Hope Encounters: Consecrated Life for Our Times

Abstract

As a lens for considering the calls to consecrated life at this time, this essay opens up dimensions of both hope and encounter ( encuentro ), recognizing that encounter is a key marker of hope, and that the layers of encounter are important, with one layer in particular calling us at this time for our attentiveness and action. Hope is defined and four marks of hope are identified. Encounter is then developed and four layers of encounter are examined, with particular emphasis on the fourth and emerging layer of encounter. The essay closes with two specific invitations or calls to consecrated life for these times.