Vita consecrata EN

John Paul II Post-synodal Apostolic exhortation on the consecrated life and its mission in the Church and in the world March 25, 1996 Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_25031996_vita-consecrata_en.html

Headings

POST-SYNODAL APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION VITA CONSECRATA OF THE HOLY FATHER JOHN PAUL II TO THE BISHOPS AND CLERGY RELIGIOUS ORDERS AND CONGREGATIONS SOCIETIES OF APOSTOLIC LIFE SECULAR INSTITUTES AND ALL THE FAITHFUL ON THE CONSECRATED LIFE AND ITS MISSION IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE WORLD 1 INTRODUCTION 2 Thanksgiving for the consecrated life 3 The consecrated life: a gift to the Church 4 Gathering the fruits of the Synod 5 The work of the Spirit in the various forms of the consecrated life 6 Monastic life in the East and the West 7 The Order of Virgins; hermits and widows 8 Institutes completely devoted to contemplation 9 Apostolic religious life 10 Secular Institutes 11 Societies of Apostolic Life 12 New expressions of consecrated life 13 Purpose of the Apostolic Exhortation CHAPTER I CONFESSIO TRINITATIS THE ORIGINS OF THE CONSECRATED LIFE IN THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST AND OF THE TRINITY 14 Icon of the Transfigured Christ 15 "And he was transfigured before them ..." 16 "This is my beloved Son": listen to him! I. IN PRAISE OF THE TRINITY 17 "A Patre ad Patrem": God's initiative 18 "Per Filium": in the footsteps of the Son 19 "In Spiritu": consecrated by the Holy Spirit 20 The evangelical counsels, gift of the Trinity 21 Reflection of Trinitarian life in the evangelical counsels 22 Consecrated like Christ for the Kingdom of God II. BETWEEN EASTER AND FULFILMENT 23 From Tabor to Calvary 24 The Paschal dimension of the consecrated life 25 Witnesses to Christ in the world 26 Eschatological dimension of the consecrated life 27 Active expectation: commitment and watchfulness 28 The Virgin Mary, model of consecration and discipleship III. IN THE CHURCH AND FOR THE CHURCH 29 "It is well that we are here": the consecrated life in the mystery of the Church 30 New and special consecration 31 Relationships between the different states of Christian life 32 The special value of the consecrated life 33 Bearing witness to the Gospel of the Beatitudes 34 The living image of the Church as Bride IV. GUIDED BY THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS 35 A "transfigured" life: the call to holiness 36 Faithfulness to the charism 37 Creative fidelity 38 Prayer and asceticism: spiritual combat 39 Fostering holiness 40 "Rise, and have no fear": a renewed trust CHAPTER II SIGNUM FRATERNITATIS CONSECRATED LIFE AS A SIGN OF COMMUNION IN THE CHURCH I. PERMANENT VALUES 41 In the image of the Trinity 42 Fraternal life in love 43 The task of authority 44 The role of the elderly 45 In the image of the apostolic community 46 "Sentire cum Ecclesia" 47 Fraternity in the universal Church 48 The consecrated life and the particular Church 49 Fruitful and ordered ecclesial communion 50 A constant dialogue animated by charity 51 Fraternity in a divided and unjust world 52 Communion among different Institutes 53 Coordinating bodies 54 Communion and cooperation with the laity 55 For a renewed spiritual and apostolic dynamism 56 Associates and lay volunteers 57 The dignity and role of consecrated women 58 New possibilities of presence and action II. CONTINUITY IN THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT: FAITHFULNESS IN THE COURSE OF CHANGE 59 Cloistered nuns 60 Religious brothers 61 Mixed Institutes 62 New forms of the evangelical life III. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE 63 Difficulties and future prospects 64 Fresh efforts in the promotion of vocations 65 Commitment to initial formation 66 The work of those responsible for formation 67 Formation in community and for the apostolate 68 The need for a complete and updated "ratio" 69 Continuing formation 70 In a constant search for faithfulness 71 Dimensions of continuing formation CHAPTER III SERVITIUM CARITATIS CONSECRATED LIFE: MANIFESTATION OF GOD'S LOVE IN THE WORLD 72 Consecrated for mission 73 At the service of God and humanity 74 Ecclesial cooperation and apostolic spirituality I. LOVE TO THE END 75 Loving with the heart of Christ 76 The specific contribution of the consecrated life to evangelization 77 The first evangelization: proclaiming Christ to the nations 78 Present in every part of the world 79 The proclamation of Christ and inculturation 80 The inculturation of the consecrated life 81 The new evangelization 82 Preference for the poor and the promotion of justice 83 Care of the sick II. A PROPHETIC WITNESS IN THE FACE OF GREAT CHALLENGES 84 The prophetic character of the consecrated life 85 Significance for the contemporary world 86 Faithfulness to the point of martyrdom 87 The major challenges facing the consecrated life 88 The challenge of consecrated chastity 89 The challenge of poverty 90 Evangelical poverty at the service of the poor 91 The challenge of freedom in obedience 92 Carrying out together the Father's will 93 A decisive commitment to the spiritual life 94 Listening to the word of God 95 In communion with Christ III. SOME NEW FIELDS OF MISSION 96 Presence in the world of education 97 Need for a renewed commitment in the field of education 98 Evangelizing culture 99 Presence in the field of social communications IV. ENGAGED IN DIALOGUE WITH EVERYONE 100 At the service of Christian unity 101 Forms of ecumenical dialogue 102 Interreligious dialogue 103 Spirituality as a response to the search for the sacred and the desire for God CONCLUSION 104 Unbounded generosity 105 The consecrated life in the service of the Kingdom of God 106 To young people 107 To families 108 To men and women of good will 109 To consecrated persons 110 Looking to the future 111 Prayer to the Holy Trinity 112 Invocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary