If you could join an order, which one would you join

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I’ve felt a tug to religoius life over the past year. The urge comes and goes, but I guess you could say I’m in a process of informal discernment. If I joined an order, it’d probably be the Jesuits. I find their commitment to education, their social advocacy, and their pragmatism very appealling. I’m most inspired, however, by the fundamental motto of St. Ignatius: basically, “Finding God in all things”. Along those lines, prison ministry or ministry in an impoverished third-World country would be amazing.
 
Benedictines.

I will be making a month long observership at Christ in the Desert in New Mexico this summer.
 
There’s something about the Trappists that has always really appealed to me. I think it is the emphasis on work as a form of prayer that I like, as well as the contemplative aspect of their lives. But I don’t know how long I’d last with this.
 
Once upon a time, probably the Jesuits or the Dominicans. Both have great intellectual traditions, which suit me well. As a Jesuit I might have to contend with more of my brothers being a bit liberal in their thinking, although there are plenty of fine orthodox Jesuits as well. I think I identify more with the Jesuit/Ignatian spirituality though.

I also find the Trappists (Cistercians of the Strict Observance) very interesting, but I don’t think I am meant for cloistered life for a long time. Another Benedictine community might be a nice compromise.

But alas, all of it is a moot point, as I have found my true vocation in marriage. I haven’t explored lay orders much, although my wife is a lay associate of the Religious of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ).
 
Voted Jesuit

I have not really thought much about it but I understand that they are big on education and thought. So am I. I also understand they have become slightly less than orthadox that also attracts me because I am orthadox. I tend to want to go into the groups I find faulty and try to move them gently towards the truth.
Otherwise I would favor the Legionaries of Christ.
 
I’m currently in the early process of decernment for the relgious life and feeling the draw to the Benedictines(you can blaim that on our new Papa…lol). But as my first retreat to meditate on this, I’m plan to spend a week at the Abbey of Gethsemani(JOY!!!). I live in Louisville and enjoy reading Merton, so that was a no brainer.

In fact I would love any (name removed by moderator)ut in this regard at my new blog journal.

catholictaoist.blogspot.com/

Thanks and God Bless…
 
Marians of the Immaculate Conception The group that is devoted to St Faustina and the Divine Mercy Chaplet
 
I thought that there were only seven original Orders and that now there are Societies, Congregations, etc? Regardless, I like the Franciscans and really like the Mercedarians too. There was also a priest that I met last year from a group with “St John the Baptist” in their name. They took a vow of radical poverty. Very cool.
 
I would go with the Franciscans. They embrace poverty, a love of the sick and needy along with other virtues I don’t have. They also have several Saints who are great examples. St. Pio, St. Maximillian Kolbe, St. Clare, and obviously St. Francis.

Matt
 
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Binney:
The Cistercians of the Strict Observance
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Good choice 😉

If you’re looking for information, or pointing in the right direction, let me know. If you’re in the States, there’s a Trappist monastery near Dubuque that has an excellent annual discernment weekend, together with a retreat center that is, as far as I know, unique among Trappist houses, allowing you to live, work and pray with the monks.
 
I have been impressed by a new order of priest from Canada, the Companions of the Cross.

Their spirituality is :

Eucharistic, Marian, Charismatic & Magisterial

They are good guys !

Trick
 
Br. Patricius:
Good choice 😉

If you’re looking for information, or pointing in the right direction, let me know. If you’re in the States, there’s a Trappist monastery near Dubuque that has an excellent annual discernment weekend, together with a retreat center that is, as far as I know, unique among Trappist houses, allowing you to live, work and pray with the monks.
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Would you have an familiarity with the women’s communities in the Cistercian family? I’ve visited Mt St Mary’s Abbey in Wrentham, but I’d love to know a bit more about the others in the US. I’m trying to discern if I have a vocation now, and it is the Cistercians that I’m most drawn to, but I wonder how orthodox some of the nuns are.
 
Basilians… not all of them are great, but I know quite a few who are really great and orthodox guys. I went to St. John Fisher.
 
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Zooey:
I love St Teresa of Avila so much, I had to say Carmelites.However, they :nope: don’t take Methodists.(sigh…).
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So… CONVERT already! :rolleyes:
 
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jennstall:
Would you have an familiarity with the women’s communities in the Cistercian family?
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Well, not through personal experience 😉

Female Cistercians are often called “Trappistines”, so you might try googling that. Or just go to the homepage of the OCSO in the USA, or the Benedictine directory (we’re an off-shoot of those guys).

While women’s communities are not as numerous as the men’s, there are a number of women’s houses in the U.S. You’ve mentioned one – Mt. St. Mary’s Abbey in Massachussetts. I know of another, Mississippi Abbey, just outside of Dubuque, IA, a sister abbey to the men’s community, New Melleray. Mississippi Abbey makes wonderful chocolates – I can vouch for that from personal experience! 👍

I’m also aware of Our Lady of the Angels in Crozet, VA; Santa Rita in Sonoita, AZ; Mother of God Monastery in Watertown, SD; Redwoods Monastery in Whitehorn, CA; and St. Rita Abbey (where?)… There may be others, as well; but my copy of our directory has a knack for disappearing just when I need it 😦
it is the Cistercians that I’m most drawn to, but I wonder how orthodox some of the nuns are.
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Seeing as how you mentioned MSM, I assume you’re interested in Cistercians of the Strict Observance (OCSO), which is fortunate, because I can’t really speak to my Common Observance (O. Cist.) brethren.

OCSO itself is strictly orthodox, though I can’t vouch for every individual within the order. As with any group of Catholics, there are those what are conservative and those what ain’t. I’m not aware, however, of any Cistercian community which has run off into heterodoxy.

Our prayers are certainly with you here in your time of discernment. And I will vouch for one more thing from personal experience – contrary to outward appearances, the contemplative life is truly a life of adventure and discovery.
 
Br. Patricius:
Seeing as how you mentioned MSM, I assume you’re interested in Cistercians of the Strict Observance (OCSO), which is fortunate, because I can’t really speak to my Common Observance (O. Cist.) brethren.

OCSO itself is strictly orthodox, though I can’t vouch for every individual within the order. As with any group of Catholics, there are those what are conservative and those what ain’t. I’m not aware, however, of any Cistercian community which has run off into heterodoxy.
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Yep, definitely interested in the Strict Observance. I really love the flow of the day at MSM and the two nights I spent in th guesthouse was not really long enough at all.

I haven’t visited any of the other houses yet, but I know where they are because I’m been visiting their webpages (and mostly drooling and sighing longingly over the photographs of Redwoods). I would like to visit them all if I can. I finally sent a letter to Redwoods yesterday and an email to Santa Rita in AZ, but funnily enough, those are the two communities that concern me a wee bit. I do not like to judge based on just appearances, but I find that appearances can often indicate something beneath the surface – the Redwoods sisters do not appear to wear the full habit (no veil) and judging from the abbey journal on Santa Rita’s website, they seem to be leaving the monastery property a fair bit for visit to local parks, etc. I am probably overreacting however, and I will content myself with your assurance that all of the OCSO is orthodox until I have actual evidence that it may otherwise be the case in certain locations.

I really should probably look into MSM as well, but oh I hate snow and the cold so much. I really hope God doesn’t want me shovelling snow 😉

In order to avoid further derailing this thread, would you mind if I PM’ed you.
 
I’d join the Benedictine nuns - a community still in habit, that preserves Gregorian chant chanting the Divine Office in Latin. Hard to find such a community in the U.S.
I know of only one community (in Vermont and connected with the abbey at Solesmes) but it has a devotion to the TLM, which I do not.
 
I’d have to join the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal with the way they work with the youth and solidly try to live the Faith through Mercy and Justice by God’s Grace (I am not saying the other orders do not, but this is the one I would choose.🙂 ). Thanks and God Bless.
 
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