4,000 religious gather in Rome as Year of Consecrated Life concludes

February 02, 2016

Over 4,000 consecrated persons have gathered in Rome for a five-day gathering to mark the conclusion of the Year of Consecrated Life.

All forms of consecrated life—the Order of Virgins, monastic life, apostolic life, secular institutes, and new institutes—are represented at the event.

On January 28, the opening day of the gathering, the secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life led a prayer vigil and spoke about the Beatitudes and joy.

“The beatitudes are, here and now, the path to a full and joyful life,” said Archbishop José Rodríguez Carballo. “Joy is not a possibility but a responsibility for the consecrated person. If we believe that God can fill our hearts and make us happy; if we believe that the brothers and sisters God has given us are gifts from him … then we cannot but share with the world the gift of our joy in Christ.”

 

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Further information:

• Vita consacrata in comunione: Incontro internazionale (Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life)
• Vita Consacrata: Chiamati Ad Essere Felici (Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life)
• Year of Consecrated Life nears end with prayer vigil, symposium (Vatican Radio)