Consecrated life : a witness to communion

Abstract

This dissertation seeks to study consecrated life from the view point of koinonia, in such a way that consecrated life is seen as a presence of communion, ai1d as an impetus to a spirituality of communion within the Church. The whole work evolves around three important notions: consecrated life, witness, and communion. To complete this study, the method used was that of bibliographical research. This research was done mainly by reading the subject in the light of magisterial documents and other writings which speak of both consecrated life and communion. The introduction leads one to have a general outline of the two basic terms used in the dissertation, which are consecrated life and communion. This general outline gives way to open the discussion on how consecrated life can be a witness to communion in today's world. The first chapter reads the early history of consecrated life in the light of communion, by showing the relationship between such foundations and koinonia. This chapter begins by looking at the historical foundations of consecrated life, and then at the biblical passages which show that the various lifestyles in consecrated life are interpretations of what one finds in the Scriptures. In the second chapter, the study develops by seeing how consecrated life can be a presence of communion. The main aspects studied are those which are important in living community and life in common: sharing the path of faith, :fraternal correction, the presence of consecrated life in the Church, the evangelical counsels, prayer, the Word and the Eucharist, and conversion. The third chapter, then, passes on to speak of the pastoral aspect of consecrated life as a presence of communion, as it can bear witness in the Church present in the world. In this chapter, one evaluates prophetism, and the relationship between koinonia and the liturgy, service and witness. This witness is discussed in an eschatological manner, in the Church of Malta, and a community in mission.