 Consecrated Life
CAVA Chicago Archdiocesan Vocation Association
The Chicago Archdiocesan Vocation Association (CAVA) is a membership organization
of Vocation Ministers representing various religious congregations who minister
within the Archdiocese of Chicago. In association with the Archdiocesan Office for
Religious, CAVA is committed to minister collaboratively women and men religious,
diocesan priests and laity for the promotion of all church-related vocations.
With an advisory board, CAVA has four standing committees, which organize vocation
events and offer support for individual vocation ministers. These committees are
the Parish Vocation Awareness Committee, the Campus Ministry/Young Adult Committee,
the CAVA Latina Committee and the Education Committee. For more information on membership
go to www.vocationscava.org
or contact Sr. Elyse at
cava@archchicago.org
Forms of Consecrated Life in the Church
The Consecrated Life
In the Church, which is like the sacrament- the sign and instrument - of God's own
life, the consecrated life is seen as a special sign of the mystery of redemption.
To follow and imitate Christ more nearly and to manifest more clearly his self-
emptying is to be more deeply present to one's contemporaries, in the heart of Christ.
For those who are on this "narrower" path encourage their brethren by
their example, and bear striking witness "that the world cannot be transfigured
and offered to God without the spirit of the beatitudes." The Catechism of
the Catholic Church – 932 *
Religious Institutes
“Religious institutes are societies in which members pronounce public vows (perpetual
or temporary), live in community and share financial sustainability. Religious render
a public witness to Christ and to the church which entails a separation from the
world proper to the character and purpose of each institute”. *
www.vocationscava.org
Religious institutes can be separated into apostolic and contemplative congregations.
Apostolic congregations are devoted to apostolic and missionary activity and to
the many different works inspired by Christian charity outside of the cloister.
Contemplative congregations live a life of cloister, constant prayer, offering of
self, and the daily recitation of the Liturgy of the Hours. See Canon 607 *
Societies of Apostolic Life
One of the distinguishing characteristics of these societies is that they are defined
by their apostolic goal. They are bound by simple vows, renewed annually, rather
than perpetual vows which are professed for life. Societies of apostolic life live
in community with their lifestyle and spirituality in support of their apostolic
goal. i.e. Paulist Fathers , Vincentians, Daughters of Charity, etc. See Canon 731
*
Secular Institutes
A secular institute is an organization of consecrated persons professing the Evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and
obedience while living in the world, unlike members of a religious institute who
live in community. Secular institutes represent a form of consecration in secular
life, not religious life. www.secularinstitutes.org
See Canons 710 & 712 *
Consecrated Virgins
The call to a life as a Consecrated Virgin is distinct from other forms of consecrated
life in that it is entered by virtue of the Prayer of Consecration rather than by
vows or promises. Characterized by a spousal spirituality with Christ, the consecrated
virgin lives individually under the direction of the diocesan bishop, dedicates
her prayer to the mission of the Church and the people of God, wears a ring of consecration,
and earns her own living www.consecratedvirgins.org
See Canon 604 *
For anyone interested in pursuing a call to consecrated virginity in the Archdiocese
of Chicago please contact Sr. Joan McGlinchey, Vicar for Religious at
jmcglinchey@archchicago.org .
Private Vows in Lay Movements
Lay associations also known as “ecclesial associations” are relatively new groups
in the church. Members profess private vows in the name of the Church to a legitimate
superior, live in community and put their salaries into the community of goods.
i.e. Focolare, Regnum Christi etc. See Canon 1192 *
The Eremitic Life – Diocesan Hermits
An ancient form of consecrated life begun in the third century, a hermit lives under
norms prescribed in Canon Law under the direction of the diocesan bishop. The diocesan
hermit publicly profess poverty, chastity and obedience before the bishop, devote
themselves to prayer, penance and solitude and earn their own living. See Canon
603 *
* Center for the Study of Religious Life, “Kindling”, Volume 7 Issue 2, Winter 2006
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