What is a Religious or Consecrated Life?

All people are called to a religious life

This special way of life is called Religious or Consecrated Life, and the groups who live it are called Religious Communities (or Congregations or Orders). It is a very meaningful, peaceful, and joyful way of life for those who accept it wholeheartedly. Indeed, it is living at the heart of life.

There have been Religious Communities in the Catholic Church almost since its beginning. There are many today. These Congregations have different spiritualities and different work or ministries on which they focus their efforts. Members of Religious Communities are Sisters, Brothers, and Priests who are also nurses and doctors, pastoral ministers, advocates for social justice, spiritual directors, educators at all levels and in all disciplines, contemplatives, lawyers, social workers, counselors.... They are as varied as all human beings.

Yet they are the same in that their way of life -- Religious Life -- focuses on what matters most, God's all-embracing love. In order to free themselves for this lifestyle, they take vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience. Through these vows they are able dedicate their lives and work more fully to God and His people. For a Sister, Brother or Priest the vow of poverty means that all material goods are held in common and used by members of the group to further the common mission. The vow of celibacy is a public acknowledgment that God is their greatest love. The vow of obedience does not mean giving up all individual choices and decision making, but rather living in communion with others for the good of all. .

Those who choose Religious Life join a community whose members form an extended family who share life and possessions. They work together for the sake of God and -- through the strength and support of the group -- are able to take on various challenging tasks. They are able to be on the front line, witnessing to God's love for all and responding to both new and persistent challenges, especially mindful of those on the margins of society.

Being a vowed religious today means engaging in a lifelong spiritual adventure which is also necessarily a deeply human undertaking. A Religious Sister, Brother, or Priest has all the usual human concerns, cares, and activities -- including relaxation and fun -- that every individual does. But as a member of a Religious Community, an individual is dedicated to living and witnessing to the fact that God's love calls some to go beyond blood relationships, ethnicity, and nationality, to be brothers and sisters to all.