The Canonical Significance of the Synod of Bishops of 1994 on Consecrated Life: From the "lineamenta" to the "vita Consecrata"

The post-conciliar period was characterised by numerous novelties in the realm of life of consecration resulting also in the emergence of various new canonical issues. Although the CIC 1983 made serious attempts to unravel the same, even after the relative long period of a decade since its promulgation, many matters were still open and ambiguous. In this context, the Synod of 1994 on 'Consecrated life' and the post-synodal apostolic exhortation were deemed to be effective agents in furnishing with the necessary norms which would resolve all such ambiguities. Against this background, the book examines how far the Synod as well as the post-synodal document Vita consecrata contributed to resolve the various canonical issues.

The Author: Johnson Kallidukil is a member of the Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS). Born in 1966 in South India, he joined the congregation in 1981 and did the canonical noviciate and made the first profession in 1985. Later, he obtained his Bachelor of Philosophy at Suvidya College, Bangalore and the Bachelor of Arts (Anthropology) from Karnataka University Dharward; Bachelor of Theology at St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Bangalore. Ordained priest in 1994. From 1994 to 1998 pastoral works in Tanzania, from 1998 to 2002 doctoral studies in Würzburg. He currently works as missionary in East Africa.