PAUL VI

ON THE 30th ANNIVERSARY

OF THE APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION

"PROVIDA MATER ECCLESIA"*

1. Today, this very day, thirty years ago, an event was celebrated in the Catholic Church which communicated to many of her sons the charism of this feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, that is the oblation of Christ to his Father' s will.

2. We wish, in fact, to recall an anniversary that falls today. Thirty years ago, on 2 February 1947, the Church recognised a new form of consecrated life, when our predecessor Pius XII promulgated the Apostolic Constitution Provida Mater.

3. A new form, different from that of religious life not only in its implementation of "the following of Christ" but also in its way of assuming the Church-world relationship, which is also essential to any Christian vocation (cf. G.S., 1).

5. And we wish to send to one and all, men and women, our greeting and blessing.

Rome, 2nd February, 1977.