FRANCIS APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION
FRANCI SAPOSTOLIC CONSTITUTIONVULTUM DEI QUAEREREON WOMEN’S CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE
1. Seeking the face of god has always been a part of our humanhistory. From the beginning, men and women have been calledto a dialogue of love with the Creator.1 Indeed, mankind is distinguished by an irrepressible religious dimension that leads humanhearts to feel the need – albeit not always consciously – to seekGod, the Absolute. This quest unites all men and women of goodwill. Even many who claim to be non-believers acknowledge thisheartfelt longing, present in all men and women who, drawn by apassionate desire for happiness and fulfilment, never remain fullysatisfied.Saint Augustine eloquently expressed this yearning in the Confessions: “You made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless untilthey find their rest in you”.2 This restlessness of heart is born ofthe profound intuition that it is God himself who takes the initiative; he seeks out men and women and mysteriously draws them tohimself.In seeking God, we quickly realize that no one is self-sufficient.Rather, we are called, in the light of faith, to move beyond self-centredness, drawn by God’s Holy Face and by the “sacred ground ofthe other”,3 to an ever more profound experience of communion.Through Baptism, every Christian and every consecrated person is called to undertake this pilgrimage of seeking the true God.By the working of the Holy Spirit, it becomes a sequela pressiusChristi – a path of ever greater configuration to Christ the Lord.Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium etSpes, 19.2I, 1, 1: PL 32, 661.3Cf. Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (24 November 2013), 169: AAS105 (2013), 1091.13
This path finds notable expression in religious consecration and, ina particular way, in the monastic life, which, from its origins, wasseen as a specific way of living out one’s baptism.2. Consecrated persons, by virtue of their consecration, “followthe Lord in a special way, in a prophetic way”.4 They are calledto recognize the signs of God’s presence in daily life and wisely todiscern the questions posed to us by God and the men and womenof our time. The great challenge faced by consecrated persons is topersevere in seeking God “with the eyes of faith in a world whichignores his presence”,5 and to continue to offer that world Christ’slife of chastity, poverty and obedience as a credible and trustworthysign, thus becoming “a living ‘exegesis’ of God’s word”.6From the origins of the life of special consecration in the Church,men and women called by God and in love with him have devotedtheir lives exclusively to seeking his face, longing to find and contemplate God in the heart of the world. The presence of communitiesset like cities on a hill or lamps on a stand (Mt 5:14-15), despite theirsimplicity of life, visibly represent the goal towards which the entireecclesial community journeys. For the Church “advances down thepaths of time with her eyes fixed on the future restor-ation of allthings in Christ,7 thus announcing in advance the glory of heaven”.83. Peter’s words, “Lord, it is good for us to be here!” (Mt 17: 4),have a special meaning for all consecrated persons. This is particuApostolic Letter to All Consecrated Persons for the Year of Consecrated Life(21 November 2014), II, 2: AAS 106 (2014), 941.5John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata (25 March1996), 68: AAS 88 (1996), 443.6Benedict XVI, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini (30 September 2010), 83: AAS 102 (2010), 754.7John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata (25 March1996), 59: AAS 88 (1996), 432.8Cf. Code of Canon Law, can. 573 § 1.44
larly the case for contemplatives. In profound communion withevery other vocation of the Christian life – all of which are “likeso many rays of the one light of Christ, whose radiance brightensthe countenance of the Church”9 – contemplatives “devote a greatpart of their day imitating the Mother of God, who diligently pondered the words and deeds of her Son (cf. Lk 2:19.51), and Mary ofBethany, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened attentively to hiswords (cf. Lk 10:38)”.10 Their lives, “hidden with Christ in God”(cf. Col 3:3), become an image of the unconditional love of the Lord,himself the first contemplative. They are so centred on Christthat they can say with the Apostle. “For to me, to live is Christ!”(Phil 1:21). In this way, they express the all-encompassing character at the heart of a vocation to the contemplative life.11Contemplatives, as men and women immersed in human history and drawn to the splendour of Christ, “the fairest of the sonsof men” (Ps 45:3), are set in the heart of the Church and the world.12In their unending search for God, they discover the principal signand criterion of the authenticity of their consecrated life. SaintBenedict, the father of Western monasticism, emphasized that amonk is one whose entire life is devoted to seeking God. He insisted that it be determined of one aspiring to the monastic life “sirevera Deum quaerit”, whether he truly seeks God.13In a particular way, down the centuries countless consecratedwomen have devoted, and continue to devote “the whole of theirIbid., 16: AAS 88 (1996), 389.Benedict XVI, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini (30 September 2010), 83: AAS 102 (2010), 754.11Cf. John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata(25 March 1996), 18: AAS 88 (1996), 391-392.12Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution LumenGentium, 44; John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata(25 March 1996), 3 and 29: AAS 88 (1996), 379, 402.13Rule 58, 7.9105
lives and all their activities to the contemplation of God”,14 as a signand prophecy of the Church, virgin, spouse and mother. Their livesare a living sign and witness of the fidelity with which God, amidthe events of history, continues to sustain his people.4. The monastic life, as an element of unity with the other Christian confessions,15 takes on a specific form that is prophecy and sign,one that “can and ought to attract all the members of the Church toan effective and prompt fulfilment of the duties of their Christianvocation”.16 Communities of prayer, especially contemplative communities, which “by virtue of their separation from the world are allthe more closely united to Christ, the heart of the world”,17 do notpropose a more perfect fulfilment of the Gospel. Rather, by livingout the demands of Baptism, they constitute an instance of discernment and a summons to the service of the whole Church. Indeed,they are a signpost pointing to a journey and quest, a reminder tothe entire People of God of the primary and ultimate meaning ofthe Christian life.18Esteem, praise and thanksgiving for consecrated lifeand cloistered contemplative life5. From the earliest centuries the Church has shown great esteemand sincere love for those men and women who, in docility to theFather’s call and the promptings of the Spirit, have chosen to followJohn Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata (25 March1996), 8: AAS 88 (1996), 382-383.15Id., Apostolic Letter Orientale Lumen (2 May 1995), 9: AAS 87 (1995), 754.16Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium,44, 1.17Benedict XVI, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini (30 September 2010), 83: AAS 102 (2010), 754.18Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree Perfectae Caritatis, 5.146
Christ “more closely”,19 dedicating themselves to him with an undivided heart (cf. 1 Cor 7:34). Moved by unconditional love for Christand all humanity, particularly the poor and the suffering, they arecalled to reproduce in a variety of forms – as consecrated virgins,widows, hermits, monks and religious – the earthly life of Jesus inchastity, poverty and obedience.20The contemplative monastic life, made up mainly of women,is rooted in the silence of the cloister; it produces a rich harvestof grace and mercy. Women’s contemplative life has always represented in the Church, and for the Church, her praying heart, astorehouse of grace and apostolic fruitfulness, and a visible witnessto the mystery and rich variety of holiness.21Originating in the individual experience of virgins consecratedto Christ, the natural fruit of a need to respond with love to thelove of Christ the Bridegroom, this life soon took form as a definitestate and an order recognized by the Church, which began to receive public professions of virginity. With the passage of time, mostconsecrated virgins united in forms of common life that the Churchwas concerned to protect and preserve with a suitable discipline.The cloister was meant to preserve the spirit and the strictly contemplative aim of these houses. The gradual interplay between theworking of the Spirit, present in the heart of believers and inspiring new forms of discipleship, and the maternal solicitude of theChurch, gave rise to the forms of contemplative and wholly contemplative life that we know today.22 In the West, the contemplativespirit found expression in a multiplicity of charisms, whereas in theIbid., 1.Cf. J ohn P aul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata(25 March 1996), 14: AAS 88 (1996), 387.21Cf. Second V atican E cumenical C ouncil, Dogmatic Constitution LumenGentium, 46; Decree Christus Dominus, 35; Decree Perfectae Caritatis, 7 and 9; Codeof Canon Law, can. 674.22Cf. Code of Canon Law, can. 667 § 2-3.19207
East it maintained great unity,23 but always as a testimony to therichness and beauty of a life devoted completely to God.Over the centuries, the experience of these sisters, centred onthe Lord as their first and only love (cf. Hos 2:21-25), has broughtforth abundant fruits of holiness and mission. How much has theapostolate been enriched by the prayers and sacrifices radiatingfrom monasteries! And how great is the joy and prophecy proclaimed to the world by the silence of the cloister!For the fruits of holiness and grace that the Lord has alwaysbestowed through women’s monastic life, let us sing to “the MostHigh, the Almighty and good Lord” the hymn of thanksgiving“Laudato si’!”246. Dear contemplative sisters, without you what would the Churchbe like, or without all those others living on the fringes of humanity and ministering in the outposts of evangelization? The Churchgreatly esteems your life of complete self-giving. The Church countson your prayers and on your self-sacrifice to bring today’s men andwomen to the good news of the Gospel. The Church needs you!It is not easy for the world, or at least that large part of it dominated by the mindset of power, wealth and consumerism, to understand your particular vocation and your hidden mission; and yet itneeds them immensely. The world needs you every bit as much as asailor on the high seas needs a beacon to guide him to a safe haven.Be beacons to those near to you and, above all, to those far away.Be torches to guide men and women along their journey throughthe dark night of time. Be sentinels of the morning (cf. Is 21:11-12),heralding the dawn (cf. Lk 1:78). By your transfigured life, and withsimple words pondered in silence, shows us the One who is the way,and the truth and the life (cf. Jn 14:6), the Lord who alone brings usCf. John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Orientale Lumen (2 May 1995), 9: AAS 87(1995), 754.24Francis of Assisi, Canticle of the Creatures, 1: FF 263.238
fulfilment and bestows life in abundance (cf. Jn 10:10). Cry out tous, as Andrew did to Simon: “We have found the Lord” (cf. Jn 1:40).Like Mary Magdalene on Easter morning, announce to us: “I haveseen the Lord!” (Jn 20:18). Cherish the prophetic value of your livesof self-sacrifice. Do not be afraid to live fully the joy of evangelicallife, in accordance with your charism.The Church’s accompaniment and guidance7. The magisterium of the Councils and the Popes has alwaysshown a particular concern for all forms of consecrated life throughthe promulgation of important documents. Among these, specialattention needs to be given to two great documents of the SecondVatican Council: the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church LumenGentium and the Decree on the Renewal of Religious Life PerfectaeCaritatis.The first of these sets the consecrated life within the ecclesiology of the People of God by virtue of the common call to holinessrooted in the consecration of Baptism.25 The second summons allconsecrated persons to a fitting renewal in accordance with thechanged conditions of the times. To guide such a renewal, the document proposes the following indispensable criteria: fidelity toChrist, to the Gospel, to one’s own charism, to the Church, and tothe men and women of our time.26Nor can we pass over the Post-Synodal Apostolic ExhortationVita Consecrata of my predecessor, Saint John Paul II. This document, which reaped the rich harvest of the Synod of Bishops onConsecrated Life, contains elements that remain important for thecontinued renewal of consecrated life and its clear witness to theGospel in our day (cf. especially Nos. 59 and 68).25Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium,26Cf. Decree Perfectae Caritatis, 2.44.9
We can also add the following documents as evidence of theconstant and helpful guidance provided to the contemplative life:–– The Directives of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (CICLSAL) PotissimumInstitutioni (2 February 1990), dealt extensively with the specificallycontemplative form of consecrated life (Chapter IV, 78-85).–– The Inter-Dicasterial Document Sviluppi (6 January 1992)dealt with the issue of diminishing vocations to the consecrated lifein general and, to a lesser extent, the contemplative life (No. 81).–– The Catechism of the Catholic Church, promulgated by theApostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum (11 October 1992), is veryhelpful for enabling the faithful to understand your form of life; thisis particularly the case with Nos. 915-933, which treats all its forms.No. 1672 deals with your non-sacramental consecration and withthe blessing of Abbots and Abbesses. Nos. 1974 and 2102 link theTen Commandments to the profession of the evangelical counsels.No. 2518 presents the close bond between the purity of heart spoken of in the Beatitudes as promising the vision of God, and love ofthe truths of the faith. Nos. 1691 and 2687 praise the perseveringintercession made to God by contemplative monasteries – uniqueplaces where personal prayer and prayer in community are harmoniously joined, while No. 2715 notes that the prerogative of contemplatives is to keep their gaze fixed on Jesus and the mysteries of hislife and ministry.–– The CICLSAL Instruction Congregavit Nos (2 February 1994)at Nos. 10 and 34 linked silence and solitude with the profounddemands of a community of fraternal life, and stressed that separation from the world is consistent with a daily atmosphere ofprayer.–– The CICLSAL Instruction Verbi Sponsa, Ecclesia (13 May1999) in Articles 1-8 offered an impressive historical-systematic synthesis of previous teachings of the magisterium on the10
eschatological and missionary significance of the cloistered life ofcontemplative nuns.–– Finally, the CICLSAL Instruction Starting Afresh from Christ(19 May 2002) urged all consecrated persons to contemplate unceasingly the face of Christ. It presents cloistered monks and nunsas the summit of the Church’s choral praise and silent prayer (No.25), and at the same time praises them for having always kept theLiturgy of the Hours and the Eucharistic celebration at the centreof their daily life (ibid.)8. Fifty years after the Second Vatican Council, after due consultation and careful discernment, I have considered it necessary tooffer the Church, with special reference to monasteries of the Latinrite, the present Apostolic Constitution. It takes into accoun
4 Apostolic Letterto All Consecrated Persons for the Year of Consecrated Life (21 November 2014), II, 2: AAS 106 (2014), 941. 5 John Paul ii, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata (25 March 1996), 68: AAS 88 (1996), 443. 6 Benedict XVi, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini (30 Sep-tember 2010), 83: AAS 102 (2010), 754.
3. Handwritten Manuscripts Compared to Four Written Constitutions 43 4. Monastic and Apostolic Influences on the Concept of Membership 52 5. Monastic and Apostolic Influences on the Concept of Prayer 62 6. Monastic and Apostolic Influences on Schedules and Cloister 73 7. Monastic and Apostolic Influences on Apostolic Activity and Mobility 82 8.
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HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE . EMBARGO until 12n (10 am U.T.C.) of July 22, 2016. FRANCIS. APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION . VULTUM DEI QUAERERE. ON WOMEN’S CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE. 1. SEEKING THE FACE OF GOD has always been a part of our human history.From the beginning, menFile Size: 231KBPage Count: 21
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