Religious Orders

[prayerchanges]

I am looking into religious orders and would like to know if anyone knows of an order that is oriented around prayer and monastic life, something similar to the Order of St. Benedict? I feel drawn to the OSB and am wondering if there are orders similar? Thanks.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

There are other orders that follow the Rule of St. Benedict like the Trappists, Cistercians, and Camaldolese.

 

[LilFranciscan25]

I am looking into religious orders and would like to know if anyone knows of an order that is oriented around prayer and monastic life, something similar to the Order of St. Benedict? I feel drawn to the OSB and am wondering if there are orders similar? Thanks.

If you are drawn to the Benedictines, I would suggest going on a “Come and See” with one of the many orders that are out there. There are orders within the Benedictine spirituality that all have the same rule, but a different way of living the spirituality. There are Cistercians, Trappists, and Camaldolese orders within the Rule of St. Benedict. I saw on your other post that you are attracted to the priesthood, as well, so I did some research for you on one of my favorite websites (religiouslife.com/) for Benedictine Orders:

[=%221%22"]Orders that follow the Rule of St. Benedict]("http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/as/?SearchView&Query=[benedictine)

Are you drawn solely to the monastic life? If you are looking for the strictest observance, I would recommend the Trappistines. Thomas Merton was one of the most well known followers of the Trappist life.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trappist

Here are just a few Trappist links to get you started:

monks.org/
spencerabbey.org/
mepkinabbey.org/
assumptionabbey.org/
trappist.net/

Here is a biography on Thomas Merton:

monks.org/thomasmerton.html

If this is not what you are looking for, let me know, and I will try to help you find what you are looking for.

If you are interested in similar orders, there is also the Carthusians.

Also, if you don’t have a spiritual director, I would recommend that you find one. They are invaluable during discernment.

Pax et Bonum!

 

[anode]

I am looking into religious orders and would like to know if anyone knows of an order that is oriented around prayer and monastic life, something similar to the Order of St. Benedict? I feel drawn to the OSB and am wondering if there are orders similar? Thanks.

Why ‘similar’?

The OSB is huge and there are many expressions within it, as others have written.

You might start with the following link:

atlas.osb-international.info/atlas/geo/WORLD/NameCat/1/en.html

…which lists all OSB affiliates in the world, which can be broken down to women’s monasteries and priories in the USA. A good place to start.

 

[JReducation]

When you check out the monastic orders, make sure that you find out their policy on ordaining monks. Usually, monastic orders are made up of autonomous abbeys or several monasteries that form a congregation.

Whether or not a monk can be ordained is up to the Abbot and his council. It should never be assumed that one can enter a religious order and become a priest. The order will tell you if you have a calling to the priesthood. But that will not be told to you until after you have made solemn vows. You will be allowed to go through the formation process and make final vows. Once you are committed to the order for lfe, then your state will be discussed with you.

If Christ is calling you to the clerical state, the abbot and his council will know. The Carthusians are a little different. When you join the Carthusians you must be ordained if you want to be a choir monk.

As others have said, there are many expressions of the Benedecting life. Some are more active and others are completely enclosed and isolated from the world.

During a retreat with the Cathusians in VT, I found out that many monks who are priests are not allowed to preach, hear confessions, or celebrate any other sacrament except the mass. Even the mass is celebrated within the enclosure. This usually means that the laity is not allowed to participate or witness the mass.

The logic is that the Eucharist is the center of a monk’s life. The monk is called from God’s people, to be set aside, to live only for God, not anyone else. Therefore, the monk avoids all contact with the laity and the outside world, even if he is ordained, to protect his silence, solitude and his virtue.

Those who want to be monks and preists cannot assume that they will be able to perform the same work that other priests perform daily. The monastic life takes priority over everything.

It is a beautiful life. It is a life where the soul is in search of one love and will not accept any other . . . that is the love of the silent Christ.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[anode]

The Carthusians are an extreme case. It is true that nothing is guaranteed, but all of the major non-cloistered orders–OSB, OP, various Franciscans, serve parishes in addition to their (many) other responsibilities. An applicant could receive *some *feedback as to whether he might be considered for apostolic life of this sort, both at the beginning, and throughout his formation.

The candidate should find out at the beginning of his discernment when priestly formation starts.

 

[JReducation]

The Carthusians are an extreme case. It is true that nothing is guaranteed, but all of the major non-cloistered orders–OSB, OP, various Franciscans, serve parishes in addition to their (many) other responsibilities. An applicant could receive *some *feedback as to whether he might be considered for apostolic life of this sort, both at the beginning, and throughout his formation.

The candidate should find out at the beginning of his discernment when priestly formation starts.

Graduate studies do not begin until you have made vows. As you approach your third year of graduate studies, you and the formation team must discern whether God is calling you to Holy Orders. You are asked to make perpetual vows first, if the community believes that you have a vocation to their order or congregation.

Once you have made perpetual vows, the formation team votes to decide if Christ is calling you to Holy Orders. They present their conclusion to the Major Superior. The Major Superior will usually want to meet with you. Then he meets with his council to decide in the name of Christ and the Church if you have a call to the priesthood.

Whether you have a call to the priesthood or not, is irrelevant to the religious. They continue in graduate school. They finish their theological degree and are then assigned to further studies or to a ministry.

In our parish, we have seven brothers. Three are priests. The Superior is not a priest. Our distribution is like this.

1. Superior - lay man
2. Vicar - priest
3. Pastor - priest
4. Associate - lay man
5. Associate - lay man
6. Hospital chaplain - lay man
7. High School principal - priest

All seven are brothers in solemn vows. But you ordain only what you need. The voice of the Major Superior is the voice of Christ. If he says that you have a vocation to be a religious, you do. If he says that you have a vocation to be ordained, you do. If he says yes to the religious profession and no to the ordination, then you can assume that Christ wants you to be a religious, but not a priest.

It’s a beautiful life either way, as long as you’re following the will of God and in love with the Church.

BTW, I don’t think that the Carthusians are such an extreme case. Their spirituality actually makes a great deal of sense. It’s just that most of us are not called to such a perfect life.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Does anyone know if the OP is male or female? All this talk about becoming a priest may not be an issue.

 

[anode]

BTW, I don’t think that the Carthusians are such an extreme case. Their spirituality actually makes a great deal of sense. It’s just that most of us are not called to such a perfect life.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

I was referring to the fact that the priests all say mass privately, ie. within their monastery and not publicly to the laity, even visitors.

The Carthusians do appear to be at one extreme of monastic observance in their degree of retirement from the world.

 

[Jesus_123]

The Carthusians are an extreme case. It is true that nothing is guaranteed, but all of the major non-cloistered orders–OSB, OP, various Franciscans, serve parishes in addition to their (many) other responsibilities. An applicant could receive *some *feedback as to whether he might be considered for apostolic life of this sort, both at the beginning, and throughout his formation.
.

• The Lord has been greatly blessing the Dominican Order of late . . . below is some general information regarding this order . . . You could write to Father Brian Malady in care of EWTN to get more information regarding this group . . . he is an extraordinary teaching/preaching priest and has done several series for the network . .

:compcoff:Dominican Order

Saint Dominic saw the need for a new type of organization to address the needs of his time, one that would bring the dedication and systematic education of the older monastic orders to bear on the religious problems of the burgeoning population of cities, but with more organizational flexibility than either monastic orders or the secular clergy. The Order of Preachers (Latin: Ordo Praedicatorum), after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic in the early 13th century in France. Membership in the Order includes the friars, the nuns, the sisters, and lay persons affiliated with the order (formerly known as tertiaries).

A number of other names have been used to refer to both the order and its members.

In England and other countries the Dominicans are referred to as Blackfriars on account of the black cappa or cloak they wear over their white habits. Dominicans were Blackfriars, as opposed to Whitefriars (i.e., the Carmelites) or Greyfriars (i.e., Franciscans). They are also distinct from the Augustinian Friars (the Austin friars) who wear a similar habit.

In France, the Dominicans are also known as Jacobins, because their first convent in Paris bore the name Saint Jacques, and Jacques is Jacobus in Latin. Their identification as Dominicans gave rise to the pun that they were the Domini canes, or Hounds of the Lord.

Members of the order generally carry the letters O.P. standing for Ordinis Praedicatorum, meaning of the Order of Preachers, after their names.

Founded to preach the gospel and to combat heresy, the order is famed for its intellectual tradition, having produced many leading theologians and philosophers. The Dominican Order is headed by the Master of the Order, who is currently Father Carlos Azpiroz Costa. - Wikipedia

• Also, the **Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word **at EWTN are a disciplined group . . . very orthodox . . . and have both priests and brothers . . . below is a link for their monastery . . . and they are very much alive in their love for our Lord in their service for Him . . .

Front Page - MFVA - Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word

franciscanmissionaries.com

• Also, the **Carmelite Monks of Wyoming **are an enclosed . . . disciplined . . . and very orthodox group that has both priests . . . and brothers . . . below is a link for a summary posted on the Benedictine Spirituality Forum . . . that contains information and a link to their website . . . they have been greatly blessed and are a growing community in ***Christ Jesus ***. . .

http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=341210

May God wonderfully bless . . . and give clear guidance and discernment . . . as you seek His Will and Way for your life in Him . . . *pray to the Holy Mother . . . she is always available to help and pray for all our needs . . . *

. . . all for Jesus+
*. . . Blessed Holy Spirit
help, guide and direct . . *. +
​

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

The order will tell you if you have a calling to the priesthood. But that will not be told to you until after you have made solemn vows. You will be allowed to go through the formation process and make final vows. Once you are committed to the order for lfe, then your state will be discussed with you.

You seem to be making this such a mystery. It is not always the case.

You will have some idea if you will be considered for the priesthood before you reach final vows. If you feel called to the priesthood the order would not make you take final vows before telling you if they will call you to ordination or not.

If they will not discuss it with you then I would say that they are playing games with you and you should look elsewhere.

 

[JReducation]

Just in case the person looking is interested. The Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word are not yet a religious community, but I’m sure that they will be, someday.

Their current canonical status is a Public Diocesan Association of the Faithful or a Public Clerical Association.

They were founded by Mother Angelica and their first friars were trained by the Capuchins from the St. Augustine Province. In many respects, they follow the Capuchin Franciscan tradition.

At this point, we’re not sure if they’re going to eventually become part of the Franciscan order or not. They have not announced it. They do follow the spirit of St. Francis.

To become part of the Franciscan order they have to give up their clerical status. That would mean that every friars, ordained and lay, would have the same rights: to hold office, to be superiors, to study theology, to engage in public ministry, to have the same title (Fra or Bro) and they would have to promote the Franciscan vocation without recruiting members for the priesthood. The Major Superior would decide if a man is called by Christ to Holy Orders after he makes final vows. They would also have to become part of the Third Order of St. Francis and adopt the Rule of the Brothers and Sisters of Penance. Currenlty, they follow a constitution that is written based on the Rule of the Friars Minor. But the Vatican has ruled that there can only be three branches of the Friars Minor and no more: Friars Minor Observants (Franciscans), Friars Minor Capuchin (Capuchins) and Friars Minor Conventural (Conventuals).

All other Franciscan obediences (communities) must follow the Rule of the Brothers and Sisters of Penance (formerly known as the Third Order of St. Francis). The Rule of Penance was also written by St. Francis for men and women who could not join the Friars Minor or the Poor Clares. Some are seculars: single, maried, deacons, priests, bishops and popes, others (like yours truly) are regular: friars and sisters.

Whatever the Eternal Word Friars decide, I strongly believe that they are going to do a great deal of good for the Church in the USA. They are very holy men and they have a very unique ministry, which is very much needed, the communication ministry.

By the way, they are also semi-enclosed. They do not attend to parishes, hospitals, schools, or other traditional ministries. Their field is communication and constant adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Everyone of them that I have met is a very good man.

They are young community and we’ll have to give them time to settle their canonical status with the Sacred Congregation for Religious Institutes and Societies of Apostolic Life. Maybe they will unite to the Franciscan Order. That was Mother Angelica’s and the Capuchins’ intent when they founded them.

They are another group whose priests limit their sacramental activities to the mass and to confessions. The don’t celebrate the other sacraments. They live in a very monastic setting, similar to that of the Capuchins, with only a few friars in the open.

I strongly recommend them to anyone who has a Franciscan spirit and is looking for a contemplative life. They combine both.

The other group that does the same are the Franciscans of the Renewal. Their ministry is mostly on the streets and with retreats. They do not do parish work either.

The Capuchins are a great group. I like them very much. They trained our founders. They too are gradually leaving parish ministry and reducing the number of men that they ordain. They are training more and more friars in advanced theological studies to do streat ministry, retreats, spiritual direction, homeless, respect life, immigrants, foreign missions, inner city and internal ministry within their own houses.

You may want to also look at the Franciscan Brothers of Peace, another great community that is very involved in pro-life ministry.

Some of these communities do not have internet access. You have to Google them and write or call.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[JReducation]

You seem to be making this such a mystery. It is not always the case.

You will have some idea if you will be considered for the priesthood before you reach final vows. If you feel called to the priesthood the order would not make you take final vows before telling you if they will call you to ordination or not.

If they will not discuss it with you then I would say that they are playing games with you and you should look elsewhere.

This is generally true. Though the OP was asking about monastic communities. I gathered that he is looking for a community that is a little more strict than the active OSB. The very enclosed branches of the Benedictine family are getting very strict on the whole question of ordinations.

But you are right, they generally give you some hint. But don’t ever be surprised if they change their mind or delay you for some reason or other. Some enclosed monasteries ordain for their internal needs only. They have a limited number of ordinations. I’m not sure how often they ordain or what the protocol is. Maybe when someone dies? I don’t know.

In my community we don’t ordain until after solemn vows. But we only accept men who come to the community because they want to be Franciscans and they want to work in respect life ministry. A man who walks in and says "I want to be a priest "is always referred to the diocesan vocation director. If he says, “I want to be a Franciscan,” then our Formation Director begins the Inquiry process.

If often happens that someone will say, somewhere along the line, that they want to be a priest. They are informed that the community is a lay community and only ordains as many as it needs for the community. Those brothers who are priests often help in parishes on Sundays.

We have only one parish that we staff. That was because we staffed the pregnancy center on the campus and the bishop asked us to take the whole parish.

There’s another important area of ministry for anyone thinking of religious life, Respect Life. There are several communities of men and women who do this ministry full-time. It’s a wonderful ministry.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Jesus_123]

* - reflections on some of the Pathways of God from a
Benedictine Spirituality perspective

Dominance of Holy Virtues in Various Spiritualities . . .
- personal observations only​

________________

Benedictine Spirituality . . . the perfection of the Holy Virtue of Obedience

Founder: Holy Father St. Benedict of Nursia, Founder of Western Monasticism* “To thee, therefore, my speech is now directed, who, giving up thine own will, takest up the strong and most excellent arms of obedience, to do battle for Christ the Lord, the true King.” - The Holy Rule of St. Benedict, Prologue

• “The first degree of humility is **obedience **without delay. This becometh those who, on account of the holy subjection which they have promised, or of the fear of hell, or the glory of life everlasting, hold nothing dearer than Christ. As soon as anything hath been commanded by the Superior they permit no delay in the execution, as if the matter had been commanded by God Himself. Of these the Lord saith: “At the hearing of the ear he hath obeyed Me” (Ps 17[18]:45). And again He saith to the teachers: "He that heareth you heareth Me.” (Lk 10:16). " - The Holy Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter V - Of Obedience
  :bible1:
  “His mother saith to the waiters:
  Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye.”
  John 2:5
  Recommended Reading: The Holy Rule of St. Benedict by St. Benedict of Nursia

---

Franciscan Spirituality . . . the perfection of the Holy Virtue of Humility

Founder: Holy Father St. Francis of Assisi, Father of Eastern Monasticism

“Humility . . . that slow sweet root . . . from which all heavenly virtues shoot . . .”

Source: European Benedictine convent nun’s sharing of an Irish poet’s couplet . . . author unknown . . . (at least to me) . . .

• “The second degree of humility is, when a man loveth not his own will, nor is pleased to fulfill his own desires but by his deeds carrieth out that word of the Lord which saith: “I came not to do my own will but the will of Him that sent Me” (Jn 6:38). It is likewise said: “Self-will hath its punishment, but necessity winneth the crown.” * - The Holy Rule of St. Benedict - Chapter VII - Of Humility*

:bible1:
“And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord;
be it done to me according to thy word . . . ”
Luke 1:38a
Recommended Reading: The Little Flowers of Saint Francis translated by E.M. Blaiklock and S.V. Keys.

---

Carmelite Spirituality . . . the perfection of the Holy Virtue of Love

Founding: “The date of the foundation of the Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel has been under discussion from the fourteenth century to the present day, the order claiming for its founders the prophets Elias and Eliseus.” - Catholic Encyclopedia

• "But as we advance in the religious life and faith, we shall run the way of God’s commandments with expanded hearts and unspeakable sweetness of love…” *** - The Holy Rule of St. Benedict - Prologue***
• “Having, therefore, ascended all these degrees of humility, the monk will presently arrive at that love of God, which being perfect, casteth out fear (1 Jn 4:18). In virtue of this love all things which at first he observed not without fear, he will now begin to keep without any effort, and as it were, naturally by force of habit, no longer from the fear of hell, but from the love of Christ, from the very habit of good and the pleasure in virtue. May the Lord be pleased to manifest all this by His Holy Spirit in His laborer now cleansed from vice and sin.” - The Holy Rule of St. Benedict - Chapter VII - Of Humility**

:bible1:
“And the angel answering said to her:
The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee,
and the power of the most high shall overshadow thee.
And therefore also the Holy
which shall be born of thee
shall be called the Son of God.”
Luke 1:35

:bible1:
“And Mary said:
My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid …”
Luke 1:46-48a
Recommended Reading:
The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, Volumes I, II & III (St. Teresa of Jesus of Avila is a Doctor of the Church)
The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross (St. John of the Cross is also one of the thirty-three Doctors of the Church)
Story of a Soul by St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face of Lisieux (St. Therese is also a Doctor of the Church)

• Hail Holy Queen +*
  
  . . . thank you ***Lord Jesus ***+
  . . . blessed be Thy Holy Name+
  . . . thank you Blessed St. Gabriel+
  . . . thank you Holy Mother Mary+
  ​

 

[JReducation]

Franciscan Spirituality . . . the perfection of the Holy Virtue of Humility

Founder: Holy Father St. Francis of Assisi, Father of Eastern Monasticism

“Humility . . . that slow sweet root . . . from which all heavenly virtues shoot . . .”

Hi, for all who are reading this. This is a mistake. Our holy Father Francis is not the founder of Eastern Monasticism. He was from Assisi, in Italy. He was never a monk, nor are his brothers. We are not a monastic family. We are a mendicant family.

Our Poor Clare nuns live within an enclosure, but not as strict as that of the Benedictine nuns and the Carmelite nuns. As you can see on EWTN, our nuns have a great deal of contact with the world and leave the enclosure for special reasons. A group of them went to World Youth Day in Australia.

We are not an Eastern Rite religious community. We do have some brothers and sisters who are bi-ritual, but the liturgical life of the order follows the Latin rite with some Franciscan traditions included when the liturgy is celebrated for the community.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Hi, for all who are reading this. This is a mistake. Our holy Father Francis is not the founder of Eastern Monasticism. He was from Assisi, in Italy. He was never a monk, nor are his brothers. We are not a monastic family. We are a mendicant family.

Our Poor Clare nuns live within an enclosure, but not as strict as that of the Benedictine nuns and the Carmelite nuns. As you can see on EWTN, our nuns have a great deal of contact with the world and leave the enclosure for special reasons. A group of them went to World Youth Day in Australia.

We are not an Eastern Rite religious community. We do have some brothers and sisters who are bi-ritual, but the liturgical life of the order follows the Latin rite with some Franciscan traditions included when the liturgy is celebrated for the community.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

I am sorry but I must point out that there is a group within the Wisconsin Province of the Order of Friars Minor that are Byzantine rite, not bi-ritual. The Metropolitian Archbishop of Pittsburgh, Metropolitian Basil, is one of them. They used to be on their own but following Vatican II they affiliated with the OFM Assumption BVM province.

St Basil could be called the father of Eastern Monasticism as he wrote the Rule of St Basil which is used and which St Benedict used when writing his own rule.

I do not know where Jesus_123 got his information but we Carmelites do know when we were founded. It was sometime around 1208. Last year we celebrated the 800th anniversy of the Rule of St Albert.

I do not know where he got the “the perfection of the Holy Virtue of Love” for our Chrism nor why he quotes the Rule of St Benedict.

Male Carmelites are active contemplitives and I am sure there are much better quotes from our own rule to talk about us.

If anyone has any questions feel free to email me.

 

[JReducation]

I am sorry but I must point out that there is a group within the Wisconsin Province of the Order of Friars Minor that are Byzantine rite, not bi-ritual. The Metropolitian Archbishop of Pittsburgh, Metropolitian Basil, is one of them. They used to be on their own but following Vatican II they affiliated with the OFM Assumption BVM province.

St Basil could be called the father of Eastern Monasticism as he wrote the Rule of St Basil which is used and which St Benedict used when writing his own rule.

I do not know where Jesus_123 got his information but we Carmelites do know when we were founded. It was sometime around 1208. Last year we celebrated the 800th anniversy of the Rule of St Albert.

I do not know where he got the “the perfection of the Holy Virtue of Love” for our Chrism nor why he quotes the Rule of St Benedict.

Male Carmelites are active contemplitives and I am sure there are much better quotes from our own rule to talk about us.

If anyone has any questions feel free to email me.

You are right about the group of friars that joined teh Assumption Province. However, they are an exception, not the norm. Even the friars in the Holy Land are bi-ritual, with som exceptions. Each obedience makes up their own rules regarding the excepitons. In our obedience, the rule is that the individual must be born in the Eastern Rite and there must be at least two other friars to form a fraternity. The issue is not the Eastern Rite. The issue is not having a solitary friar.

In our parent community, the Capuchins, there were friars who were Eastern Rite, but they were isolated from the community. Usually, they became bi-ritual, because there were not enough of them to erect a friary. The old numbers were three. I don’t know what the new Capuchin constitution says. Our constitution says that there must be five friars to erect a fraternity.

I also do not understand the statement about the Carmelites regarding the virtue of love. From what I have studied about the Carmelite charism, I would have attributed to them the “the union with the Divine through prayer” or something closer to the life of the original hermits.

And poverty is not the primary focus of the Franciscan family. There is often a confusion on this issue. Poverty is an external expression of an interior dispostion to embrace the cross. The proper description of Franciscan spirituality is penance.

Like Br. David, if you have further questions about the Franciscan life, feel free to contact me.

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Jesus_123]

:coffeeread:
Answers for ByzCath . . .

1. If you refer back to the original post . . . the source re the foundation of the . . . Carmelite Order . . . is indicated as the . . . Catholic Encyclopedia . . . and . . . double checking today . . . it is the New Advent section of same . . . If you have a definitive reference . . . you might want to dialogue with them . . . and share same . . . when I downsized the link on my computer . . . it was headlined as Catholic Encyclopedia . . .

newadvent.org/cathen/03354a.htm

1. Answering the second comment of statement #2 first . . .

“I don’t know . . . why he quotes the Rule of St. Benedict.”

. . . prayerchanges . . . specifically couched the original question on this thread . . . in relation to the Order of St. Benedict . . . and expressed the feeling of being drawn to the Order of St. Benedict (OSB) and was seeking similarities to the OSB . . . specifically . . . in that original question . . . (please see the original question quoted below) . . . that is why I wrote everything from the . . . Benedictine . . . perspective . . . if you will refer back to my post from which you raised this question . . . the very first sentence after the sign of the cross is the comment . . .

“ - reflections on some of the Pathways of God
from a Benedictine Spirituality perspective” . . .​

and out of respect for prayerchanges specific Benedictine orientation reflected in the below quoted question . . . I wrote the material from that perspective . . .

I am looking into religious orders and would like to know if anyone knows of an order that is oriented around prayer and monastic life, something similar to the Order of St. Benedict? I feel drawn to the OSB and am wondering if there are orders similar? Thanks.

1. Answering the first comment of statement #2 . . .

“I do not know where he got the “the perfection of the Holy Virtue of Love” for our Chrism …”

:bible1: 1ST Corinthians - Chapter 13

9 For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; 10 but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. … 13

So faith, hope, love abide, these three;
but the greatest of these
is
LOVE.
+

I also do not understand the statement about the Carmelites regarding the virtue of love. … I would have attributed to them the “the union with the Divine through prayer” …

And poverty is not the primary focus of the Franciscan family.

The proper description of Franciscan spirituality is penance.

**:coffeeread:
Answers to JR education . . .

1. Please see also my answer to byzCath above . . . Does not your statement . . . "the union with the Divine through prayer” . . . in the reference of the . . . “Divine” . . . refer to the union with our Holy Triune God . . . and all who dwell therein . . . and as St. John the Apostle so beautifully states it **. . . LOVE . . . ** is the very real, actual and authentic nature of the Totality of our God . . .

He that loveth not
knoweth not God;
for God
is
LOVE
I John 4:8
:bible1:

1. I not sure why you mention poverty . . . it wasn’t mentioned in any of my posts . . . humility of soul . . . is the . . . ***central pathway ***. . . that leads directly to the Holy Center of the Heart of God . . . penance is an . . . action . . . of the will of a soul . . . not a . . . spiritual state . . . of soul . . .

St. Francis of Assisi

“Humility was, no doubt, the saint’s ruling virtue. The idol of an enthusiastic popular devotion, he ever truly believed himself less than the least. Equally admirable was Francis’s prompt and docile obedience to the voice of grace within him, even in the early days of his ill-defined ambition, when the spirit of interpretation failed him. Later on, the saint, with as clear as a sense of his message as any prophet ever had, yielded ungrudging submission to what constituted ecclesiastical authority.” -** Catholic Encyclopedia**
newadvent.org/cathen/06221a.htm

Hi, for all who are reading this. This is a mistake. Our holy Father Francis is not the founder of Eastern Monasticism.

Thanks so much for catching this mistake . . . I had been taught that error a long time back . . . and for some reason it got stuck in my memory . . . and wound up on paper . . . I will repost the material - corrected . . . and as a Franciscan soul (wonderfully trained in the Benedictine pathway . . . which has long been a treasure of the Lord‘s in depth schooling of my soul). . . it is doubly an error . . . *sorry about that folks . . .

. . . all for Jesus+
. . . thank You Blessed Lord+​

*

 

[Jesus_123]

* - reflections on some of the Pathways of God from a
Benedictine Spirituality perspective

Dominance of Holy Virtues in Various Spiritualities . . .
- personal observations only​

________________

Benedictine Spirituality . . . the perfection of the Holy Virtue of Obedience

Founder: Holy Father St. Benedict of Nursia, Founder of Western Monasticism* “To thee, therefore, my speech is now directed, who, giving up thine own will, takest up the strong and most excellent arms of obedience, to do battle for Christ the Lord, the true King.” - The Holy Rule of St. Benedict, Prologue

• “The first degree of humility is **obedience **without delay. This becometh those who, on account of the holy subjection which they have promised, or of the fear of hell, or the glory of life everlasting, hold nothing dearer than Christ. As soon as anything hath been commanded by the Superior they permit no delay in the execution, as if the matter had been commanded by God Himself. Of these the Lord saith: “At the hearing of the ear he hath obeyed Me” (Ps 17[18]:45). And again He saith to the teachers: "He that heareth you heareth Me.” (Lk 10:16). " - The Holy Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter V - Of Obedience
  :bible1:
  “His mother saith to the waiters:
  Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye.”
  John 2:5
  Recommended Reading: The Holy Rule of St. Benedict by St. Benedict of Nursia

---

Franciscan Spirituality . . . the perfection of the Holy Virtue of Humility

Founder: Holy Father St. Francis of Assisi, ***Christ Jesus ***“little poor man”

“Humility . . . that slow sweet root . . . from which all heavenly virtues shoot . . .”

Source: Benedictine convent nun’s sharing of an Irish poet’s couplet . . . author unknown . . . (at least to me) . . .

• “The second degree of humility is, when a man loveth not his own will, nor is pleased to fulfill his own desires but by his deeds carrieth out that word of the Lord which saith: “I came not to do my own will but the will of Him that sent Me” (Jn 6:38). It is likewise said: “Self-will hath its punishment, but necessity winneth the crown.” * - The Holy Rule of St. Benedict - Chapter VII - Of Humility*

:bible1:
“And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord;
be it done to me according to thy word . . . ”
Luke 1:38a
Recommended Reading: The Little Flowers of Saint Francis translated by E.M. Blaiklock and S.V. Keys.

---

Carmelite Spirituality . . . the perfection of the Holy Virtue of Love

Founding: “The date of the foundation of the Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel has been under discussion from the fourteenth century to the present day, the order claiming for its founders the prophets Elias and Eliseus.” - Catholic Encyclopedia

• "But as we advance in the religious life and faith, we shall run the way of God’s commandments with expanded hearts and unspeakable sweetness of love…” *** - The Holy Rule of St. Benedict - Prologue***
• “Having, therefore, ascended all these degrees of humility, the monk will presently arrive at that love of God, which being perfect, casteth out fear (1 Jn 4:18). In virtue of this love all things which at first he observed not without fear, he will now begin to keep without any effort, and as it were, naturally by force of habit, no longer from the fear of hell, but from the love of Christ, from the very habit of good and the pleasure in virtue. May the Lord be pleased to manifest all this by His Holy Spirit in His laborer now cleansed from vice and sin.” - The Holy Rule of St. Benedict - Chapter VII - Of Humility**

:bible1:
“And the angel answering said to her:
The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee,
and the power of the most high shall overshadow thee.
And therefore also the Holy
which shall be born of thee
shall be called the Son of God.”
Luke 1:35

:bible1:
“And Mary said:
My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid …”
Luke 1:46-48a
Recommended Reading:
The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, Volumes I, II & III (St. Teresa of Jesus of Avila is a Doctor of the Church)
The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross (St. John of the Cross is also one of the thirty-three Doctors of the Church)
Story of a Soul by St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face of Lisieux (St. Therese is also a Doctor of the Church)

• Hail Holy Queen +*
  
  . . . thank you ***Lord Jesus ***+
  . . . blessed be Thy Holy Name+
  . . . thank you Blessed St. Gabriel+
  . . . thank you Holy Mother Mary+
  ​

 

[Adrienne5678]

Hi!

I recently started a group called “Discerning Orders?”

You all should come check it out.

Blessings,
Adi