The strictest orders

[josephine]

and the experience/understanding of enclosure is different. PC's take enclosure as a vow, while the monastics vow "stability". PC's, at least in europe, often live in cities so they have limited space and have a parlour with a grille/screen to meet with people, while the monastic orders are usually found in more rural aerea's so they have way more space. Also, when they meet visitors/family, there is no grille or screen between them. 

and again, it is really important to remember that religious life is not a game in who can live the "hardest, strictest" life. it is about growing in love for God and neighbour. 

 

[beatitude]

On ‎24‎/‎03‎/‎2016‎ ‎11‎:‎55‎:‎16, josephine said:

and the experience/understanding of enclosure is different. PC's take enclosure as a vow, while the monastics vow "stability". PC's, at least in europe, often live in cities so they have limited space and have a parlour with a grille/screen to meet with people, while the monastic orders are usually found in more rural aerea's so they have way more space. Also, when they meet visitors/family, there is no grille or screen between them. 

and again, it is really important to remember that religious life is not a game in who can live the "hardest, strictest" life. it is about growing in love for God and neighbour. 

 

Poor Clares are monastics. I think you're talking about Benedictines. They have a vow of stability. While it's true that their monasteries do tend to be rural (historically they often worked the land) there are rural Poor Clare communities too, like the ones near the Northern Irish border; and urban Benedictines, like the Tyburn nuns in London. Most Benedictines are enclosed and a lot of them do have grilles.

[Nunsuch]

Certainly in the US the vast majority of Benedictines (female and male) are *not* enclosed. There are only  a couple of small enclosed monasteries. Most have active apostolates.

[Benedictus]

The only way to know most things is to observe the life of a community or institute and to read their constitutions (if possible). In many cases how they view enclosure and customs are outlined there.

If someone seeks out an austere life in a certain way then I think that's OK, if it's mature and considered with expertise help. I think, of course, God calls people to live out their vocation in various ways.

However, there are situations when alarm bells ring in my ears and I'd expect a person to be halted if they have ideas that aren't on the right track. I won't outline anything specific in terms of advice because I expect others will do that in RL if it goes to that.

I will say though that ideas about strictness and laxness of life are sometimes dealt with flippantly by people. My institute wouldn't be seen as 'strict' but the life is not easy at all. I have been upset, to the point of tears, to be sent back to an apostolate that I hate. Indeed, I was probably sent there for that exact reason, at least in part, as a means to grow. It's challenging and painful. We each find our pains in any sort of life.

[anchoress]

Wise words in the last post. And in those seeing red flags. Reading the thread as a whole seems sometime gets forgotten that religious life is a giving to God not a "me" thing, or " I want"...  Occurs to me also that what each sees as austerity depends on your lifestyle. I live extremely simply, partly through a life of low income ( disabling illness and now old age) but mainly as I have all I truly need and so many other do not have the means to live. So any money I save by total simplicity goes to trusted ones working at the coal face of poverty who will not even live unless others care.  So I use as little heating as possible etc and take care to stay safe and healthy. The work of my hands is sold too. I truly would not live any other way. Deeply fulfilling. But not for everyone?