Vatican City, Feb 2, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Pope John Paul presided on Monday, feast of the Presentation of the Lord, the VIII Day of Consecrated Life, during which he called on religious to renew every day their “‘yes’ to the God of Love.”
Thousands of members of institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life participated in the Mass in which the Holy Father led the blessing of the candles, participated in the initial procession and, after pronouncing the homily, led the thanksgiving to God for the gift of consecrated life.
“Those who have forever offered their lives to Christ for the coming of the Kingdom of God are called to renew their ‘yes’ to the special vocation they have received,” the Pope said during the homily.
The Pontiff highlighted the fact that Christ called religious “to model themselves ever more on Him, who for love was obedient, poor and chaste.” “Continue to dedicate yourselves with passion to announcing and promoting his kingdom, which is necessary today as it was in the past!,” he exclaimed.