At Mass marking feast of Presentation, pope cites role of religious

Published: 2004-02-02

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The nearly 1 million members of Catholic religious orders have a vital role to play in modern evangelization, whether they be working among the poor or praying in monasteries, Pope John Paul II said. The pope praised the work of religious men and women at a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica Feb. 2 marking the feast of the Presentation of the Lord and the eighth annual World Day for Consecrated Life. "In the intimacy of the monastic cloister or working next to the poor and marginalized, among youths or inside ecclesial structures, in the various apostolic activities or in mission lands, God wants you faithful to his love and completely dedicated to the good of others," the pope said in a sermon. "Christ calls you to conform yourselves to him, the one who for love became obedient, poor and chaste. Continue to dedicate yourselves with passion to announcing and promoting his kingdom. This is your mission, necessary today as in the past," he said.

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