The Papal Address on World Day for the Consecrated Life

In the course of the centuries the proposal of the following of Christ without compromise, as it is presented to us in the Gospel, has therefore constituted the ultimate and supreme rule for religious life (cf. Perfectae Caritatis, n. 2). In his Rule St Benedict refers to Scripture as the “most exact rule of human life” (n. 73: 2-5). St Dominic, whose words and works proclaimed him a man of the Gospel at all times (cf. Libellus de Principiis Ordinis Praedicatorum, 104: in P. Lippini, San Domenico visto dai suoi contemporanei, Ed. Studio Dom., Bologna, 1982, 110) desired his brother preachers also to be “men of the Gospel” (First Constitutions or Consuetudines, 31). St Clare of Assisi imitated Francis’ experience to the full: “The form of life of the Order of the Poor Sisters”, she wrote, “is this: to observe the Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rule, I, 1-2; Franciscan Omnibus, n. 2750). St Vincent Pallotti said: “Since the life of Jesus Christ is the fundamental rule of our small Congregation… we must aim at what is most perfect always and in everything” (cf. Complete Works, II, 541-546; VIII, 63, 67, 253, 254, 466). And St Luigi Orione wrote: “Our first Rule and life is to observe the holy Gospel, in great humility and in loving sweetness and on fire with God” (Letters of Don Orione, Rome, 1969, Vol. II, 278).

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Posted in * Religion News & Commentary, Other Churches, Pope Benedict XVI, Roman Catholic

One comment on “The Papal Address on World Day for the Consecrated Life

  1. Words Matter says:

    The folks discussed in the post below would do well to read this.