Having the nuns or sisters around was such a blessing for the church, most of these sisters exuded holiness just by the habits they wore and every time I saw a sister, they just reminded me so much of the presence of God in our midst.
@Hyperdulia Let's also try to remember nuns we're mostly in cloister and they were probably closer to Christ then Mother Angelica was. Mother Angelica is famous for starting EWTN, I respect her all the same, but I highly doubt she hated anyone. But jealousy comes in all forms, maybe she was jealous.
Growing up, I went to a Catholic school that used nuns sisters of charity I believe. My niece recently became a nun and she is happy as hell. I told her we could get a group together and get her out if she wanted to, but she said no. She’s doing good things and seems to enjoy it. I wish her well.
My daughter attended Catholic school for K-8, high school, university, and grad school from the early 90s through the aughts. Not even once did any of her teachers ever discuss the possibility of discerning the religious life as a vocation. Not even in Religion class! It's little wonder that so many convents have closed.
Thank you for this very informative piece on vocations to religious life for women & young women. It's given me food for thought. I wish it could be given more prominence as in importance for the flourishing of our faith. I will try and pray for vocations.
Lol, the bible revealed who God is, that we may know Him, love him & serve Him & be happy with Him forever, and what not to do to lose Him. There are different examples of total consecration to God since before the Bible was ever written, ie: the desert Father's & Mothers, the hermits on Mt. Carmel, etc., ways of dedicating ones life to God that have since been approved by Christ through His Church.@@nightshade99
Thank you for that beautiful explanation. It made me think of something Adrienne von Speyr (a swiss theologian) wrote : Decisions about life choices that have been prevented or missed have repercussions in the Church: places that should be filled remain vacant; there is a lack of people in the Church structure who are dedicated to the things of the Church and of the Lord. The living harmony between and within each state is disturbed and affected. [...] A project conceived in Heaven is thwarted on Earth. If Christians could see, within the Church, the immense number of failed decisions, they would be much less indignant about it. The fact that such and such a person occupies a position which, all things considered, does not correspond to him or her, is perhaps explained by the fact that another person, more suited to the task, has refused to do God's will. Please pray for my vocational discernment, thank you !
Just saw Father Burns giving a homily to sisters/nuns in Philadelphia on EWTN. Remarkable. Is it on UA-cam? I should love to be able to watch it again. Thank you.
Is that why to Catholic schools are closing down? I had really good teachers growing up in a Catholic school for which I am grateful. When I found out about their monetary lifestyle concerning a paycheck or rather lack of one I was astonished. Back in 1972 , I would have been teb years old. Women's lib was big. My two step- aunt's were nuns. Shortly after 1972 , They both left the order and eventually got married. Loved them both. Regardless of their decision to do so. When I asked favorite step aunt why she became a nun she told me that it told to her by who, I did not ask but that it was a sure way to secure that your soul would go to heaven. So this is what was explained to me. I figured that if I did not pick being a nun or being married were my life only choices growing up, or being a poor spinster and childless. Catholics do not believe in divorce much in 1972 but started happening anyway. So pretty confused
They would have to be received into orders which already exist, and most orders will only accept women under age 25. Pope Francis has ruled that there will be no new religious orders. I did read several years back about one new order of widows. It’s a great idea!
@@christygarcia4843 Such an age restriction shouldn't exist, however I'm sure it's at least partly due to the severe lack of women entering religious life in modern times, leading to closure of monasteries/convents. There are certainly many women who don't realize their vocation for religious life until they're older or, as you and Katherine have stated, older single/widowed women who no longer have a family to raise or a husband to spend their lives with.
Agreed! I would seriously consider it but I'm too old now (57). Our society has changed too. Women at 25 yo are now just getting out of college and/or into a job, probably not married yet but is considering marriage in the future. When religious sisters were numerous, women were married in their early 20s and starting to have children. People made these big life decisions at a younger age. Perhaps the church should now extend that age range to 35 or 40 yo.
@@christygarcia4843 - I think most orders receive women over 25. Maybe under 35??? I do think there is an order for older women though. Maybe there could be a third order for ‘single’ women who are older with kids or without, that live in a combined community? Kind of an ‘eco community?
Too many restrictions on religious communities. Once you are over 35 or 40 you are washed up. If you discover later in life you might have a religious calling good luck. Maybe you were not listening to Hod earlier in life (my story). Actually you are washed up if you are over 40, single in the Church 😶 Sorry just my experience unfortunately. But I found a way to live out a calling to religious (unofficially of course). 💕 I'm in my mid 50s and hold down a job full time, I contribute to society and to the church and love Jesus! Jesus doesn't treat me as washed up but the Church does. Oh well. What can you do!
I’m sorry that this is your experience. God sees your love and sacrifice for Him! However please know that there ARE many religious communities that will receive you later in life. The Church loves you. God bless ❤️
True. 🙁 You could try the Passionists and the Visitation Sisters. 😊 I went on a retreat with the Passionists, and there was an older woman discerning as a postulant with them. I think the Visitation sisters were originally formed for women who discovered a calling later in life or were widowed.
Yes, in a way. The Order of Consecrated Virgins live and work as solitary celibate women in a diocesan setting (their local Bishop is their Superior.) Consecrated widows similarly. There are also female hermits who live alone in a diocese.
Hey, boys, mansplaining, especially about women, just does not work. It's probably a crazy idea to you, but how about inviting a few women religious to speak as experts on this topic? Huh? The same is true about celibates supposedly speaking with authority on marriage.
I'm protestant and it seems we have a different problem of women wanting to be religious leaders but not having a place for them, just that they shouldn't be pastors. Then we also have fewer men wanting to be pastors or missionaries.
I am discerning a vocation. Please pray for me!
Having the nuns or sisters around was such a blessing for the church, most of these sisters exuded holiness just by the habits they wore and every time I saw a sister, they just reminded me so much of the presence of God in our midst.
So.....nothing concrete beyond garb, just a feeling. Test all feelings against scripture.
@Hyperdulia God does not call for monasticism; that is a human affliction cast upon oneself.
@Hyperdulia Where is the proof of this? Smells like a man-made doctrine. This is not in scripture.
@Hyperdulia
Yeah, getting rid of all the sisters and nuns made the church better. Such foolish talk.
@Hyperdulia
Let's also try to remember nuns we're mostly in cloister and they were probably closer to Christ then Mother Angelica was.
Mother Angelica is famous for starting EWTN, I respect her all the same, but I highly doubt she hated anyone. But jealousy comes in all forms, maybe she was jealous.
So, articulate......thanks for helping me understand the importance of women religious in the Church....
We definitely need more Sisters!! As I convert I wished I learned more about them sooner.
Why?
Growing up, I went to a Catholic school that used nuns sisters of charity I believe. My niece recently became a nun and she is happy as hell. I told her we could get a group together and get her out if she wanted to, but she said no. She’s doing good things and seems to enjoy it. I wish her well.
My daughter attended Catholic school for K-8, high school, university, and grad school from the early 90s through the aughts. Not even once did any of her teachers ever discuss the possibility of discerning the religious life as a vocation. Not even in Religion class! It's little wonder that so many convents have closed.
Thank you for this very informative piece on vocations to religious life for women & young women. It's given me food for thought. I wish it could be given more prominence as in importance for the flourishing of our faith. I will try and pray for vocations.
Why would it be a vocation an not just who you are?
Can Fr Burns do an episode on how to discern whether in religious life we could be called to apostolic, monastic or cloistered consecrated life?
It's not biblical to have to be monastic.
Lol, the bible revealed who God is, that we may know Him, love him & serve Him & be happy with Him forever, and what not to do to lose Him. There are different examples of total consecration to God since before the Bible was ever written, ie: the desert Father's & Mothers, the hermits on Mt. Carmel, etc., ways of dedicating ones life to God that have since been approved by Christ through His Church.@@nightshade99
I think there has to be more support for people interested in the Religious life.
I have a religious life. Why should one have to be monastic?
I was amazed with the explanation of the Ecology.
It was hilarious. Thank you for sharing that with us.
Thank you for that beautiful explanation. It made me think of something Adrienne von Speyr (a swiss theologian) wrote :
Decisions about life choices that have been prevented or missed have repercussions in the Church: places that should be filled remain vacant; there is a lack of people in the Church structure who are dedicated to the things of the Church and of the Lord. The living harmony between and within each state is disturbed and affected. [...] A project conceived in Heaven is thwarted on Earth. If Christians could see, within the Church, the immense number of failed decisions, they would be much less indignant about it. The fact that such and such a person occupies a position which, all things considered, does not correspond to him or her, is perhaps explained by the fact that another person, more suited to the task, has refused to do God's will.
Please pray for my vocational discernment, thank you !
He's very good , this priest. 👏
Excellent, thank you, God Bless you both!
It’s so sad what happened. Hopefully we can have a revival in the church and reverse this
Just saw Father Burns giving a homily to sisters/nuns in Philadelphia on EWTN. Remarkable. Is it on UA-cam? I should love to be able to watch it again. Thank you.
Utterly fascinating analogy ~
this video is important, a crucial discussion !
Mind = Blown
Wow
This is amazing
Is that why to Catholic schools are closing down?
I had really good teachers growing up in a Catholic school for which I am grateful. When I found out about their monetary lifestyle concerning a paycheck or rather lack of one I was astonished.
Back in 1972 , I would have been teb years old.
Women's lib was big. My two step- aunt's were nuns. Shortly after 1972 , They both left the order and eventually got married. Loved them both. Regardless of their decision to do so. When I asked favorite step aunt why she became a nun she told me that it told to her by who, I did not ask but that it was a sure way to secure that your soul would go to heaven.
So this is what was explained to me. I figured that if I did not pick being a nun or being married were my life only choices growing up, or being a poor spinster and childless. Catholics do not believe in divorce much in 1972 but started happening anyway. So pretty confused
Monasticism is not a requirement for true Christianity.
I want to be a religious brother
That was awesome
If I ever was to be a sister I would like to have a long beautiful habit and vail.
How does one follow Father's work?
Pray for Nuns!
Amazing, just phenomenal thank you for sharing this Father!!
Do a story on Episcopalian Nuns !!
Wow!!!
DANG JUST WOW
I have a serious idea for this problem of nuns in the church. The older single and window women with grown children.
They would have to be received into orders which already exist, and most orders will only accept women under age 25. Pope Francis has ruled that there will be no new religious orders. I did read several years back about one new order of widows. It’s a great idea!
@@christygarcia4843 Such an age restriction shouldn't exist, however I'm sure it's at least partly due to the severe lack of women entering religious life in modern times, leading to closure of monasteries/convents. There are certainly many women who don't realize their vocation for religious life until they're older or, as you and Katherine have stated, older single/widowed women who no longer have a family to raise or a husband to spend their lives with.
Agreed! I would seriously consider it but I'm too old now (57). Our society has changed too. Women at 25 yo are now just getting out of college and/or into a job, probably not married yet but is considering marriage in the future. When religious sisters were numerous, women were married in their early 20s and starting to have children. People made these big life decisions at a younger age. Perhaps the church should now extend that age range to 35 or 40 yo.
That makes sense.
@@christygarcia4843 - I think most orders receive women over 25. Maybe under 35???
I do think there is an order for older women though.
Maybe there could be a third order for ‘single’ women who are older with kids or without, that live in a combined community? Kind of an ‘eco community?
0:32 Matt repeating what he said was funny to me
Too many restrictions on religious communities. Once you are over 35 or 40 you are washed up. If you discover later in life you might have a religious calling good luck. Maybe you were not listening to Hod earlier in life (my story). Actually you are washed up if you are over 40, single in the Church 😶 Sorry just my experience unfortunately. But I found a way to live out a calling to religious (unofficially of course). 💕 I'm in my mid 50s and hold down a job full time, I contribute to society and to the church and love Jesus! Jesus doesn't treat me as washed up but the Church does. Oh well. What can you do!
I’m sorry that this is your experience. God sees your love and sacrifice for Him! However please know that there ARE many religious communities that will receive you later in life. The Church loves you. God bless ❤️
Try the Sisters of Schoenstatt.
They let me (36F) attend a discernment retreat with them.
True. 🙁 You could try the Passionists and the Visitation Sisters. 😊 I went on a retreat with the Passionists, and there was an older woman discerning as a postulant with them. I think the Visitation sisters were originally formed for women who discovered a calling later in life or were widowed.
How can I get in touch with Fr John Re Diocesan religious formation for my area? Thanks!
🤯
Priests Dont suffice for the place of Religious brothers either there also a different thing the church needs
Do you want to be a franciscan sister in baton rouge, louisiana ?_____if yes, let talk......Brother George
If you can have diocesan priests, can you have diocesan sisters?
No, a sister has to be in a religious community, as much as I know. But some of them do help with diocesan stuff.
There are consecrated virgins that serve the diocese
There are religious communities that are founded by diocese and work for the diocese, yes! Do some research, you’ll find them ! 🩷
Closest thing is a diocesan order like the Handmaids of the sacred heart of Jesus
Yes, in a way. The Order of Consecrated Virgins live and work as solitary celibate women in a diocesan setting (their local Bishop is their Superior.) Consecrated widows similarly. There are also female hermits who live alone in a diocese.
wow
Hey, boys, mansplaining, especially about women, just does not work. It's probably a crazy idea to you, but how about inviting a few women religious to speak as experts on this topic? Huh? The same is true about celibates supposedly speaking with authority on marriage.
YOU don't let the older women in 🙄 veiled, real, sold-out for the Lord.
I think there is actually an order that accepts older women?
In oklahoma??? I heard about them once but didn’t take notes or such.
I'm protestant and it seems we have a different problem of women wanting to be religious leaders but not having a place for them, just that they shouldn't be pastors. Then we also have fewer men wanting to be pastors or missionaries.
Monasticism is not a requirement of true Christianity.
First! Ha ha!
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