«Be like antennas, like bridges between heaven and earth. That is the image that comes to mind: an antenna is sensitive, able to pick up and perceive signals. You are people who perceive God’s signals and transmit them to all humanity. And in the same way, you are sensitive to humanity, and you bring it to God.»
This is how Sr. Simona Brambilla, Prefect of the Dicastery for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, invited us to live our religious life in the Holy Land, during a beautiful gathering in Jerusalem on June 3, 2026.
For us Carmelites, Benedictines, Poor Clares, Adorers, and Sisters of the Incarnate Word, it was also a blessed opportunity to come together in sisterhood and share both our joys and our concerns.
«It is beautiful to see the different languages and multiculturalism among you. It is a prophetic sign: living together, praying together, walking together.»
Sister Simona was accompanied by Sister Tiziana Merletti, secretary at the same Dicastery. She spoke to us about how these offices operate in the service of consecrated life. It was beautiful to see how much emphasis is placed on the human aspect. Those who devote themselves to this task do not want to work merely with paperwork; they know that when they receive a letter, there is suffering, a problem, or a question behind it.
We also engaged in a free exchange of questions and answers and were encouraged to continue our journey of synodality among the monasteries. In particular, we can help one another with human formation. In hard soil, the Word of God does not take root. The soil must be worked, opened up.
Sister Simona spoke again: “Listen, my son!” (Prologue to the Rule of Saint Benedict) Listening is the foundation of the contemplative life. Depth and rootedness in God. Thus we become cloistered sisters who are peacemakers in this country. Just as with COVID, which was spreading everywhere, we must find the vaccine against the violence we breathe and reject in our words, attitudes, and actions everything that is not love…
We concluded this gathering with the singing of Vespers in thanksgiving and united prayer.
