Our Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity November Vocation Discernment Retreat focused on St. Francis' Rule of Life drawing wisdom from Luke 9:3 (Jesus told them: 'Take nothing for the journey--no staff, no bag, no bread. no money, no extra tunic.)
Reflection on this theme included emphasis on the gift of faith and the importance of baptismal consecration.
Consecration means to set oneself aside for service to God. In truth, all consecration is by God and to God. God is the one who inspires us to totally give ourselves to Him and all consecration is ultimately to God alone. God, however, does not do anything in us or to us without our consent, our free will.
Therefore it is necessary that we choose to give ourselves to God and that we ask to be consecrated. The ultimate and most important consecration is Baptism whereby we are set apart for God, by God. All other consecrations should help us to grow in our baptismal consecration. At our Baptism we promised to turn away from sin and live the Gospel life. -Fr. Patrick Greenough, OFM Conv
John Paul II's May 22, 1988 Letter to All Consecrated Persons also was referenced:
Paul's words, especially in the Letter to the Romans, show that all of this newness of life, which is first shared with us through Baptism, includes the beginning of all the vocations which during the course of a Christian's life will call for a choice and a conscious decision in the Church. Indeed, every vocation of a baptized person reflects some aspect of that consecration in the truth which Christ accomplished by his Death and Resurrection and made part of his Paschal Mystery: "For their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth"(Jn 17:19).
What conscious decision have you made which shows your commitment to being consecrated to God in the Church?
Reflection on this theme included emphasis on the gift of faith and the importance of baptismal consecration.
Therefore it is necessary that we choose to give ourselves to God and that we ask to be consecrated. The ultimate and most important consecration is Baptism whereby we are set apart for God, by God. All other consecrations should help us to grow in our baptismal consecration. At our Baptism we promised to turn away from sin and live the Gospel life. -Fr. Patrick Greenough, OFM Conv
John Paul II's May 22, 1988 Letter to All Consecrated Persons also was referenced:
Paul's words, especially in the Letter to the Romans, show that all of this newness of life, which is first shared with us through Baptism, includes the beginning of all the vocations which during the course of a Christian's life will call for a choice and a conscious decision in the Church. Indeed, every vocation of a baptized person reflects some aspect of that consecration in the truth which Christ accomplished by his Death and Resurrection and made part of his Paschal Mystery: "For their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth"(Jn 17:19).
What conscious decision have you made which shows your commitment to being consecrated to God in the Church?
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