Consecrated Life
Consecrated Life The word “consecrated” means “to be set apart.” Therefore, consecrated persons are “set apart” from the duties of married life and family life to love and live for God and His Church.
Since the early First Century, men and women have given their lives to Christ. We read this in Sacred Scripture in the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles as we learn about the call of the Apostles and the witness of the martyrs.
“The state of consecrated life is thus one way of experiencing a “more intimate” consecration, rooted in Baptism and dedicated totally to God. In the consecrated life, Christ’s faithful, moved by the Holy Spirit, propose to follow Christ more nearly, to give themselves to God who is loved above all and, pursuing the perfection of charity in the service of the Kingdom, to signify and proclaim in the Church the glory of the world to come.” (CCC 916)
The Rockford Diocese is very fortunate to have many religious communities of men and women serving God through its people.
Religious Communities of Women
Consecrated Virgins
From apostolic times Christian virgins and widows, called by the Lord to cling only to him with greater freedom of heart, bodies, and spirit, have decided with the Church’s approval to live in the respective states of virginity or perpetual chastity for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. (CC 922)
As with other forms of consecrated life, the order of virgins establishes the woman living in the world (or the nun) in prayer, penance, service of her brethren, and apostolic activity, according to the state of life and spiritual gifts given to her. Consecrated virgins can form themselves into associations to observe their commitment more faithfully. (CC 924)
Consecrated Virgins in the Diocese of Rockford
Miss Helen Reier
(847) 890-5494
627-B West Main Street
Cary, IL 60013
