Vows
All that I can seem to think about is this idea of a religious vocation. I talked to my friend in the campus ministry and talked to me about everything under that sun about religious life. He asked me why I wanted to be a religious. I told him that it was what I desired because I wanted to grow closer to God. That is the truth, which is all that I really desire. Professionally I would seek to continue my college education and be a professor of religious studies in the future, just to pass on the Gospel message.
He talked with me about the vows, and he asked me what I thought of each of them. He asked me first what I thought about the vow of poverty. I told him that I thought it meant not really having any property of your own, but sharing what you earn with the community. He told me that was pretty much it, and told me that it was pretty much like a community pot of sorts. Even if I was the administrator at a college somewhere bringing home $120,000 all of that money would go into the community pot, no matter if the others were earning the same amount of money or not. He asked me if I had a problem with that, and I told him that I was always told that the reason for having a career/job/vocation wasnt for the money, it was for what you could do for others.
He asked me about celibacy and what I thought that entailed. We both agreed that it was more than just taking a vow of no sex. He told me that its about cultivating meaningful relationships without having that sexual barrier between you and the other person. In a sense, it helps you to solely focus on God and not worry about your material desires. Im not saying that from time to time I wouldnt have the occasional crop up of oh hes gorgeous, but its just a matter of how you deal with it. Its also a matter of having those meaningful relationships to help you through those difficult times.
Finally we talked about obedience. I really hadnt thought about what obedience entailed, so I asked him to please explain to me what he meant. He told me that sometimes you had to requisition money even if you needed a new coat, and if they didnt have the money you had to listen to your superior and go without. He said before Vatican II that you would just get an envelope and they would send you somewhere and you would have to go. I told him that I thought it would definitely be an adjustment to say the very least. I really dont have too many issues with authority, only corrupt authority. He told me that just because you take a vow of obedience it doesnt mean that you should be doormat either, and that I agree with either.
He told me that just from our few conversations that he thinks that I would do well in a religious community. He told me that some people go into religious communities to hide, and some to truly serve. He said that a religious community is a good place to hide, if you just want to get away from the pressures of society at large. He told me that you could lead a pretty comfortable life.
I wouldnt be entering a religious community to hide. I would part of a religious community to better serve God. I would be better equipped to truly focus on God and not worry about all of the external factors that sometimes are around me. He gave me a lot of good questions to mull over this summer. I thought about going to some of the monasteries around the area to just see what they are like. I figure that it would be a good way to learn and really experience what religious life is really like. I think that it would help me discern in a very real way what my calling is or at least give me a start.
He talked with me about the vows, and he asked me what I thought of each of them. He asked me first what I thought about the vow of poverty. I told him that I thought it meant not really having any property of your own, but sharing what you earn with the community. He told me that was pretty much it, and told me that it was pretty much like a community pot of sorts. Even if I was the administrator at a college somewhere bringing home $120,000 all of that money would go into the community pot, no matter if the others were earning the same amount of money or not. He asked me if I had a problem with that, and I told him that I was always told that the reason for having a career/job/vocation wasnt for the money, it was for what you could do for others.
He asked me about celibacy and what I thought that entailed. We both agreed that it was more than just taking a vow of no sex. He told me that its about cultivating meaningful relationships without having that sexual barrier between you and the other person. In a sense, it helps you to solely focus on God and not worry about your material desires. Im not saying that from time to time I wouldnt have the occasional crop up of oh hes gorgeous, but its just a matter of how you deal with it. Its also a matter of having those meaningful relationships to help you through those difficult times.
Finally we talked about obedience. I really hadnt thought about what obedience entailed, so I asked him to please explain to me what he meant. He told me that sometimes you had to requisition money even if you needed a new coat, and if they didnt have the money you had to listen to your superior and go without. He said before Vatican II that you would just get an envelope and they would send you somewhere and you would have to go. I told him that I thought it would definitely be an adjustment to say the very least. I really dont have too many issues with authority, only corrupt authority. He told me that just because you take a vow of obedience it doesnt mean that you should be doormat either, and that I agree with either.
He told me that just from our few conversations that he thinks that I would do well in a religious community. He told me that some people go into religious communities to hide, and some to truly serve. He said that a religious community is a good place to hide, if you just want to get away from the pressures of society at large. He told me that you could lead a pretty comfortable life.
I wouldnt be entering a religious community to hide. I would part of a religious community to better serve God. I would be better equipped to truly focus on God and not worry about all of the external factors that sometimes are around me. He gave me a lot of good questions to mull over this summer. I thought about going to some of the monasteries around the area to just see what they are like. I figure that it would be a good way to learn and really experience what religious life is really like. I think that it would help me discern in a very real way what my calling is or at least give me a start.