The story of the consecrated life in Canada since the 1960s should be about much more than numerical decline. Although the falling numbers are significant among Catholic religious in communities that pre-date Vatican II, many communities continue to show stability and even growth. This book provides nuance to that story by adding detailed portraits of movements, communities and institutions. In four parts, this book presents essays from the leading scholars on religious life in Canada that seek to address the state of religious communities dedicated to religious virtuosity normally characterized by formal promises of chastity, poverty, and obedience. The essays examine a broad range of topics related to the general state of consecrated (or “religious” or “monastic”) life in contemporary Canadian Christian and Buddhist traditions. In the first section, the contributors trace the demographics and definitions of religious life in Canada. The second section examines Canadian developments in Catholic religious life during the Vatican II and the post-Vatican II eras. A third section explores trends in contemporary Canadian religious life, while the fourth section describes the consecrated life in other Canadian religious traditions.

This 20th anniversary edition of Consecrated Life features the full text of Saint John Paul II's apostolic exhortation, with commentary by Sr. Marianne Lorraine Trouv , FSP. Discover why the Church can't exist without consecrated life, and why we have hope this way of life will flourish despite current problems. Jesus always calls some persons to make this radical gift of self. It is a sign of the Trinity. Released in time for the Year of Consecrated Life.

A guide to help Catholic women discover a vocation to religious life.

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".

This book brings together God's call, the cries of the world and of the earth today, and charisms in consecrated life in a way that dynamically engages the vows, prayer, community, and ministry for the particular time and contexts in which we live. Here is a valuable theological and pastoral resource for the conversion, transformation, and revitalization needed in consecrated life today.

Sandra Schneiders continues her rethinking of the traditional religious vows in the context of postmodernism, reaching back into the gospels for the meaning of ¿world¿ in order to discern the meaning of renunciation of the ¿world¿ by religious, examining, the vow of poverty both in its economic and spiritual sense as well as the vow of obedience.

The Power of Forgiveness, Pope Francis on Reconciliation calls the reader to explore the mercy of God, received in a profound way by turning toward God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This heartfelt collection of the Pope's reflections on the need for repentance, awareness of sin, God's divine mercy, forgiveness of others, and confession and absolution, is a transformative read for Catholics of all vocational states!