The Consecrated Life

What is Consecrated Life? (Canon 573.1)

 Life consecrated by the profession of the evangelical counsels is a stable form of living  by which faithful, following more Christ closely under the action of the Holy Spirit  are totally dedicated themselves to His honor, the upbuilding of the Church and the salvation of the world by a new and special title  they strive for perfection of charity in service to the Kingdom of God and  having become an outstanding sign in the Church, they may foretell the heavenly glory.

What is Consecrated Life?

Christian faithful who profess the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience by vows or other bonds according to the proper laws of institutes freely assume this form of living in institutes of consecrated life canonically erected by competent church authority and through the charity to which these counsels lead they are joined to the Church and its mystery in a special way.

Canon 573.2

What is Consecrated Life?

A. Consecrated life or religious life is the total and radical dedication of one s life to God and his kingdom. B. Consecrated persons are lay persons or clerics who assume the evangelical counsels by means of a sacred bond, and become members of an institute of consecrated life according to the law of the church (canon 573.2) C. This total dedication to God has as its goal the pursuit for perfection in charity by faithfully embracing the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience. D. In this sense, religious life is a free response to the invitation of the Holy Spirit to follow Christ the poor, the celibate, the obedient son, more closely , thus becoming in this life a sign of the life to come. E. Consecrated life emanates from our baptismal call to be witness and servants of Christ and his kingdom. F. Religious or consecrated life can be lived out in community or individually but always as an expression of the Church s life, mission, service, and charisma.

Canon 574
The state of persons who profess the evangelical counsels in these institutes belongs to the life and holiness of the Church. It is therefore to be fostered and promoted by everyone in the Church.

Sisters of Life

Canon 578
The whole patrimony of an institute must be faithfully preserved by all. This patrimony is comprised of the intentions of the founders, of all that the competent ecclesiastical authority has approved concerning the nature, purpose, spirit and character of the institute, and of its sound traditions.

Canon 587
To protect more faithfully the vocation and identity of each institute, the fundamental code or constitutitons of the institute are to contain, in addition to those which are to be preserved in accordance with canon 578, basic norms about the governance of the institute, the discipline of the members, the admission and formation of the members, and the proper object of their sacred bonds.

The states of consecrated life, Canon 588

Religious institutes can be clerical or lay institutes.
A. Clerical institutes are those governed by clerics, assume the exercise of sacred orders, and are recognized by the Church as clerical institutes. An example of this type of institute is the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and the Congregation of the most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists). B. Lay institutes: an institute of religious life whose spiritual heritage does not include the exercise of sacred orders. An example of this type of institute are all the institutes of women and brothers religious.

Canon 588
A clerical institute is one which, by reason of the end or purpose intended by the founder, or by reason of lawful tradition, is under the governance of clerics, presupposes the exercise of sacred orders. Society of Mary

Canon 588
A lay institute is one which is recognized as such by ecclesiastical authority because, by its nature, character and purpose, its proper role, defined by its founder or by lawful traditions, does not include the exercise of sacred orders.
A Marist Brother

Did you know?

An institute of consecrated life is said to be of pontifical right if the Holy See has erected it or approved it through a formal decree. An institute of consecrated life is said to be of diocesan right if it is approved by the diocesan bishop. An institute approved by the bishop can petition for recognition by the Holy See, specially if the institute has grown significantly and expanded into other dioceses.

The male equivalent for a nun and religious sister is a religious brother. Brothers can be monastic or have an active apostolate in the world.

To be continued