Celebrating the World Day for Consecrated Life with Pope Francis
As the Church commemorates the World Day for Consecrated Life, Pope Francis led First Vespers with religious men and women, emphasizing the importance of encountering one another and the Lord in the Eucharist.
By Devin Watkins
Thousands of consecrated men and women gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday evening as Pope Francis prayed First Vespers.
The Church celebrates the 29th World Day for Consecrated Life on Sunday, coinciding with the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
In his homily during Evening Prayer, the Pope highlighted that this year’s event aligns with the Jubilee of Hope and precedes the Jubilee of Consecrated Life, scheduled for October 8-12, 2025.
Catholics worldwide are encouraged to pray on Sunday for religious women and men, asking the Lord for an abundance of vocations to consecrated life.
Pope Francis centered his reflections on the three evangelical counsels: poverty, chastity, and obedience.
He praised the virtue of evangelical poverty, which liberates religious individuals from attachment to earthly possessions, enabling them to be a source of blessing to others.
The Pope emphasized the importance of rejecting selfishness, greed, and violence, while embracing simplicity, generosity, and solidarity to reflect the beauty of love.
Overcoming Selfishness with Joyful Relationships
Pope Francis commended consecrated religious for embodying the “light of chastity,” rooted in the love shared among the Trinity.
By renouncing worldly affections, religious individuals bear witness to the supremacy of God’s love, countering superficial relationships and egocentric motives.
He lauded their capacity to reflect God’s love by accepting and respecting others without coercion, fostering mature and joyful relationality.
The Pope urged religious communities to support the spiritual and emotional growth of their members through continuous formation, ensuring that their chastity exemplifies selfless love without traces of discontentment.
Building Mutual Trust to Combat Loneliness
Pope Francis highlighted the virtue of obedience demonstrated by consecrated individuals through a profound sense of responsibility nurtured by mutual trust.
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He underscored that obedience, when aligned with God’s word, becomes a response to love and a prophetic symbol for society, countering individualism by promoting attentive listening.
By obeying God’s will, individuals can experience the joy of self-giving, transcending loneliness and recognizing their purpose within God’s greater design.
Renewing in the Blessed Sacrament
In conclusion, Pope Francis invited consecrated men and women to seek renewal in the Eucharist, returning to their foundational roots.
Through prayer and self-offering, he encouraged them to echo the sentiments of their Founders: “See… I have come to do your will, O God.”
