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Many Regnum Christi members experience that Christ has changed
their lives. This leads them to ask, “How can I
live this new life in Christ to the full? What
might God want of me, now that this ecclesial movement
has opened my eyes to a marvelous new horizon?” As
God pours out his love on us, he gives us
a greater desire to love and to give ourselves. He
calls some to give themselves totally.
Regnum Christi is
a Catholic missionary spirituality committed to establishing the Kingdom of
Christ in the world by two means: fostering its members´
holiness in the state of life to which each one
is called, and encouraging individual and organized apostolic action. “Love Christ,
serve people, and build up the Church": within this general
framework, the Movement offers several levels of commitment, depending on
God’s invitation to each soul. Consecrated members respond to God’s
invitation by giving their lives totally to him, consecrating themselves
to him in poverty, chastity and obedience. This form of
commitment is laid out in the Regnum Christi Statutes, which were definitively approved
by the Holy See in November of 2004.
Beginnings of the lay consecrated life in the Regnum Christi
Movement
In 1977, some of the first Regnum
Christi members in Madrid and Mexico City felt moved to
dedicate their lives totally to God and to apostolic work
for his Kingdom. With the passage of time, the first Regnum Christi consecrated
members gave their generous answer to God as young university students
and professionals working “in the world but not of the
world.” They placed their talents at the service of Christ’s
Kingdom, working with the Regnum Christi sections and ECYD,
carrying out the mission they had received. One of them
was a student named Álvaro Corcuera, the General Director
of the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi.
The formation of the consecrated Regnum Christi members
The integral formation of the consecrated Regnum Christi members is
focused on their apostolic work and their specific consecrated lifestyle.
The principal areas of formation are human (formation of
one’s conscience, will and character; interpersonal skills, etc.), intellectual, apostolic
(for a life of service), and spiritual. The resulting formation
is not an arbitrary grouping of independent elements, but forms
a harmonic whole in which the model and standard is Jesus
Christ himself.
In addition to a university degree, consecrated members should
pursue post-graduate studies and specialize in a particular profession. This professional
formation is complemented with a solid philosophy and theology program
adapted to the challenges of today´s world.
Lay people totally dedicated
to the apostolate
In the Regnum Christi Movement each person has
his particular mission to serve the Church and all men.
Consecrated members are formed to carry out a wide variety
of apostolates in universities, schools, institutions, Regnum Christi sections, the
mass media, etc…, totally ready and willing to do whatever
is needed of them for the good of the local
and universal Church. As lay people they are able to
exercise professions that would not be suited for priests, such
as business or public administration. They seek to imbue everything
they do with Christ’s charity and accomplish their apostolic mission
according to the charism of Regnum Christi. Their consecration is
a gift that especially equips them for this objective, since
it makes them more like Christ.
Regnum Christi consecrated men who
at some point discover a call to the priesthood are
at liberty to follow this vocation. This does not mean
that the lay consecrated life is merely an intermediary step;
it is an authentic and complete vocation in itself. Consecrated
laymen and Legionary priests share the same spirituality and total
self-giving, but the way in which they live them out
is different.
If you are interested in learning more
about lay consecrated life for men in Regnum Christi, feel
free to read some testimonies here or write to: consecratedmen@regnumchristi.org