World Day for Consecrated Life

The 15th celebration of the annual World Day for Consecrated Life is being celebrated in parishes in the United States this weekend (5-6 February).  World Day for Consecrated Life, traditionally observed on 2 February, marks an opportunity to highlight the ordinary and extraordinary contributions of consecrated men and women in this country and to pray for vocations to the consecrated life.

“We thank God for the service of many consecrated men and women who work in parishes, schools, universities, chanceries, hospitals, centers of social service, counseling and spiritual direction.  So often, these men and women transform human need through their prayerful witness of the love of Christ by educating the unlearned, healing the sick, comforting the sorrowful, befriending the lonely,” said Archbishop Robert Carlson, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations, in a recent statement.  “Their zeal and joy for doing God’s will manifests the life and holiness of the Church.”

On 2 February the Church celebrated the mystery of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.  After receiving the Lord, Simeon declared Christ to be the “light to the nations.”  The Church believes this day is significant for consecrated persons because by their evangelical witness they become, like Christ, lights of God’s love in the darkness of the world.