"When monks live the Gospel in a radical way," monasticism "can be, for the various forms of religious and consecrated life, a memory of what is essential and what has the primacy in every baptismal life: looking for Christ and place his love before everything." These words were spoken by the Pope receiving today in an audience the participants to the plenary session of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life celebrating its 100 years of activity and work. Addressing the Prefect, Cardinal Franc Rodé, and the members of the Congregation, Benedict XVI recalled the Apostolic Constitution "Sapienti Consilio" promulgated in 1908 by which Saint Pius X made the ministry "independent." To celebrate its centenary, the Congregation is promoting the congress "One Hundred Years at the Service of Consecrated Life" on November 22. After having recalled that "consecrated people represent a chosen part of the people of God," the Pope said monasticism, the theme of the plenary session, was "particularly dear" to him and wished from this plenary "useful indications could be drawn for all those, monks and nuns, who ‘are looking for God’ thus fulfilling their vocation for the goodness of all the Church." (continued)
