“CELEBRATING THE EVER ANCIENT – EVER NEW”
I’ve just watched a short video clip, sent to me by a friend, of a TV interview with two young nuns who are members of the community of Poor Clares in Arundel, England. The interview was as a result of their “chart-hitting” recording, “Light for the World”, music from their enclosed convent. Their singing has touched thousands of people across the globe and especially so in these days of pandemic struggle. Who would have thought that such an impact could be made from this hidden life of a small community of contemplative women in a secluded place? Clearly, the two TV interviewers on a popular morning show were surprised and deeply moved. They were touched by the sisters’ profound joy that they had been invited into this musical initiative. It was for them a means to reach out to a world in need of great light at this time. The interviewers were impressed by the sisters’ expression of having made a life choice “of freedom to love”; to share God’s love beyond their physical walls but from an all-embracing and open heart in tune with the pulse of the world. The Sister’s commitment to consecrated life enabled them to do this.
The consecrated life, whatever its form, cloistered or ministerial, is celebrated on the World Day for Consecrated Life held on January 2 each year (observed in parishes on the following Sunday) since its inception by Pope John Paul 11 in 1997. The celebration is held on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord also known as Candlemas Day; a day on which candles are blessed symbolizing the Light of Christ.
All Christians and indeed everyone, whatever our call in life are to be light in our world. We were poignantly reminded of this during the recent U.S. Presidential Inauguration by a young poet, Amanda Gorman in her stunning poem, “The Hill we Climb” which ends with the following words: “There is always light if only we are brave enough to see it. If only we are brave enough to be it.” This call is universal but those who are called to consecrated/religious life express it through particular vows made to God, within the Church, and for the light and life of the world. God continues to call women and men today to this way of life through the vows of poverty, celibate chastity, and obedience. These are vows of total self-giving to God who first gives love to us. They are vows for service to the other, all others, human, and in all of creation. Understood in more contemporary expressions these vows call women and men who commit to them for life as Sisters, Brothers, Priests to the simplicity of lifestyle, a spirituality of “enoughness” in the world as it is today, to a freedom to love inclusively and to a life of “listening”, of discerning God’s evolving Design for an ever new day. It is a radical, counter-cultural lifestyle that stands as witness to hope in today’s broken world and church. A central characteristic of consecrated life is its “ever ancient, ever new” nature. Rooted in the unchanging richness of contemplation, Gospel living and service it is also ever-evolving in response to the joys and sufferings of the world in which it is deeply immersed.
This was depicted clearly in the video clip mentioned above in which Sisters living a life of contemplation in a religious order, almost unchanged from its inception in 1212 embraced very modern means of communication to share the gifts of their daily prayer with a world of darkness and struggle now. And… how much that has meant to the lives of so many! Similarly, religious men and women who belong to communities that are ministerial, working in the world, constantly discern new ways of service. As the world “turns” a new day, so do they! From their traditional services in schools, hospitals, and parishes, we now find them in new ministries also including environmental work, justice initiatives, standing with the poor, vulnerable and disenfranchised, finding ever new ways to be the Light of Christ expressed in a contemporary form.
It is this life that is celebrated and affirmed on the World Day for Consecrated Life. For those of us who are members of communities of consecrated life, we give thanks for the joy and privilege of this vocation, God’s gift, and on this day too we ask the prayers of all peoples for fidelity, integrity, and complete love in our life. We commit anew!
As Pope Francis reminded us in his 2019 celebration of the World Day for Consecrated Life: “This then is the consecrated life: praise which gives joy to God’s people, prophetic vision that reveals what counts. … It is a living encounter with the Lord in his people. It is a call to faithful obedience of daily life and to the unexpected surprises from the Spirit. It is a vision of what we need to embrace in order to experience joy.”
So, Let’s celebrate this life, and perhaps if a reader “out there” has felt a call, however, quietly to such life, let’s talk!
Sister Mary Rowell, CSJ, Vocation Coordinator, Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada
mrowell@csjcanada.org |Telephone: 905-372-2741