Holy Father Pope Francis celebrated the liturgy in St Peter’s Basilica with thousands of religious and members of Societies of Apostolic life. The Church celebrated the World Day of Consecrated Life following the reflection of His Holiness Pope Francis who said, “A vocation is a gift we have received from the Lord, who fixed his gaze on us and called us, calling us to follow him in the consecrated life.”
His Eminence Cardinal Joᾶo Braz de Aviz, Prefect for the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, remarked that “The present human history is in need of a vocational meaning in life. We need to have a project, a source of an existential meaning, full of joy and hope. As consecrated persons through our Baptism, and being part of God’s life and that of his Family, the Church, we are heirs of the vocational and charismatic legacy of the Church, and we are happy and duty bound to safeguard and promote it.”
The International Union of Superior General in Rome has characterized the day as “a festive occasion, as well as one of commitment to pray to the Lord for the gift of new vocations, who will renew the face of the Church and the world, by announcing the joy of the Gospel and the love of God which gives meaning to our existence.
