The Religious Life - What is it?

The Church teaches in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

925 Religious life was born in the East during the first centuries of Christianity. Lived within institutes canonically erected by the Church, it is distinguished from other forms of consecrated life by its liturgical character, public profession of the evangelical counsels, fraternal life led in common, and witness given to the union of Christ with the Church.[466]

926 Religious life derives from the mystery of the Church. It is a gift she has received from her Lord, a gift she offers as a stable way of life to the faithful called by God to profess the counsels. Thus, the Church can both show forth Christ and acknowledge herself to be the Savior's bride. Religious life in its various forms is called to signify the very charity of God in the language of our time.

927 All religious, whether exempt or not, take their place among the collaborators of the diocesan bishop in his pastoral duty.[467] From the outset of the work of evangelization, the missionary "planting" and expansion of the Church require the presence of the religious life in all its forms.[468] "History witnesses to the outstanding service rendered by religious families in the propagation of the faith and in the formation of new Churches: from the ancient monastic institutions to the medieval orders, all the way to the more recent congregations."[469]

The Call to ordained and non-ordained Religious Life

The Call to ordained Religious Life

III. THE THREE DEGREES OF THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS

1554 "The divinely instituted ecclesiastical ministry is exercised in different degrees by those who even from ancient times have been called bishops, priests, and deacons." Catholic doctrine, expressed in the liturgy, the Magisterium, and the constant practice of the Church, recognizes that there are two degrees of ministerial participation in the priesthood of Christ: the episcopacy and the presbyterate . The diaconate is intended to help and serve them. For this reason the term sacerdos in current usage denotes bishops and priests but not deacons. Yet Catholic doctrine teaches that the degrees of priestly participation (episcopate and presbyterate) and the degree of service (diaconate) are all three conferred by a sacramental act called "ordination," that is, by the sacrament of Holy Orders:

Let everyone revere the deacons as Jesus Christ, the bishop as the image of the Father, and the presbyters as the senate of God and the assembly of the apostles. For without them one cannot speak of the Church.

(St. Ignatius of Antioch, Ad Trall. 3,1:SCh 10,96)

See our Sacraments section too.

The Call to non-ordained Religious Life

The call to the religious life is an evolving and unending one. God draws both men and women ever closer into the mystery of life and love.

Everyone has a vocation. A vocation is a gift from God that allows us to be our best selves when it is followed. For some, it is marriage, for others it is the single life and for still others it is the ordained or religious life. Each state is graced and calls us to put our gifts at the service of God and others. We must respond in the way that best suits us.

How do I know if I have a vocation to the Religious Life?

There is no simple answer to this question but the best way to know is to listen to your heart, to pray from the depths of your soul and to talk to someone else who knows you well. Below are some questions to reflect on.

Honestly ask yourself:

• Do I find myself wondering if there is something more to life?
• Do I have a desire to know God more deeply?
• Am I drawn to prayer and participation in the liturgy?
• Have I taken an active role in the life of the church?
• Do I feel called to live out the gospel?
• Do I desire to live a simple lifestyle?
• Do I feel called to share life, ministry and spirituality in a religious community?

If you are a man and have answered "Yes" to most of these questions, contact Fr. Ray. He can assist you in your vocation and share with you the blessings of the religious life.

Note: Many of the steps below for becoming a religious brother are the same for becoming a religious sister.

If you are a woman and have answered "Yes" to most of these questions.

Read on!

---

     

---

Whether you

What are the steps to becoming a Sister?

Time of Inquiry. This period of time is flexible and tailored to the needs of an individual. It is a time to come and meet the Sisters, spend with the community, spend time in prayer, ask questions, and meet with the Vocation Director.

Discernment Process:

When a woman desires to take a closer look at religious life as a personal life choice, she begins a more formal discernment process which lasts approximately one year.

Candidate - up to 1 year. The first formal step in the process is asking to come and live with the Sisters. Women can continue in their current professions while they come to know the community more and the community gets to know them. Women live with the Sisters, pray with the community and participate in community events and celebrations.

Postulant - 1 to 2 years. The Postulancy is a more structured time of discernment and incorporation into the community. It lasts up to two years depending on the individual. It involves exploring community history, learning more about spirituality and church teachings and is an opportunity to get to know the other sisters.

Novice - 2 years. The first year of the Novitiate is an intense preparation for vowed life as stipulated by Canon Law. It is an opportunity to spend an entire year in learning about each vow, taking inventory of an individual's gifts and weaknesses, exposure to church and community history and a prayerful preparation for commitment. It involves and ever deepening surrender of ones life to God. The second year of the Novitiate is spent in apostolic activity as a preparation for ministry. First vows are taken at the end of the second year.

Temporary Professed - 5 years. First vows are taken for a period of three years and renewed for an additional two years before perpetual vows are taken. This provides an individual with the opportunity to live the vows fully in community to determine if perpetual commitment is indeed what God is calling for. Perpetual vows are life long and made at the end of the fifth year. As Sisters of Notre Dame, we profess vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience.

Have you been thinking about becoming a woman religious? Contact Fr. Ray.

They can share with you the blessings of the religious life.