This weekend, the Church celebrates the World Day for Consecrated Life. Here at Corpus Christi-St. Bernard, we have been blessed over the years to have many staff and parishioners who live lives of consecration. Currently on staff, we have two women, Sr. Irene and Sr. Suzanne, who exemplify what it means to live a life of consecration. On the day of their final vows, Sr. Irene and Sr. Suzanne both took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and dedicated their lives to the service of Mother Church. These three vows that they took are visible signs that they have been consecrated, "set apart", in the sight of the Church.

If we translate consecrated literally, it means someone or something "associated with the sacred." This is why Pope Francis dedicated Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary because he sought to set Russia and Ukraine apart and associate them once again with the sacred.

When men and women respond to their vocational call by God to serve His Church as priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, and as consecrated virgins, they are set apart from the rest of the faithful to unite themselves closely to Christ.

Let us continue to pray for the men and women who live consecrated lives in service of God and His Church. May more men and women be open to their vocational call in all areas of life, but particularly those called to Consecrated Life.

“We give thanks to God today for continuing to call men and women to serve him as consecrated persons in the Church. May each of us be inspired by their example to love God above all things and serve him in all that we do.”

This week in our prayer let us keep in mind all those who have experienced a call to Consecrated Life. May they remain close to the Lord and His Mother, and may they be given the strength and grace to respond to that call.

Totus Tuus!

Corpus Christi-St. Bernard's Communications Team