Holy Orders???

[mesquite_magic]

Hope I’m using the right words… The different orders of Priests and Nuns, and Monks.

Why so many different Orders? Which are liberal? Which are conservative? Why does it matter?

What’s the difference between a Monk and a Priest?

Just curious. In reading around the board I’ve heard a few people say ask a conservative Priest, not a liberal one. by the tone of this board, I kind of understand why you’d say that. However, I keep thinking, “a Priest is a Priest, right?”

My church was “run” by the Paulists. Hi, if any of you guys are here. I get the feeling they would be considered liberal. Now it’s being “run” by the Carmelites. I think they might be conservative considering they’re one of the oldest Orders (from what I’ve read).

Anyway… like I said, I’m just curious

Kim

 

[LilyM]

Two main things.

Firstly different orders might focus on different ways of service. Some mainly work in the area of education, others in hospitals and healthcare, still others with the very poor and homeless.

Others are more contemplative, in that their work consists of supporting their brothers and sisters out in the world with almost non-stop prayer. This is an important work in its own right - there aren’t enough people praying out here for sure!

Secondly the different orders are run on different types of spirituality - you may be aware that Franciscan spirituality is different from Carmelite, Benedictine, Ignatian (like the Jesuits), Dominican and so on. Different ways they approach their spiritual lives, and their jobs out in the world too! Hence the different communities form of those attracted to one or another way of living the spiritual life.

Priests most certainly aren’t all just priests - many priests are members of other religious orders as well (a priest doesn’t need to be) and others aren’t. So they may be a Dominican, Franciscan, Benedictine etc as well as being a priest, or not. Monks are basically the male version of nuns - vowed religious. Not all priests, for example, are vowed to poverty in the same way monks and nuns are. If I understand correctly, monks are not always ordained priests as well - can’t always celebrate Mass or the sacraments, although it’s rare these days to find one who isn’t.

And some priests do seem as a whole to be somewhat more ‘liberal’ or otherwise. As an example, ask any three different priests about their views on masturbation. You’ll probably get at least one who says it’s perfectly normal and natural and not a sin at all :nope: and possibly another who says it’s always mortal sin and you’ll go straight to heck without passing go - wrong again.

Hopefully you should get at least one who will give you the correct, catechism, answer. Which is that it is grave matter, thus possibly mortal sin if done with knowledge and free will - but that there are circumstances where force of habit or other factors will make it a venial sin. Almost never no sin at all though.

 

[mesquite_magic]

Thank-you.

Kim

 

[Mt_28_19_20]

Two main things.

Firstly different orders might focus on different ways of service. Some mainly work in the area of education, others in hospitals and healthcare, still others with the very poor and homeless.

Others are more contemplative, in that their work consists of supporting their brothers and sisters out in the world with almost non-stop prayer. This is an important work in its own right - there aren’t enough people praying out here for sure!

Secondly the different orders are run on different types of spirituality - you may be aware that Franciscan spirituality is different from Carmelite, Benedictine, Ignatian (like the Jesuits), Dominican and so on. Different ways they approach their spiritual lives, and their jobs out in the world too! Hence the different communities form of those attracted to one or another way of living the spiritual life.

Priests most certainly aren’t all just priests - many priests are members of other religious orders as well (a priest doesn’t need to be) and others aren’t. So they may be a Dominican, Franciscan, Benedictine etc as well as being a priest, or not. Monks are basically the male version of nuns - vowed religious. Not all priests, for example, are vowed to poverty in the same way monks and nuns are. If I understand correctly, monks are not always ordained priests as well - can’t always celebrate Mass or the sacraments, although it’s rare these days to find one who isn’t.

And some priests do seem as a whole to be somewhat more ‘liberal’ or otherwise. As an example, ask any three different priests about their views on masturbation. You’ll probably get at least one who says it’s perfectly normal and natural and not a sin at all :nope: and possibly another who says it’s always mortal sin and you’ll go straight to heck without passing go - wrong again.

Hopefully you should get at least one who will give you the correct, catechism, answer. Which is that it is grave matter, thus possibly mortal sin if done with knowledge and free will - but that there are circumstances where force of habit or other factors will make it a venial sin. Almost never no sin at all though.

Nice post!

Was listening to one of the Catholic radio talk shows the other night on the way home. They were interviewing a nun who had recently written a book defending what the Scripture and Catechism tell us concerning men only for ordination. I forget her name and what order she is in. Found it interesting that several decades ago she was apparently very active and vocal in “feminist” ideas, and promoting the idea of ordination for women. So when you ask which are liberal, seems like this one was, and for the moment is not?

Michael