Christian Totality: Theology of the Consecrated Life

by Basil Cole

This book is a stimulating introduction for beginners and a heartening re-exploration for those who have been struggling for years to fulfill their dedication to Christ.

Paperback

First published December 10, 1997

Reviews

[Ian Bordenave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basil Cole and Paul Conner’s Christian Totality: Theology of the Consecrated Life renewed my enthusiasm for living the consecrated life, specifically Dominican life, since I am a Dominican friar. They give an in-depth analysis of the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. They also discuss how other dimensions of the consecrated life like living in community and working in an apostolate affect its living. What I found especially insightful is the realization that all religious, no matter what their apostolate, have as their primary goal the contemplation of God and have the privileged means to do this. The authors’ theology derives almost exclusively from conciliar and papal teaching. In this regard, their book would have been even richer fare if they had drawn on contemporary authors’ views about the consecrated life. Another drawback of the book is their presentation of the vow of chastity. While the authors allow for gradualism regarding poverty and obedience, they allow for no gradualism regarding chastity—one must be perfect from the beginning. This paints an unrealistic picture of the consecrated life, because failure in chastity is just as likely to occur as it is in poverty and obedience if not more so. Nevertheless, I would recommend Christian Totality for any member of a Catholic religious institute to help him or her live the consecrated life with greater intentionality.