The gift of consecrated life, both contemplative and apostolic, which the Spirit calls forth in the Church, has a particular prophetic value inasmuch as it is a joyful witness of the gratuitousness of love. When religious communities and new foundations live their fraternity authentically, they become schools of communion, centres of prayer and contemplation, places of witness of intergenerational and intercultural dialogue and arenas for evangelization and charity. The mission of many consecrated men and women who take care of the lowliest on the world’s peripheries manifests concretely the dedication of an outward-looking Church. If in some regions it is experiencing reduction in numbers and the fatigue of ageing, consecrated life continues to be fruitful and creative, not least through co-responsibility with many lay people who share the spirit and the mission of the various charisms. The Church and the world cannot be without this vocational gift, which is a great resource for our time.
TheoFonsAt the sources of the faith