Comments on: Being a Nun is a Life, not a career

By: homemade hermit

homemade hermit — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 06:22:22 +0000

“Specialist in the God quest.”
This invitation is open to any Baptized Catholic, not just religious.
“If today you hear his voice harden not your hearts.”

By: Br. Dominic-Michael OHS

Br. Dominic-Michael OHS — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 23:10:31 +0000

“Being a [Religious] is a life, not a career…”

This is true, and points up the validity of those, like myself, living entirely in the world – employed in a secular occupation – yet still actively pursuing the Religious life. It infiltrates every particle of our being and shapes every aspect of our existence, the decisions we make always are made with the question “how will this affect my vocation?” In some cases, our “career” is something so “unreligious” as to make people doubt whether or not we are legitimate – how can a truck driver, or a farmer, or a whatever also be a Brother or Sister? The fact that it is not what we do, but who we are makes it all possible…

By: rhapsodysinger

rhapsodysinger — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 18:19:38 +0000

well sister, I think your post is great…am no Christian, leave alone a religious but I really dig your site…thanks…u go on my blogroll…
what sr. sandra says applies so well to married life too…I consider my marriage a vocation to be worked at and nurtured…

By: Macrina

Macrina — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:50:24 +0000

Yes, Julie, I think that that quote fleshes it out more – its quite a while since I read her books. It situates the whole religious identity thing within the whole of life, which is ultimately a mystery, or better a pathway to the Mystery, which is why definitions are so tricky!

By: deerose

deerose — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:12:21 +0000

I too like Elizabeth’s comparison. As a writer myself, I resonate with the life of her friend. It’s funny, but no matter what I do in life, well almost anything, it turns into some sort of writing project. Even participating on this blog falls under that category! I can’t help it. It is who I am.

As I may have mentioned here before, and discussed with Sr. Julie under separate cover, I feel strongly called to work in the area of “religious” communications. It’s not something I sat down and decided to do. It is something I sensed coming from God. I am divinely compelled. The thought of it brings joy and peace.

I relate well to the most recently quoted passage from Sandra Schneiders (I’d love to hear her speak – maybe she’ll come to NJ sometime soon.) in which she says religious life is religious but not primarily in the institutional sense. I am not a sister but do live a kind of “religious” life in the lay, married state. I feel that the customs, practices, activities that Sr. Sandra refers to are manifestations of my faith, my commitment, my beliefs. They do not define it. God, and our response to God, is much bigger than we can express.

dee

By: Sister Julie

Sister Julie — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:38:37 +0000

Macrina, Thanks for writing ... You are right that this particular quote is situated within a broader context in which Sandra is making the case for Religious Life as a deeply human phenomenon (not unnatural) yet distinct nonetheless. She looks at early images such as the virgin, the Christian religious "virtuoso", and the monastic. Sandra concludes:

"Religious Life is religious, not primarily in the institutional sense but in the sense of a tradition-shaped, coherent spirituality, and that it is a life, not an organization or a workforce or a platonic essence of some kind. Because this spirituality is Christian, it necessarily involves community and ministry but neither of them, or both together, suffices to explain or justify the life. And because it is a life it generates a lifeform that is organic and integrated, not a collection of customs, practices, activities, or even relationships." (Finding the Treasure 39-40)

By: Sister Julie

Sister Julie — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:20:29 +0000

That’s a good comparison, Elizabeth … and I think this is true of all life callings: “there just comes a point where you can’t be anything else”!

By: Macrina

Macrina — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 04:58:36 +0000

Well, to be honest, I’m not so sure about that phrase “specialist in the God quest”. I appreciate what Schneiders is saying and her intention, if I remember correctly, to resituate all religious life within the monastic paradigm of seeking God. But the further I go on this way (both “religious” and Christian in general) the more I realise that I realise how little I understand it and that I am only beginning. I resonate more with what Elizabeth says above, which reminds me of a saying of John Main that you don’t become a monk because you want to but because you have to.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:31:57 +0000

I have a friend who is a writer because he simply can’t live doing anything else. It is truly his calling. Fortunately, and with a lot of hard work, he is successful enough to continue doing it and make a living.

I see the same idea with being a Religious. There just comes a point when you can’t be anything else. To be otherwise would be living a lie and degrading one’s character daily.

There are Blessings in it, but I can imagine that it is a very difficult, and occasionally harrowing, journey.

Brightest of Blessings…

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 01:57:42 +0000

Powerful, powerful reflection, Julie! Thank you for taking the time to share it.

The notion of “grace of office” resonates with some reflection I’ve been doing lately.

I hope you’ll be sharing more of your insights on this soon

By: Sister Julie

Sister Julie — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:44:05 +0000

Thanks, Dominic! I don’t think volume 3 is that far off. Keep an eye out for it.

By: dominic

dominic — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:08:25 +0000

Sandra Schneiders books had a great influence on me as I was considering entering religious life – 8/9 years ago. I keep on looking out for volume three – but it still seems not published! Do you have any idea when it come out?

Keep up the good blogging!

Regards

By: deerose

deerose — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:47:36 +0000

It would be really interesting to see what type of response one would get if they put that ad into the paper, maybe local diocesan or Catholic press? Perhaps even secular. Very thought provoking! One of the salient features of the ad is that although it describes the life of a religious, it never actually uses the term “nun” or “sister”.

dee

By: Sister Julie

Sister Julie — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:48:03 +0000

Could you imagine leafing through the employment ads of the newspaper and seeing something like this:

“WANTED: Specialist in the God-quest … applicants must be open, prayerful persons with a desire to give all to God; the ideal candidate is single and Catholic and has a desire to live in community and engage in serving God and others.”

By: Gayle OSF

Gayle OSF — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:39:36 +0000

“Specialist in the God-quest” Definitely wow. Another phrase of hers that stops me in my tracks is “exclusive gift of self-donation.” Thanks for sharing this.