The Future of Religious Life
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- Опубликовано: 19 май 2018
- With many religious communities struggling with dwindling numbers, some have begun to ask the question: Is there a future for religious life in the Church? I say yes.
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taking away the habit does not attract new vocations, just saying. I'm so glad you wear the habit, Brother.
Brother, I think you are definitely a part of the future of religious life. I think it is great that you are vlogging your experience as a brother and sharing your faith in such a wonderful way on RUclips. We need to always be looking to the past for inspiration and to follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before us while at the same time looking to the future and asking the Holy Spirit how he wants us to become the people that some day people will look back to and want to follow in our footsteps. We are all links in this chain called the Church that stretches from Jesus all the way to the Kingdom that He will some day establish where there will be no more tears and no more pain. Our job is to find our place in that chain and continue to ask God to help us be the witness He wants us to be to the world.
I am preparing to begin a new Foundation for Monasticism beginning day after June 2 of this year in New York State, a Community of Hermits in the Carmelite Spirituality. The purpose of the new Foundation is to give pilgrims a glimps into Monasticism of the Middle Ages, the Medieval Period. To do this, I will need to do continual research, and take the proverbial deLorean back in time. Mankind needs to learn how to slow down and smell the 🌹.
Br. Gregory Joseph, CPH wowwww that sounds like a dream to heaven itself on earth i love the carmelite spirituality ill pray its successful
Best of luck with your Foundation. An interesting concept.
This just helped and made me discern living in a religious vocation. Thanks Brother.
Glad to hear it!
Also, please help me pray for this, Brother 😊
My rosary tonight is for you to keep the cross before you and the world behind you 😁👏
Thank you so much
Jay Vinson Dahay its nothing compared to what you choose to do for God and souls. My sins are absolved thanks to my priest and im so so in love with God because of his choice to say yes, today im alive but before I was hopeless but because of such a sacrifice im no longer lost but found so i hope you know just what a gift you will be to someone like myself and others, God bless you!☺
You seem to be the only young person and person in habit there
Some communities are dying, yes, that unfortunately true, but there are quite a few communities that are flourishing. Authentic communities centered on Christ and living a true prayer and community life are not dwindling in numbers.
Thank you for broadcasting the call to the religious life. Keep pushing, keep figuring out how to send out that call. I happen to be Eastern Orthodox, but these sibling churches both need an increase in vocations. Thank you for blessing the world with your work. I will have my son watch these.
Thanks!
Thank you for sharing. Made me lol at your sadness of not being able to sleep an hour later and at the end, going back to the past (good one btw). I always enjoy your channel. Looking forward to your next post. Blessings.
Very sad to see so many religious that would be indistinguishable from the random lady on the street. If it's vocations you want, then the example that needs to be set is one of fearlessly living out the truth, giving up your entire self to Our Lord. That is what attracts people to religious life. This fanaticism for Christ draws people into the mystery, makes them wonder 'what is so valuable to these people that they would give up so much?' The habit is an outward sign that religious life is a life, not a job.
Phillip Brooks I agree with you that the habit is an important tool for evangelization, but I also agree with you that it is an outward sign-the habit itself is not radical in itself but rather points to a radical life. Habit or not, women religious have lived far more radical lives in the US than men have, truly building up the church and even the country, often going places that the men would not.
Breaking In The Habit I absolutely agree. :) And often it's not the choice of the particular nun to not wear the habit. It may be a decision that was made by a superior many years ago. I think my main point was to try to say that I just think it's quite sad to see that it has become this way.
Thanks for your reply, Brother. Praying for you as you approach priestly ordination.
Thoughtful, interesting video. Thank you.
I had an art exhibit at their Moontree Studio Art Center. Wonderful place. Amazing sisters!
As far as the dessert. There is a guy in my parish (actually an employee as well) that when there is some sort of food in the parish (either an event or volunteering time such as festival prep) he always stays that he starts with desserts to make sure he have enough room for it ;) And again great video. As always.
Now why didn't I think of that, ha,ha. That's genius !
Hey Casey. I do agree that one key hallmark of us young people is the desire of intimacy and connectedness. This is therefore a challenge for young people entering religious, challenge that is worth to be undertaken rather than walking away from it.
It's so beautifully green. Catchy music too.
Very insightful. I'm 44 (Gen X'er) and single, never married. I know what you mean when you talk about the fear of being lonely all the time. This is a very good video, I enjoyed your thoughts on this and agree on much of it. By the way, you should day a "Day in the Life of a Friar" video and show what a normal day would be like. I believe many men just don't know what all goes on and what to expect if they decided to join a community. In fact, not knowing might prevent someone from joining the Friary for fear of the unknown.
I think you really hit the nail on this video. Good insight. I think the future of religious life is what you said, but I’m sure there will be some called to do things traditionally, I want to try Monastery beer before it’s gone lol
You hit the nail on the head. People are desperately seeking community....authentic community. That is where the spiritual battle is being waged. There are multiple communities centered around sin that while sinful, are authentic. The church MUST offer a counter balance.
@d y The phrase is unrelated to crucifixion, if that's what you mean. It's an idiom that references carpentry or fixing things...which I'm pretty sure Jesus of Nazareth can appreciate
And yet the segment of the Church showing most growth today is Tradition.
needleduck Amen!
A great reflection. One more thought I'd like to add to the mix is the way the monastery and surrounding community interacted in 7th and 8th century Northumbria--before the Viking invasions. There was shared community in a far more active way than other places in Europe. I'm at a time in my life where I have the freedom to connect to community, but I don't really see anything available.
Truly inspirational!!!
Father, I feel you. I truly do. And I'm hopeful there will be so many of us, that we will give our very life to this new form of religious life.
You were just 30 minutes away from where I live
The idea that those churches were at one point new is such a good perspective. I'm not sure if Modernist/post-modernist architecture is good for the Church (I don't really think it's good for any kind of beauty) but that the answer isn't necessarily to preserve the past. And you're right, that should apply to other things to.
Not one religious Sister in a habit! Their community is dying and all the fancy conferences and "reflections" is not going to save it! The religious communities which are growing and flourishing today are filled with young Sisters who wear a habit, live in community, pray the Liturgy of the Hours, adore the Blessed Sacrament, pray the rosary, and accept the teachings of the magisterium and matters of faith and morals. And lastly,who are faithful to the charism of the founder of the religious community which is the only guarantee that the Holy Spirit is with them!
Hai scritto molto bene e sono d'accordo io ! Hai ragione Giovanni. Ti auguro una bella giornata !
I agree too! Brave comment!
That reflection on post-modern art in the church is brilliant. I made a video spotlighting a few new religious artists and I’m hunting for authentic modern expressions of faith. Please share any you come across!
Thanks for the videos. It’s very interesting to watch someone making videos on faith, who is about the same age as me, but from a different stream of the faith.
Glad you enjoyed it! Peace and good to you!
Mmm I’m not a fan of modern art inside of beautiful churches, however I do agree with your sentiments. One thing I have noticed is there seems to be this renewed interest in “restoring the sacred” almost what was old has become new again and its fascinating and beautiful. At the young of 33 it’s certainly caught my interest.
Thank you Brother for this video. It really gave me hope. It's beautiful to see your enthusiasm, and it strenghtened mine. Sadly, I see so many diocesan priests who are disappointed, worried for the future and weak. It seems they say: "It's not worth the price, nothing will work, we will disappear..."
I also want to be a part of the new religious life, but this situation makes me sad...
Do you see a similar situation where you live?
It can be very sad to see that, yes. One advantage that religious have (different from diocesan clergy) is that we ground ourselves in a way of life rather than in our work. This is not always the case, and we can struggle with this as well, but I have found great fulfillment in our fraternal life that leaves me enthusiastic and strengthened.
I've just sent you a private message...
Excellent.
I agree completely, change the medium not the message
As a striving digital artist I was sure inspired by the religious art of the past, but I wonder why there is little to none digital religious paintings today for example
Guess I will have to make that my call
Very challenging message again today Bro Casey. BTW what's the track title, it's catchy?
Thanks! Not sure the title of the track. I get everything from epidemicsound.com.
Brother Casey I think you hit bullseye about why religious life is shrinking. I know that loneliness is a big fear of mine especially as my friends are getting married. And yet at that at same point I also know it is also irrational because no matter what life you, I, or anyone who’s reading this chooses we still have close, intimate relationship with other people.
Funny how my family and some friends were an hour late for the Celebration of the Lord's Passion 10 years ago or so.. yes, because of time differences within Indiana 😀
There is not necessarily a reason you can not do both, change while keeping the core the same. There are a thousand ways that this ciuld go wrong if not thought out. Do not throw away what makes the life unique, once lost, it is very hard to restore such things.
First, Interesting analogy that of the Temple and architecture, I'm following you on that one, adding something new yes, but I would also say how and what to add has to match armonically with what is already there. Otherwise we have these beautiful churches filled with strange things to it, and you can plainly see that it doesn't go there. Being part of a Tradition that grows towards the future, without breaking it down.
Second, intimacy and sharing according to Jesus Gospel that's what our generation looks for in a community, not out of codependency but out of love, in a large way, you could also see it from the vocational side considering it as your own place in the Mistical Body of Christ, be that as an individual or a religious order, how we all grow in the life of the Holy Spirit and collaborate with this Spirit so that the whole Body grows. If you read Spanish (idk if you can find it in English) I would recommend you reading father Juan Arintero's "Evolución Mística" it has great reflections on the matter, it's kind of an old book but still a great one.
Another great video, greetings from Rome.
go! go! go! brother! Christ is alive!
I live right by plymouth!
PREACH!
The Second Vatican Council said to go back to the roots but never said to dress in street clothes
Brian Delaney But see, that’s the thing. The roots of the habit WERE street clothes. St. Francis didn’t wear what he did because it was religious or holy, he wore it because that’s what poor people wore. At the beginning, they just looked like beggars. Only years later did it have any religious significance.
your right on this make one
Because of your videos , my own studies and research, the people I've met in religious life, my new friendships with many Catholics, daily prayer, ...I've been thinking about entering religious life . Just thinking though. I'm waiting for a sign,...anything that will show me religious life would be God's wish for me . Anyone reading this ...I'd appreciate a prayer . Thanks !
Steven Patrick Stone That’s very interesting to hear, given our past conversations, and I want to encourage you in your discernment. At the same time, again given our past conversations, I want to strongly recommend that you take some time to be an active Catholic in your local Church before you take a big step like this. Lay the foundation of regular Christian life first, living and doing ministry from your gifts of baptism, and you will be much better off in the long run.
Yes I know, "given our past conversations" and the fact that I was close to being atheist at one time....I'm more surprised than anyone else. My family was both happy and shocked when I told them. I have a law degree and friends are perplexed. They don't realize I can use my degree in religious life as well. What I've learned is that this is how God works , he sometimes calls those least expected. People like Katharine Drexel and Edith Stein come to mind. I've also learned I wouldn't be the first former atheist to become a Catholic priest. If you get a chance look up Fr John Bartunek( a one time non believer) and Fr Chase Hilgenbrinck ( pro soccer player), their combined stories are somewhat similar to mine. Thank you for your excellent advice Bro. Casey, I'm grateful !
Amen!
This brother gets it right.
religious life isn't diminishing....it is for the active life but not the cloistered contemplative life....it's actually growing
There is a future for some orders, revived and new ones! The issue is some orders are simply shells for retired members and aren't really functional in a way that would bring people in, minus some exceptions. Many of those orders have demographics that hold to a specific outlook. That is fine and up to the communities themselves. However, there is often a disregard for how younger Catholics often want to live a religious life and this feeds into the decline. I usually see this ignored or dismissed as a false herring. But every Catholic I have spoken to about religious or priestly vocation discernment generally says the same thing!
I would appreciate your advice on a matter- can lay people (women) study Canon law? I live in a border country of Italy, so I guess Rome (or Budapest) would be my cities of choice... I will soon finish my civil law studies and want to specialise in Canon law, but I'm not sure is it really a possibility.
I'm not sure if there are any cultural stigmas or norms related to this, but as far as the Universal Church is concerned you are absolutely allowed to study canon law. There are definitely women in the United States that study it, and the Church could definitely use a few more women canon lawyers!
Breaking In The Habit Thank You for your response, it definitely made my day!
Were the
Habit
The sisters of st Joseph
Of Philadelphia
Were ther habits in the 70s
Father Casey you can save the Catholic Church with your wise, honest vision.
"But it's not, and now I'm sad" hahaha :D
I agree that art is reflective of the times in which they were made. And the modern art in my church with all the stick figures and blocks does not really give the due honor and glory to our dear Lord. It shows a society that is departing far away from God and his doctrine. Art from the times of "rigidity" has shown Christ to be truly a King.
If the sisters of st Joseph or the loretto sisters had the same apostolate as they did 60 years ago finding where I was called would have been very different, but they had to change theirs. I don't know why orders with habits are flourishing... All I know is that I feel called to one in particular for their charism and apostolate. Me and MANY other women... Perhaps in 50 more years we will see a reversal
I will pray that you have the inspiration and courage to follow that calling! Maybe you will be the spark that the community needs!
Breaking In The Habit father two years later I’ve come back from the convent and back to the video knowing much more. Both about the community I joined and about the other communities in Canada. Call it what you want but the habit plays on an innate desire to belong. Sure there are spiritual aspects but the new generation has wounds deeper in the realm of family and friends. The unity found in the habit is a response to these deep deep wounds of broken families and broken relationships everywhere. This is not mentioning the spiritual protection and devotion a habit fosters. I think the dying communities would seriously benefit if they brought back their habit and unified their apostolate because women don’t want what the world has offered them they want something so radically different from it. I wish they would see this. I don’t want these orders with so much wealth and assets to keep selling and dying out.
No a habit doesn’t make a religious they’ve made their point. But bring it back and they will see, Young women’s’ hearts will heal
G'day from the Land Downunder! One of the most interesting things between you and the Order of Nuns you based your video on, is that you were in uniform and they weren't. How can you say you represent an object/statement/Religious Order but not dress to show this position. In this video, I see many older women who do not, at first glance, represent anything. I am a member of the uniformed Staff in an Australian gaol (jail). I cannot turn up in jeans and a sweatshirt and pretend to be on duty! Maybe a bit a deja vue is necessary for the vocations to increase! Many years ago I visited Fatima and stayed at a Monastery for an order of Nuns who were "closed". A Nun whom I spoke to, stated when asked, about being in "mufti" (non habit) said "You don't know what it's like to be accosted by people in the street, when you are dressed in a habit" You can imaging my thoughts at that reply. God bless you and your followers Brother.
I'm not sure I would call what we wear a "uniform." Unlike a staff member at the jail (or a delivery person or fire fighter or barista at Starbucks for that matter), we do not hold a "position" as much as we live a life. When we go home and take off our habits, we are not any less vowed as religious religious with no fewer responsibilities. While I agree that the habit can be a useful tool in evangelization in our ministry, it is not constitutive to what it means to be a vowed religious. There are obviously many bad reasons why some men and women have chosen to remain incognito, very much hiding from the world, but there are also many good reasons why men and women religious have chosen to wear ordinary clothes. A habit is a symbol of our life, not a necessary feature of it.
A habit is one thing, but a collar is quite another. I notice many religious wear their habit in and around their monasteries, but wear ordinary clothes in public, with a clerical collar. How do you find wearing a collar, if you have done so ?
I see the practical use of the collar, but as a Franciscan I will never wear one. To me it just feels like I'm dressing up as something I'm not. Technically I will be a priest, yes, but it is just so associated with diocesan priests. I am very comfortable with my identity as a Franciscan.
the lack of the habit is...so....gahhhhh!!! Why not wear one? it shows who you represent! If you get robbed, you look for a cop (someone wearing a police uniform), if you need spiritual help, how can you identify a Sister if she's not in habit?!?!? the habit is essentially the uniform of Christ!!
I'm sorry but asking a group of elderly religious women who no longer wear a habit or who probably have not maintained a corporate apostolate about the future of religious life is way off the mark and pointless. These communities are determined to defend the disastrous changes they have made which will in a short period of time enable them to die out completely.
I agree with most of what you say until you spoke about including modern and postmodern art in our churches. A lot of modern and postmodern art is simply ugly. Not only that but the modern and postmodern church architecture is also ugly, cold, and lifeless. We should return to the forms and standards of beauty from the past not because they're in the past but because they're tried and true and speak to the human heart.
It's important not to take a metaphor too literally. The point is not to focus on the art but to focus on what they represent in the analogy. I am not suggesting that we specifically adopt modern or post-modern art, but simply asking if we are open to new expressions of our day.
Fair enough. Thanks for the response!
you are so funny :D
Dear Bro, how do say that we should not be mimicking the saints and the past. Saints mimicked Christ to their level best and we ought to mimick rather imitate Christ to our level best. Saints sacrificed their life and showed us a way to reach God, it is not old or obsolete or out of place. Religious life in the past should not necessarily be changed to the designs of the modern world, rather modern world which deviated from God and gone astray should come back to its roots in God, by the way you and I live imitating Christ , imitating saints in this everchanging world. Why don't you go out to streets and meet Christ suffering everywhere instead of sitting and debating in conferences and have sumptuous lunch. Almost 90 percent of the word do not know what is a good lunch today. We are called to imitate Christ and imitate saints in each and every moment of our life. Try coming to Calcutta and stay in the house Mother Teresa for at least a month to know what the religious life demands today.
There are two issues, I think, at play here, and ultimately I think we might be saying the same thing. The first is that when I say that we shouldn't mimic the saints I am not saying that we shouldn't follow their example of holiness. What I'm saying is that we are not called to literally do what they did, to be copies of them, but rather to live by the inspiration that they lived by. As a Franciscan, I absolutely do not mimic the life of St. Francis; I do not follow him... I follow the one he followed: Jesus Christ.
This, I believe, is even the case for Jesus Christ. The saints did not (and we as well) "mimic" him. Jesus walked from town to town announcing the kingdom, curing diseases, performing miracles, and eventually died on a cross. The saints, for the most part, did not do this. They lived by that inspiration, looked at the world, and did what was theirs to do. They founded hospitals and orphanages, cared for the poor, taught in schools, led nations, and lived holy married lives. Jesus did not do any of these things.
What I am suggesting is that we look to the world--not for inspiration, for our inspiration comes from Jesus--but to see where the Gospel might be alive and where it might need to grow. 150 years ago, the United States needed nurses and teachers, and womens religious orders filled that need. Now, we do not have that need and I am suggesting that we be adaptable to the needs of the Kingdom today. Let's not get stuck in what we did in the past but rather be open to the Spirit moving us to new ways of life today.
Let the Spirit be the wind inside the sails of your soul i forget what saint said this, but its how we ought to live since every life has a unique perfection of God scripted in them, and thru prayer the soul is nourished to obtain this, and thru the church we find where we should go to follow the Lord Jesus as we are His disciples; and thru each individual of the 12 disciples you can find how each one had a different journey to holiness in Gods plan to build the kingdom. In Johns gospel when the resurrection of Jesus occured, we see how Saint Peter asked the Lord about Saint John and his death Jesus replied John 21:“If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow me.” therefore we are to never compare our lives or have the same lives, but live this discipleship in where Jesus leads us thru the Holy Spirit. So ask the Holy Spirit.
I also believe brother deacon casey is also following Gods individual plan for him and he stated hes not mimicing saint francis and no hes not but in my opinion if saint francis were alive today im sure he would use our technology to evangelize and change lives. I hope i dont speak in error may God correct me but im only stating what i believe is true out of love for my siblings in Christ 😘
Sorry Brother if I projectile vomit while you extol the virtues fraternity and community life. Tell it like it is. It’s no picnic.
John O'Mara sounds like you might need a doctor!
More Haters? Really! I have never hid from the realities of community life. For nearly 7 years I have written a blog sharing the good, bad, and ugly of this life. Just because this video shares an optimistic perspective does not mean that it captures everything I feel. And really, I’m a bit confused, because this video actually shares my disappointment about friaries not being open to the intimacy that I desire... so what are you even talking about?
Breaking In The Habit San Benito didn't let the monk stay alone for so long when they asked....because it was kind of easier, so they have to live at least with another brother! Call it religious community or family community....we humans are a pin in the neck! So saintity starts by being kind none selfish and loving to the one nex to us. I think the Lord Started teaching us that since Cain and Abel!
I'm sure Bro. Casey meant no disrespect. He was just adding a bit of humor, and for me it worked because I laughed. I do think you have a point though. Community life can be difficult , but so can married life or single life. God places challenges before us in every way of life. No one path is easy. Love will take care of it though. No matter what happens , love always has a way of fixing anything that may go wrong with another person. "Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him."1 John 4:16
More Haters? Really! Guess I do! It’s a wonderful life!
Bro casey, what's your thoughts on LGBT Catholics?
Thats a good question...what are yours?
Yes, I would be interested in your discussion of this topic. After many years of prayer that the Holy Spirit would enable my chastity, it happened recently. I am not "intrinsically disordered," a description of people like me to which the Church still adheres, and which I despise. A disorder in medicine is a disease. I do not have a disease. I am chaste; however, and I see no impediment or mortal sin between me and Heaven. God made me this way, loves me this way, and will accept me this way.
Jim Hall i welcome you and love your beautiful soul God will give you chastity and no its not a disease just as adultery is not so much a disease but it is a sickness in the soul but its not foul but rather in the wound of Jesus' heart you are safe there and its the same for our immaculate mother whose soul was peirced with a sword to reveal the hearts of men so if she sees where you are struggling i pray she sees this and fills it with what you need most from the treasury of Heaven which is found in the sacred heart of Jesus. I hope you have done a consecretion already to this immaculate heart because this will be the seal to receive the gift of chastity especially after confession im no one to suggest anything but i know what it feels like to feel like an outcast or rejected because i too sinned terribly. God bless you and i hope you find peace in your journey.
Jim Hall and not just God loves but i do too because we share the same we are no longer slaves but children of God 💝💝
Thank you, Natalia. I made a really thorough, honest, and spirit filled confession (the first in 26 years). When that was concluded, my priest, the representative of our Lord Jesus Christ, absolved me. I have been chaste since then. I continue to pray for the grace to live the chaste life of absolute freedom. Please pray for me, Natalia, as I will for you. By the way, my favorite ballerina was Natalia Makarova, a beautiful soul who danced like an angel.