Characteristics
Everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. - Matthew 19:29
Religious sincerely strive to be totally centered on God.
Every day, every breath, and every heartbeat is consecrated to God.
They live completely for God.
The consecration they experienced at Baptism should be taken to the limit.
Religious belong to a congregation, a community in which members live the particular spirituality of the founder or founders. This way of life is called a charism.
Each congregation has a charism, or gift of the Holy Spirit for the entire Church. The Franciscans, for example, founded by St. Francis of Assisi, are known for the spirit of poverty.
The works of a community reflect its charism. Each congregation lives according to its Constitutions, or Rule of Life, approved by the Holy See or local Bishop.
Vows are public promises to nurture a close relationship with God, religious model their lives on Jesus.
Our Savior's life had several but three main characteristics:
- Jesus lived without a lot of possessions.
- Jesus lived the chastity of an unmarried person.
- In all things, Jesus obeyed his heavenly Father.
Most religious make three promises called vows, pledging to imitate Jesus in these ways for their whole life.
- By the vow of poverty religious own everything in common, share possessions, and live simply.
- By the vow of celibacy / chastity religious make themselves open to God and free to love all.
- By the vow of obedience religious make decisions in tune with God's will, which is often mediated for them through the authority of their congregation.
Many Religious pray the Liturgy of the Hours individually or in community or have prayer services prepared by the Religious or use various forms of prayer.
They celebrate the Eucharist often, if not daily, and devote time each day to personal prayer and spiritual reading. Each year they make a week-long retreat.