XXX WORLD DAY FOR CONSECRATED LIFE: 2 February 2026
"United with Him, and in Him with one another, your small lights become like the path of a luminous trail in the great plan of peace and salvation that God has for humanity."
Pope Leo XIV, Jubilee of Consecrated Life 2025
CRA celebrates the lives of consecrated women and men, giving thanks for another year of their generous witness in the daily challenges of church life and missionary endeavours.
Message of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life to consecrated women and men throughout the world
On the occasion of the World Day of Consecrated Life, on 2 February, the message of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life is being released, addressed to consecrated women and men throughout the world.
The text is set within the current context, marked by armed conflicts, social fragility, forced migration and situations that put faith to the test. It highlights the value of consecrated life as a stable and supportive presence alongside the most vulnerable people.
The Dicastery expresses gratitude for the daily fidelity to the Gospel lived by consecrated women and men and offers words of encouragement and discernment to face the challenges of the present time.
At the heart of the message is the image of consecrated life as a prophecy of “remaining”: a fidelity that does not mean withdrawal or immobility, but becomes active hope, capable of generating peace, safeguarding human dignity and bearing witness to the Gospel even in the most complex and suffering contexts.
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Gospel: Luke 2: 22-32
Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.[a] 27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon[b] came into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon[c] took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word,
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.”
Naming our Blessings
Within the struggle, joy, pain, and delight that attend our life, there is an invisible circle of grace that enfolds and encompasses us in every moment. Blessings help us to perceive this circle of grace, to find our place of belonging within it, and to receive the strength the circle holds for us.
— from the Introduction of Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons
by Jan Richardson | janrichardson.com/books
As we carry both the joy and pain of the past year, how can we, as consecrated women and men, continue to imitate Christ, who brought light into this world, in this new year?
Prayer of Thanksgiving for the World Day of Consecrated Life
God of all goodness,
we give you thanks for the gift of consecrated life
in the heart of your Church and in the life of the world.
We praise you for women and men
who, called by your Spirit,
have dedicated their lives wholly to you
through vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Through their faithfulness,
they reflect the light of Christ
and bear witness to your enduring love.
We thank you for their generous service
in prayer and contemplation,
in pastoral care and education,
in works of justice, mercy, and mission,
often carried out quietly and faithfully
amid the daily challenges of ecclesial life.
On this World Day of Consecrated Life,
renew in them the joy of their vocation,
strengthen them in times of trial,
and fill them with hope and courage for the future.
May their lives continue to inspire us
to listen more deeply to your call,
to serve more generously,
and to trust more fully in your promises.
We offer this prayer with grateful hearts,
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Catholic Religious Australia, 2023