The World Day for Consecrated Life on Feb. 2 and the weekend that follows is an opportunity to celebrate the gift of consecrated life and pray for men and women discerning a consecrated vocation with the global Catholic Church.
While all the baptized are called to share a common relationship with God: to be “religious” or holy in the broad sense of the word, those choosing to live consecrated lives elect to follow a specific tradition or spirituality often patterned after the life and teaching of the founder of their community. This special day draws attention to the contributions that consecrated men and women make to the Church and society at-large.
Instituted by Pope John Paul II in 1997, World Day for Consecrated Life is a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life. The celebration is attached to the feast of the Presentation of the Lord on Feb. 2. This feast is also known as Candlemas Day; the day on which candles are blessed symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world. Similarly, consecrated men and women are called to spread the light and love of Jesus Christ through their unique witness of selfless service, such as caring for the poor, the contemplative work of prayer, or through their professional careers.
Forms of consecrated life
Consecrated life takes many forms. It includes Catholic brothers and sisters who are members of religious institutes, are hermits or consecrated virgins, in apostolic life, or are members of secular institutes.
Learn
Vocations to consecrated religious life in our diocese
Four women discover lives of joy in Church’s ancient vocation (November 2023 FAITH Grand Rapids magazine, p. 10)
Read
Pope Francis’ messages for the World Day (Vatican website)
Select quotes from Christus vivit, Pope Francis’ 2019 post-synodal apostolic exhortation written “to young people and to the entire people of God.”
Pray
View/download a prayer card from the USCCB
Pray with Pope Francis in February for religious sisters and consecrated women (Vatican News)
Additional resources
Letter to the world’s consecrated men and women (Vatican News)
From the National Religious Vocation Conference
Women and Men Professing Perpetual Vows in Religious Life: The Profession Class of 2023 (the USCCB’s Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations commissioned the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University to conduct its annual survey of newly professed men and women religious in the United States.)
More from the USCCB
