Ad Honorem Immaculatae Conceptionis Mariae Oblatio

172 a unique or charismatic way to imitate Christ, thanks to which their vo- cation to holiness of life is realized. In this way, the founder initiates in his disciples a new form of holiness – a special form of union with the Master – which becomes the source and spiritual force for the development of his work. Thus, the actual maturing of the initiated work depends on the re- ligious community’s taking up and continuing this specific form of union with Christ, which was implanted in the community by the founder. Con- sequently, the primacy of the spiritual life, in both personal and communal life, based on the specific school of the evangelical spirituality of the found- er, guarantees the apostolic fruitfulness of the entire Congregation (VC 93). Life or Decline of a Community – Symptoms Studies, analyzing this topic, indicate two symptoms signifying either the life or decline of religious communities: the increase or decrease of vo- cations and the increase or decrease of the standard of living by the evan- gelical values. Let’s not try to find a simplified justification for the decreasing num- ber of vocations to our religious community in something along the lines of, “God so willed it ...” or else by blaming certain entities such as provin- cial governments, vocation ministry, the formators or situations out of our control. Let’s ask ourselves frankly: to what measure is this due to social changes, because of which young people move away from a life marked by gospel values, move away from the Church; and to what measure is this a bitter fruit of the bad changes taking place within our community such as a departure from evangelical ideals, the charismatic vision, and an authentic life lived according to vocational values? The Instruction, Starting Afresh from Christ: A Renewed Commitment to Consecrated Life in the Third Millennium suggests in n. 12, that interper- sonal relationships, the ability to build them, to establish bonds, to solve problems, and to undertake new challenges are the main gauges of these symptoms. An important factor here is also the degree of faithfulness to and the quality of living according the values of the religious community’s charism. 7 A valid question arises: is our consecrated life – the way we live it out – still a clear witness capable of attracting young people? 7 See: Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, In- struction Starting Afresh from Christ , May 19, 2012, No. 12.