Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
My dear Parishioners,
Peace! The ninth article of the Apostle’s Creed is “I believe in the Holy Catholic Church.” There are thirty-five (35) In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding this article of the Creed. The following is a reflection on article 944.
Religious life as understood by the Church is also termed “Consecrated Life.” This is not to downplay the consecration received in Holy Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders. The monks and the nuns, the brothers and the sisters, all of whom are “religious” and “consecrated” are so, thanks to the “vows” they make before God and the world.
The holy vows taken by the consecrated religious are normally made through a solemn act of Public Profession. These vows are often termed “Evangelical Counsels” because they are recommended in the Gospel. The three classic vows which religious profess in their consecration are: poverty, chasitity, and obedience.
The holy vow of poverty follows the example of the Lord Jesus Himself who lived in this world as a poor person (no room in the inn, relied on the support of His friends, stripped of His clothes on the Cross, a borrowed tomb…) (cf. Matthew 19:21; 27:31–35, 55, 57–60; Luke 2:7; John 12:1–8). The holy vow of poverty is also an act of faith in the providence of God in which those who support the religious are able to generously participate.
The holy vow of chastity is another way to mirror the very example the Lord Jesus gave us during His life here on Earth. He who calls us to be pure of heart (cf. Matthew 5:8, 28) was Himself pure of heart. Chastity, being a natural virtue opposed to lust, is to be lived by every human being. Christians have supernatural motivations above and beyond those give to us via the natural law and our human nature. Spiritual fruitfulness and the world to come are two (2) further reasons for this vow.
The holy vow of obedience makes present the obedience unto death, death on a Cross of Christ Jesus (cf. Romans 5:19; Philippians 2:8) .
That the holy vows of religious profession are made for one (1) year, three (3) years, and perpetually establishes for the consecrated person a certain stability in their state of life. Most consecrated religious persons look to make perpetual vows which bind for life. Some communities have the members renew their holy vows yearly. Some communities include other vows with the traditional three (3) (e.g. “Special Love for the poorest of the Poor” Missionaries of Charity; “Special Obedience to the Pope” Jesuits; “Stability and Conversion of Life” Benedictines…).
Whichever form the consecrated religious life takes the recognition by Mother Church is an essential part. This occurs either on a local level, by a bishop in a diocese (like the Nashville Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia) or on global level, by the Pope for the universal Church. These latter religious are said to be of Pontifical Rite.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr