The dedicated single person is the person who may be called to remain unmarried for a particular purpose, such as meeting the demands of a medical or teaching profession, serving as a missionary, or caring for an elderly or disabled relative. He or she has not been called to marriage or to consecrated life. Although there is no formal rite of the Church by which a person embraces the vocation to the dedicated single life, the Church acknowledges and supports those living this vocation in charity.