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43. The evangelical counsels of chastity dedicated to God, poverty
and obedience are based upon the words and examples of the Lord. They
were further commanded by the apostles and Fathers of the Church, as
well as by the doctors and pastors of souls. The counsels are a divine
gift, which the Church received from its Lord and which it always
safeguards with the help of His grace. Church authority has the
duty, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, of interpreting
these evangelical counsels, of regulating their practice and finally to
build on them stable forms of living. Thus it has come about, that,
as if on a tree which has grown in the field of the Lord, various
forms of solidarity and community life, as well as various religious
families have branched out in a marvelous and multiple way from this
divinely given seed. Such a multiple and miraculous growth augments
both the progress of the members of these various religious families
themselves and the welfare of the entire Body of Christ.[369]
These religious families give their members the support of a more firm
stability in their way of life and a proven doctrine of acquiring
perfection. They further offer their members the support of fraternal
association in the militia of Christ and of liberty strengthened by
obedience. Thus these religious are able to tranquilly fulfill and
faithfully observe their religious profession and so spiritually
rejoicing make progress on the road of charity.[370]
From the point of view of the divine and hierarchical structure of the
Church, the religious state of life is not an intermediate state
between the clerical and lay states. But, rather, the faithful of
Christ are called by God from both these states of life so that they
might enjoy this particular gift in the life of the Church and thus
each in one's own way, may be of some advantage to the salvific
mission of the Church.[371]
44. The faithful of Christ bind themselves to the three aforesaid
counsels either by vows, or by other sacred bonds, which are like vows
in their purpose. By such a bond, a person is totally dedicated to
God, loved beyond all things. In this way, that person is ordained
to the honor and service of God under a new and special title. Indeed
through Baptism a person dies to sin and is consecrated to God.
However, in order that he may be capable of deriving more abundant
fruit from this baptismal grace, he intends, by the profession of the
evangelical counsels in the Church, to free himself from those
obstacles, which might draw him away from the fervor of charity and the
perfection of divine worship. By his profession of the evangelical
counsels, then, he is more intimately consecrated to divine
service.[372] This consecration will be the more perfect, in as
much as the indissoluble bond of the union of Christ and His bride,
the Church, is represented by firm and more stable bonds.
The evangelical counsels which lead to charity [373] join their
followers to the Church and its mystery in a special way. Since this
is so, the spiritual life of these people should then be devoted to the
welfare of the whole Church. From this arises their duty of working
to implant and strengthen the Kingdom of Christ in souls and to extend
that Kingdom to every clime. This duty is to be undertaken to the
extent of their capacities and in keeping with the proper type of their
own vocation. This can be realized through prayer or active works of
the apostolate. It is for this reason that the Church preserves and
fosters the special character of her various religious institutes.
The profession of the evangelical counsels, then, appears as a sign
which can and ought to attract all the members of the Church to an
effective and prompt fulfillment of the duties of their Christian
vocation. The people of God have no lasting city here below, but
look forward to one that is to come. Since this is so, the religious
state, whose purpose is to free its members from earthly cares, more
fully manifests to all believers the presence of heavenly goods already
possessed here below. Furthermore, it not only witnesses to the fact
of a new and eternal life acquired by the redemption of Christ, but it
foretells the future resurrection and the glory of the heavenly
kingdom. Christ proposed to His disciples this form of life, which
He, as the Son of God, accepted in entering this world to do the
will of the Father. This same state of life is accurately exemplified
and perpetually made present in the Church. The religious state
clearly manifests that the Kingdom of God and its needs, in a very
special way, are raised above all earthly considerations. Finally it
clearly shows all men both the unsurpassed breadth of the strength of
Christ the King and the infinite power of the Holy Spirit
marvelously working in the Church.
Thus, the state which is constituted by the profession of the
evangelical counsels, though it is not the hierarchical structure of
the Church, nevertheless, undeniably belongs to its life and
holiness.
45. It is the duty of the ecclesiastical hierarchy to regulate the
practice of the evangelical counsels by law, since it is the duty of
the same hierarchy to care for the People of God and to lead them to
most fruitful pastures.[374] The importance of the profession of
the evangelical counsels is seen in the fact that it fosters the
perfection of love of God and love of neighbor in an outstanding manner
and that this profession is strengthened by vows.[375]
Furthermore, the hierarchy, following with docility the prompting of
the Holy Spirit, accepts the rules presented by outstanding men and
women and authentically approves these rules after further adjustments.
It also aids by its vigilant and safeguarding authority those
institutes variously established for the building up of Christ's Body
in order that these same institutes may grow and flourish according to
the spirit of the founders.
Any institute of perfection and its individual members may be removed
from the jurisdiction of the local Ordinaries by the Supreme Pontiff
and subjected to himself alone. This is done in virtue of his primacy
over the entire Church in order to more fully provide for the
necessities of the entire flock of the Lord and in consideration of the
common good.[376] In like manner, these institutes may be left or
committed to the charge of the proper patriarchical authority. The
members of these institutes, in fulfilling their obligation to the
Church due to their particular form of life, ought to show reverence
and obedience to bishops according to the sacred canons. The bishops
are owed this respect because of their pastoral authority in their own
churches and because of the need of unity and harmony in the
apostolate.[377].
The Church not only raises the religious profession to the dignity of
a canonical state by her approval, but even manifests that this
profession is a state consecrated to God by the liturgical setting of
that profession. The Church itself, by the authority given to it by
God, accepts the vows of the newly professed. It begs aid and grace
from God for them by its public prayer. It commends them to God,
imparts a spiritual blessing on them and accompanies their
self-offering by the Eucharistic sacrifice.
46. Religious should carefully keep before their minds the fact that
the Church presents Christ to believers and non-believers alike in a
striking manner daily through them. The Church thus portrays Christ
in contemplation on the mountain, in His proclamation of the kingdom
of God to the multitudes, in His healing of the sick and maimed, in
His work of converting sinners to a better life, in His solicitude
for youth and His goodness to all men, always obedient to the will of
the Father who sent Him.[378]
All men should take note that the profession of the evangelical
counsels, though entailing the renunciation of certain values which are
to be undoubtedly esteemed, does not detract from a genuine development
of the human persons, but rather by its very nature is most beneficial
to that development. Indeed the counsels, voluntarily undertaken
according to each one's personal vocation, contribute a great deal to
the purification of heart and spiritual liberty. They continually stir
up the fervor of charity. But especially they are able to more fully
mold the Christian man to that type of chaste and detached life, which
Christ the Lord chose for Himself and which His Mother also
embraced. This is clearly proven by the example of so many holy
founders. Let no one think that religious have become strangers to
their fellowmen or useless citizens of this earthly city by their
consecration. For even though it sometimes happens that religious do
not directly mingle with their contemporaries, yet in a more profound
sense these same religious are united with them in the heart of Christ
and spiritually cooperate with them. In this way the building up of
the earthly city may have its foundation in the Lord and may tend
toward Him, lest perhaps those who build this city shall have labored
in vain. [379]
Therefore, this Sacred Synod encourages and praises the men and
women, Brothers and Sisters, who in monasteries, or in schools and
hospitals, or in the missions, adorn the Bride of Christ by their
unswerving and humble faithfulness in their chosen consecration and
render generous services of all kinds to mankind.
47. Let each of the faithful called to the profession of the
evangelical counsels, therefore, carefully see to it that he persevere
and ever grow in that vocation God has given him. Let him do this for
the increased holiness of the Church, for the greater glory of the one
and undivided Trinity, which in and through Christ is the fount and
the source of all holiness.
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