Redemptionis donum

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Redemptionis donum, meaning “The Gift of Redemption,” is a papal exhortation by Pope John Paul II, signed on March 25, 1984, the Feast of the Annunciation. It explains religious life—how monks, nuns, and other consecrated people live as a sign of Christ’s redemption. Written after the Second Vatican Council to address fewer vocations, it aims to reaffirm and present the ideal of consecrated life. The document covers the theology, spirituality, and mission of religious life, showing it through three main lenses: the Trinity, the Paschal mystery (Christ’s death and resurrection), and the hope of eternal life.