August 22, 2013

VITA CONSECRATA

POST-SYNODAL 
APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION 
VITA CONSECRATA 
OF THE HOLY FATHER 
JOHN PAUL II 
TO THE BISHOPS AND CLERGY 
RELIGIOUS ORDERS AND CONGREGATIONS 
SOCIETIES OF APOSTOLIC LIFE 
SECULAR INSTITUTES 
AND ALL THE FAITHFUL 
ON THE CONSECRATED LIFE AND ITS MISSION 
IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE WORLD


INTRODUCTION

Pope St. John Paul II
The Consecrated Life, deeply rooted in the example and teaching of Christ the Lord, is a gift of God the Father to his Church through the Holy Spirit. By the profession of the evangelical counsels the characteristic features of Jesus — the chaste, poor and obedient one — are made constantly "visible" in the midst of the world and the eyes of the faithful are directed towards the mystery of the Kingdom of God already at work in history, even as it awaits its full realization in heaven.

In every age there have been men and women who, obedient to the Father's call and to the prompting of the Spirit, have chosen this special way of following Christ, in order to devote themselves to him with an "undivided" heart (cf. 1 Cor 7:34). Like the Apostles, they too have left everything behind in order to be with Christ and to put themselves, as he did, at the service of God and their brothers and sisters. In this way, through the many charisms of spiritual and apostolic life bestowed on them by the Holy Spirit, they have helped to make the mystery and mission of the Church shine forth, and in doing so have contributed to the renewal of society.

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