Active Life

The Active Life: serving the world through total self-giving to God

One of the most important calls of the pontificate of John Paul II has been the new evangelization: a commitment that requires enthusiasm, dedication, and unity of all the people of God. Priests, religious, and lay people are summoned to this task, which can only be carried out in authentic communion, respecting the diversity of charisms and vocations.

Within this panorama, religious of the Active Life constitute an extraordinary potential for the mission of the Church:

“Even in our day, religious men and women represent a primary evangelizing and apostolic force on the Latin American continent… The presence of consecrated life is an enormous potential of persons and communities, of charisms and institutions… to permeate cultures, defend human rights, and promote the integral development of persons.”
— Apostolic Letter to the Religious of Latin America, June 29, 1990, n. 3

Religious of the Active Life not only bear witness to the evangelical life, but make it present in the midst of society, bringing the light of Christ where it is most needed.

What is the Active Life?

The Active Life is defined as the form of religious life in which members are dedicated primarily to works of charity and apostolate. Unlike the Contemplative Life, centered on prayer and meditation, the Active Life seeks to live the Gospel through concrete actions, following the example of Jesus:

  • Teaching and education

  • Care for the sick and the elderly

  • Social works and assistance to the marginalized

  • Evangelization and catechesis

“The first means of evangelization for religious is to conform their own life more and more to the person and message of Jesus Christ.”
— Address to the Major Superiors of Europe, November 17, 1983

Characteristics of women religious of the Active Life

Those who choose the Active Life have distinctive qualities:

1. Commitment to service:
They live dedicated to others, especially the most in need.

2. Apostolic versatility:
They take part in various activities according to their congregation’s apostolate, from education to healthcare.

3. Community bond:
Community life strengthens fraternity, shared prayer, and mutual support.

4. Active spirituality:
They combine prayer, sacramental life, and apostolic action, balancing contemplation and service.

“The Church expects from religious men and women a constant and decisive impulse in the work of the new evangelization, since each is called according to his or her charism to spread throughout the world the good news of Christ.”
— Apostolic Letter to the Religious of Latin America, June 29, 1990, n. 24

Formation of women religious of the Active Life

Formation takes place in stages, seeking to deepen the vocation and discern definitive commitment:

  • Postulancy: Introduction to community life and apostolate.

  • Novitiate: Deeper formation in spirituality, charism, and the rules of the congregation.

  • Temporary profession: Renewable temporary vows while discernment continues.

  • Perpetual profession: Lifelong vows, totally consecrating one’s existence to God and to the service of neighbor.

This formation ensures that women religious can respond to the challenges of the new evangelization with effectiveness and coherence.

Lifestyle and places of mission

Women religious of the Active Life live in open communities: convents, parishes, or community centers, interacting with society. Their day combines:

  • Prayer: Moments of encounter with God.

  • Community work: Household tasks and fraternal life.

  • Apostolic service: Education, healthcare, social assistance, and evangelization.

“Missionary action depends on your missionary formation… no one bears witness more effectively to evangelical values than those who profess consecrated life with total self-giving to God and availability to serve man and society.”
— Redemptoris Missio, nn. 69-70

Principal functions in the Church

Women religious of the Active Life work directly in society, bringing the Gospel to the world:

  • Education: Catholic schools and colleges.

  • Health: Care for the sick and nursing.

  • Social work: Support for the poor and marginalized.

  • Evangelization: Catechesis and local and international missions.

Their work is complementary to the Contemplative Life, which sustains the Church through prayer and intercession. Together they enable the Church to fulfill its mission: to serve and to evangelize integrally.