Beyond me why the church would even allow this sort of thing to take place.The only thing that seemed a little odd to me was this:
I wonder what these other âpathsâ are; and what do they mean by a âdeeper relationship with the earthâ?
mkw said:
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Yes I believe it is new agey. Check out their events. I saw an enneagram workshop and lots of things relating to the whole mother earth new age lingo. I wouldnât be surprised to see reikki workshops in there somewhere. This saddens me. Why canât the bishops shut this stuff down?
The nuns in the top image are cloistered contemplatives, and they have a very long history and tradition in the Church. In Catholic theology prayer and work are just as important. They may not appear to be doing much good for the rest of us chanting and praying behind those walls, but therin lies the mystery of what spiritual fruits their total self-giving to the most high God offers to us all. And I am not downplaying the need for religious that feed the the poor, teach the illiterate, or care for the sick and aged. Contemplatives donât stay in the monastery for the fun of it, it is a calling of the heart and more importantly of the Holy Spirit. I most certainly admire these women. Here is a further description of the contemplative life and what good there is in it newadvent.org/cathen/04329a.htm
I posted it with the latter in mind, but I agree most women religious today are prone to casualness and silliness.
I certainly second Catholic29âs thoughts on the importance of contemplative prayer as a calling and as a service to the Church and the whole world. If one thinks of monastic life in utilitarian terms, the whole enterprise begins to look useless (as the English Reformation demonstratedAs for the ânunsâ in the bottom image, I am at a loss as to what their up to. Seems like some sort of new-age or charismatic weirdness happening, or a bizarre blending of the two, only they know I guess.
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Everything was about âbuilding communityâ and their version of âsocial justice,â as if being a Catholic was a purely political endeavor. When Christâs presence in the People of God is emphasized to the point of excluding Christâs total presence in the Eucharist, the result is always the same: Christ gets forgotten entirely in favor of worshipping the community itself.
if it werenât for a nearby college Newman club that was part of the Charismatic Renewal. So, i am all for the charismatic weirdness since itâs totally (even zealously) loyal to Rome.
Actually, as [Fr. Corapi ](http://www.fathercorapi.com/)says, the contemplative religious life is the most active form of religious life. This is where the real dynamite takes place. It is hidden work in the order of calling down God's grace on the whole world, for the salvation of souls. He says there has been a heresy in the Church called "activism."
I see that you recognized that maybe they (I mean the Poor Clares in the first picture - I'm not sure about the second picture) are praying for causes that help others, but the salvation of souls, and calling down grace for the world, is a cause in itself, although they definitely also pray for all causes that help others.
St. Therese of the Child Jesus is patron of the Missions and she spent her whole religious life enclosed, as a Discalced Carmelite Nun. The cloistered contemplative life is definitely not a self-centered life. It is a self-giving life - a self-offering or oblation for the love of Jesus to save souls. It is a difficult intense calling from God to leave the world in your heart and live only for God and His people through intercessory prayer and sacrifice.
Read Saint Faustina's *Diary* or *The Way of Divine Love*, by Sr. Josefa Menendez - then you'll understand the contemplative vocation better. Also, Sr. Consolata, with her "Unceasing Act of Love" Here's a link with information about her "Littlest Way" [http://www.monksofadoration.org/15.html](http://www.monksofadoration.org/15.html)
All the members of the Church actually are called to this contemplative life in fitting with their state in life, to advance in holiness, and the love of God, thus affecting the whole world in the order of grace. When Jesus gave us the new commandment to "love others as I have loved you," this was much deeper than simply active works of charity. It means an intense life of prayer and sacrifice that we may contribute to the salvation of souls - this is the whole meaning of the "co-redemptive" work to which all members of the Body of Christ are called. This is the "no greater love, than to give up one's life for a friend." The contemplative cloistered nun's or monk's life is entirely centered on this self-giving. I think in Heaven we will see how much this hidden work made great impacts on the whole world, even our own lives - I know mine for sure.