Media-watching Religious---why?

[Veritas]

[quote name='alicemary' post='1298982' date='Jun 20 2007, 01:20 PM']I believe we received a wonderful response by several VOWED RELIGIOUS who actually are leading a life devoted to service of the Lord. Their answers were well put and clear.
I find it truly frightening that some people here are so afraid that watching a news cast will scandalize a community. Obviously they never have stepped foot in a visiting parlor and listened to what goes on there. Obviously members of their family are destined for sainthood, since they have no scandal in their lives, no children born without marriage, parents divorced, family members who abandon their religion. If they believe that watching a tv show will threaten a nuns sacred vows, then how shallow their beliefs are.
I know many, many sisters and nuns. I have spent a great portion of time in convents and monasteries. I have sat next to a cloistered nun and watched the evening news. She fingered her rosary and later prayed for those people. Scandalized, hardly. Interrupt her spirit of recollection, no way. I have cheered for a local sports team with a group of sisters, we had a great time. Then we went back to the convent and prayed.
Nuns are people. You cant live the entirety of your life praying and sacrificing. There must be diversions, there must be some fun in your life. To think otherwise is a little demented.
The folks on phatmass have strong beliefs in our wonderful religion. We are blessed with a wondrful history and an even more wonderful loving God. We need to respect each others opinions and accept the diversity.[/quote]

+

Please remember charity. It is probable that these posters and inquirers are young and still learning and discerning how things happen in the convent. Aside from that there can only be an acceptance of legitimate "diversity" and there should not be an acceptance of things, even opinions, that are contrary to the teachings of the Church. That is false compassion and false "diversity".

The vowed religious have made wonderful contributions as have the laity about the practical and the theoretical and excellent distinctions between active and enclosed.

Blessings,
V

Edited June 20, 2007 by Veritas

[sr_betsy]

[quote name='alicemary' post='1298982' date='Jun 20 2007, 12:20 PM']I believe we received a wonderful response by several VOWED RELIGIOUS who actually are leading a life devoted to service of the Lord. Their answers were well put and clear.
I find it truly frightening that some people here are so afraid that watching a news cast will scandalize a community. Obviously they never have stepped foot in a visiting parlor and listened to what goes on there. Obviously members of their family are destined for sainthood, since they have no scandal in their lives, no children born without marriage, parents divorced, family members who abandon their religion. If they believe that watching a tv show will threaten a nuns sacred vows, then how shallow their beliefs are.
I know many, many sisters and nuns. I have spent a great portion of time in convents and monasteries. I have sat next to a cloistered nun and watched the evening news. She fingered her rosary and later prayed for those people. Scandalized, hardly. Interrupt her spirit of recollection, no way. I have cheered for a local sports team with a group of sisters, we had a great time. Then we went back to the convent and prayed.
Nuns are people. You cant live the entirety of your life praying and sacrificing. There must be diversions, there must be some fun in your life. To think otherwise is a little demented.
The folks on phatmass have strong beliefs in our wonderful religion. We are blessed with a wondrful history and an even more wonderful loving God. We need to respect each others opinions and accept the diversity.[/quote]

Well-said alice mary

[Chiquitunga]

[quote name='alicemary' post='1298982' date='Jun 20 2007, 11:20 AM']Nuns are people. You cant live the entirety of your life praying and sacrificing. There must be diversions, there must be some fun in your life. To think otherwise is a little demented.[/quote]
This is why there is always, in pretty much all religious communities, a time of recreation: for the Discalced Carmelites 2 hours a day, which St. Teresa specifically set out.

However, I do not think it is right to say that those who are conservative regarding the use of media, are incorrect in some way. As others have mentioned, [i]Verbi Sponsa[/i] does call for a limited use of the media for those to whom the document is addressed.

In the life of Sr. Consolata, Poor Clare Capuchin, Our Lord asked her to offer an unceasing, Jesus, Mary, I love you! Save souls! and to be vigilant to never miss one, as each act of love would save a soul. There are many such religious in the history of the Church that were called to this type of life - not to say it is better, but this is their particular mission in the Church, and it is very important - each soul has their own special [i]irreplacable[/i] mission - whether called to the religious state, or the laity - of which there are [i]many[/i] saints.

The way the sisters receive the news on currents events, at pretty much all the cloistered communities I've known (several OCD Carmels, the PCCs in Lemont, the Srs of Bethlehem & the Srs of St. John) - is that usually the Reverend Mother reads something of the news, and is informed by those outside the monastery, and lets the community know the important things that need to be prayed for.

But even if a cloistered nun had no idea of any of the news, she is always aware that at each moment, there is a soul out there dying, often not in the state of grace, that needs her prayers at this moment.

The cloistered life has existed for centuries (as has also all forms of religious consecrated life), and without the use of any media, which did not hinder them in the least from being fruitful members of the Mystical Body of Christ - on the contrary - great multitudes of saints have lived this life throughout the centuries and contributed to an invaluable degree in the salvation of souls.

I do not disagree that it is good to be informed about important current events, so that they can pray for them, and that a limited use of the media can be very beneficial, like looking up great information for novice classes, as Sr. Mary Catharine does.

But the event of the departure of a soul from this earth, who's eternal salvation is at stake, is a [i]huge event[/i] and means the world to that one person. The media, generally speaking, does not give as much importance to hidden events such as this. They are, generally speaking, more caught up in affairs that are loud and visible. Like in the diary of Sr. Josefa Menendez, she would hear demons screaming over a soul they want to take down with them, which is at the moment of death. But through her prayers and sacrifices, they received the grace of final repentance, and the demons were infuriated.

This need for prayers for the simple intention of the salvation of souls is ever present, and does not require the use of media to be continually aware of.

[Veritas]

+

Great points Margaret Clare. Thanks for the contributions. I think this is a great discussion, and I am thankful for what I am learning.

[Carmelitess]

What an eloquent defense of the sacrificial nature of contemplative life! You also did a great job of positively presenting the integral mission of every cloistered nun: to pray for souls. Thank you! I couldn't have said it better, that's for sure. God bless you, Margaret!

[cathoholic_anonymous]

[quote]But even if a cloistered nun had no idea of any of the news, she is always aware that at each moment, there is a soul out there dying, often not in the state of grace, that needs her prayers at this moment.[/quote]

That said, it is much easier to pray for people if you know something about them - at least, it is for me. I 'pray the news' every morning, focusing on the photographs and the stories of the people who need prayer. It makes it easier for me to focus. I know of some convents where newspapers are left in the community room and it is up to the discretion of the individual sister as to how much she reads or doesn't read. I think that is a good system, as some people may not be able to read very much without getting distracted or agitated, while others may find the newspaper very conducive to their prayer. If it's possible to peel potatoes in a contemplative way, it surely is possible to read about your brothers and sisters in the outside world in that spirit.

[Totus Tuus]

[quote name='Cathoholic Anonymous' post='1299411' date='Jun 21 2007, 09:32 AM']I know of some convents where newspapers are left in the community room and it is up to the discretion of the individual sister as to how much she reads or doesn't read.[/quote]

That is the system at OLAM, where I used to be. There is also a dry-erase board in the community room for sisters to write family prayer requests and such. It worked well for us because the amount of news to be taken in by any one sister was up to her own discretion. And Mother Vicar would fill us in on anything urgent when we had our regular lessons with her.

But as has been mentioned before, there are different systems that work well for different communities.

[sr_betsy]

[quote name='Totus Tuus' post='1299417' date='Jun 21 2007, 08:53 AM']That is the system at OLAM, where I used to be. There is also a dry-erase board in the community room for sisters to write family prayer requests and such. It worked well for us because the amount of news to be taken in by any one sister was up to her own discretion. And Mother Vicar would fill us in on anything urgent when we had our regular lessons with her.

But as has been mentioned before, there are different systems that work well for different communities.[/quote]

The community room is where we place our newspapers and various magazines. As for prayer requests, we receive e-mails and usually, they are printed out for all to read (tho' many sisters have e-mail). It's very helpful to pray for those who are in need of our prayers.

Not to change the subject - but Totus Tuus, when you say Mother Vicar, who was that? Mother Angelica? Forgive my lack of knowledge.

sr betsy

[philosophette]

[quote name='alicemary' post='1298982' date='Jun 20 2007, 01:20 PM']I believe we received a wonderful response by several VOWED RELIGIOUS who actually are leading a life devoted to service of the Lord. Their answers were well put and clear.
I find it truly frightening that some people here are so afraid that watching a news cast will scandalize a community. Obviously they never have stepped foot in a visiting parlor and listened to what goes on there. Obviously members of their family are destined for sainthood, since they have no scandal in their lives, no children born without marriage, parents divorced, family members who abandon their religion. If they believe that watching a tv show will threaten a nuns sacred vows, then how shallow their beliefs are.
I know many, many sisters and nuns. I have spent a great portion of time in convents and monasteries. I have sat next to a cloistered nun and watched the evening news. She fingered her rosary and later prayed for those people. Scandalized, hardly. Interrupt her spirit of recollection, no way. I have cheered for a local sports team with a group of sisters, we had a great time. Then we went back to the convent and prayed.
Nuns are people. You cant live the entirety of your life praying and sacrificing. There must be diversions, there must be some fun in your life. To think otherwise is a little demented.
The folks on phatmass have strong beliefs in our wonderful religion. We are blessed with a wondrful history and an even more wonderful loving God. We need to respect each others opinions and accept the diversity.[/quote]


Amen to that. I completely accept people's opinions, but I really think sometimes these topics get totally out of hand.

[philosophette]

[quote name='Veritas' post='1299008' date='Jun 20 2007, 02:36 PM']+

Please remember charity. It is probable that these posters and inquirers are young and still learning and discerning how things happen in the convent. Aside from that there can only be an acceptance of legitimate "diversity" and there should not be an acceptance of things, even opinions, that are contrary to the teachings of the Church. That is false compassion and false "diversity".

The vowed religious have made wonderful contributions as have the laity about the practical and the theoretical and excellent distinctions between active and enclosed.

Blessings,
V[/quote]

So far I have not heard anyone say anything that is not legitimate. I do not think that alicemary was uncharitable at all, as you seemed to imply. I think she was just frank about how she felt the same way you were frank with her about how you felt about her post.

[Totus Tuus]

[quote name='sr_betsy' post='1299423' date='Jun 21 2007, 09:59 AM']Not to change the subject - but Totus Tuus, when you say Mother Vicar, who was that? Mother Angelica? Forgive my lack of knowledge.[/quote]


Mother Vicar is under Mother Abbess (which is Mother Angelica). Mother Vicar is Sr. Mary Catherine, who is acting superior since Mother Angelica is not well.

[gabrielp]

Hm,

All this reminds me of a priest telling me it was good to have a bible in one hand, and a newspaper in the other. But I'm not sure if he was referring to contemplative nuns as well, though he was himself a discalced carmelite. Just a tiny little thought.

God bless,

Gabriel

[Chiquitunga]

[quote name='Cathoholic Anonymous' post='1299411' date='Jun 21 2007, 07:32 AM']I know of some convents where newspapers are left in the community room and it is up to the discretion of the individual sister as to how much she reads or doesn't read. I think that is a good system, as some people may not be able to read very much without getting distracted or agitated, while others may find the newspaper very conducive to their prayer.[/quote]
While I do like the idea of leaving it up to the Reverend Mother's discretion for the whole community, that's not a bad system either.

I guess one of my major concerns then would be that they get a good source of news. We get both the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times, because we have a close friend that writes for the Sun-Times. But wow, it can be [i]terrible[/i], and the pictures that are often on the front page .. It's seriously becoming more and more like a tabloid. And the Tribune is not always so great either. This woman who writes for the Sun-Times & her husband have both been in the news industry all their lives, and so often they comment on just how messed up it's becoming - the bad morals that are accepted as normal by our society these days, especially on TV news.

So that would be one of the major reasons why I feel strongly about keeping this kind of stuff out of religious life/leaving it up to the Reverend Mother's discretion. Just because something's in the news, doesn't mean everyone then has to be subjected to it, if you understand what I mean.

I do understand though about reading the news and seeing pictures of the people everything and feeling even more motivated to pray - and that is soo important, because so many people and issues do need our prayers [i]urgently[/i], and it definitely helps us focus on others rather than ourselves.

Then also of course there are the Catholic sources of news about world events and the Church. I find especially [url="http://www.ignatius.com/Magazines/CWR/"]The Catholic World Report[/url] magazine outstanding for giving a good perspective on what are the major international events and issues that the Church is facing, like reports of martyrs, the Church in this or that country, efforts to unite the Churches of the East & West and the Traditionalist factions, etc.

[Chiquitunga]

[quote name='happynun' post='1298149' date='Jun 18 2007, 06:59 PM']We have to understand that for some communities the watching of the news or going to the movies can be a significant part of their vocation (Daughters of Saint Paul are an excellent example and they have a media apostolate). The CFRs have a very ascetical kind of life. The Carmelites are communal hermits.[/quote]
But yes, guys I was going to say, the use/reading/watching of media is definitely of great importance to many forms of religious life, but actually reading through the posts I see this has already been said very well!

I don't mean at all to say when I posted about cloistered nuns, and their main mission of praying for souls, that somehow the mission of other religious are not as important - no way!

I'm reminded of Fr. Corapi talking about how he is unafraid of speaking the truth because it is a matter of LIFE or DEATH (of the soul!) And the use of media and keeping up with the latest news and responding to that, is an integral part of the mission of the Church, entrusted to orders like the Daughters of St. Paul & the Salesians, in their work with the youth, and many more - and it extremely important!

Fr. Corapi, in his Catechism series, spoke well on this, in that the internet/media/TV is not bad in itself - it's just that evil has been able to make use of it much faster than good has. But we have to use this medium then to our advantage.

(And obviously the internet is extremely resourceful for finding incredible information in a short amount of time that you might not find elsewhere & for searching for orders, etc - that goes without saying I think!! )

His own site: [url="http://www.fathercorapi.com"]http://www.fathercorapi.com[/url] It's great, and if you scroll all the way down, there's a link where you can receive a blessing from Father! I asked a priest once about this and he believed that yes, a priestly blessing can be given in this way, and also through the TV or radio. I've heard that when the Pope gives an Apostolic Blessing through the media, those listening/watching can also recieve it! Cool!

[Chiquitunga]

[quote name='gabrielp' post='1299699' date='Jun 21 2007, 10:08 PM']All this reminds me of a priest telling me it was good to have a bible in one hand, and a newspaper in the other. But I'm not sure if he was referring to contemplative nuns as well, though he was himself a discalced carmelite. Just a tiny little thought.[/quote]
But actually the life of a cloistered OCD nun is definitely different than an OCD friar. They have different missions in the Church, though they're in the same order. Again, [url="http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccscrlife/documents/rc_con_ccscrlife_doc_13051999_verbi-sponsa_en.html"]Verbi Sponsa: Instruction on the Contemplative Life and on the Enclosure of Nuns[/url] - particulary articles 5 & 20

[Totus Tuus]

[quote name='Margaret Clare' post='1299765' date='Jun 22 2007, 07:43 AM']But actually the life of a cloistered OCD nun is definitely different than an OCD friar. They have different missions in the Church, though they're in the same order. Again, [url="http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccscrlife/documents/rc_con_ccscrlife_doc_13051999_verbi-sponsa_en.html"]Verbi Sponsa: Instruction on the Contemplative Life and on the Enclosure of Nuns[/url] - particulary articles 5 & 20[/quote]

I believe it may be similar to the difference between a contemplative Dominican Nun and a Dominican Friar. Is that a bad comparison? Are there contemplative mens' communities within the Carmelite Order?


[quote]While I do like the idea of leaving it up to the Reverend Mother's discretion for the whole community, that's not a bad system either.[/quote]

By this, do you mean that you think that Reverend Mother will choose what each individual sister sees? Because in either case, she probably has to approve it (i.e., the norm is probably for the superior to approve the newspapers that are put in the community room in a contemplative community).

[Veritas]

[quote name='Margaret Clare' post='1299762' date='Jun 22 2007, 07:27 AM']His own site: [url="http://www.fathercorapi.com"]http://www.fathercorapi.com[/url] It's great, and if you scroll all the way down, there's a link where you can receive a blessing from Father! I asked a priest once about this and he believed that yes, a priestly blessing can be given in this way, and also through the TV or radio. I've heard that when the Pope gives an Apostolic Blessing through the media, those listening/watching can also recieve it! Cool![/quote]

+

This surprises me. I have always been taught that the blessing must be live. For example, a live telecast the blessing is received, but a videotaped and delayed telecast, not so. Hmm....

[Chiquitunga]

[quote name='Totus Tuus' post='1299796' date='Jun 22 2007, 07:59 AM']I believe it may be similar to the difference between a contemplative Dominican Nun and a Dominican Friar. Is that a bad comparison? Are there contemplative mens' communities within the Carmelite Order?[/quote]
Yes, I'd say that's a good comparison. Well, for the Discalced Carmelite Order there are not wholly contemplative communities for men. The friars are active contemplatives. But there are several Carmelite communities of men that are wholly contemplative like the OCD nuns. The first one to come to mind is the [url="http://www.carmelitemonks.org/"]Carmelite Monks in Wyoming[/url], who follow the OCD charism. (notice they're monks, not friars) Then there are the [url="http://www.decorcarmeli.com/Hermits.htm"]Hermits of the BVM of Mt. Carmel[/url] in Lake Elmo (within walking distance from the OCD nuns in Lake Elmo - they're their chaplains) then the [url="http://www.carmelitehermits.org/"]Carmelite Hermits in Christoval, TX[/url]. (the last 2 in the O.Carm Order) Then I'm sure there are others I'm unaware of (probably EJames would know).

[quote name='Totus Tuus' post='1299796' date='Jun 22 2007, 07:59 AM']By this, do you mean that you think that Reverend Mother will choose what each individual sister sees? Because in either case, she probably has to approve it (i.e., the norm is probably for the superior to approve the newspapers that are put in the community room in a contemplative community).[/quote]
Ah, ok, I get what you're saying - the Mother Superior would decide which newspapers would be in the community room - that's good. What I mean is that the way it was explained to me, particularly at the Carmels I visited, was that the Mother would read some of the paper/receive important news from those that help out at the monastery, and then tell the sisters important things they need to pray for, but not that the individual nuns would read the actual articles themselves, although I'm guessing they would probably have some individual articles cut out that the sisters could read.

[philosophette]

[quote name='Margaret Clare' post='1299762' date='Jun 22 2007, 07:27 AM']I'm reminded of Fr. Corapi talking about how he is unafraid of speaking the truth because it is a matter of LIFE or DEATH (of the soul!) And the use of media and keeping up with the latest news and responding to that, is an integral part of the mission of the Church, entrusted to orders like the Daughters of St. Paul & the Salesians, in their work with the youth, and many more - and it extremely important!

Fr. Corapi, in his Catechism series, spoke well on this, in that the internet/media/TV is not bad in itself - it's just that evil has been able to make use of it much faster than good has. But we have to use this medium then to our advantage.[/quote]

[EJames]

[quote name='Margaret Clare' post='1299844' date='Jun 22 2007, 09:48 AM']Yes, I'd say that's a good comparison. Well, for the Discalced Carmelite Order there are not wholly contemplative communities for men. The friars are active contemplatives.......
...Then I'm sure there are others I'm unaware of (probably EJames would know).[/quote]
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