Recommended Men's Communities

[Emile James]

[quote name='Emile James' post='1155374' date='Jan 3 2007, 03:22 PM']
i am going to assume you didnt mean Fr Cantalamessa, isn't faithful to the Church, Holy See, but the Capuchin tradition>?? perhaps if one includes the capuchin 'branch tradition being the more contemplative renewal originally, hermits and radically poor , and amazing evangalizers..if thats a word....
Not that i am a big fan of charismatic religious lifestyle,and not agreeing with much of his outlook on Spirituality , and Mystical Theology........yet,"1980 he was appointed by Pope John Paul II Preacher to the Papal Household in which capacity he still serves, preaching a weekly sermon in Advent and Lent in the presence of the Pope, the cardinals, bishops an prelates of the Roman Curia and the general superiors of religious orders"

I have met quite a few religious, (while there Communities have lost there charism, and became worldy), they personally, struggling along, remained very faithful...

(1743 Pope Benedict XIV, by the Brief Inclytum Fratrum Minorum, reserved the office of Papal Preacher exclusively to the Order of Capuchin Friars Minor.)

By His great mercy, E-J.
[/quote]
OOOk, i may have to re-think my Fr Cantalamessa opinion..besides the following article, i read that There even seems ti be an interest more than charismatic curiosity..from Fr Cantalamessa in Benny Hinns crusade/ministry seeing it as an authentic movement of God..if thats the case..i hope he is not going to fall into the great throng of the deceived..publicly praying with false prophet/ heretics.interesting...hopefully he prayed for Bennys conversion. All the Hinn sites are either attacking him for hanging out with papists, or are promoting Romes "acceptance" and conversion towards Hinnism. at
[url="http://www.bennyhinn.org/articles/articledesc.cfm/id/204"]http://www.bennyhinn.org/articles/articledesc.cfm/id/204[/url]

"We can suppose that he has no plans to convert to Catholicism, so what can be gained by this except him gaining a perceived association to the Church. This is nothing more than a parasitic move. This is not good, since so many people are already confused about him. He leads many astray. Scripture also warns us to avoid that!!!" from a BlogPost

i wonder what the Servant general of the Cappuchins thinks.?
then, there is the Assisi, meetings..but. lets not get into that..

Edited January 5, 2007 by Emile James

[Emile James]

[quote name='Emile James' post='1155076' date='Jan 2 2007, 11:13 PM']
My contribution, sorry for any repeats of previous community posts
[b]Mens Religious Communities [/b]recommended, many I have visited on Retreat or to work, or on pilgrimage, some I have friends who are members.
Of no particular arrangement
Ones that are not English speaking Countries, do have some English, usually Novice masters/Superiors who speak English. So visiting is rarely a problem, yet one must of course have a basic useful, knowledge of the language.
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. and could list a lot more wonderful various Communities but they are all in Europe.mostly France and Italy, I just listed well known , great ones.
I travelled too much the last 11 years..yeesh.
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[b]Madonna House lay apostolate[/b]
Lay men and Women and Priests. Mixed (meals and Liturgy together) Missionary Community.
3 canonical ‘promises’, lived out very authentically.
Priests are great Spiritual Directors. Also a free, pre-seminary discernment formation program for men.

[url="http://www.madonnahouse.org/about/index.html"]http://www.madonnahouse.org/about/index.html[/url]

[url="http://www.madonnahouse.org/field/washington.html"]http://www.madonnahouse.org/field/washington.html[/url] USA

Madonna House
220 C St N E
Washington DC
20002-5718
Phone: 202-547-0177

[url="http://www.madonnahouse.org/programs/formation.html"]http://www.madonnahouse.org/programs/formation.html[/url]

Madonna House Apostolate ( Main Formation Centre)
2888 Dafoe Rd
Combermere ON. K0J 1L0
Canada
Telephone: 613-756-3713
Fax: 613-756-0211
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[b]Community of the Beatitudes[/b]
Encompasses all states of life, including families with Children living a quasi monastic life. Charismatic, but in the very catholic European sense. Not exactly my cup of tea, but some of the most wonderful charitable, faithful people, as well s amazing missionary Priests I have met here.
Spirituality is Carmelite essentially. With perpetual when possible ,adoration .many old monasteries were reopened in Europe for this Community, 1,500 members.
When the CFR Brothers are in France, its this Community that hosts them, and has them speak at conferences, for French Youth, as well as translates their books.

[url="http://www.beatitudes.us/home.html"]http://www.beatitudes.us/home.html[/url] website not completed

Community of the Beatitudes
2924 West 43rd Avenue
Denver, CO 80211
Tel: 720.855.9412
Fax: 509.275.1658

International site listing all houses with many pic links…in French

[url="http://beatitudes.org/maisons/maisons.htm"]http://beatitudes.org/maisons/maisons.htm[/url]
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[b]Monastery of St. Benedict[/b], Norcia (Nursia)
AMERICAN, Benedictine monks in Nursia Italy, Birthplace of St Benedict.
Current formation/life in English/Latin, but one must learn Italian once there. .GREAT balanced Community
6 year old re-founding

Monastero di San Benedetto
Via Reguardati, 22
06046 Norcia (PG)
Italy

[url="http://www.osbnorcia.org/"]http://www.osbnorcia.org/[/url] TAKES a moment to load
Please send all personal coorespondence directly to the monastery.
monastero@osbnorcia.org
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[b]Bendictine[/b]
Rev. Peter Nygren, OSB
Westminster Abbey, Mission, BC,
CANADA, V2V 4J2

Phone: 604-826-8975
Fax: 604-826-8725
Good place to start Seminary as well

[url="http://www.sck.ca/pages/monks.htm"]http://www.sck.ca/pages/monks.htm[/url]
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHR1KBvfJr8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHR1KBvfJr8[/url]
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Abbey of Our Lady of the Prairies ([b]Trappist Monks[/b])
Today, this community is located in Holland, Manitoba,Canada though an English Province in Canada, the Monastery is bilingual with French Liturgy. A good distance from the city of Winnipeg. Its daily life is punctuated by the rhythms of the Divine Office (French/latin), caring for a dairy herd, cultivation of grain and coagulated milk-making.

Abbey of Our Lady of the Prairies C.P. 310, Holland, Manitoba R0G 0X0 CANADA
[url="http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Trappist/english/a_day/day_overview.html"]http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Tr...y_overview.html[/url]

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Just across the border from Vermont, we have,

[b]SAINT BENEDICT ABBEY [/b]
(Novice master/Vocations)
Saint-Benoit-du-Lac
Quebec, Canada
J0B 2M0

[url="http://www.st-benoit-du-lac.com/selecteur/chooser.html"]http://www.st-benoit-du-lac.com/selecteur/chooser.html[/url]
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qDSMCCUY9Q"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qDSMCCUY9Q[/url]
[url="http://www.st-benoit-du-lac.com/abbaye.ram"]http://www.st-benoit-du-lac.com/abbaye.ram[/url]
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[b]Benedictine[/b]
Our Lady of the Annunciation of Clear Creek is a Benedictine monastery in the diocese of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The founding monks at Clear Creek were all members of the Traditional monastic community at Fontgombault, France

Our Lady of the Annunciation of Clear Creek 5804 West Monastery Road Hulbert, OK 74441 phone: (918) 772-2454 Fax: (918) 772-1044
[url="http://www.clearcreekmonks.org/"]http://www.clearcreekmonks.org/[/url] website only works well in IE
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Bendictine (Solesmes Cong)
Quarr Abbey, England..cloistered... latin..and on an island none the less!

Quarr Abbey, Ryde, Isle of Wight,
England,PO33 4ES.
fax 01983 884402

[url="http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=73472102&size=m"]http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=73472102&size=m[/url]
[url="http://www.quarrabbey.co.uk/"]http://www.quarrabbey.co.uk/[/url]
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[b]Trappist[/b]another British island..well Wales.
seem to be reviving but could urgently have some good faithful men!
They have a new young Abbot from a monastery in Holland.

Novice Director
Caldey Abbey, Caldey Island
off Tenby, Pembrokeshire
SA70 7UH Wales, UK

[url="http://www.caldey-island.co.uk/webleaflet1.html"]http://www.caldey-island.co.uk/webleaflet1.html[/url]
[url="http://www.caldey-island.co.uk/page2.html"]http://www.caldey-island.co.uk/page2.html[/url]
[url="http://www.caldey-island.co.uk/aerial.htm"]http://www.caldey-island.co.uk/aerial.htm[/url]
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and, if you are really into the Traditional liturgy, studied your latin well..and Monastic Life this is where ‘Cardinal Ratzinger said is one of his favourite places to be in France, well, he said that about the Abbey at Fontgambault too.
Its,
Abbaye Sainte-Madeleine ([b]Bendictin[/b])
F-84330 LE BARROUX – France

[url="http://www.barroux.org/"]http://www.barroux.org/[/url] French

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[b]Carthusians [/b]/usa
Charterhouse of the Transfiguration
1800 Beartown Road
ARLINGTON, Vermont 05250 USA

[url="http://www.chartreux.org/maisons/Transfiguration/photos.htm"]http://www.chartreux.org/maisons/Transfiguration/photos.htm[/url]
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[b]Camaldolese Monks [/b] (in Ohio 0f the more traditional branch)
A form of semi-eremitical life is practiced in the Camaldolese hermitage. It consists of a wise balance between the solitary (eremitic)
life and community (cenobitic) life.
The eremitism is manifest in the fact that each monk lives in a cell (little house with small garden) separate from the others; he
habitually takes meals alone; he does the "lectio divina" and other personal prayers in cell; he perhaps does manual labor alone;
and he spends the time remaining after work and common prayer in cell.
Together for Sundays Meals and daily Holy Mass

Fr. Prior
Vocation Contact/ Holy Family hermitage
Camaldolese Hermits of Monte Corona
1501 Fairplay Road
Bloomingdale, OH 43910-7971
740-765-4511

[url="http://clevelandohio.tripod.com/fatherbasil/"]http://clevelandohio.tripod.com/fatherbasil/[/url]
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[b]The Hermits of Bethlehem[/b]
There appears no age limit on seeking a vocation, simply a deep desire to live this life with God the Father, though Jesus Christ His Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Laura has both male and female hermits. Though I am not sure it is fair to call it a mixed community because of the manner of life. The hermits spend most of their time praying the canonical Divine Office in their own cells or working on a task in solitude. Hermits have the Blessed Sacrament reserved in their own cell and pray before it many times a day.a very rare specific vocation..
They eat, work and perform Lectio Divina "alone with the Great Alone". They meet only for daily Mass that ends with 20 minutes of silence before the closing benediction. No other offices are prayed in common except for Sunday.
The hermits admire greatly the Desert Fathers and try to imitate their wisdom in our midst.
[i]Not to be confused with the Monastic Community of Bethlehem and the Assumption.[/i]

The Hermits of Bethlehem
82 Pleasant Hill Road
Chester, NJ 07930
USA

Voices in the following video are not theirs, nor are all of community shown.
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0zH8CH7K0o"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0zH8CH7K0o[/url]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziMIrqMcjIU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziMIrqMcjIU[/url]
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[i]I once took shelter from a tornado here![/i]
[b]Mt. Carmel Hermitage [/b] P.O. Box 337 Christoval, Texas 76935-0337
(325)896-2249

[url="http://www.carmelitehermits.org/index.htm"]http://www.carmelitehermits.org/index.htm[/url]
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Personally I think St John of the Cross would be pleased with these brothers, they also live next door to a Cloistered Carmelite Nuns Monastery, Lake Elmo, where the Priests are Confessors and celebrate the Liturgy, for the Nuns.
These Brothers celebrate in Latin/Ad Orientum as well.

[b]Carmelite Hermits[/b]
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
8249 de Montreville Trail
Lake Elmo, MN 55042-9545

[url="http://www.decorcarmeli.com/Hermits.htm"]http://www.decorcarmeli.com/Hermits.htm[/url]
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[b]Discalced Carmelite Friars St Josephs Province[/b]
My good and faitrhful bendictine Monk friend has a friend here, thinks they are the best, of Apostolic Carmelites in the U.S., so there.
We staff four parishes, a
retreat house, a house of prayer, an Institute of Spirituality, and a
mission in Uganda, Africa. We are also involved in spiritual direction,
hospital chaplaincy, prison ministry, and spiritual assistance to
Carmelite Nuns and Carmelite Seculars.

[url="http://www.discalcedcarmelites.com/OurLife.html"]http://www.discalcedcarmelites.com/OurLife.html[/url]

Fr. Adam Gregory Gonzales, O.C.D.
Discalced Carmelite Friars
P. O. Box 3420
San Jose, Ca 95156
Phone:
408.251.1361 ext. 324
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[b]Society of St. John Cantius[/b]
Vocation Contact
825 N Carpenter St
Chicago IL 60622-5405

[url="http://www.societycantius.org/"]http://www.societycantius.org/[/url]
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[b]The Community of St John[/b] (kind of a mix between 15th Century Dominicans and modern Carmelites) 
Archbishop John J. Myers.
Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey (former Bishop of Peoria, Illinois)
"I am very happy that the Brothers and Sisters of St. John responded favorably to my invitation and decided to establish their English-speaking Novitiates in the Diocese of Peoria. [In 1995]
I invited the Brothers of St. John, and then the Sisters of St. John, into the Diocese of Peoria. Since their arrival, many lay people, seminarians, religious and priests have been touched by their contemplative spirit, incarnated in a deep life of adoration and teaching search for the truth. They truly are a blessing for the whole diocese."

[url="http://laredo.communityofstjohn.com/images/stories/Rimont1.jpg"]http://laredo.communityofstjohn.com/images...ies/Rimont1.jpg[/url]
American
Novitiate House

St. Joseph's Priory
11223 W. Legion Hall Rd.
Princeville, IL 61559 Phone : 309-385-1193 Fax : 309-385-1830

[url="http://www.communityofstjohn.com/?rub=in_us"]http://www.communityofstjohn.com/?rub=in_us[/url] Illinois Site
[url="http://laredo.communityofstjohn.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=34&Itemid=196"]http://laredo.communityofstjohn.com/index....&Itemid=196[/url]
Texas Site (very good)
[url="http://www.stjean.com/EN/Communaute1.htm"]http://www.stjean.com/EN/Communaute1.htm[/url] International website
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[b]Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate[/b]
Vocation Director
Marian Friary of Our Lady of Guadalupe
199 Colonel Brown
Norwich, CT 06360

[url="http://www.marymediatrix.com/rel_life/friars.shtml"]http://www.marymediatrix.com/rel_life/friars.shtml[/url]
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[i]Love these bros![/i]
Franciscani Minori Rinnovati ([b]Franciscans Minor of Renewal[/b])
Franciscans who live in old train-cars on the outskirts of Naples, Italy. Founded in 1971,in Palermo, by a former Capuchin Franciscan and Spiritual son of St.Padre Pio, barefoot and bearded,
their apostolate, based essentially on prayer, penance and fraternity, in total service of the Church mainly with the sacrament of reconciliation and spiritual conferences/preaching, as well as some being Exorcists for their Dioceses. With its sixty five Franciscans scattered through southern Italy, like Naples ,Sicily (Palermo, Corleone) and Ugento, also Columbia -South America and Tanzania, Africa. The Order, is very contemplative but active in, offering its apostolate in all the situations of extreme misery.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvx9RGcyEdc"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvx9RGcyEdc[/url]
[url="http://www.esprit-photo.com/images/photos-reportage/03_Francisani_Rinovati/600pix/EP07c013.jpg"]http://www.esprit-photo.com/images/photos-...ix/EP07c013.jpg[/url]
Franciscani Minori Rinnovati -
Servo Generale Vocations
Frateli Pio-Maria ,
Eremo San Bernardo ,
90034 CORLEONE (PA),
Italy
[url="http://www.esprit-photo.com/images/photos-reportage/03_Francisani_Rinovati/600pix/EP07c003.jpg"]http://www.esprit-photo.com/images/photos-...ix/EP07c003.jpg[/url]
Franciscani Minori Rinnovati
Via Falconara, 96

90136 PALERMO,

Italy
Fr Pio, understands Italian/French /Spanish and some English
[url="http://www.esprit-photo.com/ecarte.php?id=1984"]http://www.esprit-photo.com/ecarte.php?id=1984[/url]

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Franciscan Friars of the Renewal Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, C.F.R.
St. Joseph Friary
523 W.142 St.
New York, NY 10031

“We are praying for you and your discernment everyday, especially on Wednesdays. May the Lord give you the grace to know His plan for your life and the courage to follow Jesus wherever He is calling you! As you may know, we are not running any special "Come and See" weekends. Rather, give me a call (keep trying!) and we will set up a visit. I think that this method is more helpful in your seeing our way of life as it is with no candy coating, etc. Don't forget all of the people that the Lord wants to get to heaven through YOUR ministry. The harvest is ripe! In struggling to be faithful to our vocation we know that this is the Lord's plan to get us to heaven and take as many people with us as possible. Let us set our hands to the plow in the Lord's vineyard and not look back!”

Thank you for your patience in contacting me,
God bless you,
[img]http://www.franciscanfriars.com/Vocation_eLetter/images_vocations_eletter/frlukepic.jpg[/img]
(212) 281-4355
[url="http://www.franciscanfriars.com/vocations/index2.htm"]http://www.franciscanfriars.com/vocations/index2.htm[/url]

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[b]Missionaries of Charity Fathers[/b]
The religious community of the Missionaries of Charity Fathers was founded by Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta with Fr. Joseph Langford in 1984, to combine the beauty of the Missionaries of Charity vocation with the grace of the ministerial priesthood.
MC Fathers
2498 Roll Drive , PMB 815
San Diego , CA 92154 U.S.A.

or

Padres Misioneros de la Caridad
Apartado Postal 96, Otay. C.P. 22501
Tijuana, B.C. MEXICO
Tel: (00) (52) (664) 624-6511 or 624-6796
Fax: (00) (52) (664) 623-0621
or
Fr. Rich Hodgson, MC
Padri Missionari della Carità
Vicolo di Torre del Fiscale, #73
00178 Roma ITALIA

[url="http://www.mcpriests.com/09pictures/Tijuana/medium/0018.jpg"]http://www.mcpriests.com/09pictures/Tijuana/medium/0018.jpg[/url]
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[b]Priests ofInstitute of the Incarnate Word[/b]
[url="http://www.iveamerica.org/pagpub.asp?page=4"]http://www.iveamerica.org/pagpub.asp?page=4[/url]

[url="http://www.iveamerica.org/"]http://www.iveamerica.org/[/url]
Rev. Gustavo Nieto
Provincial Superior
Saint Paul's Church

113 E 117th St., New York, NY 10035
Telefono: (212) 534-5257
Fax: (212) 534-5258
prov.immaculate.conception@ive.org
one alwyas sees there Sisters in Rome, [url="http://www.servidoras.org/documento.asp?titulo=USA+%2D+Washington+%2D+Toma+de+H%E1bito&seccion=Newswith"]http://www.servidoras.org/documento.asp?ti...eccion=Newswith[/url] ther impressive habits..they are also, charged with the apostolate of Adoration ,at St peters basilica..The Sisters adore, the Brothers Priests repose etc, as well
[b]Byzantine Catholic Monks([/b] under the Romanian Eparchy)
Holy Resurrection Monastery
P.O Box 130
NewBerry Springs,CA.
USA 92365

No worries they are all Americans and Australians!
[url="http://www.hrmonline.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=33"]http://www.hrmonline.org/index.php?option=...2&Itemid=33[/url]

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Benedictines, Bi-Ritual (Latin/Byzantine Russian-Catholic) many monks speak many languages, many English ,one Canadian and two Americans in the Community Postal address of the Monastery:

Monastère de l'Exaltation de la Sainte Croix
Rue du monastère 65
B - 5590 - Chevetogne
Belgique /Belgium

Fax: + 32 (0)83 21.60.45
[url="http://www.monasterechevetogne.com/index.php?taalkeuze=3"]http://www.monasterechevetogne.com/index.php?taalkeuze=3[/url]
[url="http://www.sioneeklo.org/images/2005/images/Chevetogneluchta.jpg"]http://www.sioneeklo.org/images/2005/image...togneluchta.jpg[/url]

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last,but NOt least..

[b]Brothers of the Monastic Family of Bethlehem,[/b] the Assumtpion, and St Bruno.

Generalate
Monastère de l'Assumption Notre-Dame
Currière-en-Chartreuse
(Diocese de Grenoble)
France -F38380 Saint-laurent Du Pont
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May God give you His peace...!
By His mercy, Emile-James
[/quote]
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[b]Advice on Discerning a Vocation[/b] by Br. Alexis Bugnolo [i](i think[/i])
A Roman Catholic Explanation of the Teachings of Jesus Christ

Is the Lord, perhaps, calling you to the priesthood?
To religious life? Or to both?
What is a Vocation? A closer look

Having read these parables we can begin to ask the question again in more detail: What exactly is a vocation? Where does it come from? Where does it lead? Who receives a vocation? And how does one know it? When does one know for sure that the grace of a vocation has been given?

What is a vocation?

A vocation is a special grace given to an individual person upon which the mystery and purpose of their entire life finds its perfect meaning and solution. All the gifts we have of nature (body, soul, family, possessions, talents, education, opportunities) have been given to us to help us accept and fulfill, in some way, the duties of our vocation. If we chose rightly, all will go well and we will arrive safely in Heaven; if badly, we will have much greater suffering coming our way, and will perhaps end in Hell.

Where does a vocation come from?

A vocation comes from the Most Holy Trinity by means of the Mediation of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is our Mother in the order of grace. Also it frequently is made known to us though the help and advice given by those who strive to be faithful to God themselves. We hear this call in prayer by a secret desire welling up in the depths of our hearts, often with special light in our minds to see its goodness and usefulness for our eternal salvation.

Where does a vocation lead?

A vocation is a calling to "life on high with Jesus Christ." It is a call to walk with Jesus and Mary along the narrow way that leads to heaven. It is a call to the perfection of virtue, of holiness, of charity, of faith, and of hope in the things to come, to service of God, of Church, and of our neighbor.

Who receives a vocation?

God gives the grace of a vocation only to one who has faith, for "without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6) and the grace of a vocation is first of all a calling to live a life pleasing to God in every way. That God gives a vocation is often a sign of our faithfulness up until the present; sometimes, though it is a call to turn away from a present or future course which will only lead to our eternal damnation. Thus to receive a vocation one must first be baptized and be truly catholic.

Secondly, although God calls even those who are sinners, nevertheless, it is impossible to accept the grace of a vocation and to remain faithful to it so long as one commits grave sin. Indeed the habit of committing mortal sin is a sign that the most fundamental spiritual work has yet to be done. That work is repentance, and it calls us to receive the sacrament of reconciliation worthily and frequently, so as to live free from the habit of all grave sin.

But a vocation is preeminently a grace given to those who have already sought and who still seek earnestly to live with Christ according to the commandments of the moral law. It is not that such persons consider themselves more perfect or better than others. Rather, recognizing that without God they can do nothing, and that but for the grace of a vocation they would sooner forsake the God of Glory, and perhaps even work greater evils, these who receive the grace of a vocation strive ever to be servants and handmaids of God Most High.

And how does one know that God is holding out to him the grace of a vocation?

There is a prayer recommended for many years that is worth quoting in this regard: "Anticipate O Lord our actions by Thy holy inspirations and carry them on by Thy gracious assistance, so that every prayer and work of ours may be pleasing to Thee and be brought to completion through Christ Our Lord. Amen."

Prayers of this kind bear witness to a fundamental doctrine of our Catholic faith, namely, that no one can will something good, holy, or worthy of respect, unless God the Father grants the grace to do so first of all. Indeed, so much is this rule to be trusted that St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori states that one of the clear signs of a priestly vocation is the desire to be a holy, just, and chaste priest, if God should call him to the priesthood.

This rule is also applicable to religious. And moreover, the opposite is true. If one seeks any vocation for the sake of anything in this world then this is a clear sign that this aspect of one's motivation does not come from the Lord who is Spirit and Truth. If such is the only or primary motivation of a person, then the best advice is NOT to pursue it, for this will lead only to ruination of yourself and many others.

Another clear sign of a vocation is the attraction to that state in life, especially in the time of prayer and recollection. If when one withdraws from the noise and cares and vanities of this world, there arises the desire to be a priest or religious, then this is a sign that the Lord is calling.

There are even more signs, and it is the teaching of the saints that the Lord of Grace will not fail to make us know for certain, at least at one moment in our life, especially when we are striving to live in a manner that pleases Him, that He indeed is certainly calling us.

Finally it must be said that God will never inspire anyone to pursue a vocation that the Church Herself teaches is not for them. Thus no woman is led by God's Spirit if she feels herself called to the priesthood or diaconate, simply because "God cannot deceive nor be deceived," and again "He is a Spirit of truth," and not a "father of lies" who would give his daughter a snake when she asks for bread.

When does one know for sure that the grace of a vocation has been given?

Before one has definitively assumed the state in life associated with a vocation (such as at ordination, or perpetual profession) there always is and can be some uncertainly, simply for the reason that we are weak and feeble creatures. That is, barring extraordinary fidelity to grace, for uncertainty and doubt in one who has clear signs of a vocation, or of the fact that God has or is calling, is a weakness, not a strength. Indeed it can be a punishment for sin, especially for neglect for prayer, chastity, faith and/or charity to our neighbor.

But some also, on account of their special mission in life or fidelity to God receive the firm and unshakable conviction that the Lord is in fact calling them. Such prove that this is from God only if they persevere in following this call until death, and for this they must always pray, lest they loose the little they have, through pride and presumption.

How to Discern a Vocation

There are a few things recommended to those who desire to be more certain regarding the possibility of a vocation. Indeed these practices are recommended for every one, since we all are called by God in baptism to holiness of life, and because these practices are nothing more than fidelity to our baptismal promises. At the present you may practice one or more of these, or even none of these. Are you required to practice them all? Is that necessary to know for certain your vocation?

The answer is simple enough. These practices are like flames of a fire. The more flames, the more heat, the more heat, the greater the likely hood of a wet log burning. Now the soul who is beginning to walk to the Lord, indeed even many of us who have begun long ago, is likened to a wet log. It must draw close to God or God to it to be dried from sin, enlightened by faith, kindled by charity for God and neighbor.

Therefore the more that one does to draw closer to God, the clearer will be one's knowledge of one's vocation, whatever it may be, and wherever it may lead.

Here are some recommended things you can do:

1. Consecrate yourself to the Blessed Virgin Mary and ask Her for all the graces and lights you need to please Her Son best of all.
2. Resolve to spend some time each day in prayer. The more definite the time and place the better.
3. Receive the sacrament of penance frequently and worthily.
4. If you are not conscious of having committed a mortal sin which you have not confessed, then receive the Eucharist and with devout attention and participation at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Keep free from all sin, especially mortal sin, and strive to receive worthily often.
5. Pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary each day; and strive to acquire the habit of saying Her Rosary each day.
6. Pray often to one's guardian angel and to one's patron saints for the light of guidance and the grace of help.
7. Avoid everything that might destroy one's love of God and Heaven, especially, impure pictures, films and immodest clothing or friends. (This practice is of course not optional, but obligatory, for "He who lives by the sword is doomed to die by the sword.")
8. Read the lives and/or writings of canonized saints. Especially those who were outstanding priests, religious and founders of religious orders.
9. Study the catechism.
10. Take up some work of charity for your neighbor, in so far as your present duties allow.
11. Frequently ask God for the grace to know and love Him more and more.
12. If there is a priest who in his actions is faithful to the Pope and a man of prayer ask for his advise and counsel. If you think you need advice concerning a vocation to religious life choose a priest who does not in any way despise the religious vocation.
13. Be faithful to your present duties in life, even making sacrifices to fulfill them without negligence.

The Reward for those who follow Him

Finally we have the assurance of Christ that all who follow Him in a vocation will be greatly rewarded in this life and the life to come:

Peter said to Him, "We have left all we own to become Your followers." His answer was, "I solemnly assure you, there is no one who has left home or wife or brothers, parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, who will not receive a hundred homes, brothers, parents or children in this age and in the world to come life everlasting." (Gospel of St. Luke, chapter 18, verses 29-30)

Supplement: Advice on Fulfilling a Vocation

Finding a Diocese

If you have discerned that God is calling you to the diocesan priesthood, then here is some simple advice that you can follow to help you fulfill His will for you.

First of all, do not pursue the vocation of a diocesan priest if you have sometime thought your vocation is to the religious life, and are choosing a vocation to diocesan priesthood as an escape from a vocation to religious life. This kind of behavior displeases the Lord very much, and He is not one to be mocked. Rest assured that He will block your way and have His way in the end, or that you will perish in your folly.

Second, strive to find some truly holy and learned diocesan priests to be your mentors and advisers. Discern who to entrust your soul to by examining their deeds more than their words. Don't hesitate to make sacrifices in traveling to find, even in remote places, such men, for they are worth their weight in gold. And having found them, do not let human respect or friendship lead you to accept anything they might advise that would be against the teaching of the Church or the way of holiness.

Third, don't play the cafeteria game: that is do not decide on a diocese simply because you can get more out of it for yourself, especially if this "more" regards material things. Consider rather a diocese where there is greater possibility of pleasing God and serving the needy. Mission dioceses are often places were God can more easily found.

Fourth, don't accept compromises. Often many men go the way of perdition by agreeing to immoral arrangements in regard to their priestly formation, thinking once they become a priest it won't matter how they became one. There is little that could be more stupid than such thinking. God sees all, and the man who ascends the Altar unworthily is the most cursed man on the face of the earth.

Fifth, do not neglect prayer and study—in that order. Do not be swayed by what men say but bend your mind and heart to what the Church and the Saints, Doctors, and Fathers teach and did. Pay as much regard to a teaching as the authority of the one who taught it, and you will never go wrong.

Sixth, be holy for the Lord your God is holy. Make your first work, each day and week, be the keeping of your good resolutions and the examination and formation of your conscience. Never call evil good, nor good evil. Never call what is better, worse, or what is worse better. For such is the sin against the Holy Spirit.

Seventh, never be afraid, when you have sufficient reason, to disclose to those superiors who are able and willing to do something about it, the names of those persons in the Church who need help or who are destroying Her from within.

Finding a Religious Institute

Finding a religious institute is an essential part of a religious vocation; though, alas, it is not at all easy in the contemporary situation. But there are several points of advice that will smooth your journey, if only you remember them:

First, discern your vocation. Half the work in finding a religious institute is knowing to which one the Lord is calling you. He will not fail to make this clear, but to discern this rightly you must consider the totality of all the holy desires the Lord has sown in your soul, not just one of them. It is disastrous to choose one community over another simply because you would prefer this or that particular characteristic most of all. What matters is not what you want, but what God wants for you. Therefore put His will first and make the decision that will please Him. This is the most fundamental rule. If you break it, your life may be pleasant, humanly speaking in this world, but very unpleasant, spiritually speaking, in the life to come.

Second, to be a religious is to promise God, under the penalty of eternal damnation, to spend one's life seeking to grow in virtue. If you do not have this intention, do not be a religious, for it would be a quick road to damnation. If you have this intention, you need to pray and study a great deal the teachings and lives of the saints, on how to be holy. This will be the greatest help in deciding which community the Lord wants for you.

Third, never consider any community which is in any way not Catholic in its way of life. Examine their doctrine and discipline, what they do and what they don't do and what they permit members to do and not to do. What periodicals and books do they read, what places do they visit, what clothes do they wear. The key questions to look for are how do they live their vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Be frank in your questions when you visit, if necessary. No worthy community will tolerate in the least such things as theological dissent, sodomy, impurity, individual monthly stipends, or freedom to do your own thing, etc.. If such criteria, as these, limit the number of places to choose from, all the better, since God only has one place in mind for you anyhow.

Fourth, do not give up. Even if you make the wrong decision, there is always time to change your heart and decide aright. Many times a community seems one way to us in our youth and another once we live there. If there are truly sound reasons, do not hesitate to leave. Do not join in the revelry of the wicked, simply because you have so little faith in the Providence God will show you if you seek Him in purity of heart and life. Sometimes too, after some years we realize that God was calling us to a holier life, and that there is a real possibility to live it now. Make this known to a good holy priest and seek the permission to follow this vocation-within-a-vocation. It is never too late to follow the Lord with a renewed spirit.

Fifth, never set a limit. If you only knew the things that make the Lord very, very angry, you would realize that one of they is those individuals who say "If I find such and such in such and such a period of time then I will say yes to the Lord, otherwise, I will go my merry way." These individuals go from folly to perdition faster than lightning. And they deserve such, for they have spurned the Love and powerful Providence of God, who alone is worthy of love and who knows best the times and seasons to serve Him.

Sixth, do not join or remain in a community if they do not observe their rule or norms, or if they are not willing to expel dissenters or those who flagrantly transgress their vows. But resolving to remain a religious and be a better one, keep the rule or norms and look for the possibility of transferring to a better community. To do otherwise is to put your soul in grave danger; to join such a community is, according to St. Alphonsus a mortal sin.

Finally, consider items 4,5,6 and 7 from the advice given to seminarians.
[img]http://www.bspenance.org/Crown_of_Thorns.jpg[/img]

[Emile James]

3 minute Video of the Carmelite Laura of hermits, in Texas

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anOJ0Mb5SWM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anOJ0Mb5SWM[/url]

Peace..

[Emile James]

Glory to Jesus Christ..
i managed to squish this file down to 1/4 of its original to fit on Youtube
peace and goodness...

[b]Monastic Community of Bethlehem, the Assumption of the Virgin Mary,and St Bruno."
[/b]
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeaKEsFlGAk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeaKEsFlGAk[/url]
a meditation with sound...

[Emile James]

hello i am just again promoting the wonderful-Benedictine Monks,-english-latin-from America, who live in Nursia, atop of the Birthplace of Sts Benedict and Scholastica,.. as well as prayers for the Prior Fr Cassian, who is sick..
[url="http://www.osbnorcia.org/"]http://www.osbnorcia.org/[/url]
Their is a nice little Video , a bit out of date though, under [u]The Monastic Vocation [/u]
its on the left bar...
[img]http://www.osbnorcia.org/images/monasticCommunity7.06.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.osbnorcia.org/images/monasticCommunity2.jpg[/img]
Summer 2006
The community of monks at the monastery of San Benedetto is made up of men from all over the United States. The states presently represented are below. We welcome enquiries from countries in Europe and abroad and we are praying for our first Italian vocation.
Massachusetts
California
Connecticut
Michigan
Arizona
Missouri
Texas

By Mail
Monastero di San Benedetto
Via Reguardati, 22
06046 Norcia (PG)
Italy

Please send all personal coorespondence directly to the monastery.

By Email
monastero@osbnorcia.org

Edited January 15, 2007 by Emile James

[EJames]

Glory to Jesus Christ!
hello, again, i am looking for information on a little community founded by Franciscan Priest ..The Hermits of St Joseph, or St Josephs Hermitage, somewhere in Pennsylvania, it was a small place, used to have an internet presence, but now i can not remember name, address..thank you very much.
Peace. Emile-James

In the while, you may enjoy this,or maybe not?!, my latest little production,Franciscan reflection slideshow...
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3WdiWw7b3o"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3WdiWw7b3o[/url]

Edited February 4, 2007 by EJames

[EJames]

SisterAli
Dec 25 2006, 07:30 PM
I found this article from ewtn.com thought it might be helpful to those male discerners out there!

God Bless!

Benedictine Monks
Rt.Rev. Francis Benedict, OSB, Abbot
St. Andrew's Abbey
31001 N. Valyermo Rd. - Box 40
Valyermo, CA 93563-0040
805-944-2178

Brigittine Monks -Order/Most Holy Savior
Br. Benedict Kirby, O.Ss.S., Prior
The Brigittine Monastery
23300 Walker Lane
Amity, OR 97101
503-835-8080

Canons Regular of the Immac. Concept.
Fr. Pasquale Vuoso, C.R.I.C.
1523 Golden Gate Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
213-664-1305

Fathers of Mercy
Very Rev. John O'Brien, CPM, Supr. Gen.
14480 Bowling Green Rd.
South Union, KY 42283
502-542-4146


Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word
Fr. Joseph Wolfe, MFVA, Superior
5821 Old Leeds Road
Birmingham, AL 35210
205-956-6455

Hermits of Mt. Carmel
Fr. Peter Bourne, HMC, Prior
Hermitage of St. Joseph
P.O. Box 37
Lemhi, ID 83465


Legionaries of Christ
Fr. Anthony Bannon, LC, Natl. Dir.
475 Oak Avenue
Cheshire, CT 06410
203-271-0805

Little Brothers of St. Francis
Br. James Curran, LBSF, Servant General
789 Parker St.
Mission Hill, MA 02120
617-442-2556

Mercedarian Friars
Fr. Michael Rock, O. de M.
St. Raymond Nonnatus Novitiate
7758 E. Main St.
Le Roy, NY 14482-9701
716-768-7110

Monks of Mount Tabor (Ukrainian)
Holy Transfiguration Monastery
P.O. Box 217
Redwood Valley, CA 95470-0217
707-485-8959

Norbertine Fathers of Orange
Rt. Rev. Ladislaus Parker, O.Praem., Abbot
19292 El Toro Rd.
Silverado, CA 92676-9801
714-858-4583

Oblates of the Virgin Mary
Fr. David Kueter, OMV, Rector
Our Lady of Grace Seminary
1105 Boylston St.
Boston, MA 02215
617-266-5999

Oratorians
The Oratory
1372 King St. West
Toronto
Ontario. CANADA M6K 1H3

Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter
Fr. Arnaud J. Devillers, FSSP, Reg. Supr.
P.O. Box 196
Elmhurst, Pa 18416
717-842-4000

Salesians of Don Bosco
Very Rev. Timothy C. Ploch, SDB, Provincial
Salesian Provincial House
148 Main Street
New Rochelle, NY 10802
914-636-4225

Sedes Sapientiae (Oblates of Wisdom)
Rev. Msgr. F. John McCarthy, Director
Sedes Sapientiae Study Center
Via Concordia, 1
Rome, ITALY 00183

Sedes Sapientiae (Oblates of Wisdom)
Fr. Benjamin Luther [U.S. Contact]
St. John the Evangelist Rectory
6705 Old U.S. Highway 45
Paducah, KY 42003
502-554-3810


>>>>> >>>>> <<<<< <<<<<

Some of the above religious communities are relatively "new" but have
some type of "official'' recognition (diocesan or otherwise). If
you need more information, please contact:

Mr. William D. Fairman
Society for Religious Vocations
10016 South Komensky Avenue
Oak Lawn, IL 60453-4140
(708)424-4550 (Voice & Fax)
E-mail: william.fairman@ewtn.com

[quote name='Emile James' post='1155076' date='Jan 3 2007, 12:13 AM']My contribution, sorry for any repeats of previous community posts
[b]Mens Religious Communities [/b]recommended, many I have visited on Retreat or to work, or on pilgrimage, some I have friends who are members.
Of no particular arrangement
Ones that are not English speaking Countries, do have some English, usually Novice masters/Superiors who speak English. So visiting is rarely a problem, yet one must of course have a basic useful, knowledge of the language.
----
. and could list a lot more wonderful various Communities but they are all in Europe.mostly France and Italy, I just listed well known , great ones.
I travelled too much the last 11 years..yeesh.
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[b]Madonna House lay apostolate[/b]
Lay men and Women and Priests. Mixed (meals and Liturgy together) Missionary Community.
3 canonical ‘promises’, lived out very authentically.
Priests are great Spiritual Directors. Also a free, pre-seminary discernment formation program for men.

[url="http://www.madonnahouse.org/about/index.html"]http://www.madonnahouse.org/about/index.html[/url]

[url="http://www.madonnahouse.org/field/washington.html"]http://www.madonnahouse.org/field/washington.html[/url] USA

Madonna House
220 C St N E
Washington DC
20002-5718
Phone: 202-547-0177

[url="http://www.madonnahouse.org/programs/formation.html"]http://www.madonnahouse.org/programs/formation.html[/url]

Madonna House Apostolate ( Main Formation Centre)
2888 Dafoe Rd
Combermere ON. K0J 1L0
Canada
Telephone: 613-756-3713
Fax: 613-756-0211
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[b]Community of the Beatitudes[/b]
Encompasses all states of life, including families with Children living a quasi monastic life. Charismatic, but in the very catholic European sense. Not exactly my cup of tea, but some of the most wonderful charitable, faithful people, as well s amazing missionary Priests I have met here.
Spirituality is Carmelite essentially. With perpetual when possible ,adoration .many old monasteries were reopened in Europe for this Community, 1,500 members.
When the CFR Brothers are in France, its this Community that hosts them, and has them speak at conferences, for French Youth, as well as translates their books.

[url="http://www.beatitudes.us/home.html"]http://www.beatitudes.us/home.html[/url] website not completed

Community of the Beatitudes
2924 West 43rd Avenue
Denver, CO 80211
Tel: 720.855.9412
Fax: 509.275.1658

International site listing all houses with many pic links…in French

[url="http://beatitudes.org/maisons/maisons.htm"]http://beatitudes.org/maisons/maisons.htm[/url]
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[b]Monastery of St. Benedict[/b], Norcia (Nursia)
AMERICAN, Benedictine monks in Nursia Italy, Birthplace of St Benedict.
Current formation/life in English/Latin, but one must learn Italian once there. .GREAT balanced Community
6 year old re-founding

Monastero di San Benedetto
Via Reguardati, 22
06046 Norcia (PG)
Italy

[url="http://www.osbnorcia.org/"]http://www.osbnorcia.org/[/url] TAKES a moment to load
Please send all personal coorespondence directly to the monastery.
monastero@osbnorcia.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[b]Bendictine[/b]
Rev. Peter Nygren, OSB
Westminster Abbey, Mission, BC,
CANADA, V2V 4J2

Phone: 604-826-8975
Fax: 604-826-8725
Good place to start Seminary as well

[url="http://www.sck.ca/pages/monks.htm"]http://www.sck.ca/pages/monks.htm[/url]
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHR1KBvfJr8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHR1KBvfJr8[/url]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abbey of Our Lady of the Prairies ([b]Trappist Monks[/b])
Today, this community is located in Holland, Manitoba,Canada though an English Province in Canada, the Monastery is bilingual with French Liturgy. A good distance from the city of Winnipeg. Its daily life is punctuated by the rhythms of the Divine Office (French/latin), caring for a dairy herd, cultivation of grain and coagulated milk-making.

Abbey of Our Lady of the Prairies C.P. 310, Holland, Manitoba R0G 0X0 CANADA
[url="http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Trappist/english/a_day/day_overview.html"]http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Tr...y_overview.html[/url]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just across the border from Vermont, we have,

[b]SAINT BENEDICT ABBEY [/b]
(Novice master/Vocations)
Saint-Benoit-du-Lac
Quebec, Canada
J0B 2M0

[url="http://www.st-benoit-du-lac.com/selecteur/chooser.html"]http://www.st-benoit-du-lac.com/selecteur/chooser.html[/url]
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qDSMCCUY9Q"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qDSMCCUY9Q[/url]
[url="http://www.st-benoit-du-lac.com/abbaye.ram"]http://www.st-benoit-du-lac.com/abbaye.ram[/url]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[b]Benedictine[/b]
Our Lady of the Annunciation of Clear Creek is a Benedictine monastery in the diocese of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The founding monks at Clear Creek were all members of the Traditional monastic community at Fontgombault, France

Our Lady of the Annunciation of Clear Creek 5804 West Monastery Road Hulbert, OK 74441 phone: (918) 772-2454 Fax: (918) 772-1044
[url="http://www.clearcreekmonks.org/"]http://www.clearcreekmonks.org/[/url] website only works well in IE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bendictine (Solesmes Cong)
Quarr Abbey, England..cloistered... latin..and on an island none the less!

Quarr Abbey, Ryde, Isle of Wight,
England,PO33 4ES.
fax 01983 884402

[url="http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=73472102&size=m"]http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=73472102&size=m[/url]
[url="http://www.quarrabbey.co.uk/"]http://www.quarrabbey.co.uk/[/url]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[b]Trappist[/b]another British island..well Wales.
seem to be reviving but could urgently have some good faithful men!
They have a new young Abbot from a monastery in Holland.

Novice Director
Caldey Abbey, Caldey Island
off Tenby, Pembrokeshire
SA70 7UH Wales, UK

[url="http://www.caldey-island.co.uk/webleaflet1.html"]http://www.caldey-island.co.uk/webleaflet1.html[/url]
[url="http://www.caldey-island.co.uk/page2.html"]http://www.caldey-island.co.uk/page2.html[/url]
[url="http://www.caldey-island.co.uk/aerial.htm"]http://www.caldey-island.co.uk/aerial.htm[/url]
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and, if you are really into the Traditional liturgy, studied your latin well..and Monastic Life this is where ‘Cardinal Ratzinger said is one of his favourite places to be in France, well, he said that about the Abbey at Fontgambault too.
Its,
Abbaye Sainte-Madeleine ([b]Bendictin[/b])
F-84330 LE BARROUX – France

[url="http://www.barroux.org/"]http://www.barroux.org/[/url] French

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[b]Carthusians [/b]/usa
Charterhouse of the Transfiguration
1800 Beartown Road
ARLINGTON, Vermont 05250 USA

[url="http://www.chartreux.org/maisons/Transfiguration/photos.htm"]http://www.chartreux.org/maisons/Transfiguration/photos.htm[/url]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[b]Camaldolese Monks [/b] (in Ohio 0f the more traditional branch)
A form of semi-eremitical life is practiced in the Camaldolese hermitage. It consists of a wise balance between the solitary (eremitic)
life and community (cenobitic) life.
The eremitism is manifest in the fact that each monk lives in a cell (little house with small garden) separate from the others; he
habitually takes meals alone; he does the "lectio divina" and other personal prayers in cell; he perhaps does manual labor alone;
and he spends the time remaining after work and common prayer in cell.
Together for Sundays Meals and daily Holy Mass

Fr. Prior
Vocation Contact/ Holy Family hermitage
Camaldolese Hermits of Monte Corona
1501 Fairplay Road
Bloomingdale, OH 43910-7971
740-765-4511

[url="http://clevelandohio.tripod.com/fatherbasil/"]http://clevelandohio.tripod.com/fatherbasil/[/url]
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[b]The Hermits of Bethlehem[/b]
There appears no age limit on seeking a vocation, simply a deep desire to live this life with God the Father, though Jesus Christ His Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Laura has both male and female hermits. Though I am not sure it is fair to call it a mixed community because of the manner of life. The hermits spend most of their time praying the canonical Divine Office in their own cells or working on a task in solitude. Hermits have the Blessed Sacrament reserved in their own cell and pray before it many times a day.a very rare specific vocation..
They eat, work and perform Lectio Divina "alone with the Great Alone". They meet only for daily Mass that ends with 20 minutes of silence before the closing benediction. No other offices are prayed in common except for Sunday.
The hermits admire greatly the Desert Fathers and try to imitate their wisdom in our midst.
[i]Not to be confused with the Monastic Community of Bethlehem and the Assumption.[/i]

The Hermits of Bethlehem
82 Pleasant Hill Road
Chester, NJ 07930
USA

Voices in the following video are not theirs, nor are all of community shown.
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0zH8CH7K0o"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0zH8CH7K0o[/url]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziMIrqMcjIU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziMIrqMcjIU[/url]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[i]I once took shelter from a tornado here![/i]
[b]Mt. Carmel Hermitage [/b] P.O. Box 337 Christoval, Texas 76935-0337
(325)896-2249

[url="http://www.carmelitehermits.org/index.htm"]http://www.carmelitehermits.org/index.htm[/url]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personally I think St John of the Cross would be pleased with these brothers, they also live next door to a Cloistered Carmelite Nuns Monastery, Lake Elmo, where the Priests are Confessors and celebrate the Liturgy, for the Nuns.
These Brothers celebrate in Latin/Ad Orientum as well.

[b]Carmelite Hermits[/b]
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
8249 de Montreville Trail
Lake Elmo, MN 55042-9545

[url="http://www.decorcarmeli.com/Hermits.htm"]http://www.decorcarmeli.com/Hermits.htm[/url]
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[b]Discalced Carmelite Friars St Josephs Province[/b]
My good and faitrhful bendictine Monk friend has a friend here, thinks they are the best, of Apostolic Carmelites in the U.S., so there.
We staff four parishes, a
retreat house, a house of prayer, an Institute of Spirituality, and a
mission in Uganda, Africa. We are also involved in spiritual direction,
hospital chaplaincy, prison ministry, and spiritual assistance to
Carmelite Nuns and Carmelite Seculars.

[url="http://www.discalcedcarmelites.com/OurLife.html"]http://www.discalcedcarmelites.com/OurLife.html[/url]

Fr. Adam Gregory Gonzales, O.C.D.
Discalced Carmelite Friars
P. O. Box 3420
San Jose, Ca 95156
Phone:
408.251.1361 ext. 324
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[b]Society of St. John Cantius[/b]
Vocation Contact
825 N Carpenter St
Chicago IL 60622-5405

[url="http://www.societycantius.org/"]http://www.societycantius.org/[/url]
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[b]The Community of St John[/b] (kind of a mix between 15th Century Dominicans and modern Carmelites) 
Archbishop John J. Myers.
Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey (former Bishop of Peoria, Illinois)
"I am very happy that the Brothers and Sisters of St. John responded favorably to my invitation and decided to establish their English-speaking Novitiates in the Diocese of Peoria. [In 1995]
I invited the Brothers of St. John, and then the Sisters of St. John, into the Diocese of Peoria. Since their arrival, many lay people, seminarians, religious and priests have been touched by their contemplative spirit, incarnated in a deep life of adoration and teaching search for the truth. They truly are a blessing for the whole diocese."

[url="http://laredo.communityofstjohn.com/images/stories/Rimont1.jpg"]http://laredo.communityofstjohn.com/images...ies/Rimont1.jpg[/url]
American
Novitiate House

St. Joseph's Priory
11223 W. Legion Hall Rd.
Princeville, IL 61559 Phone : 309-385-1193 Fax : 309-385-1830

[url="http://www.communityofstjohn.com/?rub=in_us"]http://www.communityofstjohn.com/?rub=in_us[/url] Illinois Site
[url="http://laredo.communityofstjohn.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=34&Itemid=196"]http://laredo.communityofstjohn.com/index....&Itemid=196[/url]
Texas Site (very good)
[url="http://www.stjean.com/EN/Communaute1.htm"]http://www.stjean.com/EN/Communaute1.htm[/url] International website
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[b]Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate[/b]
Vocation Director
Marian Friary of Our Lady of Guadalupe
199 Colonel Brown
Norwich, CT 06360

[url="http://www.marymediatrix.com/rel_life/friars.shtml"]http://www.marymediatrix.com/rel_life/friars.shtml[/url]
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[i]Love these bros![/i]
Franciscani Minori Rinnovati ([b]Franciscans Minor of Renewal[/b])
Franciscans who live in old train-cars on the outskirts of Naples, Italy. Founded in 1971,in Palermo, by a former Capuchin Franciscan and Spiritual son of St.Padre Pio, barefoot and bearded,
their apostolate, based essentially on prayer, penance and fraternity, in total service of the Church mainly with the sacrament of reconciliation and spiritual conferences/preaching, as well as some being Exorcists for their Dioceses. With its sixty five Franciscans scattered through southern Italy, like Naples ,Sicily (Palermo, Corleone) and Ugento, also Columbia -South America and Tanzania, Africa. The Order, is very contemplative but active in, offering its apostolate in all the situations of extreme misery.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvx9RGcyEdc"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvx9RGcyEdc[/url]
[url="http://www.esprit-photo.com/images/photos-reportage/03_Francisani_Rinovati/600pix/EP07c013.jpg"]http://www.esprit-photo.com/images/photos-...ix/EP07c013.jpg[/url]
Franciscani Minori Rinnovati -
Servo Generale Vocations
Frateli Pio-Maria ,
Eremo San Bernardo ,
90034 CORLEONE (PA),
Italy
[url="http://www.esprit-photo.com/images/photos-reportage/03_Francisani_Rinovati/600pix/EP07c003.jpg"]http://www.esprit-photo.com/images/photos-...ix/EP07c003.jpg[/url]
Franciscani Minori Rinnovati
Via Falconara, 96

90136 PALERMO,

Italy
Fr Pio, understands Italian/French /Spanish and some English
[url="http://www.esprit-photo.com/ecarte.php?id=1984"]http://www.esprit-photo.com/ecarte.php?id=1984[/url]

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Franciscan Friars of the Renewal Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, C.F.R.
St. Joseph Friary
523 W.142 St.
New York, NY 10031

“We are praying for you and your discernment everyday, especially on Wednesdays. May the Lord give you the grace to know His plan for your life and the courage to follow Jesus wherever He is calling you! As you may know, we are not running any special "Come and See" weekends. Rather, give me a call (keep trying!) and we will set up a visit. I think that this method is more helpful in your seeing our way of life as it is with no candy coating, etc. Don't forget all of the people that the Lord wants to get to heaven through YOUR ministry. The harvest is ripe! In struggling to be faithful to our vocation we know that this is the Lord's plan to get us to heaven and take as many people with us as possible. Let us set our hands to the plow in the Lord's vineyard and not look back!”

Thank you for your patience in contacting me,
God bless you,
[img]http://www.franciscanfriars.com/Vocation_eLetter/images_vocations_eletter/frlukepic.jpg[/img]
(212) 281-4355
[url="http://www.franciscanfriars.com/vocations/index2.htm"]http://www.franciscanfriars.com/vocations/index2.htm[/url]

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[b]Missionaries of Charity Fathers[/b]
The religious community of the Missionaries of Charity Fathers was founded by Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta with Fr. Joseph Langford in 1984, to combine the beauty of the Missionaries of Charity vocation with the grace of the ministerial priesthood.
MC Fathers
2498 Roll Drive , PMB 815
San Diego , CA 92154 U.S.A.

or

Padres Misioneros de la Caridad
Apartado Postal 96, Otay. C.P. 22501
Tijuana, B.C. MEXICO
Tel: (00) (52) (664) 624-6511 or 624-6796
Fax: (00) (52) (664) 623-0621
or
Fr. Rich Hodgson, MC
Padri Missionari della Carità
Vicolo di Torre del Fiscale, #73
00178 Roma ITALIA

[url="http://www.mcpriests.com/09pictures/Tijuana/medium/0018.jpg"]http://www.mcpriests.com/09pictures/Tijuana/medium/0018.jpg[/url]
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[b]Priests ofInstitute of the Incarnate Word[/b]
[url="http://www.iveamerica.org/pagpub.asp?page=4"]http://www.iveamerica.org/pagpub.asp?page=4[/url]

[url="http://www.iveamerica.org/"]http://www.iveamerica.org/[/url]
Rev. Gustavo Nieto
Provincial Superior
Saint Paul's Church

113 E 117th St., New York, NY 10035
Telefono: (212) 534-5257
Fax: (212) 534-5258
prov.immaculate.conception@ive.org
one alwyas sees there Sisters in Rome, [url="http://www.servidoras.org/documento.asp?titulo=USA+%2D+Washington+%2D+Toma+de+H%E1bito&seccion=Newswith"]http://www.servidoras.org/documento.asp?ti...eccion=Newswith[/url] ther impressive habits..they are also, charged with the apostolate of Adoration ,at St peters basilica..The Sisters adore, the Brothers Priests repose etc, as well
[b]Byzantine Catholic Monks([/b] under the Romanian Eparchy)
Holy Resurrection Monastery
P.O Box 130
NewBerry Springs,CA.
USA 92365

No worries they are all Americans and Australians!
[url="http://www.hrmonline.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=33"]http://www.hrmonline.org/index.php?option=...2&Itemid=33[/url]

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Benedictines, Bi-Ritual (Latin/Byzantine Russian-Catholic) many monks speak many languages, many English ,one Canadian and two Americans in the Community Postal address of the Monastery:

Monastère de l'Exaltation de la Sainte Croix
Rue du monastère 65
B - 5590 - Chevetogne
Belgique /Belgium

Fax: + 32 (0)83 21.60.45
[url="http://www.monasterechevetogne.com/index.php?taalkeuze=3"]http://www.monasterechevetogne.com/index.php?taalkeuze=3[/url]
[url="http://www.sioneeklo.org/images/2005/images/Chevetogneluchta.jpg"]http://www.sioneeklo.org/images/2005/image...togneluchta.jpg[/url]

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last,but NOt least..

[b]Brothers of the Monastic Family of Bethlehem,[/b] the Assumtpion, and St Bruno.

Generalate
Monastère de l'Assumption Notre-Dame
Currière-en-Chartreuse
(Diocese de Grenoble)
France -F38380 Saintlaurent Du Pont
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May God give you His peace...!
By His mercy, Emile-James[/quote]

[Chiquitunga]

I recently noticed a little ad for this community in the [url="http://www.ncregister.com/"][i]National Catholic Register.[/i][/url] I've never heard of them before. They look pretty great. :j

[url="http://www.austincatholic.org/carmelites/"]Carmelites of St. Joseph, in Austin, MN[/url]

[philosophette]

Per the first list, the current provincial of the Salesians of Don Bosco is Father Jim Heuser, SDB.

That list is really old!

[Veritas]

[quote name='Margaret Clare' post='1332022' date='Jul 17 2007, 07:08 AM']I recently noticed a little ad for this community in the [url="http://www.ncregister.com/"][i]National Catholic Register.[/i][/url] I've never heard of them before. They look pretty great. :j

[url="http://www.austincatholic.org/carmelites/"]Carmelites of St. Joseph, in Austin, MN[/url][/quote]

+

I'd never heard of them either, and I'm a Minnesotan! Thanks for the post!

[Chiquitunga]

[quote name='philosobrat' post='1332291' date='Jul 17 2007, 10:06 AM']Per the first list, the current provincial of the Salesians of Don Bosco is Father Jim Heuser, SDB.

That list is really old![/quote]

Yeah, earlier in the thread it's mentioned that the first list is from 1996 - pretty old. The Hermits of Mt. Carmel in ID have long since been gone.

But yeah, I'd never heard of the new Carmelites of St. Joseph in MN until I saw a tiny ad in [i]NCR[/i]. Glad to inform you of another Carmelite community for men in MN, Vertias - along with the Lake Elmo Hermits :j

Edited July 17, 2007 by Margaret Clare

[Lil Red]

[quote name='brendan1104' post='1155260' date='Jan 3 2007, 01:26 PM']It's really too bad the Capuchins didn't stay faithful, especially to their very charism- authentic Franciscanism, penance and prayer.

Obviously Fr. Cantalamesa isn't faithful, I won't say anymore.[/quote]
what the heck does your post mean? if you're going to disparage not only a whole order but a priest, you'd better be able to back it up with proof!

[johnnydigit]

are we doing any updates or adding comments? i'm not sure what may or may not be appropriate to say so i'll keep it short..

[indent]Benedictine Monks
Rt.Rev. Francis Benedict, OSB, Abbot
St. Andrew's Abbey
31001 N. Valyermo Rd. - Box 40
Valyermo, CA 93563-0040
805-944-2178[/indent]
[url="http://www.valyermo.com/"]http://www.valyermo.com/[/url]
semi-active with town parishes. retreat facilities. down the road from Mt. High ski resort :


[indent]Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R.
St. Crispin Friary
420 E. 156th St.
Bronx, NY 10455
718-665-2441[/indent]
[url="http://www.franciscanfriars.com/"]http://www.franciscanfriars.com/[/url]
"hardcore"?

[indent]Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word
Fr. Joseph Wolfe, MFVA, Superior
5821 Old Leeds Road
Birmingham, AL 35210
205-956-6455[/indent]
[url="http://www.mfva.info/"]http://www.mfva.info/[/url]
they're on tv!


[indent]Norbertine Fathers of Orange
Rt. Rev. Ladislaus Parker, O.Praem., Abbot
19292 El Toro Rd.
Silverado, CA 92676-9801
714-858-4583[/indent]
[url="http://www.abbeynews.com/"]http://www.abbeynews.com/[/url]
St. Michael's Abbey. runs boys highschool prep school. primarily monastic priests but very active with outside community and parishes. live in community, daily rosary and holy hour.

[indent]Oblates of the Virgin Mary
Fr. David Kueter, OMV, Rector
Our Lady of Grace Seminary
1105 Boylston St.
Boston, MA 02215
617-266-5999[/indent]
[url="http://www.oblatesofthevirginmary.org/"]http://www.oblatesofthevirginmary.org/[/url]
primarily parish priests. St. Peter Chanel parish staffed by OMV's said to be one of the most solid parishes in california. perpetual adoration, dress code, daily rosary and divine mercy chaplet.


[indent]Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter
Fr. Arnaud J. Devillers, FSSP, Reg. Supr.
P.O. Box 196
Elmhurst, Pa 18416
717-842-4000[/indent]
charism - mass according to 1962 missal?

[indent]Salesians of Don Bosco
Very Rev. Timothy C. Ploch, SDB, Provincial
Salesian Provincial House
148 Main Street
New Rochelle, NY 10802
914-636-4225[/indent]
charism - working with children?

[EJames]

[quote]name='johnnydigit' date='Jul 18 2007, 12:32 AM' post='1333436']
are we doing any updates or adding comments? i'm not sure what may or may not be appropriate to say so i'll keep it short..[/quote]
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any additions or updates most welcome, just double check so as not to repeat things tooo many times
pax