Table of Contents
Introduction
In the Christian faith, religious individuals seek to nurture a closer relationship with Christ by modeling their lives after His example. One way they do this is by taking on the profession of evangelical vows, which serves as a super-addition to the consecration received through Baptism. These vows are public promises that signify a total commitment to God and the dedication of one’s entire life in service to Him alone. In this article, we will explore the three main characteristics of Christ’s life that religious seek to emulate through their vows: a life without possessions, a life of chastity, and a life of obedience to God.
Living without Possessions
Jesus Christ, as the perfect example of selflessness, lived a life without any possessions. The Apostle Paul reminds us of this in his letter to the Corinthians, where he writes, “For you know the graciousness of our Lord Jesus Christ – how, being rich, he became poor for your sakes, that by His poverty you might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). By renouncing all material wealth, Jesus demonstrated the importance of prioritizing spiritual riches over worldly possessions.
Religious individuals who take on the profession of evangelical vows strive to imitate Christ’s example of detachment from material possessions. They recognize that true wealth lies in the treasures of heaven rather than in earthly goods. By embracing poverty, both in fact and in spirit, they share in the poverty of Christ and acknowledge that their ultimate treasure is found in God alone.
Living a Chaste Life
Another characteristic of Christ’s life that religious seek to emulate is His chastity. Jesus Himself spoke about celibacy, saying, “…and there are eunuchs who have made themselves so for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matt. 19:12). By choosing a life of celibacy, religious individuals dedicate themselves to God in a unique way, freeing their hearts to be more inflamed with love for Him and for all people.
The vow of chastity, or celibacy, is seen as an outstanding gift of grace within religious life. It allows individuals to fully dedicate themselves to the service of God and the works of the apostolate. By living a chaste life, religious remind all believers of the wondrous marriage decreed by God, where the Church takes Christ as its only spouse. This vow enables religious to love God above all else and to love all people for the sake of God.
Living in Obedience
Jesus Christ, as the perfect Son, obeyed His Heavenly Father in all things. He declared, “My food is to do the Will of Him who sent me, to accomplish His work” (Jn 4:34). Christ’s obedience to the Father serves as an example for all believers, including those who take on the profession of evangelical vows.
By professing obedience, religious individuals offer the full surrender of their own will as a sacrifice to God. They unite themselves permanently and securely to God’s salvific will, just as Jesus did. Under the guidance of their superiors, who hold the place of God, religious subject themselves in faith to the authority placed over them. This obedience leads them to serve all their brothers and sisters in Christ, imitating the example of Jesus who served His brethren and laid down His life as a ransom for many.
The Significance of the Vows
The vows of obedience, poverty, and chastity that religious individuals make are not mere formalities, but rather profound commitments that shape their lives and spirituality. These vows are taken in imitation of Christ and serve as a means of perfecting the consecration received through Baptism. Let us explore the significance of each vow in more detail.
Obedience
For religious individuals, the vow of obedience represents a full surrender of their own will to God. It is a sacrifice of themselves, uniting them permanently and securely to God’s salvific will. In imitating Christ, who came to do the will of the Father, religious subject themselves in faith to their superiors, who represent God’s authority in their lives.
Under the guidance of their superiors, religious individuals are led to serve their brothers and sisters in Christ. They strive to attain the fullness of Christian maturity and work towards building up the Church. Through their vow of obedience, religious make decisions in accordance with God’s will, which is often mediated to them through the authority of their congregation.
Poverty
The vow of poverty, embraced by religious individuals, goes beyond a simple renunciation of material possessions. It calls for a transformation of the heart, where individuals become poor in fact and in spirit. By sharing in the poverty of Christ, who became poor for the sake of humanity, religious acknowledge that their true wealth lies in the treasures of heaven.
Practicing voluntary poverty is seen as an expression of following Christ, highly esteemed in today’s world. It is not enough for religious to use goods subject to their superior’s will; they must embody poverty both outwardly and inwardly. This vow challenges religious to detach themselves from the allure of material wealth and to place their trust in God alone.
Chastity
The vow of chastity, or celibacy, is regarded as a special gift of grace within religious life. It frees the heart of individuals in a unique way, allowing them to be more inflamed with love for God and for all people. By embracing celibacy, religious dedicate themselves with an undivided heart to the service of God and the works of the apostolate.
Chastity not only symbolizes heavenly goods but also serves as the most suitable means for religious to fully commit themselves to God. It allows them to recall the wondrous marriage decreed by God, where the Church takes Christ as its only spouse. Through the vow of chastity, religious individuals demonstrate their desire for union with God above all else and their commitment to the work of God in the world.
The Benefits of the Evangelical Counsels
Some may question the relevance of the evangelical counsels in today’s world. However, it is important to recognize that the profession of evangelical vows does not detract from the genuine development of the human person. On the contrary, these vows contribute to the purification of the heart and spiritual liberty.
The evangelical counsels continually stir up the fervor of charity within religious individuals. They serve as a means of molding them into the type of chaste and detached life that Christ Himself chose. By embracing the vows, religious individuals follow in the footsteps of holy founders who exemplified these virtues.
It is crucial to understand that religious individuals who take on the profession of evangelical vows are not estranged from society or useless citizens of the earthly city. Though they may not always directly mingle with their contemporaries, they are spiritually united with them in the heart of Christ. They cooperate with their fellow believers and contribute to the building up of the earthly city, ensuring that their labor is not in vain.
Conclusion
The profession of evangelical vows is a super-addition to the consecration received through Baptism. By taking on the vows of obedience, poverty, and chastity, religious individuals commit themselves fully to imitating Christ in His life without possessions, His chastity, and His obedience to the Father.
Through the vow of obedience, religious make decisions in accordance with God’s will and serve their brothers and sisters in Christ. The vow of poverty challenges them to detach themselves from material wealth and recognize that true riches are found in heaven. The vow of chastity enables religious to love God above all else and to commit themselves wholeheartedly to His service.
The evangelical counsels, embraced voluntarily according to personal vocation, contribute to the purification of the heart and spiritual freedom. They serve as a means of molding the Christian person into a chaste and detached life, following the example of Christ and His Mother.
Let us not underestimate the significance of the profession of evangelical vows. It is through these vows that religious individuals commit themselves to a life of selflessness, detachment, and obedience to God. They become living examples of Christ’s teachings and serve as a source of inspiration for all believers.