Quite a conversation is taking place around Nuns: Perceptions and Assumptions. The latest comment sounded like a good springboard for a new post. This one comes from Diane who writes:
I’m interested in reflecting on the word, “growth,” in terms of religious congregations. Growth implies vitality. It is possible to see growth as being an increase in the number of vowed members. It is true that some congregations are seeing a large increase in the numbers of young women choosing vowed membership. At the same time, other congregations are seeing growth in a different kind of way. While the numbers of women seeking vowed membership may remain small—women are still entering and staying, but maybe one or two every few years—these congregations are redefining the notion of vocation. For them, the call is not to focus on replacing themselves with vowed members but to put their energy into nurturing their charism in people who feel a call to this charism, but not only in traditional vowed memberships. They are, in fact, seeing growth in the ways that lay women and men are drawn to these charisms and living them out to create the world that Jesus spoke of throughout his life and ministry.
There are a couple things here I’d like to highlight.
One is my ongoing mantra that religious life is not about numbers. It never has been and never will be. Yet, as some have noted, you have to have people in order to carry on the mission of the community. This is true. We welcome numbers and rejoice in the communities which are attracting large numbers of women. But the number of people coming, the age of the people coming, the dress of the people coming is really rather secondary to what the growth and vitality of a community. I think Diane well illustrated that with the Sisters of Saint Joseph in the full version of her comment.
Two is the issue of religious congregations who share their charism with coworkers, associates, volunteers, benefactors, etc. All these people who are not under religious vows are part of the wider community of that congregation. They choose to be associated with the congregation in different ways. This too is a sign of growth. The success of institutions that we founded and/or sponsored (regardless of how many nuns continue to serve there) is also a sign of growth. Every child that was ever taught by a nun who lives the values that were instilled in her or him is a sign of growth. I think sometimes we get too caught up in the numbers game to realize that growth is a far different reality in God’s eyes. To quote Sister Susan Rose‘s quote again: “numbers are a Capitalist answer to a Christian question.”
As nuns, we do not exist to perpetuate ourselves or to set ourselves up for emulation; rather we exist to serve God, the people of God, and all of creation. Our congregations are gifts of the Holy Spirit for the good of the Church and world. We trust that God knows best and by the power of the Holy Spirit enable us to do the work of God. If that means a handful of nuns, great. If it means truckloads, that’s great too. Vitality and growth have so much more to do with being true to this original call and gift of the Holy Spirit.
Archived Comments
- June 1, 2007 at 2:44 pm
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I am thrilled that there are more religious vocations – been praying for that for years! I’m hoping to see a religious vocation among my offspring, but of course that’s between them and our Lord. I agree that religious life isn’t about numbers. Folks can go into accounting for number-envy. Does the order’s hierarchy reflect your ideals? There are orders that accept older vocations? Blessings, Sister Julie. This is a great blog.
- June 1, 2007 at 3:09 pm
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Thanks for continuing the conversation Julie! I love your line about not existing to perpetuate ourselves. That says a lot.
Your post inspired a post on my blog where I said: “As a new member of a religious congregation that has had by my count 9 deaths of Sisters this year alone – and it’s only June – this is certainly something I’ve been thinking about. If I didn’t think that our spirit and charism was alive and well, if I didn’t sense life and vitality and growth, I don’t think I’d be here. But the thing is … I do. And it has nothing to do with numbers. It has to do with the sheer joy that fills the air when we are gathered for community events. It has to do with the words of wisdom that are shared, the depth of our common prayer experience. It has to do with the new, different and continuing ways our founding mission is carried out today. It has to do with the men and women who join us as Associates and collaborators. It has to do with hope and trusting that God’s in the mix, the Holy Spirit is with us, and our charism of peace through justice is not only alive in us, but it is alive in a world that desperately needs our presence.”
- June 2, 2007 at 2:56 pm
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For nostaglia sake I must admit I love seeing a nun in habit–full or modified. It is that wonderful visually obvious example that I grew up with. Yes, now in my 60′s I know, understand, and believe that it makes absolutely no difference what you wear when you serve the Lord and His people for you wear Him. I have sought out orders that might be willing to take such an ‘old lady’ as I but have also come to realize that I love and serve Him just as I am. There are lay associates to many orders and there are many ways to be dedicated outside of the ‘community’ (we all belong to the One that counts). However, that ongoing closeness and commonality that a community nurtures is awesome. So for those of us in the laity I say, find or start your own faith community, link it to an existing order if you can or want but do it, in His name JUST DO IT!!
- June 3, 2007 at 10:38 pm
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Unfortunately we live in a society that equates numbers with results. That works quite well for the secular world but it’s far short of the standard of measurement for the spiritual world.
Ephesians 4:13 “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the STATURE of the fulness of Christ.”
That’s the standard of measurement you and I measure ourselves by…..It has nothing to do with numbers, except maybe the number one and by that I mean each of one of us individually has to view this as our standard of measurement. The actual success or downfall of any Spiritual community depends on how it measures it’s self . What it uses for a measuring stick per say. From an old fool, yet from an old fool that’s found Grace in The Eyes of The Lord.
- June 7, 2007 at 10:11 pm
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Is it the story of Gideon or Joshua where [Gideon or Joshua] prepares to go into battle, and God says, “Wait a minute — you’ve got too many men for this operation. Thin out the troops a little before going forward.” I think the test for whittling the group down was to have them drink water, and to send the ones home who leaned down to the river and drank with both hands.
Oh my goodness. I hope someone knows this story better than I do. But it does seem like a pretty clear Biblical endorsement of the idea that strength doesn’t always lie in numbers.
