SEASONing
Is there anyone on the globe who
‘WALKS THE TALK’
better than POPE FRANCIS?
In just under 1,000 days, this remarkable man has
addressed economic justice, climate change, initiated a Bishops’ Synod on the family, and begun
reforms of the Vatican Bank and Curial offices,
among other things. He visits prisoners, washes the
feet of women, comforts the mentally ill, eats in the
staff cafeteria, hops off the “popemobile” to mingle
with the crowd on a regular basis, and telephones
ordinary people who’ve written to him.
In a nutshell, this is a pope who holds himself
accountable for doing what he exhorts others to
do. To women and men religious, he said, “I am
counting on you to wake up the world,” when he
announced the Year of Consecrated Life in November 2014. He also said, “Be prophets who witness to
how Jesus lived on earth . . . Go into all the world
. . . A whole world awaits us: men and women who
have lost all hope, families in difficulty, abandoned
children, young people without a future, the elderly,
sick and abandoned, those who are rich in the
world’s goods but impoverished within, men and
women looking for a purpose in life, thirsting for the
divine . . .”
The pope’s letter was directed to “All Consecrated
People.” His message is not only for women and
men religious but for all who embrace the mission of
witnessing to God’s love. The last section of his letter
restates his challenge to all of us: “The creativity of
BVM leadership team members are (l. to r.)
Mira Mosle, Teri Hadro and Kate Hendel.
charity is boundless; it is able to find countless new
ways of bringing the newness of the Gospel to every
culture and every corner of Society.” Pope Francis
walks the talk.
Francis also told women and men religious to
have gratitude: to “read the signs of the times with
the eyes of faith” and respond creatively, living the
present with passion and practicing the virtue of
hope. “Don’t be gloomy,” he cautioned.
The stories in this issue of Salt celebrate BVM
jubilarians—silver, golden and diamond; detail ways
in which BVMs, associates and volunteers have read
and responded to the signs of the times; and tell how
sharing BVM history with others can inspire and challenge. These pages provide a glimpse of consecrated
life, BVM-style. It’s anything but gloomy. Enjoy!
As we write this reflection, preparations for the
pope’s visit to Washington, D.C., New York and
Philadelphia are underway. Three BVMs: Novice
Director Lou Anglin; Sharon Rezmer, second year