Questions - religious orders

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mediatrixx

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i don’t know if i’m called to the sisterhood, but i like the idea of religious life. i have some questions for anybody in the know about such things.

how do you pick a religious order? i have heard of carmelites, benedictines, and dominicans, but there are probably more. why are there different orders, and what should i consider when trying to pick one?

what degrees or things should i study in college that would be helpful in preparation for religious life? what happens if i study something non-religion related?

anything else i should know?
 
You might find it useful to look at the Vision Vocation Network. They have information on different orders and a questionnaire to help you focus on which orders might be good fits. Once you narrow it down a bit, then you can start to contact vocation directors of the different orders for more information.
 
Joining a religous order is a wonderful thing, but it will take time to discern which one is best for you. It’s best not to rush into such a serious endeavor without first looking into the many orders that are out there.

Each order has a certain charism or characteristic that differentiates itself from the others. Some are into educating and teaching, like the Jesuits, some are more prayful and contemplative, like the Passionists and Benedictines and some are more evangelical, and some are missionary. Also some are local to your area, and some are global. In other words, there is an order that covers almost anything that you could want to do. There really are so many orders besides some of the bigger ones you mentioned such as the Carmelites, Benedictines, or Dominicans!

As you contemplate a religous life, and sort through the many, many orders available to you, pray to the Holy Spirit to guide you and help you discern exactly which direction He wants you to go. It can be abit overwhelming, but have patience and go slowly. I thought it was actually fun, exciting, and gratifying to finally pick an order that best suited me as a laymen.

Here’s a site with nearly every order there is! (I think!)😃

rosmini.org/order/#trapp
 
I have only this to offer. Some religious orders are not good. You can search a little and will find some have broken ties with the Church. Others have been excommunicated - very recently. Be very careful, please, about choosing.

I would get a second opinion from an experienced source that is known to be in full communion with the Church and understands the recent history with modernism, liberation theology, etc.

Finally, I am grateful you are considering this path. I will pray for your success.
 
Mediatrixx,

I found this excerpt from Father John McCloskey’s website.

The only religious congregations showing signs of life and attracting many vocations are strongly faithful and evangelizing men’s congregations like the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and the Legionaries of Christ. Similarly, among women, congregations that wear full habit and have a strong prayer and community life are drawing many vocations — the Nashville Dominicans and Mother Angelica’s Poor Clares being outstanding examples. The traditional Carmels also continue to attract a steady stream of young vocations.

His full article is here: catholicity.com/mccloskey/state_of_the_church_2006.html

I have heard and seen good work by the Pauline Sisters in distributing reliable religious media in the form of books, cd’s, dvd’s.

What have you found so far?
 
I highly recommend the PhatMass forum (phatmass.com). (Don’t worry, they don’t believe in secular music at Mass.) They have a sub-forum called Vocation Station with many teenagers & 20 year olds in discernment who support each other and can answer tons of questions–a bit more lively than the vocations board here.

Umm orders… If you feel a bond with a particular saint who is associated with a certain Order, that could mean that you should look at their Order. Two good books on Carmel are St. Therese’s “Story of a Soul” and “My Beloved” (a paperback from the 50s). A really good one about Poor Clares (but will give you a good feeling for what any cloistered life is like, I think) is “A Right to be Merry.” That one was reprinted recently. I like Dominicans a lot but there isn’t a comparable book for them. There is a novel called “Amata Means Beloved” but it doesn’t say much about Dominican life in particular. However, the Nashville Dominicans’ website (nashvilledominican.org) has many essays that give you an idea of the Dominican charism (for active sisters. Monialesop.blogspot.com will give you an idea of the contemplative, that is, cloistered sisters.)

Sisters of Life are also awesome! And like someone said there are a great many less famous orders. (I know some good Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Florence… semi-cloistered… they have a few American sisters there.)

Good luck. Try to find a priest or sister that you can talk to regularly (once a month is OK, but it’s good to be able to talk to the same person over a period of time. At least, I think it would be, this is something I lack, so I talk to my friends about it, but young people are kind but unstable you know.)
 
mediatrixx said:
i don’t know if i’m called to the sisterhood, but i like the idea of religious life. i have some questions for anybody in the know about such things.

how do you pick a religious order? i have heard of carmelites, benedictines, and dominicans, but there are probably more. why are there different orders, and what should i consider when trying to pick one?

what degrees or things should i study in college that would be helpful in preparation for religious life? what happens if i study something non-religion related?

anything else i should know?
Click to expand...
Start visiting, pray about it, pray some more, and keep your eyes open.

There are some small communities I have heard about from different avenues of being involved in Catholic life - volunteer work, lay associations, being social at a coffee hout after Mass on Sunday.

Providence is a curious thing. If you are called, the right place will fall on your head like a brick out of the sky. With less messy results, of course.
 
rskempf said:
I have only this to offer. Some religious orders are not good. You can search a little and will find some have broken ties with the Church. Others have been excommunicated - very recently. Be very careful, please, about choosing.
Click to expand...
Can you name any of these “not good” orders (and why they are not good)?

Which have broken ties and which have been excommunicated?

Thanks.
 
First and foremost, find a spiritual director.

Frequent the sacraments.

Don’t date.

The reason I say that is because discernment is between you and God, and I know from experience (married over 17 years) that if God has a spouse for you, He will bring the two of you together. You KNOW when the right one comes to you, just like if you step on to the property of a seminary, convent, or monastery, and it’s where you’re supposed to be, you’ll KNOW.

There’s another thread on these boards which is driving me nuts about finding a good Catholic spouse. Just give God your permission–which is essentially making yourself available–and you’ll be guided to the circumstances where you’ll meet your spouse.

I find most discerners are overly-anxious about what to do with their lives. I know from my own and others’ experiences that if you’re meant to be in religious life, all other stuff will fall into place. Don’t sweat the small stuff–and it’s all small stuff to God.

HTH.

Blessings,
Cloisters
 
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