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1. Sanctity of Life PDF Print E-mail
Written by Consolata.org   
Tuesday, 07 February 2006
53. Enucleation of the orientation

Strongly confirming the intuition of the Founder “first saints, then missionaries”, the Chapter renews with profound conviction the option for holiness of life of each missionary and of the communities.

This holiness manifests itself in the awareness that we are consecrated ad gentes, ad vitam, ad extra and ad paupers for the sake of mission, with unity between spiritual life and apostolic action. This shapes the missionary into a holistic and authentic dispenser of the mysteries of salvation.

Religious community is the environment which gives life to the being of a missionary: he lives in community, prays and works, dialogues and researches with the confreres; He is sustained by it as he establishes bonds of fraternity.

It is of great help to the missionary to live a Trinitarian spirituality that is paschal and oriented to the kingdom of God. On journey, like the disciples of Emmaus, listening like Mary, in communion with the local churches, in mission like Paul, the missionary lives with enthusiasm his task of evangelization and human promotion, becoming consolation for the world.

With the perspective of faith he is able to read history in the light of the paschal mystery. He knows for sure that the world belongs to God, and that each human being, even the farthest, is close to the heart of the Risen Lord, who gave his life for all.

54.Aspects which motivate the orientation

In order to contribute to the placing Christ at the center of human life, to dominate our weaknesses (activism, individualism) and to oppose ideologies contrary to the gospel (relativism, consumerism, exploitation of the poor), we wish to:

1. regain the values of gratuity, humility and martyrdom,

2. live together in intercultural communities the prophecy of a new life, in order to develop fraternity among us and among the peoples.

55. Practical proposals

1. The General Chapter, open to the invitation of Novo Millennio Ineunte, invites the Institute, which has entered into its second centenary of life, to turn its attention to a serious study and deepening of the fundamental elements of our holiness during the next two years:

a) through regional activities for an in depth study of our spirituality,

b) through study aids provided by the General Government for the whole Institute,

c) through an appreciation of the initiatives of ongoing formation.

2. The Institute should program in the next six years, with the active participation of the missionaries, seminars and prolonged meetings which would help them read the personal, communitarian and social history in the light of the paschal mystery, and thus infuse them with new optimism, enthusiasm, faithfulness and joy for their vocation and the apostolate.

3. Each region should set aside a community or a suitable center where the confreres can go for times of prayer, spiritual direction, study and deepening of our spirituality in all its components and dynamism of life. Whenever it is possible, such a place could also be a point of reference for the production of study aids.

4. The local superior, as part of his service of animator and guide, should help the community and each missionary to be faithful to the duties and responsibilities approved in the PCL, and help to set up periodic moments of personal reflection and exchange of ideas, with special focus on the personal experience of God.

5. Our communities should value the following:

a) eucharistic adoration.
b) getting in touch with the word of God through lectio divina or other local forms and methods of reflection.
c) spiritual direction.
d) the practice of forgiveness and fraternal encouragement.
e) personal review of life.
f) useful means which favour a spirituality of communion.
g) the celebration of anniversaries, and other occasions of celebration, according to the tradition of the Institute.

6. Each missionary is strongly invited to prepare the Personal Plan of Life, which is a precious instrument to discern God’s will, to grow in all the dimensions of life (human, intellectual, professional, spiritual and communitarian), and to inject new dynamism into the apostolic life. Encouragement and help for this exercise should be sought from the Regional Superior and one’s spiritual director.