Piccoli Fiori JMJ Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 I just came out to a bunch of friends of mine at school that I want to be a nun, and one of them was asking if religious were a necessary part of the Catholic CHurch. I know they are very important, but are they really needed? I believe they are, but my reasons are beyond me... how could one defend the religious life? I've never heard any of these questions until now. Can anyone help? Even a good website or something would be helpful! Thanks! God Bless and Mary Protect! Yours in the Most Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Angela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StColette Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 Yes they are really needed !!!! They play a big role in what the Church does. Many religious take care of the disabled or they take care of the sick and dying. Like Mother Teresa who cared for the children with AIDS and such because no one else really would. Religious dedicate their lives to solely serving God and taking care of His children. I mean think about it if we didn't have religious how many people would be uncared for ? They care for so many people and they give so much that it would be impossible for many places to function without them. I mean it's good to give money to charities and things to help the less fortunate but think of who it is that serves those people the food that our money has provided. Many of those people are the religious. Plus another huge thing the religious do is they pray for peace and pray for all God's children constantly. I mean how great of a gift is that, to know that so many are praying for you and all of humanity. Anyway that's just my two cents. God Bless, Jennie Catherine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatcatholic Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 well, priests are DEFINITELY needed, and they are among the religious. God works with them to give us the grace of the sacraments and they make present for us the sacrifice of the Mass. i venture to say that our souls would die w/o these things, and consequently, these people in our lives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StColette Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 yep yep Priests definitely needed, but also remember that Priests can't do everything on their own. I had someone tell me that the only religious that matter were the Priests and the others were useless. Nothing could be more far from the truth. Considering the need for Priests that we have right now, there's no way that Priests could handle all the work the Church has alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cure of Ars Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 (edited) The problem is your friends are thinking in a worldly way. Like the religious life is just like any other job. Is the religious life necessary? The only thing that is necessary is doing God's will. Christ is the one who calls people to the religious life. Look in the bible, there are plenty of examples of people leaving work, family, and home to follow Christ with total abandon. The act itself is testimony to Christ and it makes it clear that the things of this world are not really needed to be happy. (which contradicts the secular world view and I would guess this is why your friends have a hard time with it) All that is required is doing God’s will out of love. Edited October 5, 2004 by Cure of Ars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StColette Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 Just a few verses to add to what Cure said Mt:19:21: 21 Jesus saith to him: If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. (DRV) Mk:4:18-19 18 And others there are who are sown among thorns: these are they that hear the word, 19 And the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts after other things entering in choke the word, and it is made fruitless. (DRV) 1Jn:2:15: 15 Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world. If any man love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him. (DRV) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piccoli Fiori JMJ Posted October 5, 2004 Author Share Posted October 5, 2004 (edited) All right, I believe this helps... So religious are more branches from the vine, so to say...?? I'm putting things into metaphors... I get what you are all saying... The verses help A LOT! Thanks! Edited October 5, 2004 by FutureNunJMJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatcatholic Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 also note that it was the catholic religious who basically invented higher education as an institution. just think of the substantial impact THAT has made on society. plus, many of the orders of nuns are teaching orders that go into impoverished countries, build schools, and then teach in them. these types of orders are definitely needed throughout the world, considering that teachers of private education make the bear minimum salary and that private schools are daily losing teachers to public institutions that pay more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StColette Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 wonderfully put Phat !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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