Do People Still Discern and Enter Religious Life?
Yes! There is a growing number of women and men entering religious communities all across the country! As young as 17 and as young at heart as 60 depending on the community.
Religious Life Is Boring, Why Would Anyone Become a Religious?
Every day as a religious is a new adventure! Depending on the religious, you can catch them doing various things: skating, hiking, watching movies, reading books, cheering on their favorite team, eating pizza, drinking coffee and for every religious lots of laughter! While a religious gives of themselves totally to Christ and the Church, they still have their favorite hobbies and joys of life.
What type of Activities/Work do Religious do?
Each religious community has an apostolate or work that they do. Cloistered Communities main focus is prayer for the world hidden away. Several provide a place of retreat for people and share Mass and Adoration daily with the community. Many grow their own food and make items to sell in gift shops. Contemplative and Active Communities main focus is prayer through service such as Teaching, Nursing, Evangelization, Parish Staff, Retreats, Youth Ministry, Prison Ministry and more.
What Type of Vows Do Religious Take?
Religious take three Vows ( Counsels) of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. Vow of Poverty- To be free of material goods of the world except for the essentials such as food, clothing and shelter. In a sense to live a simple life and possessions are typically shared amongst the community. Vow of Chastity- To not only abstain from sexual intercourse but to also live a life of love for God and the whole Church. This vow means to strive to life a pure life of prayer, service, eating habits and activity. Vow of Obedience- To listen to the call of God through prayer and that of the superiors of the community. It is the courage to be God’s love in the world.
How do I know if I have a religious vocation?
What may start as an unsettling idea becomes a reoccurring thought. The person with a religious vocation increasingly finds that there is a restlessness of spirit that only the things of God seem to fill. Marriage may be attractive, but there is the question of whether or not God has something more in mind. A few questions to consider include:
The best answer to this question is to pray, pray and pray some more. God speaks to us in the silence of our hearts. We can look for extraordinary signs, but God works best with our cooperation in prayer and honest investigation. The closer you move toward the light, the easier it will be to see the road. Make a plan for your spiritual life and include the following: