The pastoral work of the sisters of St. Dorothy

Abstract

a) General idea of the religious life and the apostolate as one of its primary duties. b) The spirit, life and work of the Sisters of St. Dorothy. Origin of the "Guild'' or "Pious Work of St. Dorothy and its application to modern, post-conciliar needs in the Church. Religious, by means of their consecration, offer their entire lives to God's service. The act of special consecration is deeply rooted in their baptismal consecration and provides an ampler manifestation of it. Inasmuch as their self-dedication has been accepted by the Church, they are committed to her service as well. "Although the religious state constituted by the profession of the evangelical counsels does not belong to the hierarchical structure of the Church, nevertheless, it belongs inseparably to her life and holiness." Therefore, any work of apostolate performed by Religious can be considered a public act~ an act of the Church, since they constitute an integral part of the Church. Religious life in the Church is ultimately due to Christ. It is he, who "by word and example" gave various counsels to his People. Among these counsels, chastity dedicated to God, poverty and obedience have been especially singled out by ecclesiastical tradition. Later, in the Church, these were applied to the needs of the Christian society and finally offered to men by means of various stabile forms of religious life. By describing the origin of religious life in this way, we assert that it is due to Christ himself who gave the counsels as his precious gifts to men. But the institution of religious life in the strict sense is a creation of the Church, under the guidance of the Spirit interpreting and giving form to the gifts of the Lord. The apostolic orientation of religious life is not a secondary purpose added, as it were, extrinsically to the principal end, which is personal sanctification; the apostolic orientation is part and parcel of the consecration to God of a baptized person. This is a profound theological principle [...]