Consecrated religious life

• How does chastity permit true knowledge of another person? – Chastity allows true knowledge of the complete

person—not just a physical intimacy

• How does practicing self-denial through chastity help train us for marriage?– Dating “practices” for marriage

– Whatever our habits are in dating will be our habits in marriage

• Imagine you are a nun. Woo-hoo! Name as many advantages to being a nun as you can think of: consider what nuns do, wear, own, etc. What might be fun? Next, name some challenges you think would arise in religious life. What things might be hard to give up?

Where did the concept of

consecrated religious life

originate?

1. Poverty, chastity, obedience as seen in Jesus

2. Virginity as a sign of the kingdom to come (heaven) as seen in Mary

What freedoms do nuns have (that married people do not) for pursuing

poverty, chastity and obedience?

1. POVERTY: free from material concerns and worries

2. OBEDIENCE: free to pursue spiritual perfection

3. CHASTITY: free from the responsibilities of marriage and family

Of course, this pursuit isn’t easy…

1. Poverty: material hardship

2. Obedience: personal flexibility and freedom

3. Chastity: loneliness, no physical affection

What is the difference between active and contemplative orders?

1. Active: work in society; ministry

2. Contemplative: work within the community; prayer

How do consecrated sisters and brothers

live out the evangelical counsels (poverty,

obedience and chastity)?

1. POVERTY: own nothing individually and sometimes as an entire community

2. OBEDIENCE: submit to a religious superior or the local bishop

3. CHASTITY: remain celibate and “marry” God

What is the symbolism of

celibacy?1. Celibacy is voluntary (just like marriage)

2. Celibacy points to the union with God in Heaven that we will all experience

3. Celibacy is a sign that we expect the Resurrection of the body along with the soul

What is the significance and

purpose of a habit?

•“Distinct garb” to be visible sign of their vocation

Describe the significance of

religious vows.

How binding are they?

1. Postulant

2. Novice

3. First professions

4. Final vows

• http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities_cmswr.htm

JOURNAL 12/7

• Tomorrow is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Mary is our model of perfect redemptive suffering. She offered her own suffering as a mother for the sake of our salvation.

• What if you could offer up your temptations or sufferings for the sake of someone else’s salvation? Would you be willing to give up a certain sin or even bad habit if it could help someone else go to Heaven? What would those offerings be? Who would you offer them for?

• What were your “straws for the manger” yesterday? What will they be today?