The Capacity to Love

Recently, at an MI Young Adult Night, we talked about the need of every single person to give of themselves totally in imitation of Christ. This is, after all, what it means to be holy and to be holy means ultimately to be happy. We also looked at how the evangelical counsels can be lived out as virtues in our lives consecrated to the Immaculata.  I wanted to take this opportunity to look real briefly at the magnificence of the evangelical counsels lived specifically as vows in the Consecrated Life. Although, as noted, certainly the virtue lends itself to similar fruits. Any thoughts on the application in YOUR daily life are greatly appreciated!

"Perfect chastity, that is love of God unto the complete donation of oneself and the renouncment of a family of your own, results in

-the capacity to love He whom ought to be loved, above all and in a spousal way;
-the capacity to love your neighbor with purity, disinterest, complete generosity, availability to all persons, forgetting oneself and making available your energy, time, experience and culture;
-the capacity to be a gift in the innumerable occasions of the world, in daily contact, in family and work environments, in social relatios, as well as in specific works of charity;
-the capacity to dedicate onself to the more weak, poor, and suffering;
-the capacity to be open towards all that is good and beautiful in the world, through grace and affective maturity."

- Fr. Kolbe Missionaries of the Immaculata
from The Charism: a Gift, a Sign, a Challenge...in the Heart of the World