In the life stories of founders and foundresses we see a constant and lively sense of the Church, which they manifest by their full participation in all aspects of the Church's life, and in their ready obedience to the bishops - especially the Roman Pontiff. Against this background of love toward Holy Church, "the pillar and bulwark of the truth" (1 Tim 3:15), we readily understand the devotion of St. Francis of Assisi for "the Lord Pope," (Regula Bullata, I, 1.), the daughterly outspokenness of Saint Catherine of Siena toward the one whom she called "sweet Christ on earth," (Letters 109, 171, 196.) the apostolic obedience and the Sentire Cum Ecclesia of Saint Ignatius Loyola (Cf. Rule 13 at the end of the Spiritual Exercises), and the joyful profession of faith made by Saint Teresa of Avila: "I am a daughter of the Church." (Sayings, No. 217) We can also understand the deep desire of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus: "In the heart of the Church, my mother, I will be love." (Manuscrits autobiographiques, B, 3 v.) These testimonies are representative of the full ecclesial communion which the saints, founders and foundresses, have shared in diverse and often difficult times and circumstances. They are examples which consecrated persons need constantly to recall if they are to resist the particularly strong centrifugal and disruptive forces at work today.

A distinctive aspect of ecclesial communion is allegiance of mind and heart to the Magisterium of the bishops, an allegiance which must be lived honestly, and be dearly testified to before the People of God by all consecrated persons. (Vita Consecrata)

As members of a Papal congregation approved by the Church we are responsible to serve the whole people of God and reverence the Pope and the Magisterium.