I am Brother

[JReducation]

Why do religious brothers and consecrated brotherhood always seem to be ignored on these forums, especially vocation forums?

I’m not complaining, but asking an honest question. I’m a brother and very proud to be one. There is something about being called Brother. When you walk into a room full of kids or a parish and people raise their arms and wave, “Hi Brother,” a certain warmth fills your heart like nothing else in this world can do.

I always feel that Christ is truly among us and that I’m standing in his place as the brother who was sent by the Father for the sake of his people. My life is to give it up, not for my sake, but for the sake of my Father’s childen who are my brothers and sisters.

While I do not celebatre mass or any of the other sacraments as clerics do, my life is not my own. It belongs to you my brothers and sisters. For Christ has called me from among the weak and the sinful to serve you as Joseph served his brothers when they arrived in Egypt. My role in Salvation History is to foreshadow the coming of the Messiah; much like John the Baptist foreshadowed the coming of Christ. My mission is to be among those who await the salvation that comes from our God, not with my arms crossed wondering what to do next, but with my arms open, holding the door open for those who want to enter the wedding banquet before the groom arrives.

My life is neither complicated, nor mundane. It is simple and exciting in many respects. My typical day begins with silence in front of the Eucharist, awaiting the morning sun. After what seems like a long period of prayer I join the Church to proclaim the rising of the Son in the morning Liturgy of the Hours. From there I proceed to the Eucharistic table, to feed along with the rest of the Church and to prepare for the day, which will be spent with the disabled, the poor, the selfish and sinful and those who are lost and need a brother to hold them in their arms.

After a quick cup of tea and nothing else, I proceed to the River Jordan, where I will proclaim the coming of the Lord to those who are in need of material, psychological and spiritual help. I do spiritual direction, counseling, teaching, preaching, nursing, and even baby-sitting.

At noon, I stop for a breather. I spend more time with the Lord in silence and again another hour of the Divine Office. After a small lunch, I return to my duties among God’s people, preparing the way of the Lord, so that when the priest arrives he may find them ready for the great gift of the sacraments.

During these afternoons I often spend time listening to an adolescent who wants to talk about his struggles in school, the sense of isolation that leads him to a promiscuous life looking for love and acceptance. I walk with a parent who is lost and wondering why God has punished him with an uncontrollable or sick child. My afernoon ends with a quiet period of prayer before the Blessed Sacament and another hour of the Liturgy in communion with other brothers, but most of all, in communion with the Church in heaven an on earth.

Then there are dishes to wash, laundry to be done, housekeeping to do and a small supper to eat with my brothers. Afterward, there is that meeting with the girls that I met last week. They are pregnant. They’re frightened. They’re looking for an abortion, a way out. I ran into them on the street. I spoke with them. They ran away. I followed them. They stopped me and asked me why. I told them, “I am Joseph, your brother. Do not be afaid. Come with me and I will show you what God has in store for you and your baby.” They reluctantly came. I was not sure where to take them. I put my hands into the pockets of my habit and I have no money. “Oh yeah, I forgot. I made a vow to live without property all the days of my life, just like the Holy Family, just like Christ and the apostles, just like my father Francis. I have no money.”

But I am Brother. I am stand in the place of the eternal Son of God who is the firstborn of many brothers and sisters, the one who could not save his life, because he had no bond money, the one who did not want to save his own life, but only to give it for those whom the Father had loved into existence.

I am not a priest. I cannot offer fogiveness of sins. I cannot confect the Eucharist and feed their hungry souls. I am nothing, but I must be someone. I must be Simon who helps Jesus carry his cross. I must be Mary, who stands at the foot of the cross in awe at what is happening to her son, yet full of faith that the Father has a plan to be revealed in the fulness of time. This is the only thing that I have to offer these people, the promise of a plan.

My vow of chastiy reminds me that I no longer belong to me. My body and my life are not min, but they belong to the body of Christ. I return to my community house to spend time with my brothers, to be reunited with the others in the upper room waiting for the coming of the Lord. Together we spend a happy evening of recreation. Then it is time for silence. The night has come and it is time for one more hour of prayer, the last hour of the day, Night Prayer. It is the hour that reminds me of my promise of obedience. During this hour of prayer, I am reminded that I too die. I too will have to give an account of my day and my life. I too will have to confess how well I have obeyed the voice of God as it comes through the Church, the holy rule, our founder St. Francis, my brothers and the opportunities that have knocked at my door today.

Maybe, this way of life is not worth thinking about. Maybe that’s why no one speaks about it on these forums. Or . . . maybe that’s why Mary was not a priest. Where there is a Christ, there has to be a Mary.

Fraternally,

Br. JR

 

[Nom_the_Wise]

It is a beautiful vocation. I think diocesan priests and nuns get more attention if only because they are more visible than brothers and monks in society. I discerned a vocation to the LaSallian Christian Brothers for two years; they read “The Imitation of Christ” by Thomas A’Kempis as a devotion (at least the ones that I knew did) rather than the Liturgy of the Hours. And I once knew a Benedictine monk from the Phillipines and they chanted all *seven *of the hours in Latin, even waking up in the middle of the night for Matins (the monk joked that that’s why they shave their heads–no vanity about their hair, and no need to comb it in the middle of the night. Just throw on the habit and off you go!).

I love the Liturgy of the Hours. **It is the “official” prayer of the Church **(hence, the Divine Office) and **I wonder how many Catholics even know what it is **. Being the “official” prayer of the Church, it should be advocated more (as well as contemplative vocations). I spent time visiting Franciscans long ago (Sacred Heart Province in Illinois), and desperately wanted to be one. I hadn’t been to college and I suppose I seemed a bit desperate to them so they asked me to wait. It was a good call.

Also, as one Jesuit I knew put it, the diocesan priests are the “front lines” of the Catholic Church; typical of a Jesuit to use military jargon to describe the function of parish priests. But of course Franciscans have parishes as well as other ministries. The real draw of the brotherhood for me was that it was actually part of your daily routine to have to go pray. You *had *to go! “Now get in there in front of the Blessed Sacrament and spend quality time with Jesus!” What a dream come true! And visiting communities of the brothers was ever so much different than the diocesan seminary, which was much less intimate and at times I wondered if anyone cared if I was there. I’m getting teary-eyed just thinking about it. I really am.

Having the Liturgy of the Hours as a “job requirement” for lack of better terms is such a beautiful vocation, but we live in a world that is hostile to prayer and contemplation. You are such a good witness of your vocation, JReducation, and I pray for you now with a fervor! As my Benedictine friend said once, and beautifully, the monk “keeps the vigil for the world” praying for those who cannot pray as much, keeping awake when the world is at rest, interceding in prayer on behalf of us all; very much in keeping with the role of Our Lady.

You are a blessing. Your vocation is a blessing. I hope this thread of yours invites those that are discerning to appreciate the sacrifice you make everyday on our behalf and to consider giving their lives to such a humble and worthwhile vocation. I may be beating down the doors of the Third Order myself soon enough.

 

[Eucharisted]

Brothers aren’t ignored. Please take a chill pill. Or asprin. Or Pepto. Actually, I recommend Pepto, becuase it tastes really yummy and it’s easy to swallow.

Thanks for bringing up Brotherhood.

 

[kyria]

You are definitely not overlooked by God and He loves you very much. You guys do great works for the Church. You could start a group if you want to get the brotherhood vocation some more attention. Although the priestly vocation might get more ‘press’ on these forums, there are many other vocations people are doing that also don’t get much limelight, but we are all working to assist the Church in some way, even if it is just at the moment getting ourselves on board. People talk from time to time about other vocations other then the priestly one, and nothing stopping you from getting the religious brother vocation some more attention.

I am a Mother.

 

[Trishie]

I tend to refer to Brothers and nuns as “Religious”. Does this offend? E.g, as follows

Vocations: ‘follow me’

Our God, please increase vocations to the priesthood **and to religious life **that meet generous, faithful commitment. Let those You call, recognise Your invitation that is felt in questioning moments and is apparent in the needs of the Church and society. Some fail to listen to Your call because they have their own life-plan, and the price of following Yours appears too high. Please assure them that only along the narrow road of prayer and loving service, is found the enduring happiness and peace that they seek.

Give them light to recognise Jesus’ call of ‘follow me’ and generosity and wisdom to consolidate their decision as they seek further direction. Lead them into the apostolate in which You desire to employ their abilities and potential, and grant them fidelity and trust. Make Christ’s love the reality of their lives, in love that is humble and forgiving, prayerful and self-giving, in love that is perceptive, wise, and detached, in love that is vibrant and grateful.

Dear God, please hear this prayer so that souls will not fall unharvested for lack of worthy labourers. We thank You for the gifts of Your priests **and religious **to countless generations of Your people.

Rebuild Your Church
Jesus, please send Your Holy Spirit to renew Your Church through grace and human labour. Inspire an escalating influx of authentic vocations to Priestly, **Religious **and lay apostolates. Protect and build up Your Church through mutual love, so that the gospel is witnessed and received amongst our families, our communities, and our world.

Overcome in us that decline of worship and service into token observance, religiosity or neglect. We have clung to materialism, sensuality and ease, therefore punish ourselves by their tenacious hold upon our lives. This strangles peace of soul and impoverishes human relationships, fostering discord and injustice amongst us. Please send the Holy Spirit to inspire us with faith and mutual charity.

We have clung to our own will and preferences, thus punish ourselves by inability to rise above our limited selves into the freedom of Your love. We choose worldliness—even many of us who are consecrated to You—rather than to commit ourselves to Your love with unconditional trust.

Liberate us from imbalance regarding human appetites so that we respond to relationship with gospel love. Overcome in us the influence of immoral and unchristian values normalised by convenience, by custom, by literature and by media. Let us recognise our true relation to You and to each other as children of God. Thus, imbue us with reverence towards the sacredness of human life from conception to enfeebled old age, for we live in a society corrupted by accepted forms of injustice and murder.

Let Christ’s forgiveness, healing and peace flow through us. Rescue us from our apathy, agnosticism and atheism and from our search for instant miracle where You desire patient trust. Convert those who live religiously but without genuine faith. To those who do believe, grant deepening faith that leads us into generous commitment and loving service.

Allow Your Holy Spirit to purify and strengthen us in love, faith, hope, in justice and harmony, granting us true conversion within Your Mystical Body. Thank You for Your gift of each other in Church, our God.

 

[Trishie]

Missionary support
Jesus, please ensure the courage, loving-kindness, faith and perseverance of Your priests, religious, missionaries, and lay disciples in all their endeavours and burdens, especially in their awareness of the physical or spiritual needs and deprivations of their people!

What missionary is even now sharing deep pain with his people who lack necessities and face serious social issues? He is aware that there are fortunate people who could alleviate this deprivation and injustice. Jesus, give to them, to us, the integrity and generosity to assist materially and spiritually as Your minister seeks to serve, and labours to lead his people into Your loving communion.

Unite us, Jesus, to the prayer and effort of Your disciples and do not let our hearts be closed by self-interest or complacency. It is easy to overlook or to consider irrelevant, the sufferings, deprivations and injustices of others’ lives. It is easy to ‘resign oneself’ to others’ burdens and to dismiss them as of little value.

To do so is denial of You in persons who, however remote, unknown, or ‘alien’, bear Your divine image. Every human person is as precious to You as each drop of Your blood, his or her ransom. Each one’s joy or suffering is inseparable from Yours. Each person’s consciousness is no less relevant in sadness and in happiness as mine is to me.

Therefore I seek mercy, that although I am just one person, my loaves and fishes of awareness, penance, prayer, and of material assistance, will be shared amongst the priests, religious, the missionaries of Your Church and their people.

Please grant the response of everyone in the Christian community to Your need in Your people, through increase of labourers in Your vineyard of souls directly or through material and spiritual support. We bless You for all whom You send.

As you see, I don’t actually say 'Brothers" but I consciously intend them inclusively in “Religious” or “religious life” and perhaps others do also, and this perhaps masks to you the importance to which we actually give Religious Brothers…

 

[ThomasEugene]

for me brothers are great! i haven’t actually met a religious brother. being a religious brother is a very special vocation. it thrills me!

 

[ThomasEugene]

It is a beautiful vocation. I think diocesan priests and nuns get more attention if only because they are more visible than brothers and monks in society. I discerned a vocation to the LaSallian Christian Brothers for two years; they read “The Imitation of Christ” by Thomas A’Kempis as a devotion (at least the ones that I knew did) rather than the Liturgy of the Hours. And I once knew a Benedictine monk from the Phillipines and they chanted all *seven *of the hours in Latin, even waking up in the middle of the night for Matins (the monk joked that that’s why they shave their heads–no vanity about their hair, and no need to comb it in the middle of the night. Just throw on the habit and off you go!).

I love the Liturgy of the Hours. **It is the “official” prayer of the Church **(hence, the Divine Office) and **I wonder how many Catholics even know what it is **. Being the “official” prayer of the Church, it should be advocated more (as well as contemplative vocations). I spent time visiting Franciscans long ago (Sacred Heart Province in Illinois), and desperately wanted to be one. I hadn’t been to college and I suppose I seemed a bit desperate to them so they asked me to wait. It was a good call.

Also, as one Jesuit I knew put it, the diocesan priests are the “front lines” of the Catholic Church; typical of a Jesuit to use military jargon to describe the function of parish priests. But of course Franciscans have parishes as well as other ministries. The real draw of the brotherhood for me was that it was actually part of your daily routine to have to go pray. You *had *to go! “Now get in there in front of the Blessed Sacrament and spend quality time with Jesus!” What a dream come true! And visiting communities of the brothers was ever so much different than the diocesan seminary, which was much less intimate and at times I wondered if anyone cared if I was there. I’m getting teary-eyed just thinking about it. I really am.

Having the Liturgy of the Hours as a “job requirement” for lack of better terms is such a beautiful vocation, but we live in a world that is hostile to prayer and contemplation. You are such a good witness of your vocation, JReducation, and I pray for you now with a fervor! As my Benedictine friend said once, and beautifully, the monk “keeps the vigil for the world” praying for those who cannot pray as much, keeping awake when the world is at rest, interceding in prayer on behalf of us all; very much in keeping with the role of Our Lady.

You are a blessing. Your vocation is a blessing. I hope this thread of yours invites those that are discerning to appreciate the sacrifice you make everyday on our behalf and to consider giving their lives to such a humble and worthwhile vocation. I may be beating down the doors of the Third Order myself soon enough.

Are you refering to the Benedictine monks of Manila, or a Filipino Benedictine in other country?

Yesterday and this day, we joined the Minim nuns in their Vespers I and II, Terce and Sext. It is great! I love their singing of hymns, the psalms, the bowing during the Glory be… everything is so wondeful. I wish i can pray the LOH with them everyday but I love far from them. Beautiful… very beautiful…

 

[Simon_X]

Thank you for posting and giving us a glimpse of your holy life. I found it very awesome and beautiful. We have a couple Religious communities of both Brothers and Sisters here where I live and I have always found their work important, yet, mysterious.

I also was taught by Brothers and Sisters in High School, so I do know a bit about that type of life from them.

Take care and God Bless you and your community…

 

[JReducation]

Brothers aren’t ignored. Please take a chill pill. Or asprin. Or Pepto. Actually, I recommend Pepto, becuase it tastes really yummy and it’s easy to swallow.

Thanks for bringing up Brotherhood.

Don’t worry. I’m not upset and I HATE the taste of Pepto! I think I’ll stick with Gatoraide for an upset stomach.

I wanted to share the thoughts of a brother from the inside. As someone else said, to many people it’s a mysteriious vocation. That’s probably one of the reasons that the secular world does not speak about it much except in very broad strokes such as religious life. For over a thousand years brothers have served the Church in different lifestyles ranging from the monastic to the apostolic. But it is hard to pigeon hole the brother and say, "A brother is a man who . . . " Because there is the essence of being over doing. That’s a hard thing to describe.

Some communities of brothers took a serious hit after Vatican II because the application and interpretation of Perfectae Caritatis was too quick and went further than the Council directed. I always pray for those communities. They had the most wonderful intentions in mind, but something didn’t happen the way it was to happen.

The good news is that there are many new communities of brothers today, especially in the developiing nations and even in the United States. While we use he word newbecause they were just born within the last 40 years, they are really very old. They are capturing the spirit of the great and holy brothers of tradition. In other words, their way of life is as old as the Church itself.

There are probably men out there who are looking for a more intimate consecration to God, but are not aware of where to look. These forums are a wonderful opportunity to introduce them to religious life.

Someone mentioned that they were thinking about a Secular Order or a Third Order. Some of those orders have brothers. They are usually called cells or some similar name. These are members who profess the rule of the order, but live in community, are celibate, and retain their canonical status as secular men. These are wonderful fraternities, because the world needs men who go dailly go into the secular world, but stand out as a Gospel presence. Like the apostles says, “They are in the world, but not of the world.”

Then there are other brothers who are the silent and hidden force behind us, whose lives are spent in prayer and quiet work in an enclosure. The range between the two paradigms is incredible.

My own community is a wonderful blend between the two. Fr. Benedict Groeschel once described this way of life as “monks on the go”. I believe St. Vincent de Paul said it best when he told his Daughters of Charity that their cloister was to be the streets of Paris. I often reflect on these statements. Though I’m not part of the Vincentian family, I can’t think of a better way of describing the contemplative life lived outside the cloister.

By the way, for the person who mentioned the De la Salle Christian Brothers. I have nothing but great admiration for them. They raised generations of Catholic men through their fine schools. I just have one thing to add about that. Sometimes people will dismiss these teaching brothers based on those who attended their schools and how they fall short of the mark. But one has to remember that teachers are like parents. Even good parents can be disappointed by their children. This should not always be a reflection on these dedicated men. Sometimes, we get too Freudian. If something goes wrong it’s always mother’s fault. Bologna!

In closing this post I will add one thing. If you’re a man or there is a man in your life who seems to be searching for a pearl of great value and can’t seem to find it, this may be it.

Fraternally,

JR

 

[Poor_Clare_tobe]

Why do religious brothers and consecrated brotherhood always seem to be ignored on these forums, especially vocation forums?

I’m not complaining, but asking an honest question. I’m a brother and very proud to be one. There is something about being called Brother. When you walk into a room full of kids or a parish and people raise their arms and wave, “Hi Brother,” a certain warmth fills your heart like nothing else in this world can do.

I always feel that Christ is truly among us and that I’m standing in his place as the brother who was sent by the Father for the sake of his people. My life is to give it up, not for my sake, but for the sake of my Father’s childen who are my brothers and sisters. [edited by Poor Clare for space reasons]

My life is neither complicated, nor mundane. It is simple and exciting in many respects. My typical day begins with silence in front of the Eucharist, awaiting the morning sun. After what seems like a long period of prayer I join the Church to proclaim the rising of the Son in the morning Liturgy of the Hours. From there I proceed to the Eucharistic table, to feed along with the rest of the Church and to prepare for the day, which will be spent with the disabled, the poor, the selfish and sinful and those who are lost and need a brother to hold them in their arms.

After a quick cup of tea and nothing else, I proceed to the River Jordan, where I will proclaim the coming of the Lord to those who are in need of material, psychological and spiritual help. I do spiritual direction, counseling, teaching, preaching, nursing, and even baby-sitting.

At noon, I stop for a breather. I spend more time with the Lord in silence and again another hour of the Divine Office. After a small lunch, I return to my duties among God’s people, preparing the way of the Lord, so that when the priest arrives he may find them ready for the great gift of the sacraments.

During these afternoons I often spend time listening to an adolescent who wants to talk about his struggles in school, the sense of isolation that leads him to a promiscuous life looking for love and acceptance. I walk with a parent who is lost and wondering why God has punished him with an uncontrollable or sick child. My afernoon ends with a quiet period of prayer before the Blessed Sacament and another hour of the Liturgy in communion with other brothers, but most of all, in communion with the Church in heaven an on earth.

Then there are dishes to wash, laundry to be done, housekeeping to do and a small supper to eat with my brothers. Afterward, there is that meeting with the girls that I met last week. They are pregnant. They’re frightened. They’re looking for an abortion, a way out. I ran into them on the street. I spoke with them. They ran away. I followed them. They stopped me and asked me why. I told them, “I am Joseph, your brother. Do not be afaid. Come with me and I will show you what God has in store for you and your baby.” They reluctantly came. I was not sure where to take them. I put my hands into the pockets of my habit and I have no money. “Oh yeah, I forgot. I made a vow to live without property all the days of my life, just like the Holy Family, just like Christ and the apostles, just like my father Francis. I have no money.”

But I am Brother. I am stand in the place of the eternal Son of God who is the firstborn of many brothers and sisters, the one who could not save his life, because he had no bond money, the one who did not want to save his own life, but only to give it for those whom the Father had loved into existence.

I am not a priest. I cannot offer fogiveness of sins. I cannot confect the Eucharist and feed their hungry souls. I am nothing, but I must be someone. I must be Simon who helps Jesus carry his cross. I must be Mary, who stands at the foot of the cross in awe at what is happening to her son, yet full of faith that the Father has a plan to be revealed in the fulness of time. This is the only thing that I have to offer these people, the promise of a plan.

My vow of chastiy reminds me that I no longer belong to me. My body and my life are not min, but they belong to the body of Christ. I return to my community house to spend time with my brothers, to be reunited with the others in the upper room waiting for the coming of the Lord. Together we spend a happy evening of recreation. Then it is time for silence. The night has come and it is time for one more hour of prayer, the last hour of the day, Night Prayer. It is the hour that reminds me of my promise of obedience. During this hour of prayer, I am reminded that I too die. I too will have to give an account of my day and my life. I too will have to confess how well I have obeyed the voice of God as it comes through the Church, the holy rule, our founder St. Francis, my brothers and the opportunities that have knocked at my door today.

Maybe, this way of life is not worth thinking about. Maybe that’s why no one speaks about it on these forums. Or . . . maybe that’s why Mary was not a priest. Where there is a Christ, there has to be a Mary.

Fraternally,

Br. JR

Brother JR,
Blessings of Peace and All Good!
First let me say what a beautiful vocation story.[Perhaps you could also post it under Sr Helenas thread? I was so hoping you would share your journey there. I have personally read and eagerly awaited your many posts on this forum. I believe you and other religious bring a maturity and guidance that others who are not in religious life can bring. My belief is that by sharing your journeys and insights that you are of invaluable help.

  Secondly I agree there are few if any posts regarding the vocation of being a Brother in religious life. Priests, Deacons, Sisters, Nuns, and of course the Secular Orders. Your threads are always so interesting.. Perhaps you could develop some to share your journey.. More of what it is like to be a religious brother in today's society? How did you come to religious life??? Perhaps you might also be able to have a few of your fellow brothers post here on the forums? I eagerly await more of your story!! [Along with many others on this forum I am sure!]
       Wishing you the Blessings and Peace of this Holy Week!
                                 Veronica*

 

[KCT]

Twice a week, we have Brothers (seminarians) at our school. The boys love them. The Brothers train the altar servers for school Masses and do a wonderful job. They also teach some of the Religion classes.

We also have consecrated men and women a few days each week. They are truly a blessing.

God bless you

 

[SerraSemper]

Dear Brother,

Yes, I do talk about brothers. And, unlike many, I do not pray for vocations to the “priesthood and religious life”. I pray for vocations to “holy orders and consecrated life” or “vowed, ordained, and consecrated life”. I even wrote a post about brothers as the foundation for further ones HERE.

 

[Nom_the_Wise]

Are you refering to the Benedictine monks of Manila, or a Filipino Benedictine in other country?

…

YES! He’s from Manila! His monestary is dedicated to the Transfiguration. I haven’t talked to him in years. When he was in the states, whenever we’d all go out somewhere, he’d play this game that I liked to call “Find the Filipino.”

“Did you see that girl? She’s a Filipino.” He was awfully homesick.
I haven’t seen him in over ten years. You’re not in Manilla, are you? His name is Brother Pachomius (though in the states we called him “Vic”). He joined the order when he was 11 years old. They grow their own coffee there.

 

[JReducation]

YES! He’s from Manila! His monestary is dedicated to the Transfiguration. I haven’t talked to him in years. When he was in the states, whenever we’d all go out somewhere, he’d play this game that I liked to call “Find the Filipino.”

“Did you see that girl? She’s a Filipino.” He was awfully homesick.
I haven’t seen him in over ten years. You’re not in Manilla, are you? His name is Brother Pachomius (though in the states we called him “Vic”). He joined the order when he was 11 years old. They grow their own coffee there.

They grow their own monks too. :clapping:

Fraternally,

JR

 

[JReducation]

Twice a week, we have Brothers (seminarians) at our school. The boys love them. The Brothers train the altar servers for school Masses and do a wonderful job. They also teach some of the Religion classes.

We also have consecrated men and women a few days each week. They are truly a blessing.

God bless you

This can be confusing for some people, because some communities call their seminarians Brother. Ordinarilly, a brother is a religious in vows or a member of a secular order that makes a public profession of vows or obedience to a rule of life. Hermits are often referred to a Brother too, such as Charles de Facould.

Fraternally,

JR

 

[carm_bro]

Hi Br. JR,

Br. Alphonsus here. I enjoyed your post and based on the replies you have received, it seems that we have a ton of support here at CAF. Though I will say that based on my personal experience, that brotherhood is probably the least understood vocation.

I say this because there have been a number of people who have asked me “When are you going to be a priest?” or “When are you going all the way?”, or even a variation of the two. I think it’s mainly because many people have not been exposed to religious brothers and just don’t know that it is a distinctive unique calling.

I don’t really get bothered by the questions, but just explain that it is a vocation and is not a step in the process of becoming a priest like the transitional Deaconate is. I have had people accidently call me “father” before and just nicely correct them, sometimes I don’t have the chance if it is in passing.

At any rate I am glad to be part of a forum that so warmly receives us and understands brotherhood. Can I cut and paste or incorporate parts of your post in my discernment group at another site? I really liked some of your insights. If you prefer I will put your name on the bottom giving you the credit Br. JR.

Thanks for the post Brother and God Bless…and God Bless CAF!

 

[JReducation]

Dear Brother,

Yes, I do talk about brothers. And, unlike many, I do not pray for vocations to the “priesthood and religious life”. I pray for vocations to “holy orders and consecrated life” or “vowed, ordained, and consecrated life”. I even wrote a post about brothers as the foundation for further ones HERE.

I read your blog. It is very informative and helpful to people who are looking at options for the Gospel life. It’s a great ministry. Keep it up.

Fraternally,

Br. JR

 

[Ocarm]

I will say that based on my personal experience, that brotherhood is probably the least understood vocation.

Actually, I would say that the single life is the least understood, although probably you were meaning amongst consecrated forms of life (sorry if I’m nitpicking!).

I say this because there have been a number of people who have asked me “When are you going to be a priest?” or “When are you going all the way?”, or even a variation of the two.

I also get this a lot, and unfortunately it does get me down a little sometimes - especially when people look disappointed when I explain to them that I’m not a priest and not going to be a priest. Sometimes this is followed by sympathy inasmuch as its assumed that I tried but failed the interview.

I have to say that in my own order my lack of vocation to ordination was positively received, although there was from a few people a slight sense of puzzlement as to how else I might fill my time. I don’t actually think there’s a shortage of work to do in the world, however!

And JR, thank you very much for beginning this thread, which I’ve found very heartening. I think maybe there is a sea change going on in religious life, with more men called to the life of brotherhood as opposed to priesthood than might have been the case a couple of decades ago. This seems to be happening in many male orders and congregations, even if only in a relative sense. I think it’s important that we articulate that experience as widely as we can.

Fraternal greetings to all.

 

[JReducation]

Hi Br. JR,

Br. Alphonsus here. I enjoyed your post and based on the replies you have received, it seems that we have a ton of support here at CAF. Though I will say that based on my personal experience, that brotherhood is probably the least understood vocation.

I say this because there have been a number of people who have asked me “When are you going to be a priest?” or “When are you going all the way?”, or even a variation of the two. I think it’s mainly because many people have not been exposed to religious brothers and just don’t know that it is a distinctive unique calling.

I don’t really get bothered by the questions, but just explain that it is a vocation and is not a step in the process of becoming a priest like the transitional Deaconate is. I have had people accidently call me “father” before and just nicely correct them, sometimes I don’t have the chance if it is in passing.

At any rate I am glad to be part of a forum that so warmly receives us and understands brotherhood. Can I cut and paste or incorporate parts of your post in my discernment group at another site? I really liked some of your insights. If you prefer I will put your name on the bottom giving you the credit Br. JR.

Thanks for the post Brother and God Bless…and God Bless CAF!

Hi Br. Alphonsus:

First, it’s great to run into another brother on CAF. I think one of the most interesting things about being a brother is that brothers come in all sizes and flavors, like cereal. People don’t always know what to think about us, because today’s society is oriented toward doing over being. The first thing that people will often ask is, What do brothers do?

The moment you say that some are pastoral assistants, hermits, monks, bakers, teachers, doctors, lawyers, porters, mechanics, engineers, nurses, missionaries, preachers or spiritual directors, then you get the next question. “If you’re going to do that, why not go all the way and be a priest?”

Our consumer oriented society has placed function over essence or as I like to call it, doing over being.

Being a Carmelite, I’m sure that you must also find some of what we find in our Franciscan tradition. Our Secular Franciscan brothers and sisters are also known as Brother. They have a right to that title. They make a public profession to live by a rule of life. They are part of a fraternity and they serve the Church in their secular state, while avoiding the contamination of secularism. People often ask, “Are you a Third Order Franciscan?”

I often have to tell people that we are family and that they are our brothers or sisters. God has called us to follow him in the footsteps of St. Francis, but wearing a different set of sandals. This often requires some explaining. Again, my belief is that we tend think vertically. We often have a coporate mindset when we look at vocations. We are uncomfortable when people are not neatly placed on a hierarchical pyramid where one calling is higher than another or where one person outranks another by virtue of their role.

My answer is always thes same. A Secular Carmelite, Franciscan, Dominican or Missionary of Charity is a brother. A mendicant is a brother. A monk is a brother. A member of an apostolic institute such as De la Salle is a brother. But we are brothers because of who we are to each other and to the rest of the Mystical Body, not because of our rank in the Body, “for the body has many parts, but one Spirit.” We may have different canonical status, but a common bond, Christ the firstborn of many brothers.

When men ask me about our vocation, I try to explain that we are Christ feeding the multitude, washing the feet of the apostles, praying in silence and solitude, teaching on the mount, healing the sick, teaching the leaders in the synagogue or working in Joseph’s shop. The secret to being a brother is that Christ has called each of us to be a sign of contradiction.

The priesthood is essential to the Church. Without the priesthood, there is no Church. At the same time, Christ’s priesthood is foreshadowed by his brotherhood. When appreciated this way, the priest and the brother are neither opposites nor lacking in what the other is. Together we are Christ to others. Even when we’re not in the same space or the same community, we are together, because the person of Christ cannot be divided or compartamentalized. Christ’s identity can only be shared. Each man lives out his call within the Incarnate Body of Christ.

Moving along to another subject, you ask about using my writing. Please feel free to do so. If you want to link it back, by all means. If some other arrangement is more appropriate, do that too. The important thing is to get men and women to think and pray about the call to brotherhood. If you want to, we can speak and work via PM or other. I would love to cooperate with your project.

I’m wondering if a good way to continue this thread would be to talk about what a man is looking for when he looks at religious and secular orders.

I bring secular orders into the picture, because many communities of brothers began as branches of secular orders. The active congregations among the mendicants often have their roots in the secular orders. In our own Franciscan family, we have cells of Secular Franciscans who are brothers. They live in community, with a specific mission and they follow the rule that Francis wrote for the Order of Penance in 1221.

I imagine there must be such a phenomenon among Carmelites as well. Not every brother is necessarily a mendicant friar, but they can be Carmelite, Franciscan, Dominican, Augustinian or other. Nor are all monks, but many do follow the rule of Benedict in an active contemplative community.

I’m reminded of the Little Brothers of Jesus who base their lives on the teachings of Charles de Facould. They began like the Secular Carmelite or Franciscan. They retained their secular canonical status, while at the same time they professed the evangelical counsels of obedience, poverty and chastity through private vows. Eventually, they evolved. It’s another form of brotherhood. Brotherhood can be a process that is individual and communal.

I know that the canonists draw distinctions between the secular and religious states and they are important ones. But for the purpose of this thread, the question is what is a man looking for who wants to live the fraternal life of Christ?

If we can help each other answer that question, we may be able to help men find their place in the Church and the world. What do others think?

Fraternally,

Br. JR

PS Excuse the typos. Our computer is very old and the keys stick.