THE CONSECRATED LIFE: ITS PLACE AND ROLE IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Abstract

This paper focuses on the place and role of the consecrated people in our time. It argues that for the consecrated life to meet up with the demands of the 21st century world, it must embrace the spirit of change ranging through the age without losing itself and essence to change itself. This spirit of change has the blessing of the Council Fathers who fathomed the need for renewal in the consecrated life. To improve in its engagement with the world, there is need to examine first the understanding and application of consecrated life purely from the evangelical counsel. How consecrated people live and apply these vows in the imitation of Christ in the 21st century world is very important. The vows as we all know are the lowest common factors among all the consecrated persons.