This book evolved from the reflections of one religious during the Year of Consecrated Life, inaugurated by Pope Francis in November 2014. Fr Michael Cunningham SDB leads us through the development of consecrated life from its earliest foundations to its challenges in a turbulent and rapidly changing present and outlines his hopes for its future. In times when a significant proportion of consecrated men and women have retired from active ministry, and fewer vocations means others are handing on their front-line roles in education, health or social care to lay colleagues, Fr Michael argues that despite the human tendency to identify ourselves by our function, "we are more than what we do."