Embracing Holiness: Vocations and Evangelical Counsels in the Church

1. Section 4: The Lived Mission OFthe Church

2. Section 4,Part 2: Many Vocations to Holiness

3. Introduction • All are called to holiness, not just members of the hierarchy • Do so through the evangelical counsels according to one’s vocation • Poverty, chastity, & obedience • Also through Christ’s three munera or offices—priestly, prophetic, & kingly • Laity—parents in the family or domestic church through Marriage have a unique vocation • Procreation & education of children • Consecrated life—public profession of the E. Counsels & a communal life centered around prayer • Origins in Eastern desert monasticism • New forms of consecrated life—secular institutes & consecrated virgins • 5 Articles • (A. 44) – The Evangelical Counsels • (A. 45) – The Mission of the Laity • (A. 46) – The Work and Vocation of the Laity • (A. 47) – The Consecrated Life: Religious Orders • (A. 48) – Other Types of Consecrated Life

4. Article 44: The Evangelical Counsels • Diocesan priests make 2 promises (free commitment to other persons, the Church, to God): • Celibacy – promise to remain unmarried to devote oneself to the Church & God • Obedience – promise to remain obedient to the local bishop • Religious Order priests make three vows: • Celibacy, Obedience, Poverty (a promise to focus on spiritual riches, rather than earthly wealth) • Evangelical Counsels – A spiritual commitment to live the vows of Poverty, Chastity & Obedience that all are called to make • Consecrated life - A state of life recognized by the Church in which a person publically professes vows of poverty, chastity & obedience

5. You Tube Video: The Evangelical Counsels • Faith Exposed: The Evangelical Counsels

6. A. 44 cont.: The Evangelical Counsels • Poverty • Jesus told the rich man, “Sell everything, give the money to the poor, then come follow me.” (Mk. 10: 21) • What is meant by Poor in Spirit? • The Evangelical Counsel of Poverty, reminds us to commit to not focus on material wealth but on moderation • Thomas Aquinas said all things are good in moderation • Hard for the rich man to enter heaven (Mt. 19: 23)

7. A. 44 cont.: The Evangelical Counsels • Chastity • A healthy integration of sexuality into ones life according to their state in life • A virtue & one of the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit • Chaste is positive and means to: • Control ones sexual desires • Understand & use sexual activity to express a love relationship • Even married couples are called to be chaste (sexual fidelity) • Natural Family Planning uses a full awareness of natural biological cycles to time births in a marriage

8. A. 44 cont.: The Evangelical Counsels • Abstinence – any self-restraint, self-denial, or self-control of a desire • All pornography is a violation of chastity • Self control is counter-cultural in a world that preaches YOLO • Consider how Jesus lived & expected his Apostles to live… • Chastity requires discipleship & leads to respecting self & future vocation • One lives a chaste life when making the vow of celibacy • Celibacy is a unique & positive way of living chastity for diocesan & religious priests • Celibacy is both a sign & a motive of pastoral care; and a sign for the world of the importance of another world (p. 171 shadow box)

9. A. 44 cont.: The Evangelical Counsels • Obedience • All Christians are called to obey Christ • Definition of being a disciple • All Catholics also must obey the Magisterium—Vicars of Christ • Bishops have been given divine authority to teach God’s revealed truths • As Americans, it is counter-cultural to fully accept “the truth” from another • Jesus did the same “becoming obedient to the Father, accepting death on a cross.” (Phil. 2: 8) • Consecrated & clerics take as a vow or promise to superior or bishop

10. Homework • Read AA. 45-46 in the e-book for discussion tomorrow • Section 4, Part 2 review question # 1 • Looking Ahead • Section 4, Part 2 review questions #’s 1-9 due Monday • Section 4, Part 2 quiz Tuesday

11. A. 45: The Mission of the Laity • All baptized, non-ordained & non-religious Christians are part of the laity—special role • The clergy’s (hierarchy) primary role is to lead the Church • The laity’s primary role is to witness to God’s love in the world • We are to be Christ’s hands, feet, voice, & ears in sharing the Good News • Unique duty & responsibility since we live in the world • Social, political, economic collaboration with the hierarchy • Think about Drive – 1,000 kids doing something small makes a huge impact • Laity participate in the Priestly, Prophetic, Kingly offices (munera) of Christ

12. A. 45 cont.: The Mission of the Laity • The Priestly Office of the Laity • Through our daily spiritual sacrifice, we act as “priests” to live out Baptism & Confirmation • Daily work & prayer, especially Eucharist & Reconciliation • The Ministerial Priesthood • Sacred power for teaching, sanctifying, & governing • The Lay (Royal/Davidic) Priesthood – liturgical & daily roles • Lectoring, EME, serving, music ministry (signing/playing) • Laity & the Culture of Life (The Gospel of Life, JPII – shadow box) • Caring for the weak; teaching NFP; supporting single mothers; encouraging those who care for the sick (doctors/nurses/aids); influencing political & legislative processes; rethinking “labor” & society’s economic policies • Especially prophetic but also priestly & kingly--overlap

13. A. 45 cont.: The Mission of the Laity • The Prophetic Office of the Laity • Jesus provides the laity with sensusfedei, a sense of faith • A readiness to accept the true teaching of the Church in faith & morals • A prophet shares God’s word with those that need to hear it (every person in every circumstance) through: • Evangelization—witness & proclamation • Catechists–capable & trained • Catholic views via media, especially social media • Making a Catholic opinion known—even respectfully to hierarchy

14. A. 45 cont.: The Mission of the Laity • The Kingly Office of the Laity • The Kingly Office is about choosing what is right / wrong • Self-discipline—begins with self, God, & others • It is being committed to God’s Kingdom now • Living a life of service; caring for those in need • Christ is our example • Exercising leadership roles with integrity & Christian values • Assist in parish governance through committees • Some at higher levels • For us, school, parish, family, work, …

15. You Tube Video: The Mission of the Laity • Faith Exposed: The Laity & The Christian Mission

16. A. 46: The Work & Vocation of the Laity • The Work of the Laity • All laypersons are called to live out their faith through their chosen life’s work—participate in Christ’s mission in a unique way • Witness to the Kingdom of God • For students, it is in being the best student they can be • Honest, appreciative, friendly, respectful, spiritual, caring, joyful, … • Witness in chastity & Marriage (Procreative & Exclusive Union) • Civil servants should serve with truth, freedom, solidarity & justice for the common good—special & important role • The work of Consecrated celibates (religious & lay) will be discussed in AA. 47-48 • Lay singlehood is a valid vocation in the Church

17. A. 46 cont.: The Work & Vocation of the Laity • The Family: The Domestic Church • A believing family is a “domestic church” • Family is where children first hear about Jesus and God’s word • Christian family’s share sin God’s Trinitarian love, moral living, & prayer • In the early Church, an entire household would be baptized & 1st churches • Parents have a unique & extremely special duty to teach & model a Christian lifestyle to their children • Not only material but also spiritual • Growth in holiness & discernment of vocation • Example of St. Gianna Molla(1922-1962)

18. A. 46 cont.: The Work & Vocation of the Laity • Third Orders • Associations of laypeople connected to a particular order in the Church • Practice the Religious Order’s spirituality • Do not take Evangelical vows • Are involved in ministries & outreach of Order • 3rd Order Religious Organizations: • Franciscans, Capuchins, Dominicans, Carmelite • Basilians, Christian Brothers, Maryknoll, … • Consecrated Single Persons—Widows, Virgins, etc… • Unconsecrated Single Persons

19. Homework • Read AA. 47-48 in the e-book for discussion tomorrow • Section 4, Part 2 review questions # 2-5 • Looking Ahead • Section 4, Part 2 review questions #’s 1-9 due Monday • Section 4, Part 2 quiz Tuesday

20. A. 47: The Consecrated Life: Religious Orders • Religious Orders – Basilian, Franciscan, Capuchin, Jesuit, Benedectine… • Based on the charism of the founder • Public profession of the evangelical counsels as vows = consecrated life • Religious orders are most popular form but not the only one • Religious Orders • Men & women who live in community • Profess a formal, public commitment to live evangelical vows (Poverty, Chastity, Obedience) • Share a liturgical character • Belong to an Institute recognized by the Church

21. Article 47: The Consecrated Life: Religious Orders cont. • History of Religious Orders • Monastic – derived from Greek “alone” • Hermits– withdrew from society to the desert to “be” alone with Christ; committed to a life of prayer & solitude • Hermits gradually formed communities—St. Pachomias • These men were eventually called “monks” & “nuns” • These communities eventually were called “Religious Orders” • Members can be both Lay (Brothers & Sisters) & Ordained (Deacons & Priests) • Bishops & pope are special cases • Members follow a common religious “rule”, typically formed by the founder • Catholic Religious Orders must be approved by the Pope

22. A. 47 cont.: The Consecrated Life: Religious Orders Variety of Religious Orders (ROs) • ROs have been formed to respond to needs in the world—Nano Nagle & the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary • Dominicans – teachers & preachers to combat Albigensianism • Franciscans – restore the Gospel life of simplicity & poverty • Jesuits – missionaries & intellectuals during Catholic Counter Reformation in parishes & schools • Basilians– Run Catholic Schools & priestly training • Christian Brothers (French & Irish)--Schools • ROs were the primary missionaries to foreign lands • Some ROs are devoted to contemplative prayer (Cloister) vs. active apostolates • Benedictines, Carthusians, Cistercians, …

23. A. 47 cont.: The Consecrated Life: Religious Orders Prayer as the Rhythm of Religious Life • Religious life is characterized by prayer • Especially Liturgy of the Hours--The Divine Office • Follow what St. Paul said, “Pray without ceasing” • Morning (Lauds), Mid-day, Noon, Afternoon, Evening (Vespers), Office of Readings, & Compline (7 hours) • The Office focuses on reading the Psalms, New Testament, Writings of Church Fathers & Doctors, Prayers & Response

24. You Tube Videos: Consecrated Life • Consecrated Life: Traditional Forms • Consecrated Life: New Forms

25. A. 48: Other Types of Consecrated Life Hermits: The Eremitic Life • Hermits separate themselves (varies)form the world to devote their lives to prayer, penance & purification • Hermits are a witness to the interior aspect of the Church • Their focus is on union with God to symbolize Church’s union with Christ • Their prayer is for the universal Church • St. Anthony is the best known desert father (eremitic) (250 AD) Consecrating a Bride of Christ (shadow box) • Theresa Ivers“married” Christ in a “wedding” ceremony of commitment as a consecrated virgin

26. A. 48 cont.: Other Types of Consecrated Life Consecrated Virgins & Widows • Women who dedicate their state of life as a celibate to be married mystically to Christ for the Kingdom of God • They are formally consecrated by a bishop, but remain active in the world working a secular job • Frequently will be very involved in a parish or volunteer ministry Secular Institutes • Secular communities dedicated to witnessing to the • Gospel (Charitas Christi)--Pope Pius XII in 1947 Societies of Apostolic Life • Lay & clergy who minister, but take promises not public vows (Maryknoll, Oblates of Phillip Neri, SOLT, Paulist)

27. Homework • Section 4, Part 2 review questions #’s 6-9 • Section 4, Part 2 review questions #’s 1-9 due Monday • Section 4, Part 2 quiz (AA. 44-48) Tuesday