A TALK ON THE EVANGELICAL COUNSELS

THE STORY OF RUFINA

Rufina is 15 years old. One day she encounters a very nice doctor and she

vows to be a doctor in future. She began to inquire about how to become a doctor. She was told she should study hard and develop an

interest in science. She was also to develop love for the sick She was also told to be neat and appear nice. So each day Rufina will make sure she cleans her room

and wear clean clothes. She also visited the sick in his community and looked

with curiosity at the drugs they were given. She studied hard and passed all his exams Rufina grew up and became a doctor as he wished.

THE STORY OF KIRIKUO Kirikuo wants to be a boxer because he says his mentor is Bokum Banku.

After inquiry he is told to make sure he exercises every day.

He should also learn how to throw the hands flexibly.

He is also supposed to watch his diet so he doesn’t put on too much weight.

Kirikuo began to exercise 1 hour each day. He will jog and throw his hands about.

Even in church when about to receive the body of Christ, he will throw his hand as if he wants to box the priest before responding Amen. Everywhere he threw his hand, so you dare not go near him and tease him.

Instead of at least 4 balls of kenkey or banku at a go, Kirikuo decided to take 2 ½ balls.

Kiriku grew up and became a World Champion.

THE STORY OF BAZANGOLI

Bazangoli is a Muslim. For him all he wants is to be a Catholic Priest.

He went to see a Priest and he was told he first has to be a Christian.

He was to receive the Sacraments of Initiation. He was asked to pray and fast often. Bazangoli was told that he has to be obedient to God and to his

pastor, parents and elders. He was to live a chaste life. He was also to live a simple and moderate life. Bazangoli began to attend catechism. He will be the first to come

for the class. He became so obedient that he did everything he was asked to.

Everything he will say please. He led a chaste life to the extent that he will even refuse a girl a

hug. When a girl attempted hugging he will say that “I am chaste ooo, let’s shake hands”

Bazangoli wore simple clothes and led a moderate life. In some years’ time Bazangoli was ordained a priest and later

became a bishop.

So we have followed the story of these three people. Let’s look at some common features in the stories.

They had a desire

They inquired about what to do

They worked hard and lived as if they were already what they wished to be.

They were disciplined

They were focussed. 

EVANGELICAL

Evangelical simply implies the gospel, that is which related to the gospels.

COUNSEL

Counsel means advice, especially that given formally.

From the definition, Counsels must not be understood as opinions or options one is free to follow or not. Even though this may be one of the meanings of the word counsel, in understanding evangelical counsels, the counsels are understood as the Gospel demands that configure the life of Christ in us.

EVANGELICAL COUNSELS

So, evangelical counsels are what the gospel demands of us which makes us like Christ. They are obedience, chastity in celibacy and poverty.

OBEDIENCE

Christ demands that all His disciples obey God and God’s representatives in the Church.

Christ also demands that each one submit to the others and serve one another and help bear one another’s burdens.

Obedience therefore means that we obey God, his priests and also those in charge of us.

WHY SHOULD PREISTS AND RELIGIOUS BE OBEDIENT

The life of the priest and religious involves a mission, sending. Because they can be sent anywhere, they must be obedient and submit to the will of God.

Obedience is a total self-giving of oneself to God

The world sees those in authority as a boss but in the church, leaders serve a guide. Therefore the priests and religious are to be obedient to their superiors who serve as guides.

HOW CAN THE YOUNG CATHOLIC BE OBEDIENT

Parents are our immediate supervisors; we have to show them respect. Listen to your parents when they tell you why they prefer you to do one thing over another. Most likely, they have been down the path you are heading and only want the best for you.

Use formal and socially acceptable methods to challenge or question rules that you disagree with rather than be a rebel and disobey to get your point across. The only thing that will result from such an action is pain and heartache for you and your loved ones. Don’t fight or speak bad openly about your priests.

Celebrate important dates in the parent's life. All parents have birthdays, anniversaries and holidays (mother's day and father's day) that are important to them. Children can honour their parents by remembering these days and doing something special. Honouring your parents is a way of submitting to them, it is a form of obedience.

POVERTY

Poverty doesn’t mean no money. It doesn’t mean I spend no money. It means I spend all my “money” on him that is Christ. I spend all my resources on Jesus. All my faculties and possessions, even my time, become his property and my free gift. Poverty means that God is man’s only real treasure.

This involves the readiness to relinquish everything, even one’s own life, accepting even martyrdom, if necessary.

Poverty means to acquire what is only necessary for my use and not grab all the wealth I can.

WHY SHOULD THE PRIEST AND RELIGIOUS LIVE THE LIFE OF POVERTY

The life of the priest and religious is not centred on having possessions but for a concern for the Kingdom of God.

By the life of poverty, the priests and religious detaches themselves from the world and makes them better serve the people of God.

HOW CAN THE YOUNG CATHOLIC LIVE A LIFE OF POVERTY

Be content with what you have. Appreciate the little your family gives you. By that you will not be jealous of what others have.

CHASTITY AND CELIBACY

Antoinette is 17 years and proudly virgin.

At school a boy is disturbing her with love proposal. She rejects all his advances.

The reason Antoinette gives is that she is chaste.

The boy tells Antoinette that to be chaste means not to have sex. So they can kiss and other things but not have sex.

Antoinette is confused and agrees to the boy’s proposal. She thinks she is still chaste though they kiss each other.

LIFE OF ANTOINNETE

LIFE OF YAW ABABIO

Yaw Ababio has vowed not to marry because he doesn’t want any woman to disturb him with ‘chop money’, ‘hair money’, ‘nails money’ etc. He wants to enjoy his money alone.

He tells people he is celibate, but he won’t marry.

He thinks that he can however flirt around with other girls. For him celibacy is no marriage, that’s all.

 

TO BE CHASTE OR CELIBATE? fcWHICH IS BETTER FOR THE CLERGY

ANDRELIGIOUS?

Chastity is the virtue which excludes or moderates the indulgence of the sexual appetite. It is to be pure from unlawful sexual intercourse. It is a form of the virtue of temperance, which controls according to right reason the desire for and use of those things which afford the greatest sensual pleasures.

The sources of sensual pleasures can be food and drink, and the union of the sexes.

All Christians are therefore called to be chaste.  Celibacy is a state of being unmarried, and never having sex.

Celibacy goes beyond not marrying and having sex.

It includes also the renunciation of companionship that comes in marriage as well as the renunciation of natural fatherhood.

HOW CAN THE YOUNG CATHOLIC BE CHASTE?

Practice modesty in your speech, dress, and actions. Modesty sends a message.

Find at least one good friend who has made the commitment to live a chaste life, and support each other in that decision.

Limit your physical affection to light hugs, if you don’t mind handshakes

IT IS POSSIBLE TO LIVE THE EVANGELICAL COUNSELS

Thank you!