A life of consecration prefigures what Christians hope for by calling into question the value of power, sexuality, and material possessions. Religious life challenges the idea that these things alone bring happiness and shows that we can be more fulfilled, happier, and more whole without being attached to them. Furthermore, detaching ourselves from these desires allows others to live with more dignity and greater ease, as well. Consecrated life, then, is a prophetic witness to the joy of the eschatological call of Christianity. In the words of Pope Francis to religious men and women leading up to the Year of Consecrated Religious, “Wake up the world! Be witnesses of a different way of doing things, of acting, of living!”

This landmark volume from an influential group of Anglican theologians explores baptism as the foundation for living out all forms of Christian vocation – in confirmation, marriage, ordination, and religious life. It offers theological and pastoral perspectives on the centrality and significance of baptism for a Church that has perhaps lost a sense of the radical commitment that baptism calls for. It explores the meaning of vows today as promise, covenant, oath, Rule and explores the difference between religious and secular vows. It considers the nature of the vows under which all Christians live, and the particular vows such as marriage and ordination embraced by some. Together, these perceptive reflections offer a theological and pastoral resource for activating every Christian’s the sense of call and response whatever their mode of life.

As novice master of the Cistercian Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani in Kentucky, Thomas Merton presented weekly conferences to familiarize his charges with the meaning and purpose of the vows they aspired to undertake. In this setting, he offered a thorough exposition of the theological, canonical, and above all spiritual dimensions of the vows. Merton set the vows firmly in the context of the anthropological, moral, soteriological, and ecclesial dimensions of human, Christian, and monastic life. He addressed such classical themes of Christian morality as the nature of the human person and his acts; the importance of justice in relation to the Passion of Christ, to friendship and to love; and self-surrender as the key to grace, prayer and the vowed life. Merton's words on these topics clearly spring from a committed heart and often flow with the soaring intensity of style that we have come to expect in his more enthusiastic prose. The texts of these conferences represent the longest and most systematically organized of any of numerous series of conferences that Merton presented during the decade of his mastership. They may be the most directly pastoral work Merton ever wrote.

Written by a diverse group of younger women religious from North America, In Our Own Words offers a collection of essays on issues central to apostolic religious life today. The thirteen authors represent different congregations, charisms, ministries, and histories. The topics and concerns that shape these chapters emerged naturally through a collaborative process of prayer and conversation. Essays focus on the vows and community life, individual identity and congregational charisms, and leadership among younger members leading into the future. The authors hope these chapters may form a springboard for further conversation on religious life, inviting others to share their experiences of religious life in today's world.

The author of "Quantum Theory and Reclaiming Spirituality" offers an original work that expands the meaning--and potential for good--of the three traditional religious vows.

A vow is like a GPS system for your life. When taken on mindfully it can be a source of surprising wisdom and powerful energy, enabling you to accomplish things you never dreamed possible. It can have profound effects even beyond the original intention—and it can even live on after you’re gone. A vow can be as small as the aspiration to smile at someone at least once every day, or it can be as big as marriage; it can be as personal as deciding to be mindful whenever you pick up the phone, or it can be as universal as a commitment to save all sentient beings. But whatever its inspiration, when it’s done with conscious intention a vow becomes a conduit for the energy of your life. In this guide to the vow-directed life, Jan Chozen Bays provides a wealth of practical exercises to use for formulating and implementing vows of your own and for using them to navigate your life with honesty and compassion.

Since 2015 has been ; deemed the Year of the Consecrated Life by Pope Francis, ; this work by Cardinal Arinze is a very timely one-for this ; year, and for any time. A reflection on the consecrated ; life, Radical Discipleship represents a beautiful ; way for faithful Catholics to participate in this ; Church-wide theme and celebration by coming to a deeper ; understanding of the consecrated life. Radical ; Discipleship illuminates the vocation of the ; consecrated state and its presence in the Body of Christ, ; beginning with a brief look at its origins in Scripture and ; the early Church. The work then reflects upon the ; following: The different forms this radical ; life takes The population of consecrated persons ; in the Church today The recognition that the ; consecrated life has received from the Church The ; vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience taken by all ; consecrated persons Community life as it pertains ; to consecrated life The prophetic aspect of the ; consecrated life The impact of the consecrated ; state on the Church community and on ; society Alongside these fascinating topics, ; Cardinal Arinze addresses some of the problems faced by ; consecrated people, and how these difficulties have led ; some to abandon this vocation. In examining the struggles ; specific to the consecrated state, the Cardinal seeks to ; encourage other consecrated persons to persevere in their ; vocation. He further calls the entire Church to support the ; consecrated life and those who have dedicated themselves to ; Christ in this way. Although filled with substantive ; information, even the most involved sections are presented ; in an engaging, readable and reflective style. The book is ; not, as the Cardinal explains, "a dissertation based on ; deep research on the theology and canon law on the ; consecrated life". Radical Discipleship is ; rather a reflection, written for consecrated people, other ; laity and clergy alike, and offers wonderful material for ; thought and prayer. It is Cardinal Arinze's hope that his ; work will make the consecrated life "better understood, ; loved, lived and promoted".