They take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as witness of their commitment to Christ and their common calling to serve Him. The vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience are taken by religious to help them live their calling. All that they have and all that they receive is not kept by the individual, but is freely given in common for the sake of the community. The individual owns nothing, but being called to live the vow of poverty, worldly goods are shared in common.
Members also promise to live a life of chastity.
They freely choose not to marry or to enter into sexual or exclusive relationships in order to more fully give themselves to their holy work and especially to the One who called them. They also make a vow of obedience whereby they trust that their community, and indeed the Church, speaks through their superior, whom they periodically elect, and who moves and assigns members according to need. It is through these vows and a strong love and desire to serve Christ and His Church that these individuals live out their consecrated lives and play a significant role in sanctifying the world. Among religious congregations of men, members may be priests or brothers. Priests are full members of the community but also serve to facilitate the sacramental life of the Church within the community by celebrating the Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Anointing of the Sick, in addition to the work they normally do as members of the community.