Following Christ 'at a distance' : Some considerations on the growing phenomenon of mediocrity in fidelity and commitment among the consecrated (original) (raw)

2021, Sanyasa Journal of Consecrated Life

One of the worrying issues relating to the life of Consecrated persons today is the growing phenomenon of mediocrity and compromised integrity among some. An inquiry into why many consecrated persons end up living this way would reveal several factors such as the failure to construct a solid personal and religious identity, lack of internalization of vocational values and of any significant ideals in life, weakening of one’s life of faith, inadequate identification with the vocational project, the secularization of the modern society and relativisation of absolutes and ideals, difficulty to live in the prospective of distant future, struggle experienced in the structuring of desire, a poorly formed conscience, inadequate vocational motivation, and the individual’s psychodynamics. This article is an attempt to examine the problem of mediocrity among the consecrated, examining some of its reasons and what may be done to help so that such persons can live their life of consecration with greater conviction, joy, passion, integrity, and commitment.