What is Consecrated
Life
Consecrated Life is like a
tree with many branches. The Catechism of the Catholic
Church says this about the vocation to the Consecrated
Life:
“The state of consecrated
life is thus one way of experiencing a "more intimate"
consecration, rooted in Baptism and dedicated totally to God. In
the consecrated life, Christ's faithful, moved by the Holy
Spirit, propose to follow Christ more nearly, to give themselves
to God who is loved above all and, pursuing the perfection of
charity in the service of the Kingdom, to signify and proclaim
in the Church the glory of the world to come.” (CCC 916)
On the Feast of the
Annunciation in 1996, Pope John Paul II issued an Post-Synodal
Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata (The Consecrated Life).
In this beautiful document, he introduces the vocation to the
Consecrated Life in this way.
The Consecrated Life, deeply
rooted in the example and teaching of Christ the Lord, is a gift
of God the Father to His Church through the Holy Spirit. By the
profession of the evangelical counsels the characteristic
features of Jesus – the chaste, poor, and obedient one – are
made constantly “visible” in the midst of the world and the eyes
of the faithful are directed towards the mystery of the Kingdom
of God already at work in history, even as it awaits its full
realization in heaven.
In every age there have been
men and women who, obedient to the Father’s call and to the
prompting of the Spirit, have chosen this special way of
following Christ, in order to devote themselves to him with an
“undivided” heart (cf. 1 Cor 7:34). Like the Apostles, they too
have left everything behind in order to be with Christ and to
put themselves, as he did, at the service of God and their
brothers and sisters. In this way, through the many charisms of
spiritual and apostolic life bestowed on them by the Holy
Spirit, they have helped to make the mystery and mission of the
Church shine forth, and in doing so have contributed to the
renewal of society. (VC 1)
The word “vocation” comes from the Latin “vocare” which means to
be called. Each of us are created by God, to love Him, and
return to Him in Heaven. The vocation God has created and
planned for each of us is a gift, but different from the
material gifts we receive on occasions such as our birthday or
Christmas. This gift must be opened through prayer. Only God
knows what is inside and He can show you the beautiful surprise
inside.
The word “consecrated” means “to be set apart.” Therefore,
consecrated persons are “set apart” to love and live for God and
His Church.
Since the early First Century, men and women have given their
lives to Christ. We read this in Sacred Scripture in the
Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles as we learn about the call
of the Apostles and the witness of the martyrs.
The following is a overview of the forms of Consecrated Life.
The Consecrated Life
|
Consecrated Virgins
Eremitical Life Religious Life Secular
Institutes Societies of
 
Apostolic Life
Apostolic Community
Contemplative Community
Active Priests, Brothers, Sisters
Monks and Nuns
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