Book: Religious Vocation: An Unnecessary Mystery

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whosebob

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JMJ + OBT​

I just tonight (in the presence of our Eucharistic Lord) finished reading, and re-reading several sections of, Religious Vocation: An Unnecessary Mystery by the later Fr. Richard Butler, O.P.

Have any of the other CAF members read this book?

I thought it was great! It’s not a handbook on discernment by any means; also Fr. Butler specifically treats the subject of religious vocation as opposed to priestly vocation. It’s a theological and then practical exploration which is grounded in and presents the thinking of St. Thomas Aquinas and the Fathers of the Church on this subject.

At some points the treatment can get rather heavy as the author constructs and makes a case for the Thomistic apparatus which he uses to explore the subject matter. At most other times the considerations and insights are quite straightforward, and extremely challenging!

I can post some quotes from the book if anyone is interested. But for $9.00, as sold on TAN’s website (link given above), you really should buy yourself a copy and start reading it as soon as it arrives in your mailbox.

I think coupling this book to Pope John Paul II’s apostolic exhortation Vita Consecrata makes the ultimate modern resource for understanding just what is a religious vocation.

In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

IC XC NIKA
 
whosebob said:
JMJ + OBT​

I can post some quotes from the book if anyone is interested. But for $9.00, as sold on TAN’s website (link given above), you really should buy yourself a copy and start reading it as soon as it arrives in your mailbox.
IC XC NIKA
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If you have time, I’d love to see some highlights. I’ll probably buy it anyway though.
 
I have read that book and found it excellent. It dispels many myths about a religious vocation. 👍
 
I agree, could we get some more info on this book. Amazon and Tan don’t give a decent description.
 
DesertBrother said:
If you have time, I’d love to see some highlights. I’ll probably buy it anyway though.
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chotock said:
I agree, could we get some more info on this book. Amazon and Tan don’t give a decent description.
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JMJ + OBT​

I apologize, I just last night gave my copy of this book to a friend who is both converting to the Catholic Faith and thinking about religious life. It’s fairly short, about 160 pages, and my friend is a fast reader, so I’ll probably have it back from him in the next week or two. When I get it back, I’ll post some quotes from the “conclusions and summary” chapter, with a bit of commentary on what’s in each preceding chapter.

Of course, if another CAF member who owns and has read the book could take the time render this service in the next few days before I’m able to do so, that would great.

In Christ.

IC XC NIKA
 
chotock said:
I agree, could we get some more info on this book. Amazon and Tan don’t give a decent description.
Click to expand...
JMJ + OBT​

By the way, the description on TAN’s website is completely accurate, it just doesn’t go into a lot of detail regarding Fr. Butler’s treatment of the subject – they want you to buy the book, of course! 😃

In Christ.

IC XC NIKA
 
whosebob said:
JMJ + OBT​

I apologize, I just last night gave my copy of this book to a friend who is both converting to the Catholic Faith and thinking about religious life. It’s fairly short, about 160 pages, and my friend is a fast reader, so I’ll probably have it back from him in the next week or two. When I get it back, I’ll post some quotes from the “conclusions and summary” chapter, with a bit of commentary on what’s in each preceding chapter.

Of course, if another CAF member who owns and has read the book could take the time render this service in the next few days before I’m able to do so, that would great.

In Christ.

IC XC NIKA
Click to expand...
Don’t worry, my copy will hopefully be here by that time anyway. Thanks again for posting. I wouldn’t have known about it otherwise. But please do post highlights for others who are interested. 👋
 
whosebob said:
JMJ + OBT​

Did you ever receive your copy? Have you read it yet? 🙂 Any thoughts you’d like to share with us?
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I DID! Read it. Loved it. It was right on considering so many issues of religious life.

Quick summary for anyone else interested:

Religious or monastic vocation has become viewed by most, including many spiritual directors as a sort of rare calling that is for a few elect souls. This book states that the opposite is true, and uses St. Thomas Aquinas to back it up. It’s not an esoteric calling, but an ordinary means of living according to God’s counsels, which are: poverty, chastity, and obedience. The author states that ALL Christians are called to live according to these counsels, not just monks. Monks have simply adopted a method, which through vows is assisted by sacramental grace, that makes living them much easier and are able to do so to a greater degree than those in the world. He states that every unmarried Catholic man should discern whether he is called to religious life! Don’t think that’s so popular today!

He also says that the view of religious vocation changed when some 20th century French theologians claimed there should be some level of mysterious attraction to the life of a monk. They were later criticized by the Church for their views. The author states that in fact, one can have an actual “repugnance” at the idea of becoming a monk, but it might still be what God wants for him. In fact, he says for some, fulfilling a religious vocation might even be necessary for their salvation!

In the early Church, people sent their kids to grow up in monasteries, hoping they’d eventually become monks or nuns. Notorious sinners were even advised to go and live their lives doing penance in a monastery. It was just a much more common and ordinary option, and was never seen as a “mystery” as it is today.

I agreed with pretty much the whole book. Great read for any man or woman discerning a religious vocation. Not so much a book for those in diacoscan priestly discernment, which actually IS more of a mysterious or supernatural calling.

Thank you for recommending this book!
👍
 
Sounds fascinating… I’ll have to keep an eye out for it.
 
This thread made me get a copy. I am currently reading it now.

I just ordered a copy of Peter On The Shore, has anyone read it? Any thoughts? I know you can read it for free on some vocation web site, but I like to hold the book in my hands when I read.
 
Just got my copy… about to go read it… thanks for the recommendation, whosebob.
 
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