Men and women religious
strive for oneness with Christ. Jesus’ prayer: “Lord, may they be one as you
and I are one,” is a passion for all religious. Growing aware of and fostering
that union is essential in living out one’s vocation as a “Spouse of
Christ.” Every Christian is called to
realize his/her oneness with the Lord. As a Bride of Christ, men and women religious
devote their lives to becoming acutely aware of the union that exists between
him/herself and God. The Church is the Bride of Christ. Union between Bride and
Bridegroom is what any marriage is all about.
This is not less true for the Church and, certainly, no less true of
those who dedicate themselves to the Lord by a special consecration, who give
themselves totally to the Lord as women/men religious. Consecrated life,
therefore, is a “reality which affects the whole church,….In effect,…is at the
heart of the church as a decisive element for her mission, since it ‘manifests
the inner nature of the Christian calling’ and the striving of the whole church
as bride toward union with her one Spouse” (Vita
Consecrata, #3).
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