Are Contemplative Religious Orders a thing of the past?

[commenter]

Hello,

I think it will continue to decrease because we need to go outside in the World to evangelize.

hope19

This post, and other posts, seem to expect there has to be a choice between:

contemplative prayer vs evangelism; staffing the cloister vs the soup kitchen; escaping from the world, vs engaging it; mysticism vs philosophy/dogma.

These are false choices. Historically every wave of *successful * evangelism has been backed by concentrated prayer people. Consider the co patron of Missions is St. Theresa of Liseaux. Our world has no shortage of good works; the problem is that countless Christians with no dogmatic foundation are going off in contradictory directions, so you have “Prochoice Ministries” for instance. Instead of Christians asking “What action is actually good?” you have Christians who believe every action they take therefore is “good”, because they did it. When religious orders phase out their contemplative communities, their active sisters don’t expand soup kitchens, they develop things like “Nuns on the Bus”. You don’t engage the secular world, it engages you.

You have some communities, like Mother Theresa’s, where each sister spends enormous amount of time before the Blessed Sacrament, and also the active apostolate. In other Communities, such as Mother Angelica’s, almost all the sisters are full time contemplatives, and even Mother Angelica herself prepared for the active apostolate by decades as a full time contemplative.

Carmelites are successful in active ministry, only because they are backed by the prayer power of other Carmelites, who are full time contemplatives. That doesn’t mean the active ones don’t also pray, it means you can’t understand the one community without understanding the other.

 

[Tigg]

Religious life, being essentially a life of self-denial and self-sacrifice, must provide an effectual antidote to every form of self-seeking, and the rules of contemplative orders especially are admirably framed so as to thwart and mortify every selfish instinct; vigils, fasts, austerity in food, clothing, etc., and often manual labour tame the flesh, and thus help the soul to keep in subjection its worst enemy. Contemplatives, in short, forego many transient pleasures, many satisfactions sweet to nature, all that the world holds most dear; but they gain in return a liberty for the soul which enables it to rise without hindrance to the thought and love of God.

Their lives of perpetual abnegation and privation, of hardship cheerfully endured, of self-inflicted suffering, joined to the sufferings of their Divine Master and Model help to repair the evil men do and obtain God’s mercy for the evildoers. They plead and make reparation for all men.

The above description from the Catholic Encyclopedia should make us all fervently pray that the contemplative orders continue to flourish. Personal holiness is the absolute goal but their efforts are extended for the benefit of the entire world. To perceive them as being physically inactive is false. In their typical day they do manual labor, sometimes gardening, cooking and cleaning and various chores. Their physical activity also gives means for them to offer their total being to God.

I would think that a simple life of prayer removed from the ‘noise’ and pressures of society would be desirable by a great many… seems like a much easier path to pursue than having to deal with the world.

Have you read the lives of the contemplative saints? If so, you realized that their sanctity was achieved by the very difficulty of the path they pursued. Read St. Theresa of Avila to see just how difficult the cloister is in dealing with each other in community.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Back in my Protestant days, I was talking to my wise old Protestant pastor. We were discussing the contemplative orders, which are usually Catholic or Orthodox, although I think there are some Anglican orders, and maybe others.

His opinion was that they underpinned the Church. For one thing, by their combined efforts around the world, the church “prays without ceasing”. At some point on the globe, 60 seconds a minute, 60 minutes an hour, 24 hours a day, prayers are going up from the contemplative orders.

But are they dying out? In the West they’re certainly struggling. Catholic hospitals and schools now have secular staff who far outnumber the religious staff. Monastries and Convents are being used for other purposes. The main centre for training priests in Brisbane, at Banyo, is now a Catholic University. Sure, there’s still the theology college, but it’s not the same as in its heyday.

Yet I think the time will come when they make a resurgence, whether on the earth, or as I suspect, if God drives us out into space (which is one of my pet theories), in space stations or on other less hospitable planets, with life simplified to mere survival in many cases. Forced back to simplicity, I suspect there will be a spiritual revival under trying conditions.

So I think they’ll come back, if not in the same shape as they are now.

Anyway that’s my opinion.

 

[OraLabora]

In terms of service, I think it’s important to point out that the Benedictine rule that “all are greeted as Christ himself” goes way beyond mere hospitality. I know that at the monastery I’m associated with, the monks do great service helping people deal with all manner of life crises. Many an alcoholic, drug addict, or person dealing with sexual demons for instance, has been set onto the road to reforming his or her life through contact with the monks. One monk I know well, has had a long-running correspondence with a prisoner who converted.

As others have pointed out these acts of charity are rarely seen because they tend to happen within the monastery walls and not in the soup kitchen. Anybody who turns up at the monastery and is troubled, can ask to speak privately with a monk.

But added to their service of “praying without ceasing”, they perform a very necessary and critical role in the Church.

 

[TimothyH]

In terms of service, I think it’s important to point out that the Benedictine rule that “all are greeted as Christ himself” goes way beyond mere hospitality. I know that at the monastery I’m associated with, the monks do great service helping people deal with all manner of life crises. Many an alcoholic, drug addict, or person dealing with sexual demons for instance, has been set onto the road to reforming his or her life through contact with the monks. One monk I know well, has had a long-running correspondence with a prisoner who converted.

As others have pointed out these acts of charity are rarely seen because they tend to happen within the monastery walls and not in the soup kitchen. Anybody who turns up at the monastery and is troubled, can ask to speak privately with a monk.

But added to their service of “praying without ceasing”, they perform a very necessary and critical role in the Church.

This reminds me that the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyer’s Georgia acted as the area’s first official fire department in the 1940’s and 50’s. The monks put out many house fires.

-Tim-

 

[Gertabelle]

I would think that a simple life of prayer removed from the ‘noise’ and pressures of society would be desirable by a great many… seems like a much easier path to pursue than having to deal with the world.

Easy??? Holy cow, nothing could be farther from the reality! The vow of obedience under pain of mortal sin… that one alone would do most people in. Obedience applies to EVERY area of monastic life – what you wear, what you eat, who you sit next to, what chores you do, how those chores are done (think about having to ask someone else HOW you should sweep the floor!), etc., etc., etc…

I can’t say more about the value of the contemplative life than Pope St John Paul II said. You should do a quick google search to find out why the Church holds the contemplative life in such high esteem.

Gertie

 

[OraLabora]

Easy??? Holy cow, nothing could be farther from the reality! The vow of obedience under pain of mortal sin… that one alone would do most people in. Obedience applies to EVERY area of monastic life – what you wear, what you eat, who you sit next to, what chores you do, how those chores are done (think about having to ask someone else HOW you should sweep the floor!), etc., etc., etc…

I can’t say more about the value of the contemplative life than Pope St John Paul II said. You should do a quick google search to find out why the Church holds the contemplative life in such high esteem.

Gertie

Indeed. The paradox though is how obedience can be so liberating. But it takes a long time to get there. Monastic life in essence is a school to get there and some monks need a lifetime to go through all 12 stages of humility described in the Rule of Saint Benedict. As one monk told me, the monastery isn’t a resort for the righteous, it’s a hospital for sinners.

Or rather as St. Benedict puts it, a school for the service of the Lord. It’s a life-long process of inner conversion, transformation, and giving yourself over to God. It takes a lifetime to become a saint! Many people have an idealized conception of monastic life. But there is conflict and problems, like everywhere else. Plus there’s that obedience thing

Monks can also easily fall prey to acedia. Indeed you’re correct, monastic life isn’t easy at all.

 

[JamalChristophr]

I do indeed have some attraction to the contemplative and religious life- for example, I usually I make a holy hour every day and almost always go to daily mass, BUT I also have some serious issues with depression. Therefore, I think that rules me out right there from considering any further.

Anyone disagree?

Should I investigate more or not?

And can a person have a desire to be married and also a desire to enter religious life? I think I have both but different in degree. But in reality, I have a sense that it’s possible my ultimate vocation is a calling to neither one.

Sorry for the disruption!

 

[HelenRose]

I do indeed have some attraction to the contemplative and religious life- for example, I usually I make a holy hour every day and almost always go to daily mass, BUT I also have some serious issues with depression. Therefore, I think that rules me out right there from considering any further.

Anyone disagree?

Should I investigate more or not?

And can a person have a desire to be married and also a desire to enter religious life? I think I have both but different in degree. But in reality, I have a sense that it’s possible my ultimate vocation is a calling to neither one.

Sorry for the disruption!

Continue searching. Depression does not define who you are. If you have a true calling doors will open for you. Let God lead you.

 

[Bookcat]

Easy??? Holy cow, nothing could be farther from the reality! The vow of obedience under pain of mortal sin… that one alone would do most people in. Obedience applies to EVERY area of monastic life –

Such would be mistaken. Tis not binding gravely in religious life - as was thought there about all sorts of things…only in certain aspects.

 

[TimothyH]

Such would be mistaken. Tis not binding gravely in religious life - as was thought there about all sorts of things…only in certain aspects.

I don’t understand. Can you clarify? Are you saying that obedience is only required in certain aspects and not others? I don’t understand your comment.

I ask because the Rule of St. Benedict is crystal clear. The command of the Abbot is to be obeyed “with the ready step of obedience” immediately upon hearing it as if it had come from Christ himself. The monk is to abandon his own work and will and do the work and will of the one who commands such that the command and the fulfillment of the command are one swift action.

For those in the secular world - oblate, monastic associate, or just someone enjoying a Benedictine spirituality - this extends to anyone in authority such as managers at work, police, parents, the pastor of the parish, etc.

-Tim-

 

[TimothyH]

I do indeed have some attraction to the contemplative and religious life- for example, I usually I make a holy hour every day and almost always go to daily mass, BUT I also have some serious issues with depression. Therefore, I think that rules me out right there from considering any further.

Anyone disagree?

Should I investigate more or not?

And can a person have a desire to be married and also a desire to enter religious life? I think I have both but different in degree. But in reality, I have a sense that it’s possible my ultimate vocation is a calling to neither one.

Sorry for the disruption!

This is not a disruption.

The vocations director at the Monastery near me said, “Don’t wait”. That was good advice. Go now. Visit monasteries. Go on vocations retreats. Start to look now especially if you are older. Most monasteries have a cut-off age and so look into it.

-Tim-

 

[Bookcat]

I don’t understand. Can you clarify? Are you saying that obedience is only required in certain aspects and not others? I don’t understand your comment.

I ask because the Rule of St. Benedict is crystal clear. The command of the Abbot is to be obeyed “with the ready step of obedience” immediately upon hearing it as if it had come from Christ himself. The monk is to abandon his own work and will and do the work and will of the one who commands such that the command and the fulfillment of the command are one swift action.

For those in the secular world - oblate, monastic associate, or just someone enjoying a Benedictine spirituality - this extends to anyone in authority such as managers at work, police, parents, the pastor of the parish, etc.

-Tim-

The vow of obedience is a very particular thing. Yes while the obedience is to be given to the legit. authority (much would have to be said about such -whole courses and formation indeed) - all disobedience is not necessarily a sin against the vow of obedience - the virtue of religion. Some things would yes be grave matter and contrary to the virtue of religion and the virtue of obedience. Other matters would be light matters or even not sins.

It is not that the religious is not to “obey” but there are various kinds of precepts and various aspects involved in obedience.

The various religious orders and communities will differ as to what is under pain of sin and what indeed is contrary to the vow as a grave sin against the virtue of religion in addition to against obedience. The various Constitutions etc will go into such.

As for oblates - obedience there too as ordinary obedience - does not mean that all disobedience is grave matter. And such is not by vow of course.

 

[otjm]

Hello,

I think it will continue to decrease because we need to go outside in the World to evangelize.

hope19

The contemplative life did not start with the apostles nor with the first several generations after them, but it did start within a few hundred years of Christ.

And throughout those hundreds and hundreds of years, the Church has managed to do both. At times, contemplative orders were full; and then they cycled. Some orders were started, and eventually disappeared. Others grew, receded, grew again, receded again…

God calls people to the contemplative life as He will. And the contemplative life has never been in the majority. Out here in Oregon, we have a group revived, and their growth is slow. They are the reconstituted Bridgettine monks; the monks started in the 14th century, and dispersed in the 19th century.

The Church has always needed to go outside int he world to evangelize; and since the early part of the Church, it appears that it has always needed contemplatives.

 

[otjm]

This reminds me that the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyer’s Georgia acted as the area’s first official fire department in the 1940’s and 50’s. The monks put out many house fires.

-Tim-

So I suppose they coordinated their attack on a fire by hand signals?

I can’t speak to Georgia, but the Trappists out here seem to have relaxed some of the austerity I saw in the 50’s and 60’s. They seem to have been able to have an open mind without having their brains fall out (unlike some groups of which we won’t speak…).

 

[TimothyH]

So I suppose they coordinated their attack on a fire by hand signals?

I can’t speak to Georgia, but the Trappists out here seem to have relaxed some of the austerity I saw in the 50’s and 60’s. They seem to have been able to have an open mind without having their brains fall out (unlike some groups of which we won’t speak…).

Each monastery is different. It is up to the abbot. This particular monastery used to have total silence but now has “Grand Silence” from night prayer to Mass the next day, from about 7:00 PM to about 7:00 AM. The vocation director told us that it means, “Silence unless charity demands that you speak” and added that they would like us to say something if the building is on fire.

People get bent out of shape when they hear of monasteries “relaxing” their practices but both flexibility and adaptation are integral to the monastics of the Benedictine tradition - it is built into the rule itself.

And it really doesn’t matter what we think anyway. We could complain to the monks that they should pray in Latin and be silent 24x7 and they would smile and say, “Well we don’t. Would you like more tea?”

And those who complain that some monastery in the middle of nowhere isn’t strict enough should try holding themselves to the same standard - 6 oz. bread and water every Wednesday and Friday, not talking after 7:00 PM and get up at 3:45AM every day to meditate and pray.

-Tim-

 

[HumbledSinner]

The Franciscans really are not a contemplative order.

-Tim-

pax et bonum brother

I think a lot of Franciscans will disagree with you on that. One of the pillars of Capuchin Franciscan charism is contemplative prayer life. The difference in comparison to a monastic order is that contemplation is balanced with ministerial works.

 

[JamalChristophr]

One of my favorite contemplative-active orders is the Missionaries of Charity.

"Seeking the face of God in everything, everyone, all the time, and his hand in every happening; This is what it means to be contemplative in the heart of the world. Seeing and adoring the presence of Jesus, especially in the lowly appearance of bread, and in the distressing disguise of the poor.”
-Mother Teresa

 

[OraLabora]

pax et bonum brother

I think a lot of Franciscans will disagree with you on that. One of the pillars of Capuchin Franciscan charism is contemplative prayer life. The difference in comparison to a monastic order is that contemplation is balanced with ministerial works.

Although almost all religious incorporate contemplation in their lives, Franciscans are not specifically a contemplative order.

That term is usually applied to the cloistered orders for whom living the contemplative life is their main goal.

 

[Gertabelle]

Although almost all religious incorporate contemplation in their lives, Franciscans are not specifically a contemplative order.

That term is usually applied to the cloistered orders for whom living the contemplative life is their main goal.

The Second Order of St. Francis (i.e., the Poor Clares) are specifically a contemplative order!

There are some orders of women contemplatives (e.g., Carmelites, Franciscans, Benedictines…) that began as contemplatives and later had religious congregations with active apostolates form using their original rule in a revised manner. So we now have active congregations of men and women who are Carmelites, Franciscans, etc.

But to say that the Franciscans are not a contemplative order is to completely ignore the Poor Clares, the second order of Franciscans! If you are speaking solely about the first order (Friars Minor) you didn’t indicate that, so please forgive me if I misunderstood your comment.

Gertie