In 1997, Pope Saint John Paul II instituted a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life. This celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd. This Feast is also known as Candlemas Day – the day on which candles are blessed symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world. So too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to all people. The World Day for Consecrated Life was celebrated in the Church on Thursday, February 2, 2017 and in parishes on the weekend of February 4-5, 2017.
Joseph Cardinal Tobin, of New Jersey and Chair of the USCCB’s Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations states, “Our Holy Father Francis has given the Church this special opportunity to pray for all those women and men in consecrated life who have given their lives in love to God. This prayer may prompt each of us to ask, ‘How is God calling me to give of myself this day, that I might know the deeper joy of service to God and others?'”
Please pray for all those who have made commitments in the consecrated life, especially our beloved Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. You might want to thank them on their special day by giving the Sisters a call or sending them an email. May they continue to be inspired by Jesus Christ and respond generously to God’s gift of their vocation.