Religious Vocation and the News/Fine Arts

  • Thread starter Thread starter TheDumbFox
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

TheDumbFox

Guest
Hey all,

So about 6 months ago I discerned out of a religious community. I was only in Postulancy but still really had a hard time making the decision to leave. Please pray for me.

Anyway, my question is about something that’s not really that big of a deal but I’m still kind of curious about.

While I was living in this semi-monastic community, I noticed myself missing two things about my former life…1.) Knowing what was going on in the news. I have always kept up with the news and politics and not knowing what was going on made me upset sometimes, especially when serving the poor or interacting with lay people who knew all about the news. Then the added frustration came in when having to hear them tell me about it with their added twist. Not being able to look up online any info really got to me. And 2.) Not having access to the Arts. So I’m really interested in Classical music, literature, and art and not being allowed to participate and enjoy the beauty which comes from those things really upset me. I found myself missing being able to listen to Bach or read a good wholesome book.

I have this feeling that my sentiments might not be the best about these things. Are they attachments that a religious should not have? Not that they were my main reason for departure, but should they have played a role in my discernment at all? Can anyone provide me with information or quotes from what the saints might have thought on this matter? To me I kind of think that they would consider it being attached to the things of the world, but I don’t know. Any help or thoughts on this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
 
Did they forbid you to read secular books and listen to classical music? That’s weird, I didn’t think monks would have a problem with it (unless it disturbs your monastic duties, of course).
 
Last edited:
In my experience, lots of communities have a little more flexibility than that… The community I am an Aspirant with watches the EWTN news twice a week during meals, plus get the local paper, NCR, OSV, etc. We also have access to good books and classical music… Less so during early formation, but there is a while novitiate library and music collection, mostly classical and chant, but some CCM. A lot of the sisters read and/or listen to music during personal times.
This is a pretty conservative cloistered monastery… Not really austere, but balanced and traditional.
 
Last edited:
I’d be a little concerned about that. Recreation, including watching TV, is utilized even by the Nashville Dominicans. The Novitiate recreation room is usually a zoo during the rec hour! They sit and play cards; practice musical instruments; sit and talk with each other, etc. They have a pic of it on their website.

I attended five Jesu Caritas retreats there, and at one retreat, some of the postulants and novices came out on the front steps of the old academy (just outside their rec room door). There was a lot of goofing off, and one novice taught a postulant the opening chords of “Puff the Magic Dragon.”

I know of a monastery (women) who “pray the news.” They watch the news, then pray for those involved.

In our new congregation, one of our ministries “prays the news,” as well, to know what to make reparation for. We also have a ministry dedicated to religious arts.

Blessings,
Mrs Cloisters OP
Lay Dominican
http://cloisters.tripod.com/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/holyangels/id9.html/
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top