by Fr Ivo Coelho, SDB
Councillor General for Formation of the Salesians
In the context of the feast of the Presentation of our Lord, the pope invited the consecrated persons to promote the culture of encounter (cultura dell’incontro), to be custodians of wonder (custodi di stupore come Maria e Giuseppe), and a Eucharistic people of gratitude.
The most marvellous thing about the concluding meeting, from 28 January to 2 February, with the title “Consecrated Life in Unity,” was the wonderful atmosphere and the joy – something that marked also the Seminar for Formators to Consecrated Life in April 2015 and the Gathering of Young Consecrated Persons in September 2015. Cardinal Joao Braz de Avis and Archbishop Carballo have done a marvellous job, with their warmth and their constant presence among the participants. They were cercania – a word dear to the pope, meaning “closeness” – in action.
“I am impressed with the titles of the three “circular letters” released by the CIVCSA: Rejoice! (Rallegatevi!), Keep Watch! (Scrutate!) and Contemplate (Contemplate). The first rings the note of joy, and I find this a wonderful approach to consecrated life: very little was spoken directly about the vows, but much was said about the quality of life of people who live already now the final Resurrection. “Wherever there are consecrated people, there is joy!” (Pope Francis)
I can’t help thinking of Nietzsche: “All joy wills eternity, deep, deep eternity.” The last brings in a theme that we do not usually think about when we talk about consecrated life: beauty. But God is Beauty, as our metaphysics has always proclaimed, and this letter firmly reaffirms the Song of Songs as the book of consecrated life, even for us apostolic religious. And the second brings in the note of vigilance, a note that is always on the lips of Jesus as he moves towards his end: consecrated persons who watch and wait for God on the crossroads of the world.
The Year has been a gift and a blessing, opening up fresh new perspectives and placing consecrated life once again firmly in the bosom of the church and the world, with the call to be Good News (Evangelium), prophecy (Prophetia) and hope (Spes).
