In 1993, prior to the 'nihil obstat' of the Holy See, the branches of the female and male missionaries were approved as two religious institutes with diocesan rights in the Archdiocese of Madrid by his Emminence Angel Cardinal Suquia, Archbishop of Madrid.
The branch of couples and Verbum Dei lay people also received the approval as an Association of Faithful with public rights.
It was also that time that the common Statutes of the Community was approved. These statutes regulated the relations between three branches and expressed the union of the Community's mission and charism.
However, this approved state of the three branches was not exactly what the community envisaged itself to be, which was for all three branches to be unified as a Family yet unique in their Branches.
Subsequently, with the Synod of Religious Life, to which Fr. Jaime Bonet was invited, the Verbum Dei Community's unique identity within the Catholic Church began to be clearer.
In 1998, the Community was approved as a New Form of Consecrated Life (canon 605) and in April 15 of the year 2000, Pontifical approval was given.
We are united by the same ideal and mutual commitment: aspiring to the perfection of charity and to propagate this same fraternal love the vital nucleus of the Kingdom of God, throughout the world, by means of the ministry of the Word.
We commit ourselves to mutually help eachother in our radical following of Christ and to imitate Him, reproducing His way of life and mission. (VDM-Constitution #4)
