Madrid, Spain, Feb 2, 2006 / 22:00 pm
In a letter marking the World Day of Consecrated Life, celebrated on February 2, Bishop Jose Sanchez Gonzalez of Sigüenza-Guadalajara, Spain, said the “mere existence” of the vocation to religious life “is an inextinguishable sign and a contribution to our materialistic and short-sighted world.”
In emphasizing the importance of the consecrated life, the bishop noted such individuals “are at the heart of the Gospel and without them, the Church would be missing something of her own nature, and the world would be much poorer.”
Bishop Sanchez pointed out the wide variety of apostolic work and spiritual ministries carried out in the Church by those who live the consecrated life, either alone or in community, and that such persons “constitute, by their very existence, an inextinguishable sign and a contribution to our materialistic and short-sighted world.”
“They speak to us through who they are as persons, through what really motivates them and through their way of life, of other values, and other motives, of the transcendent dimension, of the supernatural life and of the spirit, which are not often valued or held high in our current culture and way of life,” said Bishop Sanchez.