Crystallisation of the religious state

Since then, down through the centuries, there has been no lack of souls who have sought to follow the example of Jesus Christ closely. But, progressively, they concentrated their efforts on following and publicly professing three counsels, which became traditional: poverty, chastity and obedience. These then became typified as the ascetical pillars of a particular state of life, distinct from that of the simple faithful.

The religious’ abandonment of the world

In this way the religious state as such was delineated, which, in the various forms of its historical development, has always required, as a substantial element, some degree of separation from the world, from secular tasks and activities.

For souls who receive this vocation from God, the temporal occupations and deeds of a simple Christian are an impediment that must be abandoned as an indispensable condition for seeking their own sanctification by living the “life of evangelical perfection”, and working for other people’s salvation from outside the world, by prayer, penance and works of apostolate compatible with this state of life.