www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology How do we go about fostering more monastic vocations

Bob,

Yes, I think you may have nailed it on the head. People have compartmentalized their lives, and Christianity is not considered a way of live only a part of their life. Monasticism is a way of living the Christian life 24/7. That does not mean that others outside of the religious life do not live Christianity 24/7, but it is becoming fewer and fewer.

Just my opinion.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

I've been reflecting on the question of monastic vocations, and the absence of this 'sign' of monasticism among us. I think it is a question that we must address.

I was reading recently about the monastic life, and found an image I found to be helpful. In the context of the Christian life, where we are all called upon to "put on Christ" there are many gifts. A teacher is given abilities by God, and so is called upon to look to Christ the teacher as an example. A doctor, nurse, "carer", looks to Christ the healer for inspiration. An ascetic looks to Christ in the desert, a laborer looks to Christ at work, a terminally ill person looks to Christ in his suffering and passion, a preacher looks to Christ on the Mount, etc. etc., and every Christian is called to conformity to the Savior, though sometimes in different ways, and in different capacities.

A monastic must look to Christ, the obedient one, who in all things sought "not to do my will, but the will of him who sent me." A monk or a nun, must study Christ, who in everything studied the will of the Father, and was never self-directed.

This is precisely where monasticism is so counter-cultural in our own day, when the 'self' is exalted, and a misunderstood 'self-determinism' is paraded as true liberty and freedom. The devil is a liar, and true freedom is certainly not "doing what I want, when I want, how I want." The one is 'truly free' who somehow has utterly surrendered himself to the will of God, and perfection comes with even letting go of the memory of decisions made apart from God.

Hans Urs once said, "If no one wants to be led, how then shall one lead?"

Who is there, today, who understands the monastic call, and is willing to attempt that radical renunciation of the personal will? Who is willing to model their lives on Christ, obedient even unto death? Who is willing to shine in the world, witnessing true freedom and ultimate liberty in Christ?

It is impossible for anyone to answer correctly, when they do not comprehend the question.

Now, God is asking the whole Church, the whole world, to listen attentively to his Word. He enables and empowers, but waits, upon those who might respond with boldness, generosity and courage, accepting the way of obedience, and the challenge of renunciation, signs of the Kingdom come, in the Church now. But, "if no one wants to be led..."

the unworthy,
Elias

Thanks Fr. Elias and others who have shared good insights here. Having once facilitated youth activities and having raised my own children this is something I have often reflected upon.

I will agree with those who say that such vocations must be fostered in the home. But generally this is not being done...the home is not the place of prayer or has a spiritual atmosphere...parents continue to leave much of the spiritual direction of their children to the parochial school or the local parish. But this was often true years ago when other generations responded to the call of Christ.

What is different now? I think that our present generation of youth are bombarded with so many peer and societal influences which point to the instant gratification of self needs, a material value system, and a free spirited life style which is not really free and which is very undisciplined. (meaning untrained in Godly living). As the years have passed and so many values have changed...this has escalated.

But such has been said again and again...and it is 'nothing new under the sun.'

What has not changed is that.. God still calls his children to know him, love him, and serve him.

Like the parable of the sower and the seed...the farmer continues to throw out the seed...but the cares of the world or the lack of good soil keep the seed from taking root.

My sister-in-law has been a Benedictine nun for almost sixty years. She is 78 and still works as a pastoral associate in a big city parish. I have often visited her monastery which is now a place mainly for care of the elderly and infirmed of their congregation, a historical museum, retreat center, as well as a place for administrative offices. But unlike many convents in our country..it is not closed or sold and it is still functioning. The monastery (and that is what they call it) is located in a rural area, but this cenobitic community of sisters now venture out into various jobs in various cities in the U.S. and send their earnings back to the motherhouse to support all. Some are teachers, nurses, social workers, hospital chaplains, therapists, and on various parish staffs. They return "home" to the motherhouse once or twice a year..and more if they live in nearby towns in the area. One of their challenges is to maintain a monastic stance...although they feel they must get out and bring home the bread for the common good of their community and so that they can survive as a community.

Women now enter their congregation at an older age. Some are widows and others divorced. Most have already had careers or hold degrees. They do not get many vocations from the younger women (late teens) as they once did. (My sister-in-law began her postulate as a teen in the 40's and so did most of her peers).

Frankly... I think that younger women are drawn to the more conservative and contemplative (semi-cloistered) orders and that does make sense to me.

I have hopes and pray that in my life time or sometime in this century the original charism of the founders of the various religious orders can be envisioned as it was originally meant to be. Then I think more will come...and more will become monastics.

Blessings.

Father Anthony, Father Elias, and my other brethren here:

I'd like to add a personal example of what I believe has become the problem with the "domestic church" out of which vocations to Christian service in all forms come.

My son, the oldest of our two children, seemed drawn at an early age to wanting to deepen his prayer life. I found a simple, but not simplistic, little devotional series to give him shortly after he entered the second grade. Each morning before school, it was my requirement that he spend five minutes with the little pocket-sized book reading the little Scripture verse and the accompanying short meditation. This was to help move them along in the morning, too, since they had to get up, shower, dress, eat breakfast, and be in the living room at least ten minutes before leaving for the bus. (This book measured all of about 2 1/2X4 1/2 inches so you should understand that each page didn't get too involved.) Each year for four years he received one in his Christmas stocking. At the end of four years, he started over and has rotated these daily devotions ever since--for over 20 years. This is part of his life, in addition to his prayer rule.

On the other hand, my daughter rebelled at having to do this type of morning reading. Her mother quickly sided with her early on--shouldn't push the little ones you know. As a result her approach to the Faith and to practice is far more superficial. She appears to have no prayer rule at all.

My point is that it takes the domestic church to be a place that is consistent in its own practice and that includes both spouses being on the same page when it comes to practice. Even in the same Church and with--supposedly--similar backgrounds a lack of consistency can make all the difference. (My spouse and I disagree on the idea that one continues to develop in the Faith and build one's relationship with Christ. After all, if you went to Catholic school, you need nothing more.) :rolleyes:

In the domestic church, we have to make sure that our praxis is part of who we act like AFTER we perform our religious practices. It does not good to worry about our fasting practices or our prayer rule if children learn to "back bite" those around them. I remember St. Seraphim of Sarov's instruction that our religious practices are meant to have us acquire "the Holy Spirit of God." We've got to show our children that we love them--by word, by hug, and by spending time with them. I think we've also got to be honest about our own spiritual struggles with prayer and invite them to pray with us, even when we may need to pray privately. I don't think you can send a child or young person into their room and expect that they will pray just because there is an icon on the wall or in the corner. Parents have to "walk the walk." We've also got to be careful about how we refer to our Church leaders--priests, deacons, monastics. Many times all children hear about is the negative--current scandals in all the Churches: sex, money, fighting. Hey, one can get that in politics and, while the Church also has a human component that is as susceptible as any other to such problems, we need to emphasize that the Church is a Divine Institution placed here for our salvation and a VERY IMPORTANT one for that reason. My own father--may God give him rest--told me once that "it is not what a man does on Sunday morning that makes him a Christian, but what he does the rest of the week with what he gains Sunday morning (by being involved in worship)."

Beyond that, I have noticed in conversations with peers that their reaction to a child expressing an interest in a religious vocation is almost universally negative. It seems that no one would utter anything negative if one's child wanted to be a professional or college-educated or even follow a skilled trade, as long as there seemed to be a big income at the end of the journey--a sort of "return on investment," if you will. But suggest a religious vocation and the knee-jerk reaction seems to be that there is a lot to be invested "for nothing," as if God were not worth the effort.

Just some more thoughts.

In Christ,

BOB

I would not be surprised to learn that such has always been the case. I cannot imagine that families in any age were thrilled by their children renouncing their lives, "leaving father and mother, brothers and sisters" to follow God in the monastic life. In fact, in former ages, there was most likely much less contact between monks and nuns and their blood family, than there is now.

While of course there are examples among the lives of the saints of families who were supportive and even encouraging of monastic vocations, I am not sure that it was ever common.

I always thought that one of the signs of a genuine monastic vocation, was some opposition (by way of a test and a trial). I think this has often come from close relations.

the unworthy,
Elias

Obviously, monks and nuns come from families, and thus the domestic church is key in producing vocations. Even a simple regular prayer rule is so important. But with the all-too frequent disfunction of the family nowadays, even this becomes often a conundrum.
DD

I think it is interesting that when we hear of people going into cults they often are then living very strict lives of denial.

I think to that many religious communitites are seen to have lost the plot. They threw out babies with the bathwater after Vatican II. They seem to have indulged themselves and been very liberal at the spending they have done on themselves. Yet despite this there are plenty of communities that have kept to the spirit of their founders and continue to attract young people to their ranks.

I agree with the comments that unless we speak positively of monastic life in our homes and take children and the youth to visit monasteries and introduce them to monastics they will have no idea that this life may be for them.

Actually, Pavel's comments sparked a couple of thought/questions in me.

How often does our youth actually encountered someone in the monastic/religious life?

How many actual vocations retreats or presentations are done in parishes to inform faithful of the monastic life? Remember many faithful have a lot of strange misconceptions about the monastic life. I know I encounter them almost daily.

Do our faithful know that in most cases, the monastic life is just as demanding (if not more at times) than a vocation of married life with children?

I probably could come up with a few more, but I am trying to finish my morning pot of coffee before packing up and going to the office.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

here's a thought: do what the Franciscans are doing, and have a third order where one can have a monastic discipline without having to enter the monastery. along with that, have more retreats where people can stay at a monastery and live the monastic life for a spell, that might help dispel some misconceptions.
Much Love,
Jonn

To Hieromonk Elias and Fr. Anthony:

Fathers, bless!

I still have difficulty in distinguishing the the "charism" or "calling" of the different kinds of religious orders.

Jonn, above, I think is "mistaken" in saying that the Franciscans have a "monastic discipline," and, therefore, would belong to a "Monastic Order" but, in reality, they are a "Mendicant Order!" Ditto for the Carmelites and the Dominicans: they are both a "Mendicant Order!"

While the Jesuits (Society of Jesus) is categorized as an "Order of Clerics Regular" and distinguished(?) from the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) as a "Clerical Religious Congregation!"

The Monastic Orders in the West I know of are the Carthusians, the Cistercians, the Trappists, the Benedictines (OSB), and a few others. In the East, the Order of St. Basil the Great (OSBM) is also a Monastic Order.

In the current discussion, are we referring to "monastic vocations" as strictly referring to a calling to the "Monastic Orders" or generally to ALL religious orders?

Thanks for your clarification!

Amado

Amado,

I can not speak for those under the realm of Rome, but I simply would like to keep it with "monastic" orders and houses. I am not sure about the the other charisms and how they would fit in the Byzantine and Orthodox approach to monasticism.

Just my thoughts.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Dear Fr. Anthony:

Thanks for the clarification!

Yes, the East concentrates in monasticism, in its traditional meaning, and has not ventured too much into developing "other" religious orders.

Whereas, in the West, there are more male and female religious "orders" and "congregations" than monastic orders.

As regards the non-monastic orders and congregations, I believe Pope Benedict XVI in his remarks last Sunday, before praying the Angelus with pilgrims to St. Peter's basilica, offered a paean to these men and women religious:

Truly, these men and women religious have been at the forefront of evangelization in the Latin Church since time immemorial.

I was hoping that these non-monastic religious orders might have also a place in the Eastern Churches' drive for evangelization!

Amado