consecrate

/ˈkän(t)-sə-ˌkrāt/

adjective

  1. dedicated to a sacred purpose

verb

  1. to induct (a person) into a permanent office with a religious rite; especially : to ordain to the office of bishop

  2. to make or declare sacred; especially : to devote irrevocably to the worship of God by a solemn ceremony

  3. to effect the liturgical transubstantiation of (eucharistic bread and wine)

devote dedicate consecrate hallow mean to set apart for a special and often higher end. devote is likely to imply compelling motives and often attachment to an objective. dedicate implies solemn and exclusive devotion to a sacred or serious use or purpose.

idiom

  1. to officially promise to give one's time and attention to something (especially a religion)

They consecrated themselves to the church.