Ad Honorem Immaculatae Conceptionis Mariae Oblatio

141 Thaddaeus Lancton MIC Oblatio and the Evangelical Counsels: From Consecration to Vowing the Evangelical Counsels Introduction This lecture presents the passage from self - offering or consecration, that is, the first paragraph of the Oblatio of our Founder, St. Stanislaus of Je- sus and Mary Papczyński, to that of promising the evangelical counsels of chastity, obedience, and poverty. The purpose of the lecture is to present the inner connection between the two, inasmuch as the total self-offering of Stanislaus forms the essence, or “soul” of the Oblatio, while the evangel- ical counsels form its shape, or the “body” . As will be seen, the primacy of his total self-offering as the expression of charity toward God and neigh- bor (cf. Mt 22:36-40) provides the proper foundation and completion of religious consecration lived out through the observance of the evangelical counsels. For the goal of religious consecration is holiness, the perfection of self-gift in charity . 1 Indeed, the purpose of the evangelical counsels is to serve as instruments for the perfection of charity, which is the perfection of holiness. 2 1 Cf. Lumen Gentium, n. 39: “... this holiness of the Church is unceasingly manifested. It is expressed in many ways in individuals, who in their walk of life, tend toward the perfection of charity... in a very special way this (holiness) appears in the practice of the counsels, custom- arily called “evangelical.” This practice of the counsels, under the impulsion of the Holy Spirit, undertaken by many Christians, either privately or in a Church-approved condition or state of life, gives and must give in the world an outstanding witness and example of this same holiness.” 2 Vita Consecrata , n. 93: “This is a primary requirement, inscribed in the very essence of the consecrated life by the fact that, just as every other baptized person, and indeed even more so, those who profess the evangelical counsels must aspire with all their strength to the perfection of charity.”