Greening Consecrated life
A message for world environment day – 5 June 2010

The Conference of Religious India has been on a proactive mode on environmental care and eco-spirituality during the last two years. Its Patna Consultation in 2008 has been a launching pad for affirmative action among the religious of India. A Department of Eco-Spirituality at the National Secretariat has been carrying forward reflections, workshops and other awareness programmes across the country. The Delhi Leadership Conference 2009 which brought together 550 Major Superiors of Religious Congregations in the country proclaimed Eco-Spirituality as a constituent element of a Harmonious Life and therefore to be pursued by every religious.

Greening Consecrated Life is a vision and mission of CRI. The three publications (Earth-People, Good Governance and its Implementation Manual) that have come out from the national office provide ample material for study and reflection, and as a tool in the hands of Superiors and formators for animation at all levels. Ever since the mystery of incarnation unfolded in our midst with God becoming man and thus becoming part of this created world, the creation becomes the body of Christ in whom we find our fullness.

Going beyond all the eco-friendly practices it is worth considering to include one more vow or promise in our commitment, namely, AESTHETICS. The philosophy of aesthetics makes us see what is beautiful and sublime and “magnify” the God who is the creator of all. Consecrated life is a call to be divine and see all things through the eyes of the creator, bear witness to it and proclaim his glory through the glory of creation. By taking on to the aesthetic values we are no more going to conquer the world as promoted by our patriarchal system, or deny and hate the world as some spiritual writers propagated, and even practiced buy many religious for centuries. Environmental care and eco-spirituality become the natural outcome of an aesthetic life. It brings in transcendence of life and transformation of our perception. Are there creative leaders to study the issue and take initiatives in greening the fundamentals of our consecrated life?

Greening consecrated life is a challenge to the leaders of today. If we do we are marching with the rest of the world which is concerned with it on a priority basis. Consecrated life gains one more relevancy for our times and will be appreciated as a sustaining way of life for themselves and a supporting witness of life for others.

Bro. Mani Mekkunnel SG
National Secretary, CRI