By Devin Watkins
“What would the Church be without religious sisters and consecrated laywomen? The Church cannot be understood without them.”
Pope Francis made that affirmation in his February prayer intention, released on Tuesday by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network.
The Pope encouraged all consecrated women to discern how best they can respond to the challenges facing humanity.
“I exhort them to keep working and to have an impact with the poor, with the marginalized, with all those who are enslaved by traffickers,” he said. “I especially ask them to make an impact on this.”
Unfair treatment
Pope Francis also prayed for the many women religious who “show the beauty of God’s love and compassion” through their ministry as catechists, theologians, and spiritual guides, even when they encounter obstacles.
“I invite them to fight when, in some cases, they are treated unfairly, even within the Church,” he urged, “when they serve so much that they are reduced to servitude —at times, by men of the Church.”
When faced with these difficulties, women religious should “not be discouraged,” said the Pope. “May you keep making God’s goodness known through the apostolic works you do. But above all through your witness of consecration.”
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