Vigils Reading – Office for Vocations

AN UNDIVIDED

LOVE FOR CHRIST

From the documents of the Second Vatican Council

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From the beginning, the tradition of the Church presents us with this

privileged witness of a constant seeking for God, of an undivided love for Christ

alone, and of an absolute dedication to the growth of his kingdom. Without this

concrete sign there would be a danger that the charity which animates the entire

Church would grow cold, that the salvific paradox of the Gospel would be

blunted, and that the “salt” of faith would lose its savor in a world undergoing

secularization.

From the first centuries, the Holy Spirit has stirred up, side by side with

the heroic confession of the martyrs, the wonderful strength of disciples and

virgins, of hermits and anchorites. Religious life already existed in germ, and

progressively it felt the growing need of developing and of taking on different

forms of community or solitary life, in order to respond to the pressing

invitation of Christ: “There is no one who has left house, wife, brothers,

parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God who will not be given

repayment many times over in this present time, and in the world to come,

eternal life.“

Who would venture to hold that such a calling today no longer has the

same value and vigor? That the Church could do without these exceptional

witnesses of the transcendence of the love of Christ? Or that the world without

damage to itself could allow these lights to go out? They are lights which

announce the kingdom of God with a liberty which knows no obstacles and is

daily lived by thousands of sons and daughters of the Church.

Certainly many exterior elements, recommended by founders of orders or

religious congregations, are seen today to be outmoded. Various encumbrances

or rigid forms accumulated over the centuries need to be curtailed. Adaptations

must be made. New forms can even be sought and instituted with the approval

of the Church. For some years now the greater part of religious institutes have

been generously dedicating themselves to the attainment of this goal,

experimenting – sometimes too hardily – with new types of constitutions and

rules. We know well and we are following with attention this effort at renewal

which was desired by the Council.

We would like to encourage you to proceed with greater sureness and with

more joyful confidence along the way that you have chose. In the “pursuit of

perfect charity” which guides your existence, what attitude could you have

other than a total surrender to the Holy Spirit who, working in the Church, calls

you to the freedom of the children of God.