Consecrated Life: the Church's life-giving ecosystem
They’re the glue that keeps the Church together: the religious and lay people who
consecrate their lives to Christ, and bear witness to his love through ministry and
charity. On February 2nd each year, the Church celebrates those who have chosen Consecrated
Life as their vocation – and this year is no exception. Pope Benedict, together
with religious and consecrated lay faithful, will be celebrating an evening vespers
Wednesday in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Speaking to Tracey McClure, the Secretary
of the Pontifical Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life Archbishop Joseph
Tobin, explains that it was Pope John Paul II who first instituted a Day for Consecrated
Life back in 1997:
JT “It’s important to look at the original inspiration of
Pope John Paul II, that this was not simply for consecrated people, but it is for
the Church. And it’s important to remind the Church of the presence of this particular
vocation which he judged himself. I think if you read some of his own writings, especially
the apostolic exhortation Vita Consecrata – that he saw it as something quite important
and I would even say essential for the Church’s life. So, I think the celebration
on February 2nd was first and foremost for the Church, to remind the faithful of the
beauty and the importance of this vocation.”
Archbishop Tobin says in his job,
he deals with all forms of consecrated communities: monks, teaching religious, missionaries,
as well as people who live the contemplative life separately from society.
JT
“I think, taken together, it is a sort of ecosystem and like the Amazonian rain forest,
it is essential to the larger system of the Church. Without that rain forest, we
would find it very difficult to breathe because it provides oxygen for the world and
I think in some ways, consecrated life should provide oxygen for the church”
TM
"Pope Benedict has pointed to cloistered communities as often being “united” to Christ’s
Passion, 'taking on themselves the sufferings and trials of others and offering everything
with joy for the salvation of the world.' In today’s age of 3 second sound bites,
iphones, youtube and twitter, some might think cloisters are passe’….are they?"
JT
“I don’t think so and I think most of the brothers and sisters that I know that live
that particular lifestyle wouldn’t think so – especially the younger members who are
attracted by the …depth that one finds in a cloister: the depth is a recognition that
reality isn’t simply a superficial or passing fad”
TM "People were shocked
by the cases of clerical sex abuse, and revelations that the leader of at least one
institute for religious life had seriously compromised his vows and the trust of his
followers. I’m thinking in particular of the Legionaries of Christ. The faithful,
and many young seminarians and priests have felt helplessly betrayed by those whom
they once trusted. To what extent have these scandals taken a toll on vocations in
the church and do you think enough has been done to purge such behaviour from the
church and ensure it never happens again?"
JT “Religious and priests around
the world in my experience have been touched and hurt by this scandal… because all
of us feel a bit suspect… I’ve also found that if people know us, they will eventually
form their own judgement about whether we’re the real deal or not. And I think that
the Church, both locally and universally, is making serious efforts and progress to
ensure to the best we can that scandals don’t occur. I don’t think we can give a
one hundred percent guarantee because (in the end) people are free, and they’re free
to choose very evil things.”
“I do believe that religious leaders have a special
responsibility to offer a witness that is transparent in all senses of the word and
when we don’t do that, the price is very severe.”
“We also try to take preventative
measures in the sense that when we look at the state of a religious order, its own
self examination, we pay special attention to the formation that’s being given and
to the selection of candidates to ensure that the beauty of that particular vocation
is reflected in the care with which candidates are admitted and later formed.”
TM
"When most people think of consecrated persons, they think first of religious men
and women – but some of our listeners might be surprised to learn there are other
forms of consecrated life such as consecrated virgins and consecrated hermits. What
sets consecrated people apart from the rest of the faithful?" Listen to Archbishop
Tobin's response in the full interview: