Some terms related to Religious Vocations are defined and explained here.
- Apostolic
Describes active religious communities, communities whose mission includes ministry in the community, such as social work, health care, education or pastoral work.
- Brothers
A man who commits himself to Christ by the three vows, lives in a community and works in ministry, but is not ordained as a Priest.
- Candidate
See Postulant.
- Charism
The particular focus and spirit of a religious community, for example "to make known the love of the heart of God", which may be expressed through the work of education or "to bring God's love to the poor", which may be expressed through healthcare or social work.
- Celibacy
See chastity.
- Celibate
See chastity.
- Chastity
A vow to make God and no other central to one's life.
The choice of Religious Life only makes sense in the light of a particular relationship with God. The choice to live the vow of celibacy emerges from a deep relationship with God and a desire to live that relationship more deeply and express it through service to others. Chastity today is often described in terms of our relationships and the challenge to live them with integrity and honesty.
- Cloistered
Describes certain contemplative communities that limit their contact with the outside world. Not all contemplative communities are cloistered.
- Community
Refers to small groups of Religious who live together in the same house. Communities can vary in size from as few as two or three to larger groups. The general name for a collection of communities is usually a Province or Region.
- Congregation
Refers to a distinct Religious family, such as the RSM - Sisters of Mercy, Dominicans, Jesuits, etc. The word Order is sometimes used instead.
- Consecrated
Religious make a public commitment to God to live the vows for life.
- Contemplative
Describes religious communities that focus primarily on prayer as their ministry. Most contemplative communities follow a Rule, which provide a structure for communal life of prayer. These communities generally pray seven times a day, attend Mass, read scripture and spiritual works, maintain periods of silence and preform labour to sustain their communities.
For most people, the word contemplative conjures up the idea of being a monk or a nun, living a monastic, cloistered way of life such a Benedictine, a Carmelite or a Poor Clare.
Since Vatican II and the renewal in religious life, we now understand contemplative or a life of contemplation as a call received by all Religious. We are called to a life of prayer and selfless service of God an others.
Incarnational theology has also helped us to understand and develop the fact that Christ came into this world as a man, taking on our humanity. Study of the scriptures has greatly increased our understanding, too.
The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us.
God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, so that he who believeth in Him may not perish but have everlasting life.
To contemplate the Heart of Christ, the Word made Flesh, we have no need to turn our gaze away from this world, the world of God made man. Christ is hidden in the heart of the world, in the heart of humanity in which He shared, in whose pain and suffering He shared.
Therefore a life of contemplation means a life of Faith, of love, of compassion – to suffer with humanity, the humanity Christ came to serve, not to be served, but to give His life as a ransom for many.
A contemplative life, a life of contemplation, demands also a life in which silence plays a major part – a time of listening, listening above all with the ears of the heart, to the voice of the Spirit of God within – to wonder at the beauty of His creation of the human person, the world of nature which is all around us. Listening in order to Learn and to Love.
This thought may be helpful here:
Music—listen, learn, leading to be an instrument in the hand of God the conductor from whom we should never turn our gaze if we are to sing and play well in this orchestra of life. We all have a part to play, no matter how small or insignificant we experience it to be. We are not all called to be first violinists – imagine the chaos if we were! The important thing is to keep our eyes fixed on the Conductor (Christ) who holds the baton!
- Convent
Refers to a house where a community of Religious Sisters live together.
- Discernment
This word, which describes a process of praying and reflecting on God's call, is often used by Religious in their processes of decision making.
- Formation
The process of education and spiritual development that takes place throughout the life of a member of a Religious Order. In the early months and years of joining a religious congregation, this is referred to as Initial Formation, which continues from the moment of entering a congregation until making final vows, a process which can take 6 to 11 years. In later years it is known as Ongoing Formation.
- Friar
A friar is a male Religious who belongs to one of the orders which broke away from the contemplative life in the 13th to the 15th centuries on order to adopt a more active life style, e.g. Franciscans, Dominicans and Carmelites.
- Ministry
Every Religious will refer to their ministry, which is his or her work, usually more than just a job. The choice of ministry will emerge from an individual's sense of the charism of his or her order, the individual's gifts and aptitudes and the order's needs.
- Monastery
A place where contemplative Religious live together.
- Monk
A male Religious who lives in a monastery. Monastic Orders include Benedictines, Cistercians and Carthusians.
- Novice
Becoming a Novice is the next stage of Religious life after being a Postulant. A candidate may discover that God wants them to continue in the Vocation they have chosen and for training as a Religious to continue. However, no vows are taken at this stage and the candidate continues to discern God's will for him or her with the help of his or her superiors.
- Nun
A woman who lives a contemplative life, dedicated to prayer for the needs of the world, the female equivalent of a monk.
- Obedience
A vow of Obedience is a response to do God's will as revealed to one through events and the wishes of those in authority.
Religious choose to live with others in their order and they make their choices in the light of the Gospel, their tradition and heritage and their collective wisdom. Through this vow, they indicate that they wish to live their life with others faithful to those guiding principles. Decision making is often the result of prayer, discernment, discussion and the group searching for a way forward together.
- Order
See congregation.
- Postulant
A candidate for a Religious order, who feels that God may be calling them to life as a Religious. A Postulant does not become committed until he or she has made a Vow or Promise.
This word has, in many religious congregations been replaced by candidate. It denotes, usually, a six month preparation for the beginning of what is called the novitiate or noviceship – a time of preparation to make a first commitment to Christ in a specific Religious congregation. It is a time when the person and a congregation discerns as to whether this is the way of life to which he or she is being called.
- Poverty
In Religious Life, the vow of Poverty has do with non-possessiveness in order to follow Christ. One therefore does not accumulate money or possessions as these things no longer belongs to one.
The vow of poverty is the choice to try and live simply and share one's goods, time and gifts, particularly with the poor or marginalised. Religious hold money, property, etc., in common with one another. In more recent years the "stewardship" element of this vow has become more important, especially in terms of care for the Earth, etc. We do not "own" what we have, but have a responsibility to hand it on for future generations.
- Profession
Refers to the taking of public vows in a Religious Order. The vows in first profession are generally taken for a period of 3 to 6 years and then, in final profession, for life.
- Provincial
The person responsible for the administration of an order in a particular country. He or she is usually assisted by a team of people. The person with overall responsibility for a congregation all over the world is often referred to as the Congregational Leader or the Superior General. At local level, many congregations appoint superiors to houses or areas.
- Reflection
A period of quit for thinking and praying about a particular situation, topic or question.
- Religious
Religious Sisters or Men – members of active apostolic congregations, for whom the focus of their lives is service to others through their ministries. Religious men include Brothers and Priests.
- Religious Life
Refers to the life style adopted by vowed members of religious congregations.
- Sister
- Spirituality
Refers to a particular style or way of praying. The spirituality of an individual or a group indicates something of the way in which they relate to God and see God present in the world. For instance, Celtic spirituality places a particular emphasis on the presence of God in nature, in stories and myths.
- Temporary Professed
This stage has different names according to different congregations. These are people who have made first vows but have yet to make their final commitment to a congregation. This period can be between 3 to 6 years and longer, depending on individual circumstances. During this time, people live in one of the communities of their province and work in ministry or study and continue professional development. At the end of this period a person may ask to make Final Vows, (also known as Final Commitment, Final Profession or Solemn Profession), by which they make a commitment to life to the congregation and the congregation to them.
- Vocation
A calling. One can be called to many things, e.g. nursing, or climbing mountains, etc. In this context, however, it refers to a call from God to follow Him in a special way to respond to His love.
- Vows
A Religious will take three vows at profession, which are like orientations for the life this person is taking. The vows are those of poverty, obedience and chastity. Some orders takes fourth vow. For example, Benedictines take a vow of stability, which binds them to a particular monastery.