Vatican City, Feb 3, 2009 / 09:48 am
Pope Benedict instructed members of religious congregations yesterday on the thirteenth Day of Consecrated Life, that the best way to respond to their vocation is to focus on the lifestyle and mission of St. Paul.
The Holy Father met with members of religious congregations, institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life, after the conclusion of a Mass celebrating the Day of Consecrated Life, an annual celebration established by John Paul II.
After greeting those present, the Holy Father focused his remarks on St. Paul, the Apostle who is recognized as the father of those “who, called by the Lord, have chosen to dedicate themselves unconditionally to Him and His Gospel.” He further explained that the best way to respond to one’s vocation to the consecrated life, is by imitating the lifestyle of Paul and his focus on poverty, chastity and obedience.
The Holy Father then zeroed in on the three “evangelical counsels” by first turning his attention to poverty. “In the life of poverty [Paul] saw a guarantee that the Gospel would be announced freely,” and also found a life of poverty to be “an expression of real solidarity towards brothers and sisters in need.”