Vows and commitment

If, by baptism, all the baptized are consecrated, the notion of “consecrated life” implies a commitment to celibacy through vows, public or private.

In addition to orders and congregations of religious life, apostolic, monastic or missionary, consecrated life also concerns secular institutes, societies of apostolic life, consecrated virgins, or even hermits.

Religious take vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, after a period of novitiate, then temporary vows of at least three years.

religious orders can be monastic, eremitic or semi-eremitic, hospitable, beggar…

religious institutes may be of pontifical right, having received the approval of the Holy See, or be of diocesan right, recognized by the bishop.

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