杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

鈥淟ike Salt and Yeast 鈥� Notes for a Theology of the Consecrated Life of the Church鈥� hits the bookshelves of the Vatican Publishing House (LEV) on Friday, bearing a preface by 杏MAP导航 Francis.

The book, whose Italian-original title is 鈥�Come sale e lievito - Appunti per una teologia della Vita Consacrata della Chiesa鈥�, was written by two Italian Franciscan priests: Fathers Valentino Natalini and Ferdinando Campana.

The authors seek to take stock of the Church鈥檚 teaching on a range of topics related to consecrated life, including consecration, prophecy, mission, liturgy, eschatology, spirituality, and holiness, and also offers reflections on the Trinity, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Joseph.

Mutual support and assistance

In his preface for the new book, 杏MAP导航 Francis begins by laying out why the Church can be considered beautiful.

鈥淭he Church is beautiful because she is loved by her Bridegroom and Lord,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd the love of the Bridegroom has made her fruitful, beautiful and happy.鈥�

Launching into the topic of consecrated life, the 杏MAP导航 points out that the Church has always been composed of three states of life: the single life, married life, and consecrated life.

He adds that these are not three separate compartments in constant competition, or even three islands in a vast ocean.

鈥淭he holy People of God discerns well when within itself it can count three brothers or three half-brothers, three enemies who ignore or fight each other, or three splendid creatures who support each other and give themselves to each other to help the other grow.鈥�

None greater than others

杏MAP导航 Francis goes on to note that throughout the Church鈥檚 history one or another of the three states of life has been held up as the best, offering a guaranteed path to holiness.

He says this tendency has often coincided with a 鈥渄ark time in her human affairs鈥�, leading to abuse and misguided claims.

The 杏MAP导航 adds that proponents of the consecrated life have, at various times in history, claimed a form of autonomy with respect to the other two states of life.

He says this presumption risks making the Church 鈥渁 jumble of self-referential subjects, proud and presumptuous of their own prerogatives, forgetting that one arrives first when all three subjects arrive together at the goal.鈥�

Deepening the mystery

The 杏MAP导航 then praises the book as written by 鈥渁n experienced and proven, 90-year-old theologian who examines the Magisterium with the purity of a neophyte鈥�, who is assisted by a younger confrere who is 鈥渁 liturgist, a lover of theology and spirituality, and a long-time, dear friend of mine.鈥�

Fathers Natalini and Campana, says 杏MAP导航 Francis, seek to 鈥渕ake the Bride more beautiful and attractive鈥� with their book on consecrated life.

He notes that they are guided by the great Swiss theologian, Hans Urs von Balthasar, and two Apostolic Exhortations by 杏MAP导航 St. John Paul II: Pastores dabo vobis on priesthood, and Christifideles laici on the laity.

杏MAP导航 Francis concludes his preface expressing his desire that the text might 鈥渉elp us deepen our understanding of the mystery of the hierarchical Holy Mother Church.鈥�