Ever since 2 February 1997, the Catholic Church has been celebrating the World Day of consecrated life. Liturgically, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, where Christ is presented by the Holy Spirit as “light for revelation to the Gentiles” and the “glory for your people Israel”. By this, the Church is implying that consecrated life is a light to the world and the most privileged way of how God is glorified on earth. But what precisely is “consecrated life”?

The Dogmatic Constitution on “The Church”, Lumen Gentium, describes consecrated life as “the state which is constituted by the profession of the evangelical counsels, though it is not the hierarchical structure of the Church, nevertheless, undeniably belongs to its life and holiness” (Lumen Gentium 44). In the introductory and explanatory words of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on The Consecrated Life and its mission in the Church and in the World, Vita Consecrata, this means that “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 realisation in heaven” (Vita Consecrata, 1).

Being the saving and sanctifying work of the Spirit, the charisma of consecrated life takes on different forms. The Holy Spirit respects the person’s individuality. Hence, from time to time, He calls men and women to serve Christ with undivided hearts, according to the inspiration, mission and the particular historical circumstances of the time. If one gives a glance at the various types of consecration that are approved by the Church, one cannot not thank God for the wonderful and exciting way the Spirit operates in and through Christ’s disciples. Consecrated life can be classified under five kinds of forma vitae: the eremitic life, consecrated virgins, the religious life, secular institutes and societies of apostolic life.

Hermits are those who “devote their life to the praise of God and salvation of the world through a stricter separation from the world, the silence of solitude and assiduous prayer and penance” (Canon 603§ 1). By their special lifestyle, hermits represent personal intimacy with Christ. They portray the hidden and prayerful Christ, who seeks the face of the Father and overcomes every temptation to do His will in solitude. Hermits do not necessarily profess evangelical counsels in public.

Consecrated Virgins are those who, with the Church’s permission, live the state of virginity “for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven” (Mt 19,12). The Church law states that “virgins, who committed to holy plan of following Christ more closely, are consecrated to God by the diocesan bishop according to the approved liturgical rite, are betrothed mystically to Christ, the Son of God, and are dedicated to the service of the Church” (Canon 604 § 1). Such a way of life implies that they live in the world by means of prayer, penance, service of their brothers and sisters, as well as apostolic activity, depending on their state of life and the spiritual gifts given to them by God.

Religious life is lived via various institutes, which are canonically approved by the Church. Common elements which differentiate religious life from other forms of consecrated life are: its liturgical nature, public profession of the evangelical counsels, fraternal life lived in common and bearing witness to the union of Christ with the Church. Religious life has been pivotal in the planting and expansion of the Church, and in showing the charitable face of God to humanity.

Canon 710 describes secular institutes as those institutes “in which the Christian faithful living in the world strive for the perfection of charity and work for the sanctification of the world especially from within”. The members of such institutes partake in the Church’s mission of evangelisation by living and directing the temporal things to God and thus bearing witness in front of all to the Gospel that saves humanity. These consecrated people espouse the evangelical counsels through sacred bonds and in communion with one another, according to their specific secular lifestyle.

Finally, societies of apostolic life are made up of “members without religious vows [that] pursue the particular apostolic purpose of their society, and lead a life as brothers and sisters in common according to a particular manner of life. [They] strive for perfection of charity through the observance of the constitutions. Among these there are societies in which members embrace the evangelical counsels” (can 731 §§ 1,2), as prescribed by their constitutions.

Although vocations are on the decrease both in Western Europe and North America, consecrated life has a bright future ahead. In other parts of the world, such as in Asia and Africa, vocations are flourishing day after day. The time is ripe to propose once more the richness, joy and healing of adhering to the lifestyle of Jesus, the Son of God made man. Consecrated life is always relevant because “it proclaims the Father, who desires to make all of humanity one family. It proclaims the Incarnate Son, who gathers the redeemed into unity, pointing the way by his example, his prayer, his words and above all his death, which is the source of reconciliation for a divided and scattered humanity. It proclaims the Holy Spirit as the principle of unity in the Church, wherein he ceaselessly raises up spiritual families and fraternal communities” (Vita Consecrata, 21).

Let us now turn to the Virgin Mary, whose maternal example, support, and intercession, is never lacking to consecrated people and to all those who are considering giving their life to the Lord as a loving response to his call.

Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ and of the Church, look upon the men and women whom your Son has called to follow Him in total consecration to His love: may they always let the Spirit guide them; may they be tireless in giving of themselves and in serving the Lord, so as to be faithful witnesses to the joy that flows from the Gospel, and preachers of the Truth that leads human beings to the springs of immortal life. Accompany those who feel the call to follow your Son wherever He goes. May they, by your maternal and caring intercession, wholeheartedly accept the will of the Father in their lives, and courageously and passionately persevere in it till the end. Amen!