World Day for Consecrated Life

“CELEBRATING THE EVER ANCIENT – EVER NEW”
I’ve just watched a short video clip, sent to me by a friend, of a TV interview with two young nuns who are members of the community of Poor Clares in Arundel, England. The interview was as a result of their “chart-hitting” recording, “Light for the World”, music from their enclosed convent. Their singing has touched thousands of people across the globe and especially so in these days of pandemic struggle. Who would have thought that such an impact could be made from this hidden life of a small community of contemplative women in a secluded place? Clearly, the two TV interviewers on a popular morning show were surprised and deeply moved. They were touched by the sisters’ profound joy that they had been invited into this musical initiative. It was for them a means to reach out to a world in need of great light at this time. The interviewers were impressed by the sisters’ expression of having made a life choice “of freedom to love”; to share God’s love beyond their physical walls but from an all-embracing and open heart in tune with the pulse of the world. The Sister’s commitment to consecrated life enabled them to do this.

The consecrated life, whatever its form, cloistered or ministerial, is celebrated on the World Day for Consecrated Life held on January 2 each year (observed in parishes on the following Sunday) since its inception by Pope John Paul 11 in 1997. The celebration is held on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord also known as Candlemas Day; a day on which candles are blessed symbolizing the Light of Christ.

All Christians and indeed everyone, whatever our call in life are to be light in our world. We were poignantly reminded of this during the recent U.S. Presidential Inauguration by a young poet, Amanda Gorman in her stunning poem, “The Hill we Climb” which ends with the following words: “There is always light if only we are brave enough to see it. If only we are brave enough to be it.” This call is universal but those who are called to consecrated/religious life express it through particular vows made to God, within the Church, and for the light and life of the world. God continues to call women and men today to this way of life through the vows of poverty, celibate chastity, and obedience. These are vows of total self-giving to God who first gives love to us. They are vows for service to the other, all others, human, and in all of creation. Understood in more contemporary expressions these vows call women and men who commit to them for life as Sisters, Brothers, Priests to the simplicity of lifestyle, a spirituality of “enoughness” in the world as it is today, to a freedom to love inclusively and to a life of “listening”, of discerning God’s evolving Design for an ever new day. It is a radical, counter-cultural lifestyle that stands as witness to hope in today’s broken world and church. A central characteristic of consecrated life is its “ever ancient, ever new” nature. Rooted in the unchanging richness of contemplation, Gospel living and service it is also ever-evolving in response to the joys and sufferings of the world in which it is deeply immersed.

This was depicted clearly in the video clip mentioned above in which Sisters living a life of contemplation in a religious order, almost unchanged from its inception in 1212 embraced very modern means of communication to share the gifts of their daily prayer with a world of darkness and struggle now. And… how much that has meant to the lives of so many! Similarly, religious men and women who belong to communities that are ministerial, working in the world, constantly discern new ways of service. As the world “turns” a new day, so do they! From their traditional services in schools, hospitals, and parishes, we now find them in new ministries also including environmental work, justice initiatives, standing with the poor, vulnerable and disenfranchised, finding ever new ways to be the Light of Christ expressed in a contemporary form.

It is this life that is celebrated and affirmed on the World Day for Consecrated Life. For those of us who are members of communities of consecrated life, we give thanks for the joy and privilege of this vocation, God’s gift, and on this day too we ask the prayers of all peoples for fidelity, integrity, and complete love in our life. We commit anew!

As Pope Francis reminded us in his 2019 celebration of the World Day for Consecrated Life: “This then is the consecrated life: praise which gives joy to God’s people, prophetic vision that reveals what counts. … It is a living encounter with the Lord in his people. It is a call to faithful obedience of daily life and to the unexpected surprises from the Spirit. It is a vision of what we need to embrace in order to experience joy.”

So, Let’s celebrate this life, and perhaps if a reader “out there” has felt a call, however, quietly to such life, let’s talk!

Sister Mary Rowell, CSJ, Vocation Coordinator, Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada

mrowell@csjcanada.org |Telephone: 905-372-2741

How to Join

Little Pieces of Light

The terrible chaos, the violence, the destruction of the insurrection in Washington draped a further layer of darkness over the darkness of the pandemic. Suddenly, everything became even darker, more desolate. It all seemed so surreal, nightmarish. What unfolded on Capitol Hill was like something we might see unfold in a movie but not in real life.

“One of the darkest days in the history of our nation” was how president-elect Joe Biden described these events of January 6. This darkness was far-reaching, and I reached for a small book on my bookshelf, Joyce Rupp’s Little Pieces of Light.  Amidst the devastating darkness, I longed for light, even if they were just little pieces of light to brighten my day and lighten my heart.  You might wonder why I did not turn to the One who said, “I am the light of the world.” I think I did and was led to pick up the little book.  As I flipped through the pages, the first couple of lines in the introduction caught my eye. I read what I did not want to hear! “We need light for our journey, but we also need darkness.” Darkness for transformation, it went on to tell me. Well, yes, I know that.  Did I want to be reminded?  Certainly not.  I was looking for words of comfort, consolation, encouragement.  I was searching for little pieces of light to penetrate the darkness to give me courage, to go on, even a glimmer, some sparse light would help to lift a corner of the darkness. Just enough light in that moment of darkness, so I might hear that small, still voice within whispering, “I am with you, always.”

If I felt overwhelmed by the darkness, safely ensconced in my lockdown space far away from the devastation in the Capitol Building in Washington, how would those women and men have been feeling while hiding from the stampede of the hordes ravaging the Capitol. I doubt many were praying, “In the shadow of your wings, I take refuge until the destruction passes.” (Ps 57) When we are afraid, wrapped in darkness it is hard to keep the spark of hope alive in the empty places of our hearts.  Yet if, though it be hard, we “keep still and wait like the night with starry vigil and its head bent low with patience … The morning will surely come, the darkness will vanish.”  (Rabindranath Tagore)

On Wednesday of this week, ‘morning’ did come, and it came early.  It came on Tuesday evening with a somber sundown ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial where the glow of 400 lights were illuminated along the edges of the Lincoln Reflecting Pool.  Between sundown and dusk, these lights shone in the darkness along the pool of reflection, foreshadowing even brighter light about to break through - and break through it did. 

““Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness” Desmond Tutu ”

"Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness" Desmond Tutu wrote years ago during those dark times in South Africa.  Joe Biden, inaugurated on Wednesday as the 46th President of the United States of America, also believes there can be light despite all the darkness of recent times. On the steps of the Capitol Building, where just two weeks earlier chaos and terror had reigned, a luminous event unfolded peacefully.  Calm descended upon the Capitol, the city, the State.  Far-reaching calm and peace spread out, as beautiful, reassuring words were spoken eloquently with conviction and dedication.  Soothing balm for many, these light-filled moments echoed throughout the day.  Little pieces of light were scattered everywhere throughout that momentous, memorable day.

This is what stood out for me: Joe Biden’s radiant face, his smile, and the infectious smile of Kamala Harris, his delightful Vice President.  Furthermore, there was the beautiful, luminous Amanda Gorman, the young poet laureate.  She most certainly was far more than a little piece of light. Poised and self-assured, she scattered glowing pieces of light as she eloquently shared her poem The Hill We Climb.  This enormously gifted young African American woman is the embodiment of Desmond Tutu’s words, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” In a country where such profound darkness has been experienced by so many and where the slogan, Black Lives Matter, has echoed throughout the land, there on the steps of the Capitol Building at this momentous occasion, this young woman’s light shone brightly for all to see. There is hope for the future, for, as Amanda put it, “There is always light.  If only we’re brave enough to SEE it, if only we’re brave enough to BE it.”

Did we not experience on this momentous, historical day, that “God cannot be limited by any human concept or prediction. [That] He is greater than our mind and heart and perfectly free to reveal himself where and when he wants”? (Henri Nouwen; You are the Beloved)

-Sister Magdalena Vogt, cps

Blue Community Update

How are the waters around you doing these days? Frozen? Flakey? Flowing?

Welcome to 2021 and another update from our CSJ Blue Community project. Below are some news and event items that align with our pledge to protect water as a human right, shared commons, and sacred gift.

EVENTS

January 22 - 29

The ReFrame Film Festival, online across Ontario

We are sponsoring the Water Stories – Shorts program – 7 films, full list here. https://watch.eventive.org/reframe2021/play/5ff7dc33cbd0000e5cf9e539

See the full lineup here – very affordable rates for viewing all these docs:

https://my.reframefilmfestival.ca/films

February 24 & 25

Sustainable Development goals in Peterborough

There is an online Community Forum on Feb 24 and 25. For those in the Peterborough area rsvp here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leaving-no-one-behind-advancing-the-sdgs-in-nogojiwanongpeterborough-registration-135378646175

ACTION

One Planet, One Right

Sign the petition to make it a UN-recognised human right to live on a healthy planet. It may seem overwhelming, but it’s true: to emerge from these crises, to ensure our future and that of the planet, we need to entirely transform humanity’s relationship with nature. This human right helps make that happen.

https://1planet1right.org/

READING

Water is Alive: A Conversation - On January 13, there was a conversation between several Indigenous water leaders and their reflections on ways to recognize water as a spirited being with agency. Highlights here: https://www.bluecommunitycsj.org/post/water-is-alive-a-conversation

First Nations communities pursue clean drinking water through the courts.

Court documents state that the lake has been contaminated by feces and toxic blue-green algae blooms have become common. Fishermen regularly catch fish “covered with grotesque lesions” and the community erected signs to deter swimming there. Following a flood in the spring of 2017, residents began falling sick with stomach and skin ailments after consuming the local water, prompting a boil-water advisory that remains in effect.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-first-nations-communities-pursue-clean-drinking-water-through-the/

Government of Canada launches consultations on new Canada Water Agency.

Water challenges such as droughts, floods, and deteriorating water quality are intensifying, due in large part to climate change. Canadians are seeing these costly impacts first-hand in their communities, across the country. That's why the Government of Canada is establishing the Canada Water Agency to find the best ways to keep our water safe, clean, and well managed. The Canada Water Agency will be established in close collaboration with provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples, and other partners.

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-launches-consultations-on-new-canada-water-agency-873493081.html

You can always check our Blue Community website for more information: https://www.bluecommunitycsj.org/