The Vita Consecrata Institute is a 4-week program of spiritual renewal and graduate-level studies in spirituality and the theology of the consecrated life, for religious, priests, and other consecrated persons.  You may attend the whole four-week program or either of the two-week sessions.  Students may take the courses for credit towards a master's degree or audit the courses for personal enrichment.  The VCI is especially recommended for religious preparing for vows or formation, or for leadership roles in their institutes.  The VCI is co-sponsored by the Institute on Religious Life and the Christendom Graduate School, and it is held at Christendom's beautiful Front Royal, Virginia campus on the banks of the Shenandoah River.

The Institute on Religious Life gives thanks for the blessing alongside Christendom College

to have hosted the 20th gathering of the Vita Consecrata Institute this year.

We hope you will enjoy some photos from this summer's VCI that recently concluded.

Session I Participants 

IRL National Director, Father Thomas Nelson, O.Praem. instructing on Christian Asceticism

 Father Anselm Rodriguez, O.Praem. taught Introduction to Philosophy of Human Nature and Ethics

Father Anselm's Students

Enjoying the summer sunshine between classes

Celebrating our Nation's 250th Birthday

Vespers in the stately new Christ the King Chapel

Friday Night Talent Show

You can listen to past VCI courses online ! 

Past audio recordings of the courses (2002-Present) are available for purchase as MP3 file downloads. The courses are typically 10 or 20 one-hour lectures, with each lecture being a separate MP3 download. Each course is priced at $30.00 or less.

Click here for a list of available courses (current through Summer 2025)

Click here to order online using the ReligiousLife.com shopping cart. A link will be automatically sent via email to your inbox via Dropbox.

Please call the IRL office at 847-573-8975 if you have any questions.

Please consider joining us for next summer's VCI!

Here is what two of the participants said about their experience:

I would recommend this program to all religious in all stages of formation, not only because of the exceptional instructors and subject matter, but moreover because of the spirit in which the program is run -- it is that Spirit of contemplation which draws us together as one community, not merely many different religious institutes, but one large institute of religious communities, as one community of God."

I have never had such a profound, educational, and enjoyable experience in a classroom.

From Fr. Thomas Nelson, O.Praem., the IRL National Director:

The Vita Consecrata Institute can benefit any priest, religious, or consecrated person. Not only does it provide opportunity for graduate credit, but its greatest benefit is the awakening of renewed fervor to the grace of one's vocation. It is a program to which even novice directors will want to bring their novices. The coming together of many religious of various congregations adds to the richness of the experience."