Consecrated life is the Church’s way of referring to the wide range of opportunities that exists for individuals to dedicate themselves to a life of prayer and service. The dedication of one’s life in this way commences with a public or private ceremony in which vows are taken. Some of the most visible members of the Church that live their vocation in this way are Nuns, Sisters, Monks, Brothers and Priests in Religious communities. So, the most well known form of consecrated life is that of belonging to a religious order and living in a community. One of the very attractions is the spirit or charism of that order.

The Vows
The vows that are most commonly taken are Celibacy, Poverty and Obedience. Over the years, much has been written on the vows and the variety of ways they are expressed, ways that create practical differences in the organisation of groups and communities. These vows clearly express values that fly in the face of the values of our world today. To outsiders they suggest no sex, no money and doing what you are told, but for those living the religious life, these vows express a lifestyle of commitment much richer than such a crude assessment.

Poverty calls us to live simply, sharing our resources and challenging the consumerism that encourages greed and wastage of the world’s limited resources.

Obedience challenges us to put God’s will at the centre of our life replacing the urge for selfishness and individualism.

Celibacy challenges us to live non-exploitative relationships in a world where people can often be seen as sexual objects, opportunities for personal gratification.

Some live Consecrated Life in contemplative communities dedicating their lives to prayer. Other people join apostolic communities and live their lives by serving the needs of the world in areas such as education, health care, parish ministry, social work, and counselling. Often their choice of work is motivated by the needs of the marginalized and poorest members of our society such as the homeless and refugees.

There are over 9,000 men and women in England and Wales today living their lives in these ways. To find out more, visit the National Religious Vocation Centre or the Religious Vocations Project.

Association of British Contemplatives Directory - The Association (ABC) was developed out of a meeting of the contemplative nuns of England, Scotland and Wales for the purpose of responding to the Lineamenta for the 1994 Synod on the Consecrated Life. There is a need for this directory as many people are not aware there are so many Orders and convents. The ABC has therefore collected together brief accounts of the contemplative Orders who reside in the United Kingdom. For further information and to download the directory click on this link - www.abc.mydom.co.uk

Read Sr Hyacinthe's story.

Br Ben shares his reasons for giving his life totally to God as a member of a religious community for men.

Sr Marianne provides an insight into what gives her life.

The Monks of Caldey Abbey belong to the Order of Reformed Cistercians, an offshoot of the Benedictine order, founded in 1098 by St Robert, Abbot of Molesme in France.

A new discernment programme called COMPASS has been launched to provide accompaniment and support to young men and women who wish to explore the possibility of a vocation to religious life.

Some women feel a specific call to celibacy, to be lived in the world. They do not feel drawn to any particular order, but do want to consecrate their lives to God in a fuller way.

The consecration of virgins was a long established ecclesial vocation in the early Church, particularly during the 4th century. The order fell into disuse and was restored by Pope Pius XII in his Apostolic Letter Sacra Virgintas (On Consecrated Virginity), 25th March 1954. Again, the Second Vatican Council ‘revived’ this ancient rite (Constitution the Sacred Liturgy:80), but it took a further 10 years or so before it became more common in this country.

The vocation of consecrated virginity is not an abdication of the responsibilities of marriage, but a resolution freely made to abstain all one’s life from marriage “for the Kingdom of Heaven”.

This “counter-culture” provides a powerful witness in today’s world.

In order to be considered for the Order of Consecrated Virgins

• A woman must be single, never having married or had children.
• She must have a living faith, already committed to a life of prayer and service.
• She must be financially responsible for herself.
• She must also be emotionally and psychologically stable and mature.

She may then present herself to her Diocesan Bishop, to be considered for consecration. If accepted she will undergo a period of formation. During this time, she will

• Have a spiritual director or guide
• Be accompanied by another consecrated woman
• Continue her life of apostolic service and solitary prayer

For more information, please contact Sr. Elizabeth Rees OCV, 2 Parkfields, High Street, Butleigh, nr Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 8DZ Tel: 01458 851561 or email or read Ruth’s story here.

What are Secular Institutes?

Secular Institutes are the newest form of consecrated life in the Church. Unlike religious, members of Secular Institutes
live entirely in the world. Like all other lay people they share the responsibility to live gospel values and attitudes in family and social relationships and in the workplace,
whether it be the office, factory, shop,
hospital, school etc. They are also committed to being involved in the life of the Church.

Like religious, they are called to live
their commitment through vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

For further information on secular institutes in England and Wales please visit the Secular Institutes website.


Voluntas Dei Institute -
A secular institute of pontifical right with a presence in 16 countries throughout the world. Their mission is to create peace and justice. They include priests, deacons, seminarians, vowed celibate men and married couples as associates.
There is also a sister institute called Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
For further information contact:
Michael Craig email: MJCraig999@aol.com
or visit the website.

Miles Jesu
Miles Jesu (Latin for "Soldier of Jesus")
is a form of consecrated life in the Catholic
Church for the laity, known as an Ecclesial Family of Consecrated Life, whose purpose
is "to instill Catholic ideals and goals in the world to further the Kingdom of Christ,
making Him the Center of all human life".

Miles Jesu promotes the Catholic Faith
through retreats, seminars, prayer-study reunions and conferences for young people and adults. With its headquarters in Rome, Miles Jesus works in 15 countries on 4 continents. The Institute is approved by
the Holy See.

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