Miles Jesu is an institute of consecrated life composed of lay people and also clerics, with community life as the norm, and professing the evangelical counsels with vows. Our witness is through a lay charism and the lay apostolate, normally through secular occupations, reaching out to people of all walks of life to bring Christ into the secular world by the witness of our lives, in a spirit of availability. Our structure is that of an Ecclesial Family of Consecrated Life. (This structure also allows for membership for people in other states of life in addition to the consecrated celibate members.) We have members of both Latin and Eastern rites.
What is a Lay Vocation?
“ …This life of intimate union with Christ in the Church is nourished by spiritual aids which are common to all the faithful, especially active participation in the sacred liturgy. These are to be used by the laity in such a way that while correctly fulfilling their secular duties in the ordinary conditions of life, they do not separate union with Christ from their life but rather performing their work according to God’s will they grow in that union. In this way the laity must make progress in holiness in a happy and ready spirit, trying prudently and patiently to overcome difficulties. Neither family concerns nor other secular affairs should be irrelevant to their spiritual life, in keeping with the words of the Apostle, “Whatever you do in word or work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col. 3:17).
“…They should not cease to develop earnestly the qualities and talents bestowed on them in accord with these conditions of life, and they should make use of the gifts which they have received from the Holy Spirit.
“…The perfect example of this type of spiritual and apostolic life is the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Apostles, who while leading the life common to all here on earth, one filled with family concerns and labors, was always intimately united with her Son and in an entirely unique way cooperated in the work of the Savior. Having now been assumed into heaven, with her maternal charity she cares for these brothers of her Son who are still on their earthly pilgrimage and remain involved in dangers and difficulties until they are led into the happy fatherland.(7) All should devoutly venerate her and commend their life and apostolate to her maternal care.”
–Apostolatam Actuositatem n. 4
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