Reliving The Consecrated Life Makes God’s Presence Felt The More

Reliving The Consecrated Life Makes God’s Presence Felt The More

-        Nov. Louie Aninion

The common understanding of consecrated life is a holiness of life pattern to Jesus’ life on earth. In short, it is an imitation of Christ Life. It is following the way of Jesus.

The encyclical letter no. 84 states that consecrated life is a special form of sharing in Christ’s prophetic office which the Holy Spirit communicates to the whole of people of God. It is a radical nature of following of Christ.

So, I could say that consecrated is a very special gift from God given to the chosen people. The consecrated person embraced and commits themselves completely to God through which he/she becomes an ‘alter-Christ’ witnessing the truth of the Gospel.

Now the questions that come to my mind are; does consecrated life still important to this day? Does consecrated life has greatly influence the people of today?

To the first question, yes it is still very significant. The Vita Consecrata no. 85 exhorts that the sign of God’s presence has been lost, a convincing prophetic witness on the part of consecrated person is increasingly necessary.

Looking at the present time, human reason has predominantly prevails in every individuals. Faith has been neglected. And as we all know reason alone is vanity. We really need faith in God to guide us in every circumstance in life to arrive at the desired result where the value of human dignity is treasured. Abortion, civil wars and many forms of chaos are continuously happening everywhere. Many lives even innocent ones were claimed by inhuman act because of our own selfish reason.

We really need to relive the “consecrated life to defend all that is contrary to divine will” (Cf. Vita Consecrata no. 84) through consecrated person who commit to imitate the chaste, poor and obedient Christ.

Going to the second question, does consecrated life has greatly influence the people of today? I absolutely answer yes to this query. People have high regards to the priests and nuns who vowed themselves in chastity, poverty and obedience. They seek an advice from them (priests and nun) when they are in trouble. However, people think that consecrated life is for the priests and nuns alone to embrace. Yes, they partly correct in that matter. But if we look at it in deeper sense, this invites everyone whatever state of life we embrace. Since, we are God’s children created in his own image and likeness, thus, everyone is invited to live chaste, poor (charity) and obedience. We are called to live life prudently and to seek always God’s Will in our day to day life.

Allow me to quote the challenges that were discussed in Vita Consecrata on consecrated life. It was written in no. 88 the challenges of consecrated chastity. It states that “the first challenge is that of hedonistic culture which separates sexuality for all objective moral norms, justifying a kind of idolatry of sexual instinct. The reply of consecrated life is joyful living of perfect chastity as a witness to the power of God’s love manifested in the weakness of human condition.” It continues that “it is offered to everyone in order to show that power of God’s love can accomplish great things precisely within the context of human love.” No. 89 is about the challenge of poverty. It was written that “the challenge of poverty is materialism which craves possession, heedless of the needs and sufferings of the weakest and lacking any concern for the balance of natural resources. The reply of consecrated life is found in the profession of evangelical poverty which is expressed in solidarity and charity. It is attesting in imitating poor Christ that God is the true wealth of the human heart under the inspired principle of simplicity and hospitality.” Lastly, no. 91 talks about the challenge of freedom in obedience. It was said in this no. that “consecrated person testifies that there is no contradiction between obedience and freedom. Indeed, Jesus discloses the mystery of human freedom as the path of obedience to the Father’s will and the mystery of obedience as the path to the gradual conquest of true freedom. They intend to show their awareness of being children of the Father; as a result they take the Father’s will as their daily bread, as their rock, their joy, their shield and their fortress.”

It was indeed the invitation for those who vowed to consecrate themselves in chastity, poverty and obedience. But the priests and nuns are not only committing themselves to live the consecrated for their own advantage. As we remember that “consecrated person gives witness to the truth to the people of God.” So, they are made as instrument in order to lead us to the holiness of life which is for everyone. We are God’s children created in His own likeness. Thus, whatever state of life we embrace, we are encouraged by God to live the life that Jesus live that is to be chaste, be charitable and be obedient to God.

Truly, I personally felt afraid of the challenges that await me. It is not easy to be an example to someone who is already blinded by the world. It is not easy to be an example to someone who is sunk from the abyss of this world. Not only that, because many consecrated person failed to live faithfully their vows, they have biases already about priest and nuns. Others have put them (consecrated person) into the box labeled with ‘You are also the same with them and soon you too will leave.’ But as I try to get closer with Him while carrying all these worries, I remember the phrase of the song entitled, You Are Mine “Do not be afraid I am with you.” I regain back my confidence and said those are given challenges already that cannot stumble the person who ‘watch and pray.’ As long as I will not lost contact with my God like a child holding the hands of his/her father, putting all his/her trust and entrusting his/her life to the father, I will never be lost along the way.

We need to relive the consecrated life to make God’s presence felt in each one of us in this world. This means to give witness to the life of Jesus even if it costs our life.