Roman Catholicism: Consecrated Life

Synopsis

Within the Roman Catholic Church, the Consecrated Life refers to the life lived by those who are consecrated virgins, recognized hermits, members of religious institutes, and members of secular institutes. The most well known style of consecrated life is Religious Life. Some well known orders include the Carthusians, Jesuites and Dominicans

Related topics

• Orders and Societies Index: Carthusians | Jesuites | Dominicans

For related quotations see Roman Catholicism: Consecrated Life (quotes)

Main article

Within the Roman Catholic Church, the Consecrated Life refers to the life lived by those who are consecrated virgins, recognized hermits, members of religious institutes, and members of secular institutes. The most well known style of consecrated life is Religious Life. Some well known orders include the Carthusians, Jesuites and Dominicans

Religious Life is a way of Christian living that always includes common fraternal life and public religious profession of vows that are recognized in Roman Church Law. Those who have made their profession (vows) are not, however, part of the Church hierarchy, unless they are also ordained priests. They commit themselves, for the love of God, to observe as binding certain counsels from the Christian Gospel.

Canons 603 and 604 of the section on the Consecrated Life in the Code of Canon Law give official recognition also to Consecrated Hermits and Consecrated Virgins who are not members of religious institutes

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