Pope urges religious to pray for vocations
By Christopher Wells
Pope Francis met Monday morning with members of six religious congregations 鈥 Minims, Clerics Regular Minor, Augustinian Sisters of Divine Love, Clerics of Saint Viator, Reparatrix Sisters of the Sacred Heart and Missionary Sisters of Saint Anthony Mary Claret 鈥 who are in Rome for General or Provincial Chapters.
At the beginning of the encounter, the Holy Father asked them how many novices they have 鈥 and warned them that, without 鈥渃hildren,鈥 their orders will die. 鈥淚 ask this,鈥 he said, 鈥渂ecause it is asking about the future of your congregations.鈥
Pope Francis went on to highlight two aspects of the spiritual life of consecrated men and women: beauty and simplicity.
The grace and beauty of God鈥檚 face
The histories of each order, the Pope said, 鈥渁re stories of beauty, for in them, the grace and beauty of God鈥檚 face shines forth.鈥
He invited his audience to 鈥渢ake up the witness鈥 of their founders, who 鈥渨ere able to perceive this beauty and to transmit it in different ways according to the needs of their times.鈥
鈥淚t is up to you鈥, he said, 鈥渢o continue, as they did, to seek out and spread the beauty of Christ in the concrete circumstances of today鈥檚 world.鈥
Simplicity: choosing what is essential
Pope Francis went on to note that the founders of the various orders 鈥渃hose what is essential 鈥 and renounced what is superfluous.鈥 In this way, he said, 鈥渢hey allowed themselves to be shaped daily by the simplicity of God鈥檚 love shining forth in the Gospel.鈥
He invited consecrated men and women to pray for 鈥渢he gift of simplicity鈥 as they prepare for their Chapters, calling on them to 鈥渟trip themselves鈥 of whatever might prove an obstacle to 鈥渓istening attentively and preserving harmony鈥 in their discernment.
By doing so, Pope Francis said, they will be able to understand the needs of the present moment and 鈥渕ake the best decisions for the future.鈥
A great mission
The Pope went on to highlight the religious commitments to poverty and obedience, which allows them to undertake the 鈥済reat mission鈥 given them by God the Father.
And he reminded them of the necessity of prayer, especially prayer before Christ in the tabernacle; prayer which must come 鈥渇rom the heart鈥 and which 鈥渕oves us forward in the way of the Lord.鈥
Prayer for vocations
Pope Francis concluded his remarks with words of gratitude and encouragement, before concluding with an admonition to pray for vocations. 鈥淚t is necessary for you to have successors who will carry your charisms forward,鈥 he said, adding, 鈥淧ray, pray! And be attentive to formation, so that it is good formation.鈥
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