Editorial

A clarion call to Consecrated Men and Women

Opinion | Editorial | John S. Shilshi | 06-Feb-2024

Since 1997, the Catholic Church has commemorated World Day for Consecrated Life on every 2^nd of February, an observation instituted by Saint Paul John II. On this day, the Church prays and encourages the world’s religious men and women to always be open to being moved by the Spirit and to live life in conformity with the Gospel. This year marks the 28^th occasion, and the theme chosen is "Pilgrims of Hope on the Path of Peace." How apt indeed! When the world is perhaps in its darkest chapter of human history, a period when war, violence, hatred, and rampant violations of human rights are all around us, there couldn’t have been a better theme chosen than this.

Speaking on the occasion, Holy Father Pope Francis called upon every consecrated man and woman—priests and nuns—to be “vigilant in spirit and persevering in prayer, in conformity with the Gospel, and embrace Jesus, the light and hope of life." A powerful message and a clarion call by him. Pope Francis also expressed concern about today’s Christians, who, he said, have perhaps become too absorbed in themselves and in the business of everyday life, therefore failing to recognize the continuous presence of God. He warned against the possibility of letting “our spirit doze off," “the heart falling off to sleep, to anesthetize the soul, to lock hope away in the dark corners of disappointment and resignation.” He urged every Christian, particularly consecrated sisters and brothers, to ask themselves whether the “intense rhythm of life may have led them to forget the importance of God."

He then identified two obstacles that hinder the ability to be in constant communion with God. The first, he said, was the habit of neglecting the inner life, where “weariness replaces amazement and where bitterness overshadows kindness and gratitude." The second, according to Pope Francis, is adapting to a worldly lifestyle characterized by speed, activism, and the pursuit of immediate gratification. These, he says, are “loss graces," and to recover them, a return to the intense interior life, recognizing the spirit of joyful humility and the silent power of gratitude, and being awake to a sense of longing for God were necessary.

Today we live in a world full of turmoil. We see how wars have ravaged human civilisations, how mindless use of weapons of mass destruction has afflicted indescribable misery to mankind, damaging homes, causing deaths, injuries and sufferings. Even in countries not in physical war with one another, citizens go through a different kind of hardship no less than those directly inflicted by the physical violence. Here, the majoritarian bully is rampant, particularly against the less privileged and the minorities. ‘Peace’ therefore, becomes the immediate victim of the majoritarian aggrandizement. Can consecrated men and women of the Church stand up and be true ‘Pilgrims of Hope on the path of peace’ in times like this? We should have no reason to doubt.

The Church proudly bears histories of consecrated men and women standing up against adversities on umpteen occasions since ancient times. Its chronicles are replete with stories of men and women who refuse to be drawn away from doing what they thought was the call of God, speaking nothing but the truth, and doing what they thought was right no matter what their surroundings were. Therefore, this clarion call to be a giver of hope on the path of peace by the Church is, after all, not unrealistic even in times like this. As people of God, we see no reason why our priests and nuns cannot be agents of peace through their words and deeds. They are worthy of rewriting the stories their predecessors once wrote, thereby inspiring the faithful to be fearless in speaking out the truth and doing what is just and right.  

Talking about the courage to speak the truth when needed brings us back to a recent controversy that followed the Christmas invitation to Christian leaders by Prime Minister Modi. Most people resented and questioned why Christian leaders accepted the invitation. But we feel that the question should have been ‘why they didn’t speak’ and ‘why they accepted’ the invite. It must not be forgotten that we are Indians first, and then Christians. Therefore, it would have been a disrespect shown to the Prime Minister of the country and not to Mr Modi. On the other hand, taking advantage of the bonhomie effort, the truth could have been told. The Hon’ble Prime Minister could have been very politely told that through his gracious initiative to remain closer to Christian leaders, elements in the habit of targeting Christians would hopefully learn lessons. One hopes that speaking boldly by the consecrated people of the Church in fulfilment of this year’s theme for World Day for Consecrated Life would inspire, and all men of God would be courageous to speak up for peace.

 

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