Dear Jason,

Through the sacramental character of Baptism there is a fundamental difference between the baptized Christian and the non-baptized person, and similarly through the character of Holy Orders there is a fundamental difference between the ordained priest and the baptized and confirmed Catholic. Since religious consecration is not a sacrament and does not confer a character, there is no ontological difference between a religious priest and a diocesan priest, but there is between a priest and a consecrated person who is not one.

When it comes to comparing consecrated life with non-consecrated life there is a difference, though not of the same order as between the baptized and the ordained.

I think that when we define a consecrated person in terms of what he cannot do we are only touching the fringes of what he is, and we are apt totally to miss its beauty. A consecrated person gives himself totally to the imitation of Christ through the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. He embarks upon a way of life that Christ chose for himself, and the life of a consecrated person is a continual challenge to grow. What sets him apart from the lay person is this total consecration and the pursuit of particular holiness that is implied in it, and at the same time it is this consecration in poverty, chastity and obedience that allows him to live a life in service to others.

There is fortunately a wealth of documents that touch on religious life. The Vatican II decree on the renewal of religious life, and its constitution on the Church give many insights. The document Vita Consecrata, and the essential elements of Religious Life. Many others can be found on the Vatican website. A particularly beautiful and meaty book is Christ the Ideal of the Monk by Blessed Columba Marmion. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are other very practical books by Fr Louis Colin and Fr Plus.

God bless.