The Church in Perfectæ Caritatis has given us a document ‘on the appropriate renewal of Religious Life.’ There have always been men and women who strove to follow the Lord and serve him more closely. Living by the Gospel, these holy souls dedicated themselves completely to God in return for all the wonderful things he has accomplished in their lives. Their generous attention to the promptings of the Spirit has enriched the Church throughout its marvellous history with a variety of religious communities and ways of life: living the evangelical counsels of poverty, obedience and chastity; giving their all to the poor brethren of Christ in the world; helping the sick and the needy; preaching the good news of Christ and spreading the Kingdom; and shining forth as men of good will and real benefactors of humanity. 
      As times change, so do people. Opportunities present themselves in daily life, and new things happen in the world, indicating new ways of surrendering oneself to God. The above document gives two sure principles for renewal: returning to the sources of the Gospel, and adapting to the new conditions of life. Christ is what the Gospel is all about, so let us turn our gaze to him. 
      Christ redeemed the world by surrendering completely to the will of the Father, and members of an apostolic society have likewise to surrender themselves to him to become instruments of this redemption. Living in a community means living a life of fraternal service, inspired by the same love Christ had for his own. The underlying love is more necessary and more effective than the ‘common rule’ itself. One has to keep in direct contact with the Gospel for inspiration. In practical terms, one has never to resort to lines of action contrary to the way Our Lord acted in the Gospel.   
      Superiors still have the power and duty to decide what has to be done. But they have to keep in mind the dignity, the autonomy, and the personal responsibility of their fellow workers in the Lord. They should be open to dialogue, to good will, to initiative, and to participation. Teamwork and collaboration always tend to better service, and to ‘more active and responsible obedience’, and lead to better use of one’s ‘gifts of nature and grace’. 
      Once we have done away with paternalism as an anachronism, let us build on adult relationships. It is a matter of personal growth. Otherwise, childishness within will lead to catastrophe without. “Enemy number one is not so much disobedience (though this is doubtless a constant danger) since our baptismal and religious professions, fully accepted, give at least the presumption of guarantee against it, but apathy, servility, action without conviction or courage, the refusal of personal involvement which the Gospel stigmatised in the parable of the talents.” 
      So it is not simply a question of obedience, or of getting things done, but of getting people to desire them, and of personal co-operation. People have to come in with their special gifts, ideas and inclinations. It is necessary to listen, to consult, to talk, and to educate. Superiors have to support with competent advice, discuss the different aspects of a problem and the different ways of approaching it, respect tradition but remaining open to the movement of the Holy Spirit, recognise their own faults, and seek continually for light from God. 
      Superiors that achieve such humility and loyalty to the Gospel, and who act with a professional conscience, will also find the courage to take strong and bold decisions. 

Nicholas Balzan 
Blata l-Bajda, Malta