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”
— Catechism of the Catholic Church 916
Religious Life
Consecrated life or religious life is a calling of giving oneself to the Lord in the service of the Church. It is about accepting the invitation to consecrate yourself to a particular way of living the Christian vocation in poverty, chastity and obedience in the service of God, the Church and the world. Men and women dedicate their lives to serve in various religious orders, congregations or movements, each with their own spirituality and charism. Depending on their vocation, they do this as priests, brothers, sisters, monks, or nuns. The difference between a brother and a monk or a sister and a nun is that monks and nuns typically belong to enclosed orders of contemplatives. In contrast, religious brothers and sisters usually belong to active religious orders and congregations.
Contemplatives commit themselves to a life of prayer for the world and the Church. Active or apostolic religious also commit themselves to a life of prayer but in the context of serving others in the world through education, healthcare and an increasing number of other ways in response to the world’s needs. However they live out their charism, they bring Christ to those they minister to.
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Religious Life?
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Living as a Consecrated Person
While life differs for each consecrated brother and sister, the religious lifestyle can be best summed up in three vows: chastity, poverty and obedience.
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The vow of chastity is the promise to love God and the people of God through the service of one’s life. It is the joyous affirmation of someone who knows how to live a self-giving life without thinking about what they can get in return. All the baptised are called to chastity in keeping with their particular state of life. In the case of a consecrated person, who remains celibate, this vow enables them to give themselves to God alone with an undivided heart and to have loving relationships with others that are not exclusive.
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The vow of poverty is about living simply. Consecrated men and women have few possessions, and what they do have, they share in common with their community. In living out this vow, men and women in religious life simply want to detach themselves from possessing or being possessed by anything. It isn’t about not having possessions, but rather using what is needed and seeing them as gifts to build the kingdom of God.
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The vow of obedience is a profound “yes”: to God, to the people of God, to a religious community and to a specific way of life. This “yes” allows a consecrated person to follow God’s call wherever and whatever it may lead them to. The vow of obedience invites the individual to direct their life towards prayer and trust in the Lord. It is far from being led blindly but instead allows the person to see how they can best serve with an open heart. They enter into an ongoing transformation as a disciple and recognise that their vocational call is never given for themselves alone but for the good of the whole Church.
Explore the States of Life
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Explore Your Call
Find out more about what a vocation is, and how to discern where God is calling you.
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Ordained Life
Encompassing Priests, Deacons and Bishops, Ordained ministers receive the sacrament of Holy Orders to participate in apostolic ministry.
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Married Life
A total, free, faithful and fruitful union between a man and woman, committed to one another as a refection of God’s love.
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Single Life
Before you are vowed or made a formal commitment to someone or something, you are called to discernment and free to commit yourself to serve God and the Church.