Rejoice! is the theme of the Congregation of Religious Life’s letter to consecrated persons in preparation for the Year of Consecrated Life beginning in 2015.
Holy Father Pope Francis wants joyful religious. He said “”I want to share a message, and the message is joy.
Wherever consecrated persons are, there must always be joy “.
According to the letter, “He invites us to dwell in peace, as in an interior pilgrimage, like in those early days, warmed by a friendly relationship, with our minds open to the mystery, when we made the decision to give ourselve to the Master who alone has the words of eternal life (cf. Jn 6:68). He calls us to make our “whole existence a pilgrimage of transformation, in love.”
Our Pope calls us to dwell on that starting-point: “The joy of the moment when Jesus looked at me,” and recall the meaning and essence of our vocation: “It is the answer to a call, a call of love.” Being with Christ means sharing our life and our choices and requires the obedience of faith, the blessedness of the poor, the radicality of love. It is letting our vocation be reborn.
This Sunday’s chat invites you to consider the JOY of consecrated life, whether you are in discernment, already committed to religious life or a layperson in support of another’s consecrated vocation.
Pope Francis also remarked, “People today certainly need words, but above all they need a witness to the mercy and tenderness of the Lord, which inflames the heart, awaken hope, appeals to the good. The joy of bringing the consolation of God.”
Pope Francis entrusts this mission to us in the consecrated life: Find the Lord, who comforts us like a mother, and comfort the people God. From the joy of meeting the Lord and His call flows the service in the Church ‘s mission: to bring men and women of our time the consolation of God, to bear witness to his mercy.
In a mistrustful world, discouraged and depressed, in a culture where men and women let themselves be overcome by fragility and weakness, by individualism and self-interest, we are asked to introduce trust in the possibility of true happiness and a hope not based only on one’s talents, qualities and knowledge, but on God. All have the opportunity to find this, if we just seek it with a sincere heart. Men and women of our time are waiting for a word of comfort, closeness, forgiveness and true joy. We are called to bring to all the embrace of God, who tenderly leans toward us like a mother. Religious should be a sign of full humanity, facilitators and not drivers of grace, under the sign of consolation.”
Read the entire letter here:
http://www.crc-canada.org/sites/default/files/files/Letter%20CIVCSVA-en.pdf
If you are searching for spiritual comfort, therefore the Sisters guiding the Chat Room can help! As our own St Francis de Sales, our Founder, was an optimist, we live that spirituality in our monasteries.
St. Francis de Sales was Bishop of Geneva from 1602 till his death in 1622. The Catholic spirituality he taught was one full of joy springing from love. He said:
“You wish absolutely to form Jesus Christ in you, in your heart, in your works, by a sincere love of his doctrine and a perfect imitation of his life; rest assured it will cost you many pangs; but they will pass away, and the presence of Jesus, who shall live in you, will fill your soul with an ineffable joy which can never be taken from you.”
“Fear not; you are walking upon the sea, amid the winds and the waves, but it is with Jesus. If fear seizes you, cry loudly, ‘Lord, save me!’ He will stretch forth his hand to you; clasp it firmly and go joyfully on.”
“Live joyfully; our Lord looks down upon you, and looks upon you with love, and with a tenderness proportioned to your foolishness.”