May the holiness of consecrated people edify the Church, Pope prays

At the conclusion of Evening Prayer in Feb. 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Pope Benedict XVI offered a special prayer that those in the consecrated life would edify the entire Church with their holiness of life.

“My thoughts turn affectionately to all consecrated men and women everywhere, who I entrust to the Blessed Virgin Mary,” the Pope said.

“Oh Mary, Mother of the Church,

I entrust consecrated life to you

That you may obtain for it the fullness of divine light.

May it remain attentive to the Word of God,

Humble in the following of Jesus your son and our Lord,

Open to the visit of the Holy Spirit,

In the daily joy of the Magnificat,

So that the Church might be edified by the holiness of life

Of these your sons and daughters

In the commandment of love.

Amen.”