Day 128: Unique Calls to Holiness

All religious, whether exempt or not, take their place among the collaborators of the diocesan bishop in his pastoral duty. From the outset of the work of evangelization, the missionary "planting" and expansion of the Church require the presence of the religious life in all its forms. "History witnesses to the outstanding service rendered by religious families in the propagation of the faith and in the formation of new Churches: from the ancient monastic institutions to the medieval orders, all the way to the more recent congregations." CCC 926

In today's reading, the Catechism goes further into consecrated life, including secular groups. The Catechism Compendium summarizes the understanding of the Church on this life:

The consecrated life participates in the mission of the Church by means of a complete dedication to Christ and to one’s brothers and sisters witnessing to the hope of the heavenly Kingdom. (#193)

Those called monks, nuns, or hermits were covered more in-depth yesterday, so the focus now shifts to more secular ones, especially among the laity. The first are secular institutes like the Company of St. Ursula, Secular Institute of St. Angela Merici. The Catechism Companion, Vol II describes such groups as follows:

Secular institutes are communities dedicated to the evangelical counsels: poverty, chastity, and obedience. (p. 20)

The next are societies that bond together in faith for some mission in the Church. An example of these would be the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. The Catechism Companion describes them as:

Societies of apostolic life are communities of men or women who do not take vows but who share a way of life in some form and work together for the good of the Church. (p. 20)

Finally, in the Catechism Companion, both of these types of groups are described as follows:

Consecrated individuals dedicate themselves to God's service in very specific ways, such as teaching or reaching out to the poor. They do not take public religious vows, but their first mission is to live out their consecration. All of these different paths are ways a person responds to the call of Jesus... Even those who are not religious sisters or brothers have been consecrated to be in service to God and his Church. (p. 20)

 I must confess though that I'm not certain which type the Knights of Columbus may fall under, as well as That Man Is You, both of which I myself am a member of. In the end, what's most important to understand is that we are all called to serve the Lord and live out the Gospel message regardless of what group we may join.

Adoration of the Trinity by Albrecht Dürer (1509-1511)

All the faithful, whether living or deceased, form "one family of God" in Christ (see CCC 959). This artwork by Albrecht Dürer shows countless saints and angels adoring God. (p. 21)