by Sister Kathleen McDonagh, Sisters of the Congregation of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament
As we begin the celebration of the Centennial of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, we realize that many groups within the diocese have been contributing to the diocesan Church for all of its 100 years of existence. Among these are persons in consecrated life. Who, then, some people may ask, are persons in consecrated life?
A dictionary definition of the word “consecrate” is “to make, declare, or set something apart as holy.” In 1996, after a very important Synod in the Church, Pope John Paul II wrote a document entitled Vita Consecrata (Consecrated Life) in which he describes different forms of consecrated life in the Church today. In these forms of life, those involved are primarily engaged in growing in holiness through their prayer life and whatever activities they may be engaged in.
Forms of life of which the Holy Father treats in this document are: monastic life, the order of virgins, hermits, institutes completely dedicated to contemplation, apostolic religious life, secular institutes, societies of apostolic life and new or renewed forms of the consecrated life (cf. Vita Consecrata, 6 – 12). With the possible exception of secular institutes and some new forms of consecrated life, many Catholics today would describe the persons engaged in any of the above in a very general way as priests, sisters or brothers and would hold that the point of their lives is the work in which they are engaged.
The Holy Father, however, treats the work of the persons involved as the means, the way to achieve, the end of their lifestyle. That end or purpose is growing and helping others to grow in holiness.
Those who live in secular institutes also live a dedicated prayer life but some people may not realize this since members of secular institutes usually do not wear a recognizable religious habit or live in a recognizable religious community. Their apostolic life is often lived out in a style that outwardly seems like lay people even as they know and value their religious commitment within the Church.
And in the changing demeanor of the Church in our day what is said above of secular institutes is true also of some members of religious institutes who, with the approval of their communities, live a life that outwardly may not seem to involve dress or communal life.
Nevertheless, consecrated Life in the world today is recognized by the Church at large as an important reality, and in celebration of this reality, Pope John Paul II named an annual World Day for Consecrated Life, which he attached to the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord on Feb. 2.
Feb. 2 is known in the Church as Candlemas Day since it is the day of the blessing of candles -- candles that symbolize Christ Who is the Light of the World. In turn, persons in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to all people. In treating of consecrated life as a way of life in which the effort to achieve holiness is central, the Church is not diminishing her emphasis on the holiness to which lay people also are called.
All members of the Church are called to holiness. Those in consecrated life, however, are called to a holy way of life that is obvious to all. Even as they struggle with human deficiencies, persons in consecrated life know that their first call is to be holy and to give witness to their efforts to achieve this end.
As it celebrates 100 years of its existence, the Diocese of Corpus Christi can look back at its history and see the contributions made to its growth in holiness by its entire people. In this projected series of articles, we will concentrate on that growth brought about by persons in consecrated life, allowing for change in numbers, contributions made by persons native to the diocese and those called by God from afar to come and minister here.
With such a variety of persons involved, we will see emphasis on different aspects of holiness and different methods of growth in holiness. Yet with all, we will see how the will of God has been achieved and continues to be achieved in different ways through the many, many persons in consecrated life who have been and continue to be called to live in holiness in this section of the Vineyard of the Lord, known as the Diocese of Corpus Christi.