The Year of Consecrated Life ends on the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple on February 2, 2016. In the meantime, the Year of Mercy will be ushered in on December 8, 2015, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and will end on the Feast of Christ the King, November 20, 2016 This state of consecrated life is a more intimate way for men and women to live out their baptismal promises. It is ongoing. Consecrated men and women are moved by the Holy Spirit to live their commitment to follow Christ more closely in total self-giving. By following the evangelical counsels of chastity, obedience and poverty, they live their life by embarking on services to promote the kingdom of God. Many people do not know the different forms of consecrated life. They associate this form of life to priests, nuns and brothers. In the catechism of the Catholic Church, the consecrated are described as “one great tree, with many branches.”
The Code of Cannon law also shows their distinctiveness. There are Institutes of Consecrated Life.. Under this umbrella, there are Eremitic, Order of Virgins, Religious Institutes and Secular Institutes. Eremitic Life is comprised of those men or women who withdraw from the world for the sake of serving God in complete solitude. Order ofVirgins are mostly women or nuns. They devote their lives to building the kingdom and are betrothed mystically to Christ, Religious Institutes are identified by their habit or common way of dressing and live in common and take public vows.
Secular Institutes are orders of men and women and are referred to as silent witnesses of Christ in the world. They do not wear a habit but live either alone or with family. There are also Societies of Apostolic Life which are a different form of consecrated life. They do not profess religious vows. They come together for a specific purpose. This type of organization is defined in the Code of Canon Law under canons 731-746. One particular group is the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. St. Vincent de Paul is regarded as the father of women societies of apostolic life and St. Philip is the father of male societies of apostolic life. The Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations has asked us to say the following prayer.
“O God, throughout the ages you have called women and men to pursue lives of perfect charity through the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience. During the Year of Consecrated Life, we give you thanks for these courageous witnesses of Faith and models of inspiration. Their pursuit of holy lives teaches us to make a more perfect offering of ourselves to you. Continue to enrich your Church by calling forth sons and daughters who having found the pearl of great price, treasure the Kingdom of Heaven above all things. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” Resources: Angela Egbikuadje, PhD Respectfully submitted