The Catholic Church will have its annual celebration of World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life on Feb. 2, and parishes will commemorate the event the weekend of Feb. 5-6. This event is a special time for individual parishes to celebrate the gift of consecrated life and pray for men and women discerning a consecrated vocation with the global Catholic Church.
Instituted by St. John Paul II in 1997, World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life is celebrated in conjunction with the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas Day, which commemorates through the blessing and lighting of candles that Christ is the light of the world. So too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to all peoples.
I echo the words of Bishop James F. Checchio of Metuchen, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations, who spoke recently of how the example of consecrated men and women should spur all of the faithful on to greater holiness. “With lives of poverty, chastity and obedience, consecrated men and women provide us with an example of complete dedication to Christ. They remind us that regardless of the vocation the Lord calls us to, we are all called to union with Christ and to do our part to build up the kingdom of God.”
Pope Francis sums up religious life as not being about survival but about new life, calling it “a living encounter with the Lord.” He said, “This then is the consecrated life: praise which gives joy to God’s people, prophetic vision that reveals what counts.” May we always remember the sacrifice and love offered by those women and men who are living out their vocation to the complete service of sharing the Gospel with others.
During this year’s celebration of the World Day for Consecrated Life, please take a moment to remember in prayer all those who have made commitments in the consecrated life and be sure to thank them on their special occasion