Nuncio praises Carmelite Sisters' contemplative lifestyle

FAITH

The Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda, Archbishop Michael August Blume has sent a special message to the Carmelite Sisters of Kiyinda-Mityana, congratulating them on the 50th anniversary of their presence in Uganda.

The Sisters, who lead a monastic life of prayer and seclusion, held the celebrations of their golden jubilee at their monastery at Kiyinda-Mityana on Saturday. The functions were attended by thousands of Christians, who have spiritual and material affiliation to contemplative Sisters. Below is the message of the Nuncio:

Dear Sisters,

The Golden Jubilee of your community takes place as the Church in Uganda strives to be renewed by the recent visit of Pope Francis, who recently gave a special support to the contemplative life of women in his Apostolic Constitution, Vultum Dei quaerere ("Seeking the Face of God").

For the last fifty years, you witness to your singular vocation particularly through the community witness of silence, contemplation and the sacred rhythms of the Eucharist and Divine Office.

The austere beauty of your way of life stands out courageously as a sign of contradiction to the dominating cultures of our world, which reach even here, where constant noise and distractions continually anesthetize us from meeting our Lord, letting him into our hearts, and seeing in him the visible face of the God of mercy. You have the ability to arouse the curiosity of societies that are overcharged with and already bored with distractions that never bring the happiness they promise. You point the way to him, for whom our human hearts were made and in God's patient time, elegantly craft fundamental questions for today's world. Your life is indeed contagious   and we thank God for you.

Your jubilee is a moment to ponder in the company of our Lady of Mount Carmel and of all the Saints of the Order, what Pope Francis recently told contemplative women religious. The world and the Church "need you to be beacons of light for the journey of the men and women of our time. This should be your prophetic witness. You have chosen not being of the world (John 18:19). Although you live apart from the world trough signs of your belonging to Christ, you tirelessly intercede for mankind, presenting to the Lord its fears and hopes, its joys and sufferings.

"Dear Sisters," continues the Holy Father, may the Lord be ever present and active in your heart and transform you entirely in him, the ultimate aim of contemplative life.

As the next fifty years will inevitably have consolations ad desolations, take courage in the beautiful poetry of St Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church: "May nothing trouble you, nothing frighten you, for to whoever clings to God, nothing is lacking."

As your community sings the praises of God on this jubilee, to you and all who participate in the solemn celebration of October 14th is offered the Holy Father's Apostolic Blessing.