By vowing to follow the Gospel counsels,
Christians upgrade their Baptismal consecration to God

Such specially consecrated people are an encouraging sign to other Christians
to seek first the Kingdom of God in this passing world

The term "religious life" is not a happy one:
it sets up a division  between ordinary lay Christians and those in specially consecrated life
- implying that one group is "religious" and the other maybe not "religious",
leading to the further idea that "prayer is just for priests and nuns"

Yet all Christians are "religious" in the following of Jesus

Better term?
- Consecrated life?  (yet all Christians are consecrated by Baptism...)
- Vowed life?  (...so is marriage...)
- Counsel life?
- Gospel counsel life?
- Evangelical (= Gospel) life?

Can anyone suggest a better name than "religious life"?!

Jesus, please help all "religious" to be faithful witnesses of your Good News