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Monastery of the Visitation
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Sermon of Father Thomas for the Feast of the
Presentation 2010
Dear Sisters, today you renew your vows, for some of you your First
Profession of
these vows was many years ago, but by renewing these vows you are once
again
recommitting yourselves to your charism for the Lord …
Starting Afresh from Christ: A Renewed Commitment to Consecrated Life in
the Third Millennium,
given to us on June 14th 2002, states in part 1 on ‘Consecrated Life: that
you are the Presence
of the Love of Christ
in the midst of humanity.’ It carries on: ‘The Church thanks consecrated
persons for their fidelity. They have much
to contribute even when old, lonely, ill and suffering.
Consecrated
persons share a vocation to holiness that benefits the
whole people of God.
As they continue Christ’s mission in the world,
consecrated persons - being receptive to the Holy Spirit
and steeped in His charity - demonstrate zeal for the establishment of the
Kingdom of God
and for the salvation of souls.’
Part two of the document is called ‘Courage to Face Trials and
Challenges’. It encourages us in
that realism
demands that today’s difficulties in consecrated life be acknowledged (for
example,
the aging of Institutes, the lack of
vocations, ‘mediocrity’). Yet a ‘time of grace’ can blossom.
The ’new and
special consecration’ enjoyed by consecrated
persons allow them to support the
Mystical Body of Christ. Superiors,
equipped with ‘spiritual authority,’ must perform their
serious
tasks well. The ongoing formation of members, vocation promotion
and the education of
those preparing to enter Institutes are crucial.
Francis believed that all are called to lives of holiness and this
holiness is to be lived, not in
grandiose ways, but
quite simply by being who you are in the best way possible, and by
integrating the ordinary everyday responsibilities
of our life with an extraordinary fidelity.
He encourages those under his direction to live in the spirit of the
Gospel by fostering in their
lives the Little Virtues; simplicity, gentleness, humility, patience, liberty of spirit, joy,
optimism,
graciousness, interiority and faithful response to the
will of God as presented in the realities of
daily living. Francis saw in
these ‘Little Virtues’ a sure yet simple path to holiness.
By renewing your vows today Sisters you are responding to St. Francis de
Sales call and your
Holy Mothers, St Jane Frances de Chantal. May today be a blessed day for the community.
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