Living “in obedience, with nothing of one's own and in
chastity,” consecrated persons profess that Jesus is the model in whom every
virtue comes to perfection. His way of living in chastity, poverty and
obedience appears as the most radical way of living the Gospel on this earth, a
way which may be called divine, for it was embraced by him, God and man, as the
expression of his relationship as the Only-Begotten Son with the Father and
with the Holy Spirit. This is why Christian tradition has always spoken of the
objective superiority of the consecrated life. Nor can it be denied that the
practice of the evangelical counsels is also a particularly profound and
fruitful way of sharing in Christ's mission, in imitation of the example of
Mary of Nazareth, the first disciple, who willingly put herself at the service
of God's plan by the total gift of self. Every mission begins with the attitude
expressed by Mary at the Annunciation: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord;
let it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38).
-Saint John Paul II, Vita Consecrata
During
this Year of Consecrated Life, let us pray for all of those men and women living the evangelical counsels, that they might continue to share in the “Yes” of Mary that we
celebrate today.
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