An Apologetical Explanation of the

Evangelical Counsels

What are the evangelical counsels, and where do we find them in Scripture?

 [A young man] came up to [Jesus], saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?”  And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good?  One there is who is good.  If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”… The young man said to him, “All these I have observed; what do I still lack?”  Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”  (Mt 19:16-21)

The evangelical counsels—poverty, chastity, and obedience—are virtuous practices and dispositions that are an essential part of our call as disciples of Christ in our struggle for Christian perfection.

It is clear from the teachings of Christ that the Christian life demands of us a serious discipline of our natural desires.  The evangelical counsels are among Christ’s directives to his disciples (cf. Mt 19:6-12, 21, 23-29), and the Church encourages their practice among all the faithful in keeping with their respective states of life.  Moreover, they are most closely associated with the consecrated life (cf. LG 42-43, PC 1).  “The aim of the counsels is to remove whatever might hinder the development of charity, even if it is not contrary to it.”   They “manifest the living fullness of charity” and show the “more direct ways” to practice the great commandment ot love God and neighbor.  (Cf. CCC 1973-1974)

The manner in which the evangelical counsels are practiced varies with our particular state of life.  Poverty entails a detachment from material goods, from “riches.”  Chastity requires the practice of temperance, the self-mastery over our passions, particularly in the proper respect for the gift of sexuality; married couples are to remain faithful to one another, while those in the single life and those who have professed vows of chastity must practice celibacy.  Obedience to proper authority and particularly to Christ and his Church is an obligation of all the baptized.  (Cf. CCC 2341, 2348-2349, 2544)

The evangelical counsels are professed as vows in various forms of consecrated life according to the constitution of the particular religious community.  Diocesan priests generally make promises of chastity and obedience to their local bishop.  (Cf. CCC 918, 944-945, 1567)

The Catechism addresses this question in paragraphs 915 and 2053.

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