FAQ / Ask Abide

Frequently Asked Questions About Consecrated Life

1. What are the different forms of consecrated life?

There are several forms of consecrated life:

religious sister: a religious sister is a woman consecrated to God in an apostolic, or active, religious community. She engages in a life of prayer and an apostolate of service, such as healthcare, education, or service to the poor. She strives to imitate Christ in His ministry and His prayer life. She seeks to be the hands and feet of Christ for the world. Click here to explore some communities of religious sisters.

nun: a nun is a woman consecrated to God in a contemplative, cloistered religious community. Her life of prayer is her full-time job. Through her prayer and union with God, she embraces the whole world as a spiritual mother. She strives to imitate Christ in His prayer life, and, like Mary, to ponder the things of God in her heart. Nuns are sometimes referred to as "the heart of the Church." Click here to explore some communities of nuns.

Note: in common parlance, "nun" is often used to refer to all women religious.

religious brother: a religious brother is a man consecrated to God in an apostolic community. He engages in a life of prayer and an apostolate of service, in imitation of Christ. He seeks to bring Christ to the world. Click here to explore some communities of religious brothers.

monk: a monk is a man consecrated to God in a contemplative community. Like nuns, monks make their lives an offering to God through their prayer and union with Him. Click here to explore some communities of monks.

priest: the priesthood is a life of prayer and service to God's people. Through the celebration of the Mass and the Sacraments, priests make Christ sacramentally present to the people of God. They also serve the people through providing guidance and counsel. Priests may be diocesan priests, or members of a religious community. Click here to check out the website of St. Joseph's Seminary, the centre of formation for diocesan priests in Western Canada.

2. I don't see any monks walking around in my neighbourhood. Do people still consecrate themselves to God?

Yes. God is still calling people to belong to Him in a special way through consecrated life. While Canada is not home to as many consecrated people as some other parts of the world (yet), God is still calling.

It would be wonderful if each Canadian young person could find a good fit with a Canadian religious order, but that is not always possible. Some young people who feel called to religious life may need to travel out of Canada in order to find a community to join, but this is a viable option for young Canadians. Several thriving international communities have made foundations in Canada. There are also several young, vibrant Canadian communities that are beginning to make their presence known.

Throughout the ages, God has called men and women to Himself. He has never stopped. The question is: are we willing to answer the call?

3. How can I discern if I'm being called to consecrated life?

For starters, check out the Discerning? Start Here page for some tips on discernment. It may also be helpful to consider some practical considerations, such as your capacity to live consecrated life. Most communities have the following requirements:

a candidate should:

-be in good physical, mental and emotional health

-be approximately 18 - 35 years of age, unmarried, and a Catholic in good standing

-be free of debt*

If you meet these requirements, you may be a good candidate for the consecrated life.

*Is student debt a factor in your discernment? Click here.

4. Can you recommend any books I could read to help with my discernment process?

Absolutely. Spiritual reading is helpful for one's spiritual life in general, and especially if you are discerning. Abide recommends starting with one of the following:

The Gospel of John. All Scripture is beneficial reading, but John's Gospel seems to speak in a special way to young people, especially if you are new to Scripture reading.

The Holy Longing by Father Ronald Rolheiser, OMI. An excellent introduction to the spiritual life, written in an engaging and enjoyable style. If you are a newbie to spiritual reading, start with this book.

The Story of A Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux, also known as The Little Flower. An incredible story of one woman's spiritual journey as a cloistered, contemplative nun. A life-changing book.

The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton, OCSO. A spiritual classic, this book tells the story of one man's call to consecrated life as a Trappist monk. Be warned: this book has inspired many readers to seriously consider consecrated life!

A Right To Be Merry by Mother Mary Francis, PCC. A fascinating introduction to life in a contemplative monastery, this book also demonstrates that nuns can be hilarious! A spiritual and entertaining read. 

Thirty-three Days to Morning Glory by Father Michael Gaitley, MIC. This book will guide you through the process of consecrating your life to Mary — a beneficial practice for all Catholics, but especially those in discernment.

What books have inspired you in the spiritual life or in your discernment journey? Share with us in the comments below!

Have a question about consecrated life? Ask Abide in the comments below, or email us at abideyeg@gmail.com.