The pope asks consecrated virgins to help the poor, defend justice

 

Women who have discerned a call to consecrate their virginity to God in the service of the church must be living signs of God's love in the world, especially where too many people live in poverty or suffer from discrimination, said Pope Francis.

“Be a woman of mercy, an expert on humanity. Women who believe in the "revolutionary nature of love and tenderness," the pope said in a message to the approximately 5.000 women around the world who formally belong to the Order of Virgins.

Pope Francis' message, released by the Vatican on June 1, marked the 50th anniversary of the rebirth of Saint Paul VI of the "Ritual for the consecration of the virgins".

The women, who - unlike the members of the religious orders - are consecrated by a local bishop and make their own dispositions of life and decisions at work, had to meet in the Vatican to celebrate the anniversary. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of their meeting.

"Your virginal consecration helps the church to love the poor, to discern forms of material and spiritual poverty, to help weak and vulnerable people, people suffering from physical and mental diseases, young and old and all those who they are in danger of being marginalized or discarded, "the pope told women.

The coronavirus pandemic, he said, has shown the world how necessary it is to "eliminate inequalities, cure the injustice that is undermining the health of the entire human family."

For Christians, he said, it is important to be disturbed and worried about what is going on around them; “Don't close our eyes and don't run away from it. Be present and sensitive to pain and suffering. Persevere in proclaiming the Gospel, which promises fullness of life for all ”.

The consecration of women gives them "chaste freedom" in relating to others, being a sign of Christ's love for the church, which is "virgin and mother, sister and friend of all," said the pope.

"With your sweetness, weave a network of authentic relationships that can help make the neighborhoods of our cities less lonely and anonymous," he told them. “Be frank, capable of parrhesia (audacity), but avoid the temptation of chatter and gossip. Have the wisdom, resourcefulness and authority of charity in order to resist arrogance and prevent abuse of power. "