Jobs for lay religious contemplative

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Christphr

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For a lay religious contemplative (not in a religious order) what are good jobs?

Examples so far:
make religious goods (candles, rosaries)
grow food to sell
cook food to sell
sewing

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
 
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Are you a diocesan hermit, or are you living under a personal rule that restricts speaking? If not, as a lay contemplative, I’d imagine you can do any job you like. There are always going to be opportunities to pray while working.

Lay Carmelites and Benedictine Oblates have this task. They seem to accomplish it well without needing special jobs.
 
Not a diocesan hermit nor any personal rule about speaking. Asking the question to get some ideas what others think none-the-less.
 
Ok. I’d still suggest you look at the Lay Carmelites and Benedictine Oblates as examples of how to live a lay contemplative life. They generally hold regular careers.

St. Therese’s Little Way can be applied to all manner of jobs and tasks. That might also be something to look at to help you incorporate contemplation with daily work.

Good luck.

(Edited: for clarity)
 
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Great Question Christopher. Thank you for for this question.

In my contemplative community, the lay contemplatives make up the majority of the community and go about their daily work, be it paid employment, or volunteer, or parental duties, just as any other member of the laity would.

The contemplative aspect is in prayer and how that is performed. And as with any person, contemplative or active or none of the above, thinking of and talking to God constantly is the goal. This happens over time.
So if you are mopping a floor, do it as if it is a task for God. And take this attitude into everything you do.

Are you contemplating joining a community?
 
mrsdizzyd said:
or are you living under a personal rule that restricts speaking?
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This is something I’d be interested in but how is it possible for someone who is not a hermit? How would I find information about how to go about doing this? Thanks
 
I wonder if you are conflating contemplative with cloistered?

I have a deeply contemplative spirit. I am also a public school music teacher, grades K-5. I teach eight classes a day, about 170 students.

Being a contemplative does not mean sitting in silence all day. It is a form of prayer and a sort of inner attitude, if you will, that one just has while going through life.

One of the Carmelite Sisters in Los Angeles (teachers and nurses) once told me they were hyperactive contemplatives. 😂
 
Zach said:
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mrsdizzyd:
or are you living under a personal rule that restricts speaking?
Click to expand...
This is something I’d be interested in but how is it possible for someone who is not a hermit? How would I find information about how to go about doing this? Thanks
Click to expand...
I don’t know how this works. However, @Cloisters is familiar with how this works and what kinds of things are possible for the laity. Hopefully she will be able to give more information.
 
Christphr said:
For a lay religious contemplative ( not in a religious order) what are good jobs?
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The key word in your question is “lay”. Lay contemplatives do not (as far as I know) have any restriction on the type of job they may hold (assuming it’s legal and moral). If you were to flip it around to “what type of job would allow me to grow as a contemplative?” you might get a different response.
 
I think this should be moved to Vocations, but that’s up to the mods.

Questions:
  1. Do you have a spiritual director?
  2. Are you currently employed “in the world?”
  3. Do you have a regular routine that includes prayer? Is this written down?
  4. Have you been attracted to adapting a particular way of dressing? Is this permitted on the job?
  5. Do you have a particular spirituality? (We are often influenced by the convents we have encountered in life).
One is permitted, with the assistance of a spiritual director, to draw up a Personal Prayer Rule, and even adapt a habit. After living that way of life for some years (habit indoors only), one can petition the local Ordinary for recognition as a Lay Contemplative, and receive a letter from him.

This isn’t diocesan hermit. A lay contemplative can hold an outside job. Let the eyes of your soul be constantly on God, while the body glorifies Him in good works (and most importantly, Daily Duty).

Does that sound like what you’re being attracted to?

Blessings,
Mrs Cloisters OP
Lay Dominican
http://cloisters.tripod.com/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/holyangels/id9.html/
 
My confessor explained to me that we can offer our daily tasks and works up as prayers. We need not say anything at all but offer our work as a poem or a hymn to the Lord for a special intention or just to be with himh
 
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You have a great resource in your Diocese Vocations Director for investigating becoming a Diocean Hermit. My recommendation would be looking into joining the lay membership of a religious community. Become an Aspirant and see how that fits you. What country are you in?
 
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