On Consecrated Life and its Mission in the Church and in the World
The Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata, promulgated by Saint John Paul II on March 25, 1996, is a key document on consecrated life in the Church. It was written as a result of the 1994 Synod of Bishops, which reflected on the identity, mission, and challenges of consecrated life in the contemporary world.
In a time marked by secularization and social change, consecrated life faced challenges such as the decline in vocations and the need for spiritual and structural renewal. Vita Consecrata seeks to reaffirm the importance of the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and to highlight the essential role of consecrated persons in evangelization.
Vita Consecrata reaffirmed the vocation and mission of consecrated persons in a changing world, encouraging them to renew their commitment to Christ and the Church. His message remains relevant, inspiring religious men and women to live faithfully their consecration and be a light in the world.