Chapter 14 - Religious

Life:Dedicated to God

Religious Life

►Religious Orders►Religious Congregations►Religious Communities►Groups officially recognized by the

Catholic Church►Offering a way of life for those called

to profess the evangelical counsels

Rule of Life

►Unique to each religious congregation►How to fulfill the mission or purpose of

the congregation

The Essentials: Community, Prayer & Service

►CommunitySupport and ChallengeReligious need support and affirmation of other people

Challenge the religious to remember God is present in their life

Saint John Baptist de La Salle

►The Strength of a Community of Teachers Founder of the Christian Brothers Patron saint of teachers He opened a school to educate the poor

boys of France He formed the instructors of the boys,

“writing masters” into a community The community provided support,

discipline, a sense of purpose, a role in church ministry and the strength to carry it out

Saint John de La Salle

The Essentials: Community, Prayer and Service

►Prayer: Focusing on the Center of Life Keeping faith that love will lead to God P. 267 laywoman Marcelle Bernstein Deepening the Relationship with God P. 268 the Rule of the School Sisters of

Saint Francis

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

►“Brothers, the whole object of our lives is to love and to make ourselves lovable.”

The Essentials: Community, Prayer and Service

►Service: Meeting Needs in the Human CommunityReligious serve in a myriad of ways

Religious express Saint Bernard’s “love” through service

Communities were founded in response to specific needs/ open to change

Mother Teresa of Calcutta

►The Missionaries of Calcutta►Shelter those who are dying►Care for the homeless and poor people

Religious Vows: Commitment to the Evangelical Counsels

►P.270►Religious Vows – oath or promise

committing oneself to a religious lifestyle

►The vows taken by the consecrated religious are the “Evangelical Counsels” Evangelical – pertaining to the good news

of the gospel Counsels – recommendations or advice

Those in Religious Life

►Live the evangelical counsels Poverty – little or no money/possessions

of their own (p.271 Sister Ann)

Chastity /Celibacy – live morally, remain single►P. 272

Obedience – do the will of God and the bishop

3 Types of Religious Congregations

►Contemplative►Mendicants►Service Congregations►Communities in each category have

developed distinct manners of living religious life, but have adapted their lifestyle to changing needs and circumstances

3 Types of Religious Congregations

►Contemplatives Their way of life centered primarily on

contemplation, meditation, or communion with God

Carmelites, Trappists, the Poor Clares and the Benedictines

Thomas Merton

►The contemplatives’ rules help men and women to focus their

attention on God►Thomas Merton, the best

known modern contemplative►Merton’s writings and

reflections have inspired millions (p.275)

Saint Benedict

►6th century man who left the sophisticated but corrupt life of Rome to go into the hills and pray.

►Many men and women followed him and his sister, Scholastica.

Rule of Benedict

►Today most Western monastic orders follow the Rule of Benedict Prayer, work, rest

►Contributions to Western Civilization Monasteries were like small towns

(farmers, cooks, masons, etc.) They offered libraries and schools

►A tradition of hospitality Treat everyone as you would treat Christ

p.277

3 Types of Religious Congregations

►Mendicants Heresy and clerical corruption were

beginning to divide the church in Europe Mobile preachers were needed to travel

the countryside The term mendicants means ‘”beggars” –

they depended on the good will of the people to survive (p. 278)

Mendicants

►St. Francis of Assisi (1181 – 1226), Italy

► Founded the Franciscans

►Saint Dominc de Guzman (1170 – 1221), Spain

► Founded the Dominicans

3 Types of Religious Congregations

►Service Congregations Many new religious orders have been

founded in the last 400 years They provide crucial human services for

the church and society

Jesuits

►Founder: Saint Ignatius Loyola►Largest men’s order►They run schools, colleges,

universities and missionaries all over the world

Daughters of Charity

►Founders: Saint Vincent de Paul & Saint Louise de Marillac

►Largest religious order of women►They work in hospitals, orphanges,

schools & clinics

Service Congregations

►Missionary Maryknolls Society of the Divine

Word Medical Mission

Sisters

►Education Marist School Sisters of

Notre Dame

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

►Mother Cabrini (1850 – 1917)►Wanted to work with poor

Italian immigrants who came to the U. S.

►Founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart

►Crossed the Atlantic Ocean 37 times!

Service Congregations

►Sister Mary Scullion Sisters of Mercy Project HOME 1989

to aid poor people in Philadelphia

►Brother Jeffrey Gros De La Salle Christian

Brother Works to unite the

Christian communities

Discovering a Call to Religious Life

►Meet the Requirements 1. Flexibility & Tolerance 2. Intellectual & Physical Qualities 3.The ability to live as a celibate

Religious Formation

►Before making a vowed commitment to religious life, a period of preparation is necessary

►1. the novitiate – a novice studies basic theology and spirituality, history of the order

Religious Formation

►2. Professional training – religious are active in many professions

►3. Vows – religious take annual vows for several years before making the final commitment of perpetual, or lifetime, vows

Small Numbers, Big Results

►Over the last several decades the number of religious has declined

►Many congregations and orders have taken measures to continue the work of the order

►Lay Volunteer programs have come on board to help with the work of the community

►These lay volunteers join affiliate programs where they are known as “associates”

All vocations witness to God’s love and call us to care

► Jesus gave these callings: Preach my message Continue my mission Do this – through the

signs I’ve given you

Clergy continue Jesus’ actions

►Bishops, priests, & permanent deacons use the Sacraments to continue Jesus’ work

Those who live the religious life

► Imitate Jesus by living the “Evangelical Counsels” Poverty Chastity Obedience

Members of the ordained and consecrated ways of life

►Are well prepared►Address social

needs►Are respected for

their valuable contributions

Consider those callings and how to support those who live them

Discerning a Vocation

►People experience God’s call to a vocation in uniquely personal ways

Discerning a vocation

►Attraction Discovery: Connecting with someone

you admire Learning more about the

way of life Seeing whether you’d be

happy in this way of life Exploring other options

Any vocation should be chosen freely

►This is what I really want to do.

►This is what I’m best suited for.

► I’ll be happiest and able to give most in this way of life.

Challenges of those in the consecrated or ordained

lifestyle►Remaining in touch with human needs

and conditions►Attracting new members►Loving everyone – especially those

who are neglected or rejected

Achievements and rewards

►Helping us realize how God lives among us

►Experiencing the earthly and eternal fulfillment of a life of service

►Helping raise society’s consciousness on concern for others

►Making important practical and spiritual contributions

Sacraments and Ordained Life

►By Baptism, all Christians share in Jesus’ priestly ministry of service

►The Eucharist celebrates Jesus’ presence among us and is central to all ministry

►The Sacrament of Holy Orders Consecrates priests with God’s special

grace to continue Jesus’ mission Is a permanent gift involving a lifetime

commitment

Different degrees of priestly consecration

►Popes and bishops Most fully consecrated Usually preside at confirmation Ordain new priests Oversee a Church territory

Different degrees of priestly consecration

►Priests Preside at the Eucharist (consecrate the

host) Reconciliation Last rites Other sacraments Baptism, marriage,

funeral services*Pastor of a parish

Different degrees of priestly consecration

►Deacon Help with mass / read gospel / give homily Baptism Marriage Funeral services*Help with parish duties

Priests try to serve among the people by

► Encouraging participation in the sacraments

► Helping others understand Scripture

► Sharing Jesus’ message in practical ways

► Giving priority to Christ’s gospel

► Promoting inter-church and inter-faith understanding

Priests try to serve among the people by

► Being committed to social justice and the common good

► Helping form community

► Giving attention to those in need

► Serving all persons► Showing compassion to

sinners and those weak in faith

Being a Priest

►Challenges Coping with unrealistic expectations Living a celibate life Being constantly available

Being a Priest

►Rewards Being able to establish meaningful

programs Being freer to love and serve Experiencing the joy of bringing people

closer to God

Being a Priest

►Signs of a call to the priesthood Being recommended by others Having the necessary health, motivation,

and personal qualities Wanting to live and to love others in this

way of life

Being a Permanent Deacon

►In the early church Proclaim God’s word Assist at the liturgy Do works of charity

►Women in the early church could be deaconesses, whose ministry was serviceMany Catholics would like to see the ministry of deaconess restored

Today’s Catholic Deacons

►Are transitional or permanent►Are prepared for at least three years;

ordained for life►Participate to a degree in the Sacrament of

Holy Orders►Help preside at the sacraments and other

rites, lead prayer, give homilies►May be single (must remain celibate and

may later become a priest) or be already married

►Must be a certain age and, if a permanent deacon, may pursue a secular job

Those in Religious Life

►Live the evangelical counsels Poverty – little or no money/possessions

of their own Celibacy – remain single Obedience – do the will of God and the

bishop

Those in Religious Life

►Live the evangelical counsels Poverty – little or no money/possessions

of their own Celibacy – remain single Obedience – do the will of God and the

bishop

Those in Religious Life

►Live a community life dedicated to serving others

►Belong to a religious congregation with a unique spirit

►Live according to guidelines that adapt to changing needs

Those in Religious Life

►May be released from vows for good reason

►Are challenged by a shortage of new members

►Usually work with the authority of the local bishop

►Make important contributions to the Church and the world

►Experience happy and fulfilled lives

Like the Early Christians, Religious

►Share one purpose►Share common goals, values, and

ideals►Can accomplish more as a community

than as individuals

Like the Early Christians, Religious

►Bring Jesus’ message of love to others►Are a Christian community that helps

the world become more human►Serve God’s people throughout the

world

What to look for in choosing what religious community to

join►One whose spirit, lifestyle, and

ministries are compatible with one’s own needs, interests, and abilities.