Thank you, sir, for taking your time to write such a thoughtful reply.
I was wondering how I can learn more about the orders that you mentioned: Franciscans, the Dominicans, the Carmelites, the Trappists and more. I did once try to research about these orders but I came out with little useful information. Is there a book that outlines such topic?
I would love to know more about your personal experience of becoming a priest. From the time you figured that that want to be a priest to when you are ordained. At what age did you enter seminary? Were there any adversities holding you back?
Dang Nguyen
You are welcome
There are several ways to learn about the Orders. One is by reading. One does well to look for and focus upon texts focused on the Order’s spirituality. Here, for example, is a wonderful book on Dominican spirituality. The priest who wrote it died and his brothers mounted it on the web so that it can be freely available
holyrosaryprovince.org/2011/media/essencial/dominican_spirituality.pdf
The Dominican concept of contemplation is going to be more focused on the intellect than, say, the Carmelite which would be focused on the affective aspects of the human person…the heart, as it were. Both are valid but dealing with different aspects of human person
Speaking with a Dominican or a Carmelite, one can ask how to learn about their spirituality and spiritual practices…and I have not met one yet who was not happy to tell you and to help you know and understand their
charism
The best way to do it is to read in concert with a contact with a member of the Order. That is, embarking on a path of reading about the spirituality of the Order while in dialogue/correspondence with a member of that Order
Many Orders or communities already have programs designed for lay people who wish to participate in their spirituality, so the explanations and the literature is readily available to explain how an Order’s spiritual life and practices can be an enrichment to a lay person,or a cleric.
For example, some twenty miles outside of Boston is Glastonbury Abbey, which is a monastery of Benedictine monks. The Rule of Saint Benedict is freely available on line
osb.org/rb/text/toc.html
In addition to reading it – prayerfully, not as something to read through quickly but read thoughtfully – one can find books on Benedictine spirituality. One can also be in dialogue with the Director of Secular Oblates, who works with laity wanting to be schooled in Benedictine spirituality. The oblate director would advise on literature – online and in print – and give advice on how Benedictine spirituality can be lived in the world, in whatever state of life
All of this might be of great interest and attraction – or it might not. You might find it useful or you may find it has no attraction to you. You might find things you would like to be part of your spirituality and your prayer life or you might not. In any event, you will have experienced a special aspect of the Church – the monastic charism – as you grow in your knowledge of the Church
Here is the website of the monastery
glastonburyabbey.org
Here are times of prayer at the monastery
glastonburyabbey.org/index.php/mass-prayer-times/liturgical-schedules
Here is the page on their oblates, which would give you occasion to have a more structured visit with laity who are living the spirituality of Benedictine life in their homes and families.
glastonburyabbey.org/index.php/abbey/oblates
Here is the website for their books on Benedictinism
glastonburyabbey.org/index.php/storehome/books/benedictine
Now, I am not suggesting that you become an oblate but merely to explore what do these different Orders have, in their spirituality and in their prayer life, that might enrich you. What I have written about Benedictines is true of other Orders, which are also a short distance from where you live. They each have a rich heritage and much that they can share
This program, the oblates, provides one way to learn what Benedictines are – they are 1500 years old – and what about the Benedictines could enrich one’s life. One’s prayer. Could their many saints inspire you and help you? What can be drawn from this heritage?
There are similar programs with many of the Religious families in the Church. Knowing about them not only enriches you personally but gives you something with which you can enrich others who may profit from it even more than you
Perhaps, at some point, you could go for a visit…experience Mass in a different way from your parish…experience the divine office that is chanted in monastic choir…experience the monastic grounds…meet and visit with the monks
Personally, I did not become a monk but I always make my retreat in an abbey and go there for times of prayer and days of recollection. For years, my spiritual director was a monk. I draw much from the Rule of Saint Benedict and from monastic writers. I readily incorporate aspects of Benedictine spirituality into my own life…such as
lectio divina, which you can Google
It was through reading but also through relationships, correspondence, friendships with monks as well as study and research that I grew in this aspect of my spiritual life
It is one way to put this time of your life to growing in your relationship with the Lord and your knowledge of the Church, in all its multifaceted aspects and richness
