Religious life: what's attracts you?

[D0RK4JP2]

Gday,

I'm joining the a religious congregation at the start of next year, so all these thoughts are present in my mind. Does anyone else have these desires in common?

JMJ

[Andrea348]

I chose all of the above. It is not just one thing. To give myself to Him completely as His bride...there aren't many words to explain it.

[Paladin D]

DOOOHH!!! I didn't see the [b]"All the above"[/b] option.

I picked [b]"The presentative life - Representing the Church to battle the devil"[/b].

[ForHimAlone]

All are so wonderful, but I selected "The Meditative Life." Having a deep inner spiritual contemplative very much attracts me. I feel drawn towards a life built on silent contemplation and inner conversation with my Love and Bridegroom. Finding Him within yourself...

~Kathleen

[-I---Love]

It's NOT ABOUT MORAL PERFECTION!

I am not seeking as a Christian to be morally perfect.

How about we learn to love first!!!!!!!!!!

Second, it would be unhealthy to say that ONE thing attracts you more than all the others in my opinion.

[Guest Aluigi]

it's about striving towards moral perfection!

and how does that conflict with love?

and what's wrong with a person being attracted to one thing most?

[Guest Aluigi]

isn't that seeking moral perfection line from like.. the rule of St. Benedict? it's in some great saint's writing if i remember correctly...

oh, and yeah, there's that ALL OF THE ABOVE option

[goldenchild17]

All of the above. But the Apostolic Life is pretty high up there for me.

[Mr Bubble]

All of those are attractive, but I think the Apostolic Life is at the top. I always feel a need to help others, especially emotionally.

[cathoholic]

All of the above

[friarMatt]

Hi All,

I was wondering where you got those descriptors from? My vote would be for the meditative life, but I wish i could edit afterwards the idea of retreating from the world. As a Francsican that makes my skin crawl, I entered religious life not to run away from the world, but because the world is good, and i found someone better, Christ. And also about the prayer, I hope there was supposed to be a comma between penitential and rosary. I do not find the rosary to be penitentional at all.

in Christ and Mary,
fr. Matt

[LiL Kat Said]

All of the above! :thumb:

[D0RK4JP2]

[quote name='friarMatt' date='Nov 18 2004, 01:12 AM'] Hi All,

I was wondering where you got those descriptors from? My vote would be for the meditative life, but I wish i could edit afterwards the idea of retreating from the world. As a Francsican that makes my skin crawl, I entered religious life not to run away from the world, but because the world is good, and i found someone better, Christ. And also about the prayer, I hope there was supposed to be a comma between penitential and rosary. I do not find the rosary to be penitentional at all.

in Christ and Mary,
fr. Matt [/quote]
Gday,

Where did I get them from? I made them up on the spot . The catechism talks about religious life as a means of getting away from the world to seek moral perfection, that's why I put it like that. But you're right, it should be secondary to running TO what you have found to be better, CHRIST. Thanks for that correction .

I've had so much happen to do with my vocation I don't know what to do anymore.

What do you think about joining a religious order that teaches errors but at the same time has very good facets about it?

JMJ.

[friarMatt]

I think Christ does the calling, if He is calling someone to enter a more heterodox community that doesn't wear a habit etc. You should go! Maybe the Lord is calling that person to a heroic level of sanctity and maybe even to call the community to reform, renewal and greater holiness.

[Sixtina87]

too bad we couldnt choose 2 of the choices!!!! i didnt know which one to pick but when i first began my discernment it is the apostolic part of the religious life but then when i began visting communities and staying over night....it also became the prayer!!!!! oh i miss the chanting!!!!!!!!

[Laurentina1975]

Apostolic Life, bringing Christ forth to others......evangelizing.... I JUST LOVE IT!

(Eucharist and Prayer is also very central for me).

[uruviel]

I love apostalic, medititave, prayer, sacrificial, and presentative. All my goals : But I just chose "All of the above"

[salveregina]

I did not see the all of the above option at first - I was quite torn between a few of them. Hooray for the all of the above option.

And what is wrong with retreating from the world? I'm thinking some great saints (i.e. hermits, anchoresses) would probably have something to say about that...

[MC IMaGiNaZUN]

[quote name='friarMatt' date='Nov 17 2004, 07:12 AM'] As a Francsican that makes my skin crawl, I entered religious life not to run away from the world, but because the world is good, and i found someone better, Christ.

in  Christ and Mary,
fr. Matt
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[/quote]

As an Augustinian that makes my skin crawl to.

Although we know the world is a fallen one, it is being renewed, or rather Created Anew in the Easter Resurrection. The whole point of our vocation is to sanctify humanity and the world.

I would doubt that many saints have such a pessimistic view of creation.

But anyways, yeah i am so drawn to the contemplative life, but know that i have gifts that are suited to the apostolic life. But somehow the sacrificial life gives me the most vitality and inspiration more than the others seemingly. But heck, uniting to the priesthood of Christ requires uniting to the sacrifice of Christ.

But i like the way you categorized these things. Gives me a firmer grasp on my own vocation.

SHALOM

[TeresaAvila]

I chose "All of the Above". and just wanted to comment on the "Medatation-retreating from the world to achieve perfection" for me it's not retreating from the world but it's giving up the world, to daily die to myself to grow closer to our lord and giving up Loves as in family etc for an even greater love, my lord and holy mother church!

Edited March 10, 2006 by TeresaAvila