Most of us think it's very important for orders to be very orthodox and traditional in devotion.

Do you ever fear joining an order and then later on, they change in those ways?

For example, say when you joined they wore a habit, and then later on they dropped it... what would you do? Or their liturgies stop being as reverent as we think they should be, or they decide they disagree with the pope in important matters, or don't keep their communal devotions.

It seems like a longshot in many cases... but when you think about how some orders... like the carmelites and the benedictines started and well... untraditional many of their communities have become... do you worry about that all?

I guess all I could do is trust God.

Having trust in God is just as important as having faith in God. If He truly led me somewhere, then I would need to pray (at that time) for clarity of His will. I love and trust God enough to know He would take care of me.

Also, I like to live for today and try not to worry or plan my destiny, that is for God to handle.

Good question though.

I think my final answer is, I would need to have faith and trust in Jesus and I do. So I am not worried about it.

I also think the two communites I am interested in (at this time), will not change that much (if even at all).

I haven't really thought about it all that much. I can't see my community changing all that much, if at all. I guess it hasn't been a worry of mine. I suppose anything could happen. As Lauren said, I would just have to trust. In addition, I'd also just have to take it one step at a time, if it did indeed come about that my community changed radically. Who knows what I would feel led to do at that time, you know?

you just have to be careful.

There are still benedictines and carmelites who are faithful to the vision of their respective founders. That is important to remember. Find those communities.

OK, maybe I'm back from Lent, lol. However, I want to add something that I think is important.

Here is something Sr Carly told me before entering the SMME, (slightly out of context) that when she enters, she will be entering for our Lord, right? She will make her vows to our Lord. Whatever happens to the community - she will be lovingly bound, threefold to Him. So there won't be a need to worry. Christ and Our Lady will take care of everything.

Also, IMHO, many saints have reformed and improved communities through prayer and penance. You would still be under obedience to your Superior, but praying more and more for your community and doing penance and making reparation for it would be very pleasing in Gods eyes....

Anyway, just my 2 cents!

Can i spin it.

How about joining an order that is all over the place theologically, and then setting it straight.

The order i joined may not be a bunch of liturgical nightmares. (even the very very liberal progressive ones celebrate the mass with sincere reverence.)

There are members who are traditional, members who are orthodox, and others throughout the spectrum.

The interesting thing is that the majority of seminarians of recent times are more orthodox. So heck it goes both ways.

Most people, at least in southern california, who want "change" usually could give a careless thought ever to joining a religious order. Most peole with such agendas, dont want to go into the comprimise of having to pray, go to mass, and work for God's people.

The simple fact is, that vocations in our society today, desire a deep prayer life, a fun and dynamic community, daily mass, the Eucharist, traditional devotions, and other stuff that you cannot find anywhere else than a religious communities.

I wouldnt worry about that.

SHALOM