The Consecrated Life and Its Role in the Church and in the World : Instrumentum Laboris / Synod of Bishops.

includes index and biblioraphy

THE CONSECRATED LIFE AND ITS ROLE IN THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD Listening to the Spirit........................... 3 The present hour in the Church and the world ........................... 4 An encouraging response ................................... 5 Additional intensive study.................... 5 The consecrated life: a broad ecclesial vision............................ 6 Meaning and limits of terminology............................................ 7 Plan of the Instrumentwn laboris................................ 8 THE CONSECRATED LIFE TODAY A PRESENCE IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE WORLD Like the leaven of the gospel...................................................... 10 Common witness to spiritual values........................................... 10 Presence of the Gospel in the world........................................... 11 A great tree with many branches................................... 12 Complementarity and the exchange of gifts............................... 13 Traditional and new forms ........................................ 14 THE CONSECRATED LIFE IN CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE PRESENT DAY On the Church`s path.......................... 15 A serene look of faith ................ 16 Cultural and social changes.................................... 17 A challenging situation for the consecrated life......................... 28 A sign of contradiction and hope ...................... 28 In the world of communication and images ............................... 20 The vocation and dignity of women........................................... 20 Responses and challenges in a time of change........................... 21 Fruits of renewal.................................... 22 Seeds of hope.................................. 23 New forms of community life ......................................... 24 Difficulties of the present moment............................................. 26 A testing of the consecrated life................................. 27 DIVERSE SITUATIONS ACCORDING TO VARIOUS GEO¿GRAPHICAL AREAS A diversified situation........................................ 28 Countries of the northern hemisphere ........................................ 29 The nations of the southern hemisphere..................................... 30 SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME FORMS OF LIFE A key for interpretation........................................ 32 Institutes of contemplative life................................. 32 Lay religious of contemplative life .................................. 33 Secular institutes .............................................. 34 Consecrated virgins and widows................................................ 35 Hermits (men and women)........................................... 37 Societies of apostolic life ............................ 37 New communities and revitalized forms of evangelical life ........................... 38 Towards new forms of consecrated life?.................................... 39 RENEWED THEOLOGY In the light of Vatican II............... 40 A renewed theological vision............................. 40 THE CONSECRATED LIFE IN THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST AND OF THE CHURCH I. IN THE MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST The sacramental and charismatic dimension of the Church....... 42 The charism of the consecrated life in the Church..................... 43 The Gospel as root and norm ............................... 44 A Gospel manifested in time................................. 45 An experience of the Spirit in the Church.................................. 46 Strive eagerly for the greatest of spiritual gifts" (Cor 12:31)............... 47 VOCATION, IMITATION, CONSECRATION divine call........................................... 48 Evangelical discipleship and communion with Christ............... 49