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3. Brothers Print E-mail
Written by Consolata.org   
Tuesday, 07 February 2006
59. Enucleation of the orientation

The Founder willed that our Institute be formed of “priests” and “lay brothers” consecrated for the sake of mission ad gentes, living together in a spirit of family.

1. The brother patterns his life after the example of Jesus, who was considered son of Joseph, the carpenter, and who went about preaching the kingdom and curing illnesses with mercy and compassion.

2. He lives like Mary who prayed, meditated and kept all things in her heart. Like Mary, the brother makes himself available for service of others.

3. “The brothers are indispensable in the missions. ... In working with the local people, it is much easier for them to bear witness to the beauty and holiness of our religion, especially by exercising piety, charity and the other Christian virtues” (SL, 23).

4. The brother announces Christ by the testimony of his life and participation in the pastoral activities.

5. He carries out his service as an apostle among the neediest, to whom he brings consolation.

6. The Founder stressed the vocation of the brothers in relationship with the task of human promotion, which is a necessary component of our missionary work.

7. Blessed Allamano taught the brothers the beauty and importance of living together with the priests and being able to help them not only by their works, but also by their moral support, friendship and encouragement.

60. Aspects which motivate the orientation

1. The lay status of the brother, consecrated to God through religious profession, makes the witness and efficacy of his missionary service more acceptable and specific.

2. The presence of the brother highlights the complementarity of the services in mission. In this way, the equality and dignity of priests and brothers, who share the same charism and consecration to mission, is made more evident.

3. With his example of workmanship, the brother manifests openly that any kind of work is always referred to God.

4. The decreasing number of brothers and their high median age make it impossible to have priests and brothers in all the communities of AMV.

61. Practical proposals

1. Within the General Government and its offices, there should be someone as a point of reference, whether it be a brother or priest, who shows special interest in the vocation of the brother, and who proposes ways of deepening the specific formation for the brothers, orienting and encouraging through AMV a complete and up-to-date presentation of the brother as one consecrated for the mission of the Institute.

2. In AMV the brother should be presented as a very meaningful vocation for mission, and possibly a brother himself should be part of the team.

3. Special programs of ongoing formation should be prepared for the brothers, highlighting their identity as consecrated lay persons.

4. The Chapter confirms the project for the formation of brothers approved by the XGC. Should the religious formation before the novitiate not be sufficient, an extra year of formation should be made available specifically for this purpose.