We all have a friend who is a religious or a consecrated person. Every year on February 2, we come together to pray for consecrated life all over the world. This year is special because we are preparing the synod all around the world. Consecrated people walk together in the synodal way as part of the Church, the community of disciples. This year’s message from the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life is an invitation to be part of the synodal spirit of participation.
As religious we have consecrated our lives to God because of a personal encounter that prompts a personal anwer. However, our consecration is not only to God but also in a religious community and in the Church. We join our life to a common project with more people in our different communities. But time may make us forget our consecration in our congregations and “replace the attractiveness of ‘we’ with the strength of ‘I’”.
Participation cannot come if there is not belonging first. We may think that we are a whole by ourselves, forgetting a common mission. Is in this communion with the church that the religious life will grow and give fruit. In the same way, because of this unity we feel responsible for the community and its journey.
As Xaverians we also believe that the community, our communion and participation, is the evangelizing agent that “inspires the birth and growth of new Christian Communities (Constitutions 37).” That is why we even express our spirituality in an intense love for the xaverian family (Const. 3).
Today is an opportunity to pray for all the consecrated people so that their lives become a light to the world. May their consecration be fruitful always in participation with the Mission of the Church so that Jesus may be known to all.
