Not just for Religious, is a great article on Religious Life

Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in Ann Arbor, numbering 110 here
source

Fr. Brian Mullady, OP has been a delight to read over the years. I became familiar with him through his articles in Homiletic and Pastoral Review.  Some of you may recognize him from EWTN. 

Many people in the Church today acknowledge that poor formation in the years following Vatican II in the basics of the faith has contributed to the crisis we have today. I think other things have also been neglected, such as emphasis on practicing the virtues - all of them - and how they counter our sinful tendencies.  Similarly, few have ever heard of mortification of the will and apetites and how they fit into the spiritual life equation for everyone. Going one step further, I have felt that there are many misunderstandings about consecrated life, the priesthood, and religious life.

Fr. Mullady writes an article, specifically targeting misunderstandings about religious life.  It is appearing in the National Catholic Register: "The Trials of Religious Life".  He makes many points about religious life touching on some topics that have been on my mind. He writes with the eloquence and flow that comes with many years of study and wisdom sharpened by personal experience in a religious community.  I have fumbled along in my own way trying to express many of the same things, but he hit one out of the park with this article, and in very few words for what it's packing.

This article is not only a must-read for religious and those discerning religious life, it is good for everyone to have a deeper understanding of religious life and what it means for those who take it on.  There are many misunderstandings.  Father weaves it together with the precision of a professional marksman.

Here is just one excerpt from the article:

Together, with one’s own will in obedience and the ability to own and use material goods in poverty, religious men and women strive to desire the perfect love of God. Since Christ sends the Holy Spirit into each baptized person’s heart with sanctifying grace, one must now live the law of God with the pure intention of divine love.

Lust wars against this. According to 1 John 2:16, three types of lust war in man against the perfection of this love: “the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.” Christ gave three counsels of perfection that religious embrace by vow to diminish these lusts and allow us to love Christ as he loves us. Poverty roots out the lust of the eyes; chastity, the lust of the flesh; and obedience, the pride of life.


In the three vows, religious freely embrace a way of life which, if observed well, leads to being head over heels in love with Jesus. One does not give up money, marriage and freedom because these are evil. One does so for love’s sake and because we are weak regarding these things, even when healed by grace.


The real problem is not these goods, but the fact that they are the tinder of our desire to dominate and rule others. Instead of surrendering to God, people in our state between Adam’s justice and the blessedness of the saints often manipulate others in pride and possessiveness. These counsels are recommended to free us from this desire to dominate. The real issue in lust is not feelings, but power.

Do read the entire article.

I will leave the combox open, but I ask that if you want to comment, please stick to the topic as he has discussed it, without unnecessary references to people. 

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I have some photo posts to complete, but it has been a long week.  I will have more time this weekend and am off on vacation next week (a "stay-cation" at home, if you will).  Perhaps I'll finally get some of that backlog flowing.

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For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

What to do with an empty Carmelite monastery (video)

This is sweet...

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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Apostolic Visitation of Women's Religoius Communities

Long over due....

And, it ought to be interesting. There are many faithful sisters who have given up their lives to serve the Lord in various ways. What is interesting is the sudden explosion of vocations in traditional religious orders where there is a focus on the fundamentals: Building virtue and holiness through the grace of Marian and Eucharistic devotion. Some would say that time spent in prayer is time lost working with the needy. Consider that Mother Teresa spent 4 hours daily in prayer, and probably only as much time sleeping. The rest was all work. And, the graces that followed in her work, were the fruits of that prayer.

Unfortunately, many religious orders in the US have moved away from that Marian and Eucharistic focus, with some even slipping into new age spirituality. It is also interesting to note that if one were to compare vocation statistics of these kinds of orders, to those which are more traditional, there is a real contrast. Those with a new age focus will reveal an older, average age with few new vocations. Those with a traditional focus don't have enough beds to handle all the young women who want to come on discernment weekends, and there are constant expansions being made on chapels, dorms and convents. In some cases, a handful of nuns must leave their communities to start a new branch in some distant location, such as that case with sisters from Mother Angelica's order in Alabama, who went to Phoenix.

Vatican begins visits to strengthen women religious in U.S.

Washington DC, Jan 30, 2009 / 01:25 pm (CNA).- The Vatican announced today that it is initiating the first-ever visitation of women’s religious communities in the United States. The visitations are being undertaken to help strengthen religious communities in the U.S., which are suffering from a sharp drop in vocations and gentrification of their ranks.

On the heels of issuing a report on the health of U.S. seminaries—which were found to be in relatively good condition—the Vatican’s Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, headed by Cardinal Franc Rodé, is embarking on a comprehensive study of the more than 400 congregations present in the United States. The visitations will only assess those religious who engage in apostolic or active work, and will not involve contemplative communities.

The visitation process is being spearheaded by Connecticut native Mother Mary Clare Millea, A.S.C.J., who was appointed by Cardinal Rodé. Mother Clare is the superior general of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a group of sisters that is based in Rome but has 135 sisters in the U.S.

According to a December 22, 2008 Vatican decree authorizing the visitations, the study is being undertaken “to look into the quality of the life” of the members of U.S. religious institutes.

Mother Clare estimates that the project will take about two years to finish, and says that upon completion she will submit a confidential report to Cardinal Rodé. There are no plans to publish the findings.

Sr. Eva-Maria Ackerman, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, explained how the several-stage process will work at a press conference in Washington D.C. on Friday.

Continue reading at Catholic News Agency: Vatican to Begin Visitation of Women's Religious Communities in US

Also visit: AposotlicVisitation.org

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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Jewish Convert Rosalind Moss - Her last day at Catholic Answers...

If you listen to Catholic Answers on any Catholic radio station (I listen to avemariaradio.net from 6-8pm EST while working around the house), you may be familiar with the voice of Rosalind Moss.

Moss, 65, is a convert from Judaism to protestantism, and from protestantism to Catholicism. I have always enjoyed her enthusiastic explanations of the faith. There is nothing "worse" than a convert, for those who would oppose the faith. Setting that aside, Rosalind Moss works with class and dignity, constantly reminding people to love others, especially those with whom we must deal with.

Listening to Catholic Answers on the radio tonight, she informed us that it is her last day at Catholic Answers where she serves as an apologist. We were glad to hear that the program will continue to feature her, even though she will no longer be serving on the apologetics staff.

She is founding a new religious order called the Daughters of Mary, Mother of Israel's Hope in the archdiocese of St. Louis with the permission of Archbishop Raymond L. Burke. What better advocacy can you have than His Eminence, who also happens to be the Episcopal Moderator for the U.S. Consecrated Virgins.

Please keep Rosalind and her new community in your prayers. She works with total passion for the love of Christ.

Related Links:

Catholic Online: EWTN TV and radio host announces formation of new religious community

Envoy Magazine: A rolled-away stone gathers Moss: from Judaism to Catholicism


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New Monastery Established in San Antonio, TX from Mother Angelica's Order

Please pray for the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, who have established a new monastery at Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic parish in Texas. It is an Anglican-use parish in the Diocese of San Antonio.

Five nuns of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration will be arriving in the parish sometime in May, when they will be taking up residence in our St. Joseph House. Pictured here, they are (l. to r.) Sr. Marie St. Clare, Sr. Rose Marie,
Sr. Grace Marie, Sr. Mary Peter and Sr. Elizabeth Marie.

Fr. Christopher G. Phillips announced made an announcement back in February which gives us a little more background:

His Eminence, Franc Cardinal Rodé, Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life has communicated permission to establish a monastery for the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration here in San Antonio.

We can now prepare in earnest for the arrival of five nuns from Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Alabama. They will be taking up residence in our St. Joseph Parish House. There is, of course, a chapel there with the Blessed Sacrament, although they will be attending Mass ordinarily here at the parish. We’re looking forward to welcoming the Sisters as part of our extended “Atonement Family,” and we need to pray for them as they get ready to leave their present beloved monastery to begin this new work.

There are many good things at the Our Lady of Atonement website, including Catholic tracts. You can probably stay abreast of what is happening there through the parish blog.

Any Catholic is free to assist at an Anglican-use Catholic Mass. So, if you live in the area or are passing through San Antonio, check it out.

Recall what I said when the "Phoenix 5" left Hanceville for the Diocese of Phoenix to establish a new Monastery at the request of Bishop Thomas J. Olmstead: The surest sign that a religious order is graced by the Holy Spirit is when so many vocations require it to branch out. I don't know what the limit is on Poor Clare communities, but cloisters do not typically have as many sisters as does Mother Angelica's order so something had to give. That is, sending sisters out to establish new monasteries. I am assuming these will be cloistered, but someone correct me if I am wrong.

A similar thing is happening with the Mary, Mother of the Eucharist Dominicans in Ann Arbor, Michigan (but they may not be establishing new orders as opposed to being assigned out at parishes), and I'm sure others. In fact, if anyone is aware of other communities spreading out like this, drop me a message in the combox or email me at TeDeumBlog@gmail.com.

As a side note, Cardinal Rode also made an excellent statement about some clergy becoming too worldly. The same can be said of men and women in certain religious orders.

A good bishop will always seek a contemplative and/or monastic community to work within his diocese. The world cannot begin to comprehend what graces come to a diocese from the prayers and sacrifices of these fine men and women.

I should also mention that many bishops have made requests of Mother's community, as well as others like the Mary Mother of the Eucharist Dominicans, but they simply cannot respond to all requests, and cannot do too many such moves quickly. Each of these communities will draw more vocations by their example. Young people not previously exposed to them will hopefully hear God's voice above the noise of the world if they are called.

As a reminder, please pray for the five men being ordained as I write this post, at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Detroit. CTND Detroit will likely rebroadcast it many times in the coming weeks and months.

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Rise in Contemplative, Monastic, Cloistered Vocations?

I made a post the other day on the statement by Cardinal Franc Rode of the Vatican's Congregation for Religious in which he said many priests have become too worldly.

A regular visitor to this blog is a member of a cloistered Dominican community in Summit New Jersey who goes by the name, Moniales. The community's blog - Moniales OP - is in my sidebar of blogging priests, religious and deacons. She leaves a comment in that post I mention above, which I am repeating here because it definitely warrants some discussion... and, it's one of my favorite topics.

I was happy to see you posted this.

I'm wondering though, why in your comments when he mentions that young people are attracted to contemplative life because of the more radical way of life that you instead pointed to active communities.

I mention this because we (and the media has noticed this, too) have noticed a huge interest in the contemplative vocation, not just among ourselves but other Orders. Why? Many of these young women have had NO contact with contemplative life and yet find this deep longing that only this way of life can fill...well, ONLY JESUS can fill this longing.

It's something that needs to be reflected on more seriously. Is there a special reason why the Lord is calling these fine, young women to the cloister? It's not just about what they are attracted to but the Lord calling them.

Cloisters have a particular mission in the Church and in space and time. Perhaps the state of the world today is "necessitating" the strengthening and increasing of contemplative/cloistered/monastic vocations???

This week a young journalist is coming to interview our community because she is doing an article on this topic.

I was in a big hurry that morning and looked at the article probably too quickly to pick up the fact that His Eminence was speaking about contemplative life.

It is a favorite topic of mine because, like Moniales & sisters, I too have noticed that there is an increase in vocations in specific areas of the Church.

Where do we see increased vocations?

First and foremost, as Sister pointed out, we see it in contemplative orders - the cloisters and monasteries (and probably elsewhere, such as hermitages). Consecrated Virgins living in the world are on the rise, as well (Canon 604), and they too are contemplative.

Sister asks, "why" and puts out this comment, which I repeat here:

Perhaps the state of the world today is "necessitating" the strengthening and increasing of contemplative/cloistered/monastic vocations???

A GREAT SPIRITUAL WAR

I have had my own theory on "why" and I'm pretty sure I've voiced it in previous post. However, it's a good time to put it back out for discussion. I like to use analogies. War is far from glorious and I don't like using military analogies, yet there is one that is very fitting for what I believe is taking place. The Church has been fighting a series of battles from day one and today, more than ever, there is a war for souls.

For the last forty years, we have seen a decline in Mass attendance, in the sacraments - most especially confession. In some quarters, baptized Catholics are electing not to have their babies baptized and do not encourage confirmation. Within the Church there are disoriented theologians who are constantly trying to get the Church to follow the world. Catholic Universities have lost their Catholic identity and sending your children to all but a few, could cost them dearly as dissident professors teach them to challenge Church teachings rather than follow them.


SOFTENING THE TARGET

As long as man has had the ability to launch something, battles have often started out with a "softening of the target". In the battle of Gettysburg during the US civil war, artillery pounded the position of enemy soldiers for some time before troops marched across the field. To put soldiers on the field before the target was softened, would put them at far greater risk, and reduce their overall effectiveness. In medievil times, anything that could go into a trebuchet would be hurled against a castle before men would try to scale the walls. Even tallships would come up along side each other and let their canons blast away at each other from a very close range before men would go across in hand-to-hand battle on the deck. In modern times, targets have been softened by air and by sea.


Unfortunately, man has not always focused these pre-invasion tactics strictly on military targets, often harming innocent civilians. But, here - we are talking about God's use of the strategy so fundamental to military operations. Since God is perfect, He does not miss or take out the innocent in the process of conducting His work.

At various times in the Church's history, there have been times of great growth in the faith, and other times when heresies and other things contributed to a decrease in the faith. More and more people are beginning to see the damage brought about by moral relativism, consequentialism, modernism, consumerism, materialism, and probably a dozen more "ism's".

My strongest belief is that the attraction of so many young people into contemplative, monastic, cloistered communities, is that they are being called up to participate in "softening the target" with the artillery of their prayers and sacrifices. The modern world could not possibly comprehend this because it is not only counter-cultural, but requires faith to grasp. It cannot be measured, nor can it be purchased. Hence, to the world, things such as prayer and sacrifice have no value.

Why did I focus on active communities?

Probably because for me, growth in active communities signals the earliest stages of phase 2: The soldiers landing on the beach. Success in the field where direct contact with others is dependent on continued "artillery" support.

Active communities are also softening the target with their prayers and sacrifices. But, they are on the front line dealing with souls up front and personal. The cloisters and monasteries contribute to the success of active communities through continued support from places unseen.

Prudent bishops will do everything they can to get a prayer powerhouse in their backyard in the form of a monastery or cloister. Bishop Olmstead exhibited this when he invited sisters from Mother Angelica's order to come to the diocese of Phoenix. He's got his prayer powerhouse, and then he went after some ground troops. He was successful in getting some sisters from the Mary, Mother of the Eucharist Dominicans out of nearby Ann Arbor, here in Michigan. I can tell you that there are bishops who are trying very hard to get communities within their dioceses, but there are still not enough to go around. I've heard Mother Assumpta Long talk about the many requests she gets, but they simply cannot fill all of them. The bishops aren't looking for communities with new-age ideals. Reiki and Enneagrams don't bring a diocese graces. Rather, these bishops are looking for communities that understand Eucharistic and Marian devotion.


STUDIES NEEDED

Which Catholic communities are flourishing and expanding for both active and contemplative?

What do they have in common?

Statistical analyses could probably be done in various ways to validate or negate my view, based on observations below.

I would like to suggest that the following will be found:

• distinctly and visibly Catholic in every respect
• a prayer life rich in Eucharistic and Marian devotion (sisters I grew up with, in secular clothing were either indifferent to or even hostile to Our Lady). Following the lead of Our Lady, they embrace humility, silence and obedience.
• obedience is not a symbol, but is a reality, following the model of the BVM. Obedience is not something that someone "who can't think for themself" does. Rather it requires the freedom to choose to give up one's will to do the will of another, which is ultimately accepted as the will of God. Only the free can choose obedience!
• willing to make use of certain vocal prayers, such as the Angelus, the prayer to St. Michael, and other devotions.
• Prayer time is not seen as wasted time, but the very thing which brings the graces necessary to pull off that which is extraordinary and seemingly impossible. It is concerned first and foremost with the salvation of souls moreso than with temporal comfort issues.
• fond of Pope Benedict XVI interiorly and exteriorly, and willing to listen and learn.
• interested in learning Church teachings in order to follow them, rather than to challenge them (fiat mihi....)
• frequent use of the Sacrament of Confession (measure percentages and frequency of confession seen in blossoming communities versus that in stagnating communities)
• embraces mortification and sacrifice for the sake of building grace, and building of authentic virtue .
• pro-life in every aspect, to the core.
• wears some kind of habit, more than likely, traditional in many ways.
• traditional community life (sisters aren't responsible individually for their own finances and live in common as opposed to purchasing a house with several others as I have seen throughout my youth).
• the classics of the Catholic Church (especially patristics and writings of the saints) will dominate reading.
• Understanding of Sacred Scripture follows an exegesis that is in harmony with Catholic teaching (some would suggest Adam and Eve were not real, but ficticious characters which contradicts the teaching on Original Sin, which could not be real if Adam and Eve were not real).
• average age of blossoming communities is younger than that of stagnating communities.
• countercultural in every respect where morality and virtue are concerned without hesitation
• like EWTN.

Perhaps it might be good to make a list of what else will NOT be found in these flourishing communities - both contemplative and active not mentioned above:

• Anything remotely new age or paganistic (reiki, enneagrams, labryinths, non-traditional use of "holy oils" and incense)
• Contemporary self-help books; works by Richard McBrien and Sr. Joan Chittester et al.
• Concern over "hair-do's"; wearing of jewelry
• Concern over "democracy" in the Church
• Endless creativity with regards to prayer.
• Focus on self-esteem and pop-psychology.
• Ambiguous or paganistic religious art in the church, convent, cloister, monastery
• Ambiguous or heretical church music
• Hippy-era, distorted views of "freedom" (your will Lord, as long as it is aligned with my will)
• hatred for EWTN

I'm sure there are more. Feel free to add your observations to the combox. Do you agree, or disagree?

What say you?


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Cardinal Rode: Priests becoming too worldly

This is good to hear coming from someone in the Vatican. I mean, the issue is not good, but acknowledgment is the first step to fixing anything.

It also highlights the need to pray for our priests and religious. My emphases in bold and comments in red.

Priests becoming too worldly, Vatican prelate says

Rome, Feb. 15, 2008 (CWNews.com) - The prefect of the Congregation for Religious has lamented that many Catholic priests are neglecting their duties under the pressure of conforming to secular culture. [Keep in mind that we are all called to be countercultural, most especially, priests and religious. Saints were not known to "go with the flow" and we should all desire to be saints].

In a February 14 interview with the Italian ANSA news agency, Cardinal Franc Rode said that priests today tend to be less obedient to the Church and more responsive to the world. He cited reluctance to wear clerical dress as a symptom of this trend [Deo gratias - that we see newer communities emerging who have embraced the religious habit. While many cloisters and monasteries may have retained the habit, the vast majority of active communities shunned the habit. It has taken these newer, active communities, such as Mary, Mother of the Eucharist Dominicans (Ann Arbor, MI), the Dominicans Sisters of St. Cecilia (Nashville, TN), the Sisters of Life, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, among others who got back to basics with regards to community life and habit].

“A drift towards bourgeois values and moral relativism are the two great dangers that weaken religious life," said the Slovenian cardinal. "The biggest problem today is the climate of secularization-- present not only in Western society but also within the Church itself.” [Wow, he called that one out. It's such a relief to know it's not all in our heads].

Cardinal Rode said that young people continue to hear God's call to a vocation in the priesthood or religious life. But he suggested that a lax model of priestly or religious life is not likely to encourage vocations. As evidence the cardinal pointed to the young Catholics who are attracted to contemplative life in highly disciplined religious orders. "They are attracted because it is a radical life choice," he said. [Yes! I have been making this case for the last two years. The trend points in this direction. Those communities who have gone lax, and even introduced new-age spirituality are gray and dying out with few, if any, vocations. The two Dominican orders I mention above have discernment weekends that are so full, the girls must sleep on the floor in sleeping bags!!! They just expanded in Ann Arbor and I tell you it is not big enough. Nashville has expanded by sending sisters out around the country in parishes, something the Ann Arbor community has recently started, as well with some heading to Phoenix]

Source: CWNews

Let me add that it is not only the religious habit, which was only one example cited by Cardinal Rode. In addition, the communities that are growing, not only embrace the habit, but they are very Eucharistic and Marian, with a rich and ordered prayer life. Don't think that service went out the window when the habit came back in - a common complaint of yesteryear. The Sisters of Life for example, work hard with expectant mothers and on the streets. The Franciscan Friars of the renewal are right in the bowels of cities where the poorest of the poor and downtrodden can be found. The Dominicans serve through teaching and other apostolates.

Without prayer, all the service in the world can't be nearly as effective as that which is rooted in prayer and love for God. You can't love your neighbor until you learn how to love God. The first step in loving God is following the Commandments, using the sacraments and building a strong relationship with Him through prayer.

What better example can I provide than Mother Teresa, whom was despised among some of the more "justice & peace" religious orders because, as some of them claim, if she hadn't spent so many hours a day in prayer she could have served more people! Right - and, how many of those "justice & peace" types are up for canonization? I'm not talking about any "justice & peace" types, but the kind that blow-off and dismiss Marian and Eucharistic devotion.


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Jesuits trying to decide how to respond to Pope

I had to chuckle at the name of the headline at Catholic News Service:

Jesuit says congregation trying to decide how to respond to pope

CWNews pegs it right with this headline: Pope prods Jesuits on loyalty to Church

It's in reference to some points the Holy Father made when they were in the process of electing their new Father General, later said to be Adolfo Nicolas.

Included in the discussion, he said, was the need to respond to the letter Pope Benedict sent to the outgoing superior general, Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, praising the Jesuits' contributions to evangelization and urging them to reaffirm their fidelity to contested points of church doctrine, particularly regarding sexual morality and relations with other religions. Father Smolira said the pope's "expression of confidence and trust" in the Jesuits "requires a responsible and enthusiastic response."The congregation delegates "have taken a considerable amount of time to read and reflect among ourselves and to decide how best to respond to that letter," he said.

How should the Jesuits respond? With humble obedience.

Perhaps they could follow the lead of our Blessed Mother when the Angel Gabriel appeared to her: Fiat mihi secundum Verbum tuum ("Be it unto me according to thy Word.")

In all seriousness, we need to pray for the Jesuits. We need more men cut from the cloth of Fr. John Hardon, SJ, Fr. Joseph Fessio, SJ, and Fr. Kenneth Baker, SJ.

In God, all things are possible - even an orthodox comeback for the order founded by St. Ignatius. It is good Fr. Nicolas wants to serve the poor. However, this will be far more effective if they are steadfast in all that their founder, St. Ignatius taught them. Perhaps they might take the next month and revisit those things before they respond to the Holy Father.



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The few, the proud, the faithful...

Diogenes writes on the plight of the occasional religious sister in habit within a religious order which has been deeply affected by questionable changes in attitude on religious life. I have always known that even in the most disoriented of communities, there likely exists some pious souls, either in habit, or pushed inhumanely out of it by taking advantage of their humble obedience.

From the time I made my confirmation, I knew I wanted to enter religious life. However, the only sisters I knew until I was around 16 were not from traditional communities. It was not for me.  Unknown to me at the time, was that those interior desires I had for things like traditional community, devotions, orthodoxy in catechism, were at odds with their ideals. There was a sometimes not-so-subtle manner of challenging church teachings, rather than taking the time to learn about them, and humbly following them. The Blessed Mother was viewed with disdain at the worst, and with indifference at best. Of course, one can't appreciate Our Lady without understanding first, her simplicity, humility, and obedience.

Lo and behold, when I was 16 or so, I met some Croatian Franciscan sisters in Chicago and in Windsor, who wore the long traditional habit. The habit, even in 1980, most likely represented some orthodoxy to my mind. I was in a Croatian ethnic parish here in metro Detroit which, at the time was called St. Jerome's. I approached my pastor and asked how I could join this community, which was based overseas. In November of 1980, just months after graduating from high school, I had a one-way ticket which would ultimately lead me to Bijelo Polje to the Mostar Province of the School Sisters of St. Francis of Christ the King. I had to return to secular life in the states after being sidelined by illness.

As an aside, it was less than a year later that the alleged apparitions at Medjugorje began in my own backyard, and it was my community which served the parish of St. James. While I acknowledge the many conversions, and even witnessed them, if you have read my blog for any length of time, you will know that I have serious reservations about the authenticity of those apparitions. I base that not on the positive fruits seen in many of the devout and humble followers. Rather, it is strictly because of some legitimate, negative fruits of seers and associates documented at the diocese (disobedience, deception, defiance and defamation of authority, etc.) . However, I have no doubt that Mary is using the place to bring souls closer to Christ through radical conversions, and to hear the call to serve God through various vocations. I believe it played a role in the resurgance of Marian and Eucharistic devotion, along with frequent confession and mortification - all things which bring people graces, even where there is no apparition (like in your own parish, if you have these things).

Those communities which do take this approach are bursting at the seams, and in some cases, unable to handle the numbers of people wanting to enter. Those communities who treat the Eucharist and Blessed Mother with indifference or disdain and blow-off the need for confession and mortification are dying out. One only needs to see the numbers of postulants and novices at more traditional orders in contrast to those which grew to prominence in the last 40 years. The latter is getting gray, the former have large numbers at a young median age. Here is a look at a video made within the last year on a nearby community in Ann Arbor, Michigan - Mary, Mother of the Eucharist Dominicans.



This is not to say that every religious sister in secular clothing is somehow not faithful or not devoted to Mary, the Eucharist and traditional virtue building. This would be stereotyping and we have to be careful. In fact, I've met sisters in secular clothing who are quite devout and faithful, as well as highly virtuous and hardworking, especially with the elderly, the sick, and the poor. Conversely, I've seen cases of sisters in habit who had strange ideas about Catholic religious life (and new age ideals). There are some communities which have permitted its members to follow "all sorts of strange teachings". It's in these communities where a pious, devout and obedient soul - in habit, or not, can truly suffer.

Pray for vocations. And, support solid seminaries, religious orders, and institutes with funds to house and school all that step forward. Thank God for those steadfast sisters who suffer in ways unknown to us in religious communities which have strayed from their rule in favor of comfort, easy religion, and indifference to the Eucharist, to Mary, to the sacrament of penance, and ways of mortification and sacrifice. Their suffering is not in vain. In fact, their prayers and sacrifices may be fueling this resurgance.


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Bishop Finn celebrating Mass in Ephesus with Benedictines of Mary

Some of the Benedictines of Mary enter Our Lady's House at Ephesus in Turkey

I know I posted on this before, but there was another picture-post up with a single, interesting shot (see below). On their blog, the Benedictines of Mary - a traditional monastic order, write about that photo :

Here you can have a little glimpse of eternity touching time. Most Reverend Robert W. Finn, DD, offered Mass for us in Our Lady's House at Ephesus, Turkey, each day of our pilgrimage, very early, before the typical crowd of 6,ooo other pilgrims arrived.

This is a bishop who truly understands and values a cloister in his diocese and he is a frequent visitor there as indicated by the many photo posts on the sister's blog. This time, it was some of the sisters who accompanied Bishop Finn to Ephesus, Turkey. It just so happens that they make their home at the Priory of Our Lady of Ephesus in the diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. You can see more photos in this blogpost at the Benedictines of Mary.

Bishop Robert W. Finn, D.D. is one of our Bishops with Backbone for many reasons, including a pastoral letter he wrote back in February against the plague of pornography.

Home page for the Benedictines of Mary

More about Bishop Finn, including a collection of his letters and statements at the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.


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Vocation Video - Dominican Nuns of Summit, NJ

One of our two "cloistered blogs" - Moniales OP - Dominicans (see the blogging priests, religious, and deacons section), has made a vocational video called, Seeking the Face of the Lord. I got a preview of this not long ago and want to pass along the full version for you to review. It is a dignified look at cloistered life in this Dominican convent, Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary.

Sister is a regular visitor of the Te Deum blog and I hope readers will become regular visitors of their blog, and the blogs of other priests, religious and deacons, willing to share their thoughts.


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Benedictines of Mary - Kansas City

Thanks to reader, Clare, commenting in the post, "Bishop Robert W. Finn on a Roll - New Benedictine Community", we learn that this new community of habited nuns has a website up and a blog.

I will add this post to my section on vocations, and their blog will be added to the "Blogging Priests and Religious" section of my sidebar.

Homepage for the Benedictines of Mary in Kansas City, Missouri

Blog of the Benedictinees of Mary

Just a quick glance at the website and I can see there is much to explore for any young woman considering a vocation. The rest of us can just admire what Holy Mother Church is now giving us through these sisters. Bishop Finn is very fortunate to have this prayer powerhouse in his backyard. While the average Catholic walking the street does not know it, God is working many graces through the prayers and sacrifices of these women.

Just a few examples:

Lectio Divina

Divine Office - in fact, you can see in the horarium how the office is prayed - in full. This is so....Benedictine!

Vocations

The sisters have a dream of opening a house of rest and retreat for priests. Support them with your donations.

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Sunday: Mass with Bishop Olmsted on EWTN

It's nice to see EWTN spreading it's wings around the country, bringing us some of the beautiful liturgies out there. You may recall some months ago, they brought us the Mass from St. John Cantius in Chicago. Now, this Sunday at 11:30 (assumed to be local time or 1:30 EST), they will broadcast a Mass celebrated by Bishop Thomas Olmstead.

Musica Sacra brings us details, as follows:

On March 26th at 11:30am Eastern time, the Holy Mass will be shown from Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral in the Diocese of Phoenix on EWTN. The Most Rev. Thomas Olmsted will be Celebrant. The Cathedral Schola, which sings the Solemn Mass every Sunday at 11:00am, will sing the Introit, Communio and the Ordinary of the Mass, along with some solid Catholic hymns. The Schola is made up of professional musicians.

Remember, just because you don't have cable doesn't mean you can't watch this. If you are accessing the internet with some kind of broadband, like SBC, you can watch it right online. Just go to EWTN, and place your cursor over "Television" in the upper left hand side of the menubar and select Live-TV, followed by a connection. I'm not sure which connection is best for the lower end of high speed. It might take a couple minutes to buffer and if the video isn't that good, you'll still be able to listen from your PC.

Bishop Olmstead has done wonders in the Phoenix area. This is a bishop who understood that a diocese needs cloistered nuns who would be the fuel for the engine. Not many today understand the power of prayer.

On a related note, recall that when Mother Angelica's order was getting too big - a pure grace of God - it had to spread it's wings. This resulted in Bishop Olmsted giving a small handful of sisters from Mother's order a new home in the Phoenix diocese where the are now growing!

Related reading on Bishop Olmsted, and on the Poor Clares in Phoenix:

Bishop Finn - on a roll - new Benedictine Community (Te Deum - scroll down to read about the Poor Clares in Phoenix)

Update on Desert Nuns (Te Deum)

Bishop Olmstead Blesses future home of Poor Clares (Catholic Sun)

Bishop in the Desert: An IgnatiusInsight.com Interview (Ignatius Insight)

New Phoenix Bishop Shows Impressive Leadership - Dares to Directly Address Homosexuality(LifeSite)

Olmsted's Stamp on Diocese (East Valley Tribune)

Last, but not least, is the website of the Desert Nuns - something worth checking in on now and them. They have a section of photos showing their progress.

Bishop Olmsted blesses future home of the "Desert Nuns"

Online Video of Local News Segment on Mary Mother of the Eucharist Dominicans

Click the pic to go to the Mary, Mother of the Eucharist website

I first notified readers a couple days ago here of the upcoming video segment that Detroit's local ABC affiliate - Channel 7, WXYZ-TV would be doing on the Mary Mother of the Eucharist Dominicans. They are a very young community (in more ways than one) which began with just four sisters ten years ago. Now they are 70 with an average age somewhere in their 20's.

The segment aired last night and that video is now online. I don't know how long WXYZ-TV will keep it there. If the video is taken down, you may want to email them and ask if they can archive it somewhere online for future reference, or get permission to upload it to YouTube, if that is possible.

Here is a direct link to where the online video of that news segment by Ray Sayah on the Mary Mother of the Eucharist Dominicans.

The introduction is as follows:

By Ray Sayah
February 27, 2007

Today more young women are saying no thanks to married life and high-powered jobs. Instead they’re pursuing a higher calling

Some young women in their 20’s and 30’s have already gone after money, careers and material possessions, but it didn’t make them happy. They say they’ve found what’s missing in a lifestyle that’s making a comeback.

If you're reading sisters - all I can say is....



.....for your example, your prayers and sacrifices, and for saying, "Yes" when He called.

Local News station will discuss why young women are flocking to this Convent

If you are within the metro Detroit viewing area for ABC - Channel 7 in Detroit, tune in at 11:00 or tape the broadcast. Ray Sayah has done a story that will air about the vocation "problem" they are having at Mary Mother of the Eucharist (at least, so it appeared by their habits). The problem is that the young women are "coming in droves".

Catholic Culture has an article archived from 1997 in which covers the origins and beginnings of this local Dominican order in Ann Arbor. It is an offshoot from the Dominicans of popular notoriety in Tennessee. As I've mentioned before, good orders grow by sending out small groups of sisters to begin new communities. This one will have to do something soon (and it would be nice to see some sent out to the east side of Metro Detroit to run a Catholic school).

Yes Virginia, it is springtime for traditional convents, holy orders, and dioceses!

If you don't live in the viewing area, skim the Channel 7 Action News website at 11:00, or even tomorrow for anything they may have online. It's not likely to be online for very long.

Vocations: Religious Family of the Incarnate Word

I like to profile traditional religious orders that are Eucharistic, Marian, and in communion with the Holy See - for those searching for such communities. Communities which lean towards more new age, or a strictly social focus, imho, tend to be doctrinally challenged. All it takes is to challenge one Church teaching and the community is out of focus. Mother Teresa proved to the world that one can be devout, Marian and Eucharistic while serving the poor. In fact, without those things, she would be the first to say that had she worked around the clock, she would never have accomplished what the grace of God aided her with by her devotion.

Reader Javier in Argentina has sent me several links on the Religious Family of the Incarnate Word. While it originated in Argentina, they have provinces in other countries, including the US and Canada, among others. In the US, the Province of the Immaculate Conception has a website that is available in English and in Spanish.

Like other emerging traditional orders, this was recently founded - appropriately, on March 25, 1984. Like the other communities I've been profiling, the only apparent vocation "crisis" is that they are booming with young people. Their founder is the Rev Carlos Buena, who is the Superior General of the clerical branch. Pictured at left is the founder with Pope John Paul II.

There are three branches as outlined in the above link:
Institute of the Incarnate Word - the clerical branch of priests. This branch also includes brothers, and there is a contemplative arm of priests and brothers, as well. There are three houses of formation here in the US: The Bishop Sheen Residence (you gotta like that name) in Chillum, MD; St. Isaac Jogues Novitiate, Mount Rainier, MD; and, the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, OH. I had difficulty linking so go to the home page and click on "Houses of Formation")


Servants of the Lord and of the Virgin of Matara (SSVM) is made up of active and contemplative nuns. Here you see sisters gathered from the numerous countries from which they come. They too have a province in the US of the same name. Click around this website for a real treat.

Here you see their habit and you can read more on these sisters in their "about" page.

The apostolic sisters are visiting the contemplative sisters of the "Edith Stein Community" in Brooklyn, NY.

Finally, the Family of the Incarnate Word has is a Third Order.

NATURE AND OBJECTIVE

The Third Order of our Religious Family of the Incarnate Word is an Association of the Faithful whose Members, living in the world, desire to participate in our spirit. For this reason, this Secular Association commits itself to form with the Members of this Religious Family, a unique family united by the same faith, goals, charism, and spirit. The Third Order is an essential part of our Religious Family because it is a prolongation of our works in their own environment.

Something else that may be of interest to all is that they have a retreat center, and make available the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. They don't have their 2007 calendar up yet, but keep checking or contact them should you desire to to go.

If you are in the Secular branch or are familiar with these priests and sisters, feel free to discuss your experiences in the comment box.

Time Magazine: Today's Nun has a Veil -- and a Blog!

As you will see, I decided to place an emphasis on vocations for my posts today - in paritcular, women's vocations.

I had previously covered the death of Bernie - long time Grotto parishioner and security guard. Please click here on details of Bernie's funeral arrangements.

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Time Magazine is confirming exactly what many of us have been saying: Traditional religious orders are booming. I know the same holds true of priestly vocations. Where there is sound orthodoxy, there is no vocation shortage - male or female.

This is a decent article done by Time Magazine on today's young nuns - and it reveals their traditional nature. Go read: Today's Nun has a Veil -- and a Blog! As Dom points out in his link below, it's too bad they didn't expand on the charism of the Sisters of Life.

One interesting stat that was in there was the contrast between Mary Mother of the Eucharist Dominicans with an average age of 24, and another community (non-habited) which had an average age of 70. the latter is using "focus groups" to try to attract young people. All they truly need to do is look at any community with 10-15 postulants and novices and focus groups will be unnecessary. What is drawing so many to some, while others only experience a trickle. The answer is pretty apparent.

H/T to Thomas at American Papist.

Dom has a good commentary up on this piece out of time, as well.

Two Major Councils for Women's Religious - What does it all mean?

If you are a woman looking for a religious order, you may be trying to find various orders via the web. There are several ways of doing this, such as using google and searching for "traditional nuns". There is one danger in this and I fell into the trap inadvertently some months ago before someone pointed out my error. You can stumble upon a traditional order which is schismatic and not in communion with Rome. It will have all the appearances of being Catholic, and even call itself Catholic. It may even say that it is in communion with the "current pope". However, by not naming him you don't know if that is Pope Benedict XVI, or "Pope" Michael. I always look for links to the Vatican and at other links within new sites that I discover. When you stumble upon a schismatic site, pray for them and move on.

One other thing is that a habit and traditional community in communion with Rome is no guarantee that it is solid in its understanding and application of religious life. If you see a significant emphasis on psychology, you may want to do a little more probing before jumping in. Find out if there is adoration and how they feel about Marian devotion, for example. Now, you should expect most any community to put you through an initial pyschological examination. However, you should not see a huge emphasis on pyschology in religious life, and especially in formation, as opposed to solid Catholic philosophy and theology. If catechetics is part of the program that is a plus because in today's society, most of us for the last 40 years have been very poorly catechized. How can one study theology without solid grounding in catechetics, as in the CCC? If you are even pondering religious or priestly life, you should have your nose in the CCC every evening and learn it like the back of your hand. Should someone try to convince you that Jesus did not multiply all the loaves of bread, and fish (indirectly challenging his divinity), you will know you are being sold a bad bill of goods.

You might also ask what scriptural exegetes, theologians & philosophers they include in their studies. Is it Ratzinger, von Hildebrand, John Hardon? Or, is it Richard McBrien, Raymond Brown, & Karl Rahner.

On the other extreme, sometimes upon searching you will find orders with traditional sounding names, then wind up in the midst of a social justice website with an emphasis on recycling and saving trees. Like with some habited communities, you will find fans of McBrien and company, but probably in a greater percentage. The emphasis on pyschology, feelings and experience is likely to dominate. On some of these sites you may find many practices affiliated with the new age, such as "enneagrams".

This is not to say that all non-traditional orders are bad. There are many women who do not wear traditional habits who work tirelessly in hospitals, with the poor, as missionaries, and other situations. I know for a fact there are such nuns in these orders whom you will find have a Marian and Eucharistic devotion, among those who do not. Hence, we can't judge individual sisters from these communities because we simply don't know. Likewise, when you stumble upon something disturbing among some community websites, pray for these sisters.

One thing you may want to ponder is whether you want a community that will support what you feel in your heart to be the proper path in religious life, or whether you believe you are strong enough to hold on to your values amidst a community which seems disoriented religiously. In other words, in some communities you will feel out of place if you have a devotion to Mary or enjoy adoration. It could be an uphill battle. Why not seek out one where others share the same devotions?

More and more are emerging - some new and some not so new. Newer orders were created so they could start afresh with a traditional reform. Some older orders which ditched the habit long ago, you will see younger novices and sisters opting to wear the traditional habit among the many in the order who do not. Tradition is being restored through the young in these orders. But, this takes thick skin and perseverence to weather out in some cases.

Here, I give you at least one solid resource to consult. From there, let your email do the work. Don't settle on just one community, but explore many and make arrangments to participate in discernment weekends.

I strongly suggest spending time at the website of the Council of Major Superiors for Women Religious (CMSWR), pictured at right. You will find a stark contrast in what is promoted at this site, versus the Leadership Conference for Womens Religious (LCWR). The titles alone are very telling. One sees itself as a council of superiors from various communities. The latter sees itself as a conference for women's religious using the very business term, "leadership". Clicking through their site and viewing photos, it appears to be more like a business conference. Compare and contrast the kinds of communities profiled at each. Chances are, if you are reading this blog, you will identify with communities which fall within the CMSWR, rather than the LCWR.

If you have explored some communities through the CMSWR, please let us know about your experiences - anonymously or otherwise. As always, be charitable.

Where the Vocations are: Sisters of Life - Bronx, NY

I've profiled several communities and would like to make mention of yet another booming traditional religous order for women, which I knew about some time ago, but forgot about. One thing you want to do if you are considering religious life is to poke around their websites. Especially study the formation pages, prayer and community life pages, and look for their daily schedule.

The Sisters of Life in Bronx, NY are fairly new. As an example, here is their schedule:

Though apostolic needs may require local convents to re-arrange the general horarium below, all houses follow this outline:

5:00 am Rise
5:30 am Common Prayer - Office of Readings/ Morning Prayer/ Meditation
6:45 am Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
7:30 am Breakfast (silent with reading)
dishes
8:30 am-12:00 noon Apostolate (common silence kept)
12:00 noon Midday prayer

12:30 pm Lunch (silence broken)
dishes
1:30- 2:30 pm Personal recreation
2:30 - 5:00 pm Apostolate
5:00 pm Eucharistic Holy Hour - Rosary/ 45 minute meditation/ Vespers
6:45 pm Supper (silent with reading)
dishes
7:30 pm Community recreation
8:15 pm Compline
Grand Silence after Compline

You will find this kind of schedule, which varies between communities, on most sites. Some will have a schedule posted for professed, versus those in formation. The latter will have a greater focus on study time than is seen with professed, especially in the case of Mary Mother of the Eucharist Dominicans in nearby Ann Arbor, MI who are engaged in teaching, as well as the Dominicans in Tennessee, often discussed in the media.

You will also note that many of these new booming orders are semi-contemplative, as well. Some set time aside for "meditation" or "mental prayer". If you've ever seen a sister sitting in total silence with their eye's closed for considerable time, she's not sleeping (of course, being humans there are always occasional exceptions). Rather, she is engaging in mental prayer. Discussion of various forms of prayer is a whole subject in itself, but you can get introduced to it in the CCC.

More photos can be seen in the profile of the Sisters of Life at the Council of Major Superiors for Women's Religious, which is the leadership arm of more traditional religious orders.

New Traditional Dominican Order Bursting at the Seams

I'll be adding this post to my Vocations section in the sidebar, along with the recent post about Assumption Grotto Vocations of 2006.

I want to focus, once again, on the new Domincan order which started about 9-10 years
ago in the Ann Arbor area of Michigan. I call it traditional, because these sisters wear traditional habits and their work is reminiscent of that done traditionally by sisters over the centuries. The youthfulness of this order is visible, as is their joy and enthusiasm whenever they are found at local events. Follow this post through to the bottom and you will see where they are spreading their wings. Is your town next?

Clicking the other pics will yield a larger photo. All of these pictures are taken from the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist website.



As of August 29, 2006 the order has 15 new Postulants....



And, 19 Novices...



There are 30 temporarily professed sisters listed. You can read about each Novice and temp-professed sister, and see from where they come in search of such a religious life on the vocations page. As of August 28, the order reported a community of 70 - a real boom for one that is only 9 years old.

--->History of The Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist


THEIR NEW CHAPEL

A new chapel was completed. There is no denying, or speculating, or wondering what faith they witness: It's......distinctly Catholic!



Below I post only a few out of the many photos they have of the dedication and construction. In this first photo, you see Bishop of Lansing, Michigan, Carl Mengeling consecrating the altar.


The choir sings during the ceremony and frosted glass is seen in the background.


Concelebrants present........ A careful eye will recognize Fr. Perrone, pastor of Assumption Grotto, off to the left.




BURSTING AT IT'S SEAMS, THIS DOMINICAN COMMUNITY OVERFLOWS ELSEWHERE

Now, what comes next is even better news. At the bottom of this post, I discussed how Mother Angelica's order had to send out 4 sisters to begin a new branch in the Phoenix, Arizona area, at the invitation of Bishop Thomas J. Olmstead. Like a healthy tree, a good order will sprout new branches. This is how the Holy Spirit prevents too much of a good thing from being isolated in one place (and prevents one monastery from turning people away).

Well, Bishop Olmstead recognizes a healthy tree and good things, so he invited some sisters from this traditional Dominican order in Ann Arbor to his town. They have answered the call and have moved in to St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, where they will be teaching and working.

I shouldn't have to tell you that this will be a magnet for young girls to hear their calling in that area. I suspect this will not be the last of the branches that will sprout from this amazing order. It is a testimony that young people are interested in the full Catholic package of prayer and works, as opposed to just works, which has been the empahsis for the last 40 years in many dying communities. Some of these communities which have shifted their focus almost exclusively to social justice are lucky to find one new member every few years.

The Dominicans from Ann Arbor were not done spreading good things and extending branches...

On August 9, Fr. Andrew Bloomfield reported on his blog, that not only had sisters been sent to the Phoenix area, but four others were sent to one of my favorite places: Hilton Head South Carolina.

And, Deal Hudson, in an article entitled 1400 Percent Growth of Dominican Sisters, also points out that Bishop Baker had invited the sisters to South Carolina. They had been doing mission work there in the summers and it was very successful.

God Bless them on their journey - lets keep them in our prayers.

This, to me, is yet another sign that in another 20 years, we will see nuns in traditional habits working in parishes, and Catholic schools will make a strong comeback......God willing!

Oh, and one more thing about this order........ I've heard them singing in Latin and I believe they study the language - something to check out if you have a calling and treasure the language of the Church!

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Deo Gratias!