‘Let your hearts be open with a holy joy as you contemplate your happiness and the excellence of your vocation.’ Particular Maxims 35/Nicolas Barré
In 1997, Pope John Paul 2 instituted a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life. This celebration falls on 2nd February – the feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple – the day candles are blessed symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world. We are called to reflect the light of Christ to all peoples.
Pope Francis invites us to be ‘bearers of light’ amid modern challenges. In his homily during vespers at St. Peter’s, as he addressed religious, he emphasized how evangelical poverty liberates them from worldly attachments, enabling them to become a ‘blessing for others’ by embracing simplicity, generosity, sharing solidarity.
Christ calls us to himself, to share in his life and unite ourselves with His mission. He invites us to follow him in the ways he chose in his Incarnation and to recognize Him today in the poor and the ‘little ones’ with whom he identified. ‘In so far as you did this to one of the least of these…you did it to Me’. (Matt. 25:40)
Let us be the LIGHT to all we meet!
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