| The Institute's identity |
| The Spirit is ever at work in the Church with a wealth and vast variety of gifts and newness. Secular Institutes, a new reality in the Church, constitute an expression of this newness. "Provida Mater Ecclesia', the document made public by Pius XII in 1947, marked the officially recognized beginning of the Institutes of consecrated life in the world. Therefore, 'new' is the secular way of living Consecration. The principal characteristic of consecration in the world is secularity understood as the sharing of temporal reality and openness to all the values and problems of humankind.
"The joy and hope, the grief and anguish The secular Institute Missionaries of the Infirm "Christ our Hope" received its first official recognition by the Church on 25 March 1948. Since then, and ever faithful to the initial intuition, we have continued to live consecration in the world in unison with our fellowmen, together with them seeking answers to their problems and ours in the light of the Gospel, and at times bearing the full brunt for choices and decisions in contrast with commonly accepted thinking and practice. Our presence of hope could appear rather insignificant... and yet it is the reality of the leaven which ferments and the salt which savors while completely out of sight. This is why we have chosen to remain in the world, to remain there where the Kingdom of God so mysteriously grows and comes to be in the unfolding events of history. Our secular Institute's specific identity weds consecration to the 'mission' with those who suffer, and this in a spirituality of hope. From the very origins, in fact, the Institute has also drawn from the spirit of charity of St. Camillus de Lellis, the patron saint of the infirm and those who assist them. The day before he passed away (14 July 1614), this saint blessed all those who would continue this 'mission' down through the centuries.
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