With a solemn Mass celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica on the first Sunday of Advent 2014, the Year of Consecrated Life began in the Vatican and in the Catholic Church, lasting until February 2, 2016. It was presided over by the Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, who read a message from Pope Francis:
I renew to you gathered here the urgent call I made a year ago to the general superiors: wake up the world, enlighten it with your prophetic and counter-current witness! How can you realize this not only in the special year dedicated to you but always? Allow me to point out three programmatic words.
Being joyful! Show everyone that following Christ and putting His Gospel into practice fills your hearts with happiness. Infect with joy those who come close to you, and thus everyone who asks about its reasons, everyone who feels the desire to live with you the wonderful and exciting evangelical adventure.
Being courageous! Those who feel loved by the Lord can fully trust Him. This is exactly what your founders and foundresses did, opening new paths in the service of the Kingdom of God. Strengthened by the Holy Spirit accompanying you, go out into the world and show the power of the Gospel, which, when put into practice, works wonders even in today's times and can provide answers to all human questions.
Being women and men of communion! Well-rooted in personal communion with God, whom you have chosen as the porro unum (cf. Lk 10:42) of your existence, be tireless builders of fraternity, realizing the law of mutual love first among yourselves and then among others, especially the poorest. Show that universal brotherhood is not a utopia but the desire of Jesus Himself for all humanity...
