Unity and Diversity in Consecrated Life

secular condition of life with others" demands a diversity of expressions.  In a similar way, we know that throughout history the various forms of living a religious consecration arose in response to diverse circumstances to serve diverse needs with members of diverse gifts.  Therefore, though united by a common vow (profession of evangelical counsels), Institutes of Consecrated Life show significant (and healthy) diversity: between Institutes, within international Institutes (for example among Districts in our own Institute), within Districts (for example among sectors and teams on our own District), and between individual members (for example the different ministries or states of life for members within a team).  Further, on all of these levels the diversity is ever increasing if compared between past, present and future. Some unity among consecrated and related forms of life is provided through our governance by the Vatican Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Consecrated Life.  Religious institutes and secular institutes are the two main categories which constitute the state of consecrated life through profession of the evangelical counsels in the Church. Societies of apostolic life are defined by can. 731.1 and 731.2 in the 1983 Code of Canon Law as follows: "Comparable to institutes of consecrated life are societies of apostolic life whose members without religious vows pursue the particular apostolic purpose of the society, and leading a life as brothers or sisters in common according to a particular manner of life, strive for the perfection of charity through the observance of the constitutions…