Father Hardon - Questions & Answers

Short Catechism on Consecrated Life

The below are excerpts from Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.'s booklet, Catholic Catechism on Consecrated Life, which summarizes the Church's teaching on this matter in Pope John Paul II's Vita Consecrata. (The numbers in parentheses refer to the specific sections of the papal document.) To purchase the Catechism, click here.

What are the roots of consecrated life?
Consecrated life is deeply rooted in the example and teaching of Jesus Christ. To be emphasized is Christ's living and teaching, what we call evangelical counsels. By definition, the counsels go beyond the precepts of the Gospels. Christ prescribed what His followers must do if they hope to be saved. But He offered us the prospect of doing more than we must to be saved. We can love Him with a generosity that goes beyond the commandments of God. (1)

Has consecrated life always existed in the Church?
Yes, in every age of the Church's history there have been men and women whom the Holy Spirit has chosen to follow Christ with an undivided heart. (1)

Does consecrated life affect the whole Church?
Yes. It is at the very heart of the Church as a decisive element for her mission. It manifests the Church's inner nature of striving as the bride of Christ for an ever-deeper union with her Spouse. (3)

How significant are the various forms of consecrated life in the Church?
They are a reflection on earth of the infinity of God. They show how people of different temperaments and cultures, in different places and at different times all reflect the organic unity of divine love which is inseparable between love of God and the love of neighbor. (5)

Is the consecrated life a response to aspecial vocation from God?
Yes, even as Christ called certain people during His public ministry, so He continues to call certain men and women to follow Him in "the whole way." The key to this special vocation is revealed in the Transfiguration of Christ. Christ was transfigured shortly before His Passion to teach us that the glory of following Christ is conditioned on our joining Him in the way of the cross. (11)

How does consecrated life demand a total gift of self?
It is a special grace of intimacy which demands the total gift of oneself by a special acceptance of the mystery of Christ in the Church. The stress in this total commitment is on giving up everything out of love for Christ to cooperate with Him in the salvation and sanctification of souls. (16)

What especially does consecrated life reflect?
It especially reflects the splendor of God's love for the human race by the mystery of the cross. Thus, consecrated life helps the Church remain aware that the cross is the superabundance of God's love poured out upon this world. (24)

How is Mary the sublime example of perfect consecration?
Mary is the sublime example of perfect consecration because of her witness to what it means to belong completely to God and be totally devoted to Him. Chosen by the Lord, she reminds consecrated persons of the primacy of God's initiative. At the same time, once she gave her assent, the divine Word became flesh in her. Mary is the model of the acceptance of God's grace and the wonders He will work through those who surrender themselves completely to His will. (28)

How important is consecrated life in the Church?
Consecrated life belongs "indisputably to the life and holiness of the Church." It is one of the Church's essential and characteristic elements, because it expresses her very nature. (29)

What is the wellspring of a sound consecrated life?
The wellspring is a deep spirituality. Concretely this means leaving everything behind for the sake of Christ, preferring Him above all things. As we approach the third millennium, the Holy Father sees the deepening of the spiritual life of consecrated persons as the foundation for all future hopes of evangelical life and apostolic fruitfulness. (93)

How important is the Eucharist in consecrated life?
It is so important that consecrated life is impossible without the Holy Eucharist. There must be daily participation in the sacrifice of the Mass and daily reception of Holy Communion. Of special importance is frequent and prolonged adoration of Christ present in the Holy Eucharist. The Holy Father assures us that Eucharistic adoration is the promise of re-living Peter's experience at the Transfiguration, when he told Jesus, "It is well that we are here." (95)