The Consecrated Life

The priesthood is not the only way of following in the footsteps of Jesus. Over the centuries men and women have looked at the life of Jesus in the framework of his obedience to his Father, his poverty--total reliance upon the providence and goodness of the Father to take care of his material needs-- and his celibate, chaste lifestyle which enabled him to give his heart to ALL who came into his life. These qualities have been solidified as the three vows of obedience, poverty and chastity, which religious pronounce publicly and which set them apart in a state of life called the Consecrated Life, or more commonly known, the Religious Life. The focus of this state of life is Jesus. Religious put themselves under vow to imitate Jesus and by their lives make him present to the world. Some imitate Jesus at prayer, their whole day, their whole lives being devoted to silent adoration and contemplation (always with a mixture of work and study). We call them contemplatives. Others, while devoting a certain amount of the day to prayer, serve the Church through education or health care. Most religious also find support from living in community with the other members of their congregations. In unity there is strength. Common-unity makes the living of the vows and the daily work viable and visible. The impact of these non-ordained, set-apart men and women cannot be measured. This weekend I will be visiting a student I taught 45 years ago, and when I told a young aspirant to the Marist Brothers about the trip, he said, "I hope that my students will remember me 45 years later." Come to think of it, that is quite a testimony to the value of the brotherhood.
For the past 40 years sisters and brothers have experienced a steady decline in membership as it became evident that the work we do can be done and is being done very well by our lay colleagues. By returning to the heart of our call, the imitation of the three-pronged lifestyle of Jesus, we will again attract new members. Pray that we have the heart and courage to live our vows. Thank you.
Bro. Rene