Yes, a baptized Christian can make offerings to God through Jesus Christ of themselves and their time, talents, and treasures.  This opens the possibility to offer to God (i.e., to “consecrate”) the fruit of our work.  This consecration is understood in the broad and non-technical sense of the word.

As human work in the world is commanded by God (Genesis 1:28) and as human work has dignity and value by the mere fact that it is human work, a person’s creative output and the fruits of a person’s labor are a dignified gift that can be given to God for a higher purpose.  As such, the labor, products, and services of a business can be offered to God.

When understood in the broad sense, any baptized Christian can make “offerings” to God, such as, but not limited to, prayers, personal sacrifices, gifts to the Church, gifts to the poor, one’s time, and one’s creative works.

Equity owners of a company and founders of nonprofit organizations can consecrate their company.

Yes, for example, in Peter’s first letter, we are told that we are a holy and royal priesthood.  A priest is one who offers sacrifice to God.  It says, You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5).

There are four differences.

In a “consecration to God”, there is a change of something or someone from one thing to something else.  In the act of consecration, something common or earthly becomes something holy and set apart.  A change happens.  A consecrated company is therefore set apart for God and His purposes and is therefore “different” from any other commercial enterprise.

The first difference is that the original founder and CEO of a consecrated business shares in Christ’s role as the Good Shepherd of their company, caring for and providing dignity to all they serve. The founder and leader of a consecrated business will ask: If Jesus were the CEO, what would he do?

The second difference is that the business receives a higher purpose and calling. The goal is no longer merely to make a profit, but to contribute to the glory of God and the fulfilment of His divine plans.  Nothing we do is temporal.  As a Christian, everything we do has an eternal purpose.  A Christian’s business can and should become their mission field.

The third difference is that the business leader of a consecrated company is inviting God’s grace to pour down upon all those involved: employees, families of employees, and clients.  In this sense, the business leader is opening themselves and their families as a whole to God. A business leader of a consecrated company creates an outpost of Christ’s Kingdom on earth.

The fourth difference is that the business leaders of consecrated companies are promising before God to fully embrace the social teaching of the Catholic Church.  They seek to ensure that the atmosphere, policies, and shared behaviors of the consecrated business will create the “social conditions” that allow everyone involved to flourish more fully and more easily according to God’s divine plan.

Any company owner or founder of a nonprofit is welcome to consecrate their company, regardless of religious beliefs. However, our consecration involves the teachings of the Catholic Church. Non-Catholic owners can join the Association of Consecrated Companies, but they should understand that the community is rooted in Catholic tradition.