1 Consecrated Life Sept10

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The Consecrated Life


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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.


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What is Consecrated Life?

Canon 573.2 Christian faithful who profess theevangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and

obedience by vows or other bonds according to the

proper laws of institutes freely assume this form ofliving 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.


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What is Consecrated Life?

A. Consecrated life or religious life is the total and radical

dedication of ones 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 becomemembers of an institute of consecrated life according to the law ofthe church (canon 573.2)

C. This total dedication to God has as its goal the pursuit for perfectionin charity by faithfully embracing the evangelical counsels ofpoverty, chastity and obedience.

D. In this sense, religious life is a free response to the invitation of theHoly 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 witnessand servants of Christ and his kingdom.

F. Religious or consecrated life can be lived out in community orindividually but always as an expression of the Churchs life, mission,service, and charisma.


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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 promotedby everyone in the

Church.Sisters of Life


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Canon 578

The whole patrimony of aninstitute must be faithfully

preserved by all. This

patrimony is comprised of the

intentions of the founders, ofall that the competent

ecclesiastical authority has

approved concerning the

nature, purpose, spirit and

character of the institute, and

of its sound traditions.


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Canon 587

To protect morefaithfully the vocationand identity of eachinstitute, the

fundamental code orconstitutitons of theinstitute are to contain,in addition to thosewhich are to bepreserved in accordancewith canon 578,

basic norms about thegovernance of theinstitute,

the discipline of the

members, the admission and

formation of themembers,

and the proper objectof their sacred bonds.


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The states of consecrated life, Canon 588

Religious institutes can be clerical or

lay institutes.

A. Clerical institutes are those governed byclerics, assume the exercise of sacredorders, and are recognized by theChurch as clerical institutes.

An example of this type of institute isthe Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and theCongregation of the most HolyRedeemer (Redemptorists).

B. Lay institutes: an institute of religious lifewhose spiritual heritage does notinclude the exercise of sacred orders. Anexample of this type of institute are allthe institutes of women and brothersreligious.


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Canon 588

Aclerical institute is one

which, by reason of the

end or purpose intended

by the founder, or byreason of lawful tradition,

is under the governance of

clerics, presupposes the

exercise of sacred orders.

Society of Mary


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Canon 588

Alay 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 includethe exercise of sacred orders.

A Marist Brother


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Did you know?

An institute of consecrated life issaid to be of pontifical right if theHoly See has erected it or approvedit through a formal decree.

An institute of consecrated life issaid to be of diocesan right if it isapproved by the diocesan bishop.

An institute approved by thebishop can petition for recognitionby the Holy See, specially if theinstitute has grown significantlyand expanded into other dioceses.


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The male equivalent for a nun and religious sisteris a religious brother. Brothers can be monastic or

have an active apostolate in the world.


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To be continued

Documents

1 Consecrated Life Sept10