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Some
pointers to help you more clearly understand your personal journey
Initial
contact
Initial
formation
The
Admission Process
Postulancy
Novitiate
Temporary Vows
Solemn Vows and Ordination
More Vocation Information
Essentials of Religious Life
Active And Monastic Religious Life
Friars Are Normal People
The Friars Are Orthodox
Radical Prayer
Perseverance
Habit
The Franciscan Habit
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Radical Prayer
Jesus lived a materially simple life, he was chaste, and he was obedient to God the Father - even when it meant His death on a cross. These three aspects the Church called Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. And as a group they are called the Evangelical Councils.
By their baptism all Christians are called to make Jesus the inspiration, source and model of their lives. Accordingly, all Christians are called to live the Evangelical Councils. All Christians are called to live simply not seeking materialistic gain before God and the spiritual life. Furthermore, all Christians are called to be chaste not making objects out of others for selfish sexual pleasure. Lastly, all Christians are called to be obedient to God making Him the Lord and Master of their lives.
Religious Life has been called the radical response to Jesus and His Good news message (Gospel). It is a radical response in that it imitates Jesus’ life in a more radical way. Therefore, following the example of Jesus, Religious are called not only to live simply like all Christian, but also to give up all private ownership of possessions and share what they have communally. Following the example of Jesus, furthermore, Religious are called not only to be chaste, but also to be celibate. Finally, following the example of Jesus, Religious are called not only to be obedient to God in general, but also specifically to their Superiors trusting that the Holy Spirit speaks through them*. Religious commit themselves to live this more radical expression of the Evangelical Councils by publicly professing them in the form of three vows called Poverty, Chastity and Obedience.
The purpose of these vows are to free up Religious so that they can respond to Jesus and His Gospel with a greater commitment of time and energy towards prayer and ministry. The vows free up Religious from the ordinary obligations that go with personal ownership, marriage and family and it also frees up from selfish seeking to do one’s own will. Prayer and ministry, then, are the main occupations of Religious Life.
This radical response to Jesus, then, demands radical prayer. This is the challenge of prayer in Religious Life. Religious Life calls a Religious to enter more deeply into union with Jesus in prayer. This is only possible when time is invested in prayer. In Religious Life, then, comes the challenge to commit greater time in prayer. It challenges a person, for instance, to rise earlier in the morning so that he or she can spend personal time with God before a busy day of ministry begins – even when you’d rather sleep in. It calls one to be regular at the communal prayers of the Liturgy of the Hours and to daily Eucharist - even when you don’t feel like it. It challenges one to keep these regular forms of prayer from becoming mindless routines through cultivating a deep relationship with Christ.
This is Religious Life’s call to prayer. Are you up to the challenge?
* Religious are not obliged to do anything illegal, immoral or against their conscience. Today, Superiors give “obediences” through a process of consultation and discernment.
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