2010-10-17 15:45:53

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.

[00172-02.03] [IN112] [Original text: French]







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