The prophetic dimension of John Paul II’s post-synodal exhortation ‘Vita Consecrata’

Abstract

This study delves and explores the prophetic dimension of Vita Consecrata. The introduction briefly explains prophets and prophecy and states in which way Consecrated life is prophetic. Chapter one gives a brief overview of Consecrated life and its diverse forms as gift to the Church and the world. Chapter two elaborates on the prophetic role of Consecrated life that grounds it to recognize and interpret the signs of the times by giving proper response. Chapter three discuses three fundamental elements of Consecrated life, that is, community life, prayer life and apostolic life as means of witness to the society. As this research has been carried out, the author became fully aware and convinced of the prophetic identity as a Consecrated person. Also, this same identity makes the vocation to the Consecrated life special and different from that of others thus, a gift to the Church to give witness to Christ in the world. Consecrated persons, live concretely and authentically as witnesses to a life lived purely and entirely for and with God. May this work enlighten all those who will come across it and help them understand and appreciate the call to Consecrated life.