, which He, as the Son of God,
accepted in entering this world to do the
will of the Father. This same state of life
is accurately exemplified and perpetually
made present in the Church. The religious
state clearly manifests that the Kingdom
of God and its needs, in a very special
way, are raised above all earthly
considerations. Finally it clearly shows all
men both the unsurpassed breadth of the
strength of Christ the King and the
infinite power of the Holy Spirit
marvelously working in the Church.”
Consecration:
Active or Passive?
Why the Consecrated Life?
• Because God calls people to it!
• If someone discerns they have a
vocation to the consecrated life, that
means they believe that God is inviting
them to be consecrated to Him in a
special way.
Why the Consecrated Life?
Consecrated persons desire to live in such a way
that their lives point toward Heaven.
Testimony of Sacred Scripture
• Luke 18 – The Rich Young Man
• Luke 20 – “Whose wife will she be?”
• Matthew 19 – On Divorce and
Remarriage
• 1 Cor. 7 – Remain single as I do
• 1 Tim 5 – Rules for Widows
Testimony of Jesus’ Life
Luke 9:57-58
As they were walking along the road, a
man said to him, “I will follow you
wherever you go.”
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and
birds have nests, but the Son of
Man has no place to lay his head.”
Why the Consecrated Life?
A Preview of HEAVEN!
• Recall that Jesus teaches that there
will not be marriage in eternity
• Consecrated Life is then, an attempt to
begin living the life of heaven while
still on earth
The Year of
Consecrated
Life
Activity
Suggestions
(from the USCCB)
Suggestions for Parishes to
Foster Vocations to Consecrated Life
1. Invite a woman or a man (brother or priest) in consecrated life to be introduced to
the congregation and to greet parishioners at the door of the church after Mass on
days celebrating religious life such as the World Day for Consecrated Life or the
World Day for Prayer for Vocations.
2. Suggest that parishioners visit a monastery of cloistered monks or nuns to join in
prayer or perhaps to make a spiritual retreat.
3. Encourage members of the church to pray for vocations to religious life at the Prayer
of the Faithful.
4. Commit resources for promotion of religious order sisters, brothers and priests.
5. Sponsor diocesan adult education programs that teach about the role of religious in
the Church.
6. Host annual gatherings of young religious within the diocese and/or region.
Suggestions for Families to
Foster Vocations to Consecrated Life
1.Pray for vocations to religious life as a family.
2.Talk with a religious about her/his vocation.
3.If your parish has a vocations committee, learn about their activities
and participate in at least one program. If there is no vocation
committee, work with other parishioners and the pastor to begin one.
4.Discover a ministry in your area that is sponsored by a religious
community and talk with the Mission Director about what makes this
ministry unique. If possible, volunteer at the ministry site as a family.
5.Suggest to a single person in your parish the possibility of
considering a religious vocation.
Suggestions for Families to
Foster Vocations to Consecrated Life
1.Write a letter to your local bishop suggesting a Vocations Fair or
Adoration Hour for vocations. Offer to help organize this.
2.Make 10 minutes for silent reading of Sacred Scripture. Offer this time
for the intention of those considering Consecrated Life.
3.Pray in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament for the intention of
vocations to the Consecrated Life.
4.At grace before meals, add the following: “We ask, O Lord, that you let
more men and women hear the call to serve you as a priest, brother or
sister. Amen.”
5.At supper some night, tell family members about a religious who has
meant something to you, perhaps someone you met in school, in the
hospital, in the parish or elsewhere.
Building a
Vocation
Culture
How to Build a Vocation Culture
• To create an atmosphere or vocation culture, The
Third Continental Congress on Vocations in North
America (2002), suggested five actions which
comprise its Plan:
– To Pray: to be holy, to be converted, to
worship
– To Evangelize: to teach, to form, to catechize
– To Experience: worship, community, service,
witness
– To Mentor: to accompany, to guide, to model
– To Invite: to discern, to choose, to commit
Compliments of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry
How to Build a Vocation Culture
• The resources here will help you implement
these actions. These are some ways in which
youth directors can collaborate in building a
vocation culture:
– When planning programs for youth, find
opportunities to vitalize and nurture their
faith and spiritual renewal.
– Live with passion and conviction your
vocation to proclaim the Gospel inviting
young people to discern their own call.
– Invite religious and priests to be present in
youth activities and program.
Compliments of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry
Best Practices for Vocations to the Priesthood
and Religious Life for Campus Ministries
• Eucharistic Adoration
– Make it available often, daily if possible
– Preach on the true Presence
• Confession
– Creates an awareness of sin, and a need for mercy
– Leads students to strive for greater conversion
• Spiritual Direction
– Teaches them the importance of daily prayer
– Holds them accountable for prayer
– Instills in them a fundamental call to holiness
• Pilgrimage/Retreat/Conference
– ‘jump starts’ the spiritual life
– Takes them out of their normal surroundings to encounter God
• Service Projects
• Seminary Visits/Nun runs
– or bring Seminarians and young Sisters to visit the Campus
Compliments of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry
Best Practices for Vocations to the
Priesthood and Religious Life
• Discernment Groups
– Helps each student to realize they are called specifically
by God
– Groups let them know they are not alone and that others
can help them on their journey
• Cultivating Christ-centered friendships
– Teaches them how to have fun in a holy and wholesome
way
• Daily presence of priests or sisters
– Students need to see priests or sisters at prayer on a
daily basis
– They also need to interact with them on a daily basis
• Catechetical Formation
– This could be number one but young Catholics generally
do not know their faith
– Introducing them to the riches of the intellectual
patrimony of the Church opens them to a deeper
understanding of God and their role in God’s plan
Compliments of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry
USCCB Website
(www.usccb.org)
Imagine Sisters
Light of Love
USCCB
“Living a Consecrated Life”
Catholic Religious Life
Dictionary
The Vocation to
the Priesthood
Fishers of Men
To Be A Priest
Fr. Robert Barron
“How Should I Discern the Priesthood?
The End