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RELIGIOUS CONSECRATION
A THEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION
Samuel H. Canilang, CMF

Before we begin the course proper, let us look at some considerations important to our subject matter and to the manner by which we shall treat it.

Background

First of all, I would like to give you some background information on this particular course, i. e., on how Theology of Consecration came to be part of the curriculum. While we were finalizing the ICLA curriculum for Theology of Consecrated Life, the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata (March 1996) came out of the press. This is significant because Vita Consecrata somehow marks the peak of the theological reflection on religious consecration, insofar as the Magisterium is concerned. It is in this document that the Pope decisively opted for the category "consecration" to define the identity of religious life. Since ICLA intends to contribute to the theological reflection on consecrated life, consecration has been made one of the fundamental subjects of theological reflection in the Institute. In Vita Consecrata the Pope emphatically expresses his desire that reflection on "consecrated" life be continued (cf. n. 13).

A further interesting information is that around the time of the publication of Vita Consecrata, the Claretianum (Rome) officially changed its name from "Istituto di Teologia della Vita Religiosa" to "Istituto di Teologia della Vita Consacrata". But the Institute in Madrid retains its old name: "Instituto Teológico de Vida Religiosa." This somehow reflects the theological orientation of each of the two Institutes. How about ICLA (Manila)? The Institute's name does not really indicate its theological position as regards the question of consecration. Take note that the director is a product of the Institute in Madrid! And I did my specialization at the Institute in Rome.

By the way, Theology of Consecration is not a fundamental subject either in the Institute in Rome or in the Institute in Madrid. I believe that the only theological Institute offering this subject as a fundamental course is ICLA.

Limitations: Bibliography

As you must have already figured out, the theme of consecration entered in a significant and decisive way into the theological reflection on religious life only recently, let's say, around the Conciliar period. Moreover, the reflection hardly went out of Europe, particularly from Rome and Madrid. In fact, until now there is a scarcity of materials on the topic. And most of the few we have are in Italian, Spanish and French. The two or three English texts we have in the bibliography are actually translations from the above-mentioned languages.

The course outline

Our study and reflection will unfold in five main parts with an introduction. The five main parts are as follows:

1 The Theme of Consecration in the Renewal Process of Religious Life
2 The Idea of Consecration in Scriptures
3 Application of the Idea of Consecration to Religious Life through History
4 Religious Consecration in the Documents of the Church
5 General Conclusions

In the introductory part (1), we shall situate the theme of consecration in the search for the theologico-ecclesial identity of religious life (1.1). We shall also identify significant problems and questions surrounding the concept of consecration (1.2).

In the first main part (2), we shall trace the development of the theme of consecration along the renewal process of religious life. As we shall see, the renewal process is accompanied by ongoing theological reflection on the different aspects of religious life: vocation, identity, communion, and mission. And the theme of consecration has occupied an important place in the reflection on the aspect of religious identity. Our itinerary will begin from the Second Vatican Council to the Synod on Consecrated Life. We shall dwell a little bit more on the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata, which, as I said earlier, marks an important stage in the development of the Theology of Consecration.

In the second main part (3), we shall endeavor to capture the idea of consecration in Scriptures. This is not going to be easy due to the scarcity of studies on the topic, and to certain problems we shall talk about in the introductory part. Despite the lack of materials, we cannot skip this part of our reflection. The Judeo-Christian Tradition is an indispensable source for any authentic theological reflection.

In the third main part (4), we shall discover how the idea of consecration influenced the understanding of religious life, or certain aspects of it, through the centuries. We shall give special attention to St. Thomas because his insight on the topic influenced Vatican II's use of the category consecration in reference to religious life.

In the fourth main part (5), we shall review the documents of the Church on consecrated life, and other documents which partly speak of consecrated life. Here we are going to synthesize the Magisterium's teaching on religious consecration. For this portion of our investigation, I would ask your active involvement. Each of you would be asked to examine a particular document. We shall talk about this in detail tomorrow.

Finally, we shall draw conclusions from our investigation and reflection.

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    1. INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE
    2. BIBLIOGRAPHY
    3. COURSE OUTLINE
    4. ABBREVIATIONS
    5. INTRODUCTION
    6. PROBLEMS AND QUESTIONS REGARDING THE CONCEPT OF CONSECRATIO
    7. THE THEME OF CONSECRATION IN THE RENEWAL PROCESS OF
      RELIGIOUS LIFE
    8. THE IDEA OF CONSECRATION IN SCRIPTURES
    9. APPLICATION OF THE NOTION OF CONSECRATION TO RELIGIOUS LIFE THROUGH THE HISTORY
    10. RELIGIOUS CONSECRATION IN THE TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH
    11. CONCLUSIONS
    12. APPENDIX
    13. QUIZ: On the theme of consecration in the renewal process of Religious Life
    14. QUIZ: On the Biblical Foundation
    15. FINAL EXAMINATION

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