The post-conciliar period was characterised by numerous novelties in the realm of life of consecration resulting also in the emergence of various new canonical issues. Although the CIC 1983 made serious attempts to unravel the same, even after the relative long period of a decade since its promulgation, many matters were still open and ambiguous. In this context, the Synod of 1994 on 'Consecrated life' and the post-synodal apostolic exhortation were deemed to be effective agents in furnishing with the necessary norms which would resolve all such ambiguities. Against this background, the book examines how far the Synod as well as the post-synodal document "Vita consecrata" contributed to resolve the various canonical issues. Contents: The Synod of Bishops: A Quick Survey - The Consecrated Life: From the Perspective of the various recent Ecclesiastical Documents - The Synod of Bishops on 'Consecrated Life and its Role in the Church and in the World Today' - The "Propositiones" and the "Vita consecrata" - Status of Lay Brothers - New Forms of Consecrated Life - Lay Associates / Third Orders / Volunteers - The Mutual Relations between Bishops and Major Superiors - The Order of Consecrated Virgins - Cloister and Contemplative Institutes - Societies of Apostolic Life - Secular Institutes.