Why is religious life often called consecrated religious life?
A man or woman consecrates themselves to God through the promise of the religious vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. This means that they freely and willingly choose to live their lives in an exclusive relationship with God. As a man or woman says “no” to other life vocations, when he or she pronounces marriage vows, so too, religious woman and men commit to live their lives only for God. All that they do in regard to their ministry is an overflow and expression of this consecration. Their consecration does not make them “better.” It is a different way of living the holiness to which each human being is called.
