Intervention of Mons. Mikaël MOURADIAN, Patriarchal Vicar for the Patriarchal Clergy
Institute of Bzommar (LEBANON)
It is true that the Middle East is the Holy Land and the land of saints, this has
been demonstrated by the canonizations and beatifications that have taken place in
these last years, Mar Charbel, Naamat Allah al Hardini, Rafka, Abouna Yaacoub, Ignace
Maolyan, Al Akh Stephan...but this should not cloud our vision to the truth about
the Middle East, a crisis of vocations has also been noted.
The most significant
proof of this was a survey taken during a formation session for religious persons,
129 religious men and women participated. They answered the following question: What
are the causes for the decrease in religious vocations, what are the short, mid, and
long-term consequences, and the possible solutions? Here is a synthesis of their answers: 1.
Primary causes: The decline in the birth rate in Christian families. Material and
moral problems which families must face. A crisis of values. Difficulty in committing
to the long term. The emancipation of women. Crisis of faith. Counter-witness by consecrated
persons. 2. Possible solutions: Support the family. Educate them in true values.
Consecrated persons witness sincerely to their faithfulness to Christ and to their
consecration...Ensure a proper discernment of vocations. See to the proper spiritual
guidance in vocations. Obtain appropriate initial and permanent formation. In analyzing
these responses, one can see that these 129 religious men and women, both in the causes
for the decline in religious vocations and in the possible solutions, have given priority
to the family. Because the family is the core of society. It is in the family that
a person receives his first human and religious education. It is also in the believing
and practicing family that vocations are born. “Knowing that marriage and the family
constitute one of the most precious of human values, the Church wishes to speak and
offer her help to those who are already aware of the value of marriage and the family
and seek to live it faithfully, to those who are uncertain and anxious and searching
for the truth, and to those who are unjustly impeded from living freely their family
lives” (Familiaris Consortio n.1). Whoever says “pastoral care of vocations” also
says “Familial pastoral care”. I find that the Instrumentum Laboris has not given
the family the priority it deserves, and this is why I suggest that in the “Nuntio”
this be taken into consideration.