Semi-contemplative communities?

[DisplayNameBlock]

Hello everyone!  Longtime lurker, first time poster.  Heads up, I am not a Catholic; I'm asking this question for research purposes, hope that's ok!  I've seen the site Cloistered Life, which seems to have a comprehensive list of cloistered monasteries in the United States.  Does a similar database/blog/site exist for *semi-contemplative* communities?  I forget what exactly was said, but I did see on one post that this might be a particularly American phenomenon, or not really as concrete a distinction as between active and contemplative, etc., so I'm happy to be educated further as well if that's the case!  

[Sponsa-Christi]

"Semi-contemplative" isn't a term that really has one standard definition in the Catholic Church. "Cloistered" or "devoted entire to contemplation" generally refer to communities where the members focus entirely on prayer as their main "work" for the Church, as opposed to having some other outside ministry or apostolate that shapes their lives. 

All communities, including active ones, are supposed include a life of serious prayer. But as an less-official categorization, communities that describe themselves as "semi-contemplative" generally are not cloistered and have some active apostolate, but spend more time every day in prayer and perhaps incorporate other monastic customs like periods of silence, etc. 

[gloriana35]

I believe there was another thread on this topic.

Essentially, congregations which were 'semi-cloistered' were involved in active works, on the grounds of their convents, but otherwise observed enclosure. They had to have dispensation for many reasons, if there were a need to leave the enclosure. It was not American. The Madames of the Sacred Heart, Religious of the Good Shepherd, and others observed enclosure - though I believe it was enclosure according to constitution, not the papal enclosure such as nuns in solemn vows have apply.

[Nunsuch]

11 hours ago, Sponsa-Christi said:

But as an less-official categorization, communities that describe themselves as "semi-contemplative" generally are not cloistered and have some active apostolate, but spend more time every day in prayer and perhaps incorporate other monastic customs like periods of silence, etc. 

And, while we're at definitions, let's not equate "monastic" with "contemplative." The two have very distinct meanings. All Benedictines, for instance, are "monastic," but many have extensive active apostolates and are not limited to the contemplative life. 

[Sponsa-Christi]

4 hours ago, Nunsuch said:

And, while we're at definitions, let's not equate "monastic" with "contemplative." The two have very distinct meanings. All Benedictines, for instance, are "monastic," but many have extensive active apostolates and are not limited to the contemplative life. 

I think I would respectfully disagree somewhat. I think monastic life is inherently contemplative, even if the Sisters in a particular monastery are not cloistered or not "dedicated entirely to contemplation."

Most (if not all?) active American Benedictine monastic communities had their origins in fully contemplative European monasteries, so at the very least their heritage is contemplative. And, from what I understand most active Benedictine communities still place a strong emphasis on liturgical prayer in common. So it might even make sense to call some of these communities "semi-contemplative."

But, your point stands: not all monastic communities are strictly cloistered and some are focused on very active apostolates. 

[DisplayNameBlock]

Ok this makes a lot of sense!  Thanks everyone!  

[Sister Leticia]

And my congregation, the Society of the Sacred Heart, is wholly contemplative and wholly apostolic. We're not semi one or the other - and certainly not semi-contemplatives.

Actually, I've never known an order to call themselves semi-contemplative - certainly not here in the UK. Semi-enclosed, yes, as Gloriana has said (for example some apostolic Carmelite orders still observe a certain level of enclosure) - but not semi-contemplative. 

[Nunsuch]

@Sponsa-Christi, I think we are more or less in agreement. I based my comment on the insights of two very good friends of mine, both Benedictines and scholars of monasticism. [One is a former prioress and professor; the other has written several books on Benedictinism and monastic spirituality.] Both find it quite frustrating to have monasticism equated with the contemplative life, as there are many contemplatives who are not monastic, and neither of them are in monastic communities with enclosed traditions. Also, of course, contemplation is a significant part of pretty much ALL religious life--and, if anything, has become more central to the prayer experiences of many active congregations in recent years. 

While it's true that the roots of Benedictinism, especially for women, was traditionally enclosed, the same can be said for all vowed religious life for women. So I think I'll stick with their explanation in my own work....

[magdalenepenitent]

I don’t think a database exists, but I’ve not seen (as others already said) “semi-contemplative,” only semi-cloistered, which I’ve also only seen used in casual conversation. The Order of the Visitation is the only example here in America I’ve personally encountered who use that term, as they are contemplatives who also historically run schools directly attached to their monasteries, thus meaning they technically never left their enclosure. (The monastery I’m an aspirant at is not under papal enclosure and to my knowledge no American Visitandines are under it either. Tyringham may be an exception but since it was co-founded by Georgetown under the American constitutions, I don’t think it is.) 

Edited December 9, 2021 by magdalenepenitent