consecration to God by a “new and special title” effected through the profession of the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, and obedience, usually by vow within a Religious Congregation or a Secular Institute. Other persons may also be consecrated in appropriate ecclesial forms or ceremonies of consecration.

The Consecrated Life in the Christian tradition, especially the Roman Catholic Church, but also the Anglican Church and to some extent other Christian denominations, is "a stable form of living by which faithful, following Christ more closely under the action of the Holy Spirit, are totally dedicared to God who is loved most of all, so that, having dedicared themselves to His honour, the upbuilding of the Church and the salvation of the world by a new and special title, they strive for the perfection of charity in service to the Kingdom of God and, having become an outstanding sign in the Church, they may foretell the heavenly glory" (cf. The Code of Canon Law, 1983, canon 573).

Within the Roman Catholic Church, the Consecrated Life, referred to also as the Religious Life, is a way of Christian living by those who have made the prescribed public religious profession and vow that is recognized in Church Law.canons 573–746 of the Code of Canon Law Those who have made their profession and vow are not, however, part of the Church hierarchy, unless they are also ordained priests.http://uk.geocities.com/[email protected]/churchchart.html Chart showing the place of consecrated persons among the People of God They commit themselves, for the love of God, to observe as binding certain counsels from the Christian Gospel. Most who feel called to following Jesus Christ in a more exacting way join what are called Religious Institutes,canons 573–602, 605–709 often referred to in everyday life as religious orders or religious congregations, in which they follow a common rule under the leadership of a superior. They usually live in community, although the Religious Life as Hermits without ceasing to be a member of their Religious Institute, though this is normally an exception to the proper law of the community.