Fr. Ed Broom, OMV

Most people are called to the married life, consisting in raising a family by receiving from God the gift of the child, and often the gift of children. God created Adam and said that it was not good that man should be alone; so after creating plants and animals, the seas and the sea creatures, as well as the immense ocean, God than created the woman—her name, Eve.  With Eve Adam felt complete with the compliment of his being. Both would be instrumental in bringing into the world children—Cain and Abel and later Seth.   

A SPECIAL CHARISM AND GIFT.  Jesus would praise the life of marriage and family but offer another option.  He would go on to say that some were born as eunuchs and others made eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom of God.  In these words of Jesus was hidden a special gift, a special charism that God would give to certain individuals. This charism or gift what be that of celibacy or stated in other terms virginity for the sake of the Kingdom of God.  Not all are given this gift and many cannot even comprehend this gift. 

WHAT IS THIS GIFT OF CELIBACY.  This gift that is given from God is by no means looking down on Marriage and the family. Quite the contrary it is a specific gift of God for building up the Mystical Body of Christ which is the Church.   God has given certain men and women this charism and gift in which marriage and family is sacrifice for a sublime gift of becoming spiritual fathers or mothers for the sake of the Kingdom of God.   In fact, on the day of Judgment it is most likely that one of the questions that Jesus, the Just Judge, will ask, will be: “Where are your children?”   In fact, where are the children that you engender not only in the physical or biological realm, but those that you were instrumental in engendering in the spiritual realm.   It is not by chance that a priest is actually called “Father”; and a Religious sister is called either “Mother” or “Sister”.

THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE GIFT-CHARISM OF CELIBACY.   We live in a world with so much information always at out fingertips. Indeed, and atomic bomb explosion of information. At the same time, we live in a world immersed in an ocean of confusion.  So it is our purpose in this short essay to offer a few ideas to clarify the reality of the. Gift or charism of celibacy and how it is to be lived out.   Many do not understand the gift; still others do not believe that it can be lived out!

1. GIFT-CHARISM.  As a starting point celibacy must be understood as being a gift or charism that is given by God Himself.   By gift of God is meant that God who is the essence of love, goodness, bounty and overflowing in generosity chooses some individuals to whom He wills to endow with this gift.  It must be underlined: just some are endowed with this gift or charism.  It is gratuitous—freely given by God Himself, He who is the essence of goodness, bounty and giving.

2. RECOGNITION.  The next step in the dynamic of the gift or charism of celibacy is the sincere and humble recognition of the gift.  In fact, the person may have the gift but simply has never recognized the gift.  Without a life of prayer, without any catechesis, with no religious education, without anyone ever mentioning this as a possibility, most likely the individual will never recognize that he/she has such a gift.  

3. PAGANISTIC-SENSUAL-HEDONISTIC CULTURE.  The honest reality is such that in a paganistic-sensual-hedonistic culture—this is the modern world—so much is geared toward pursuing and giving into the cravings of one’s lower appetites.  In the midst of a dusty, dirty, smog-filled environment it is hard to look up and gaze at the stars.

4. ACCEPTANCE.   The next step in the dynamic of living out the celibate lifestyle is the recognition followed by the acceptance.   A classic example of this might be the free call of the Rich young man. (Mk. 10:17-31). Jesus freely called the Rich young man to follow Him. The response was negative.  The reason?  This rich young man was too attached to his riches, his belongings, his possessions. If you like, his possessions had taken possession of him.   The same can be applied to the gift of celibacy.   God freely gives but this gift can be accepted, or it can be rejected.  God is so good that He respects our freedom and will not coerce or violate our freedom.

5. JOY.  With the acceptance of the gift-charism of celibacy there should be a joyful and generous response. It the gift is not received willingly, humbly, joyfully, but only begrudgingly and unwillingly then most likely the gift will not be lived out efficaciously.   God loves a joyful give; He also loves a joyful receiver of His gifts.

6. CULTIVATED. How true the modern adage: “If you do not use it then you can lose it.”  Tools not used become rusty. Muscles not exercised either turn to flab or atrophy. Linguistics not used transforms language into an incoherent muttering of sounds. Poor and untrained cooks offer penance to the eaters! The same can be applied to celibacy. It has to be cultivated and trained by using the classical ascetical tools or means.

7. THE ASCETICAL TOOLS TO TRAIN AND LIVE OUT CELIBACY.   There are many but we will mention a few; we might even call them the “Big Five!”

a. PRAYER. Jesus told us to become beggars in these words: “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Mt. 7:7). The gift is freely given. However, it is incumbent upon us to beg for the grace to be faithful and to live it out!

b. PENANCE.  The flesh has to be dominated by prayer and penance. Jesu said that some devils can be cast out only by prayer and by penance.”   This is the secret of many of the saints in living out their gift of celibacy.

c. CUSTODY OF THE SENSES.  It is incumbent upon us now more than ever to have a strict custody of the senses, and most especially that of the eyes. The saying is so true: “The eyes are the mirror of the soul.”  It is the gateway by which sense reality enters the mind and the inner person.

d. CONFESSION. In case of failure the key is to get up, to bounce back and to be resilient.  Confession, the power of God’s forgiveness should never be underestimated.

e. EUCHARIST AND HOLY COMMUNION.  The reception of the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus in Holy Communion has infinite value in living out the call to celibacy.

8. DEFEND THE GIFT. By the term, defending the gift is meant the following: do not play with fire. One must avoid the near occasion of danger. One must avoid any person, place or thing or circumstance that could jeopardize virtue and in our case that of celibacy.  How true: do not play with fire.   This could be the disciplined use of the internet. It could also be related to social relationships. It could also mean control of eating and drinking habits.  Celibacy is indeed the pearl of infinite value, but it must be defended and protected.

9. HEALTHY FRIENDSHIPS AND JOY.  Life is worth living to the full. However, to live out the charism of celibacy it is key that wholesome and enriching friendships should be cultivated. Jesus called His disciples “Friends”. True friends can be of enormous value in living out all vocations but especially that of celibacy.

10. THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.   The Perpetual Virgin Mary gave her total person to God when she said: “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according  to thy word.”  Indeed, Mary is the model as Mother, Spouse, but also in the celibate life of virginity. By knowing, loving, and trusting Mary an authentic life of celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom of God can be lived out freely, joyfully and completely. May Our Lady help those who have freely chosen to follow the life of celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

If we have the final goal before our eyes, it is much easier to exert our time our energy and efforts to attain that final goal.  A long-distance runner having the goal before his eyes can pace himself so as to win the race and the well-deserved prize.  The Olympic athletes strive to get the medal, bronze, silver or better yet the gold-medal.  How much training has gone into arriving at this supreme moment, this final Olympic race, perhaps years accompanied with blood, sweat and tears, not to mention exhausting body pains!   The efforts that the human person can make on a natural level to win the prize are almost mind-blowing; they stagger the imagination.  When we have a strong motivational meaning and impulse the accomplishments are literally shocking!

AN EXAMPLE FROM FAMILY LIFE AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE CHILD.

Little Johnny has been the cause of his parents’ constant worries, headaches and sleepless nights. Basically, this 11-year old’s life is a total disorder. His grades have plummeted to an all-time low. Never is there a day in which he has not engaged in a fight with his two siblings.  Obedience is a word that does not exist in his vocabulary or lexicon.  His room usually looks like a bomb explosion. After he has used the bathroom even the best maids are left with their jaws ajar. Getting to school on time is like climbing Mount Everest with a hundred pound back-pack.  His future appears to be a dark and dismal tunnel where the darkness looms over him in ever greater dense clouds.   His teachers, counsellors and friends (if they could be called “friends”) all seem to have a clear premonition that in a few years he will be living on the streets, with the bridge as his roof and wandering vagabonds  his companions for life. Birds of the flock stick together.

 A BRILLIANT-TRANSFORMING EXPERIENCE.   Even in the midst of this apparent calamity and future disaster for little Johnny one of his school companions has a lightbulb that has been turned on! DISNEYLAND! YES DISNEYLAND! ONCE AGAIN DISNELAND! A few years earlier little Johnny was taken to Disneyland for an entire day.  The festive environment, the flickering lights, the well-painted clowns, the plethora of amusement rides, the cotton-candy, hot-dogs and rich chocolate milkshake and much more left an indelible impression on little Johnny.  

Therefore, Johnny’s friend, aware of the present state of affairs, suggests to the parents of Johnny the prospect of taking Johnny to Disneyland. However, Disneyland will only become a reality if and when Johnny makes a firm and resolute decision to turn over a new leaf, to start anew, to undergo a radical metamorphosis, transformation of life.

THE REAL-DEAL!!!  The parents of Johnny accept the proposal and prospect of Johnny’s friend.    The deal is a demanding one.  All of the obvious failures of Johnny must be amended and corrected. No fighting with siblings, order in room and bathroom, grade improvement in school, punctuality.  All of these proposals must be carried out starting from Monday through Friday. If done, then Disneyland for all of Saturday will be the recompense.

MIRACLES GALORE!  The parents, teachers and even friends never really believed in the reality of miracles but now before their eyes, as the days whirled by from Monday through Friday undeniable miracles took place.   Johnny’s room and bathroom, immaculate!  His treatment of his siblings, as if they were King and Queen and he their humble servant. Punctuality for school and all other activities, down to the “T”!  His academic reports and grades, that previously had reached an all-time low now were skyrocketing. Perhaps he would receive academic honors at the close of the school year! Obedience to the wishes and commands of his parents, as if he were a buck-private being employed by a five-star general!  To conclude that Saturday Johnny was taken to Disneyland from dawn until dusk, enjoying every moment of his well-deserved prize. Rides, clowns, snacks and meals, music and the whole festive milieu he drank in as if it were an eternal elixir, raising him from the earthly doldrums to the eternal bliss!

THE SECRET: THE MOTIVATIONAL PRINCIPLE.   The key to the radical transformation of Johnny boy was one thing: the principle of motivation. His catastrophic prior life was determined by a meaningless existence. He had no goal, no purpose, no meaning, no joy, no reason to be motivated to do absolutely anything of perennial value and worth.  He had to be motivated. This key that unlocked the inexhaustible richness in the heart, mind, and person of Johnny was the amusement that he so ardently yearned for in his dreamland which for him was Disneyland.

OUR SUPERNATURAL MOTIVATION. One of the primary reasons why there are so many so-called anemic, dead-beat, lazy, slothful, slumbering and sleepy Catholics is because they are truly lacking in motivation. They have lost the purpose, meaning and goal of their existence. They are running a race, but there seems to be no finish-line. They are hitting the books but there seems to be no graduation or diploma in view.  They are like the sailor tossed and turned in the midst of the storm at sea but there is no port or land in view!

LIFE’S GOALS.  As followers of Christ we must have goals so as to be motivated to carry out great endeavors and enterprises for the General of our Eternal army Jesus the Lord.

OUR GOAL: HEAVEN.  We honestly do not reflect enough upon our ultimate goal in life—Heaven! What is heaven like? Even the greatest of minds, the greatest mystics, even St. Paul himself falls far short of its reality.  “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the mind of man the great things that Gods has prepared for those who love Him.” (I Cor. 2:9) Paul also states: “The sufferings of this life are as nothing compared to the glory that awaits the sons of God.” (Rom 8:18)

Still, as a stimulus to motivate us, we should carry out this mental exercise, using our imagination as best we can.  Try to recall in your past the happiest day, the happiest hour, and then the happiest event and moment in your life. (It’s worth the effort!) Once done magnify the joy of that moment a thousand times and add to this eternity. This most joyful moment, that you can barely describe in human terms, will be forever and ever and ever.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE!  If you were to ask me to carry out this experience it would not be hard to recall the day, the hour and the specific moment of what I believe to be the happiest, most joyful experience, time and moment in my own life. It would have been May 25, 1986. Place? The Basilica of St Peter in Rome. The context? The Mass of Ordination to the priesthood.  The officiating Bishop—the Bishop of Rome, Pope St John Paul II. The specific moment would be when the Holy Father, the future St. John Paul II gently placed his hands on my head and prayed over me.   The joy that experienced, being so ineffable, can hardly be expressed in words.   The ontological reality was the radical transformation of having the priestly character on my soul, indelible and to be there for all eternity.  How true these words: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

Following up on our theme and topic, this event can motivate me to strive with even greater effort and enthusiasm to attain the eternal reward and crown that waits for me in Heaven.

Now it is your turn to recall that supreme day, hour and moment of ineffable joy that you experienced and to multiply that joy 1000 times and then prolong this for all eternity.   Undoubtedly this will serve as a motivational force to catapult you into a higher realm in your spiritual life and a more serious effort to do all in your power to reach your destiny, your eternal goal—which is Heaven.

The Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

The first two things I do every morning upon hearing the alarm clock is to offer my day to Jesus though Mary by praying my morning offering. All that I have and do, I give to Jesus though the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  Then spontaneously I kiss my Scapular and bless my forehead, eyes, ears, lips and heart with the Brown Scapular that I have worn for decades.

A GREAT START.  By faithfulness to these two simple but fervent gestures I have a great start to a new day that through Mary’s most powerful intercession will be filled with many blessings—many trials and crosses also, but these too can be blessings from God.

THE SCAPULAR, WHAT AND WHY OF THIS DEVOTION?  In the 13^th century, Our Lady of Mount Carmel appeared to an English Carmelite, his name Simon Stock, now Saint Simon Stock. Her appearance concluded with insisting that this English monk and priest wear the Brown Scapular, and insist that the other Carmelites also wear it. The brown scapular that Mary wore and she asked Simon Stock to wear was a long brown cloth worn over his shoulders front and back, over his brown habit. In that time of the 13^th century, the Carmelite Order was in such a serious decline that it was in danger of extinction. Father Simon humbly submitted to the requests of the Lady. Not long after Simon began wearing the Scapular and convinced his brother Carmelites to also wear it and things changed for the better. The Order that was languishing to the point of disappearing revived. Vocations came; there was a new and revitalized vigor and zeal in the order. Was this all a chance event or was there some reason for this radical and almost immediate transformation?

THE REASON FOR THE TRANSFORMATION, REVITALIZATION AND RENEWAL.  In a Catholic milieu where Mary is lacking, the environment becomes sterile, insipid and lackluster.  A garden becomes a desert; clouds become vaporized and water less; life becomes sad and depressed. But when Mary is introduced to the scene there is true renewal, revival and resurrection. For that reason, when we pray that beautiful prayer at the end of the Holy Rosary, the Hail Holy Queen, we invoke Mary as “Our life, our sweetness and our hope.”

This being said, let us delve into this beautiful devotion to Mary, that of wearing her garment, that is to say, wearing proudly and confidently the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The garment in our case being the small scapular we wear over our heart and back, surrounding us with her protection.

IDEAS TO MOTIVATE THE WEARING OF THE SCAPULAR OF CARMEL.

1. LITURGICAL CELEBRATION. Every year the Church honors Our Lady under the title Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the middle of July and summertime—July 16^th! There are beautiful statues and paintings depicting Our Lady of Mount Carmel stretching out the brown Scapular to Saint Simon Stock.

2. BLESSING FROM HOLY MOTHER CHURCH. The Church has recommended and blessed the Scapular and its wearing for many centuries. Many miracles have been attributed to the faithful wearing of the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  Those who are enrolled in the Brown Scapular Confraternity receive the merits and blessings of the Carmelite Order. This is a simple ceremony which can be performed by any priest who is familiar with the ritual. Indeed, what a beautiful Parochial practice it is to enroll First Communion children in the Confraternity of the Scapular—Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

3. KISSING REVERENTLY THE SCAPULAR. The simple gesture of kissing the Scapular accrues with it a blessing from the Church that we call an indulgence. Yes, that’s true! Upon giving a reverential kiss to the Scapular the Church gives a Partial indulgence, which is remission of temporal punishment due for sins already forgiven but still in need of reparation. This can be applied to oneself or to the souls in Purgatory. Of course the kiss is a universal symbol expressing our love for a person. In sum, by kissing the Scapular we are saying that we love Mary our heavenly Mother.

4. SIGN OF OUR BELONGING. Soldiers have their uniforms that distinguish them as defenders of their country. Sailors have their specific identity in their uniforms. Professional Baseball players have their own uniforms, the Yankees are known for their pinstripes. Business executives traditionally donned a white shirt, tie and suit coat. With respect to belonging to Mary it could not be more simple—wearing the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. This is the garment, the exterior sign that we belong to Jesus through Mary.

5. VARIETY OF SYMBOLIC MEANINGS OF WEARING THE SCAPULAR.  First and foremost, by wearing the Scapular we are saying that we truly desire to belong to Jesus and Mary, His Mother. We no longer belong to ourselves, but to Jesus through Mary. We are in good hands! We are not spiritual orphans wandering in no man’s land. We have both destiny and purpose.

6. HEART OF MARY.  The Scapular is worn very close to our heart. What more can we say except that we want our heart to beat in unison with the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Even more, we want to find two secure places of refuge in our lives: the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

7. SCHOOL OF MARY.  One of the titles Pope Saint John XXIII gave to the Church is that of Mater et Magistra—meaning Mother and Teacher. Often there is a symbolic parallel between the Church and Mary and their similar roles. As the Church is both Mother and Teacher, so also Mary is both Mother and Teacher. Father Robert Fox, an expert on Our Lady of Fatima, asserted that when Our Lady came from heaven to visit her children on earth she came as Teacher—to teach us how to know and love God so as to arrive safely in heaven. Mary as teacher always points us to Jesus who is the greatest of all teachers. Her last recorded words in Sacred Scripture in the context of the Wedding in Cana were: “Do whatever He tells you.” (Jn. 2:5) Mary as teacher points us to Jesus, the greatest teacher.

8. ARMY OF MARY. In Mexico, one of the many titles given to Mary is that she is the General of the Army. Our life on earth is a constant battle. Once confirmed we become soldiers of Christ. Two of the weapons that we must wield in our battle against the flesh, the world and the devil are the most Holy Rosary and the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The Rosary is our spiritual slingshot—parallel to David defeating Goliath with his slingshot. In the words of Saint Paul let us run the good race and fight the good fight and win the merited prize that awaits us in heaven (cf. 2 Tim 4:7-8). How? The weapon of the Rosary and the protective shield of the Scapular!

9. SCAPULAR: OUR SHIELD AND DEFENSE. In the small booklet on the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Garment of Grace, the author explains succinctly the history of the Scapular and gives a catechesis of the Scapular. However, the essence of the pamphlet is the many miracles that have occurred by the faithful sons and daughters of Mary who have worn the Scapular. The Scapular is undoubtedly a powerful shield against the onslaught of the enemy!

10. SAINT ALPHONSUS AND THE SCAPULAR. It is recorded that the great St. Alphonsus, who wrote one of the greatest books on Mary “The Glories of Mary”, was saved by Mary and the powerful shield of the Scapular. While at Mass, an enemy shot him and the piercing bullet should have killed him! It never happened! The bullet cut through his chasuble, then his alb, then his habit, and then his black shirt. But he did not die. Afterwards it was found that the bullet aiming straight toward his heart was embedded in his Brown Scapular and it never touched his body. This was the hand of Mary working through the Scapular to protect and defend her son Alphonsus from his mortal enemies. How may enemies surround us, both physical, spiritual and moral and how many times can Our Lady protect us? Limitless times!

11. CONSECRATION TO MARY. As a priest I have presided over many ceremonies of Consecration to Jesus through Mary, most often in the context of Holy Mass. Usually hundreds of people are present for this magnificent celebration. After all have prayed the consecration prayer, usually the one written by Saint Louis de Montfort in “True Devotion to Mary”, then there are lines of people ready to receive their brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. This Scapular is a constant reminder of the day of our Consecration and our obligation to live out on a daily basis our Consecration to Mary.

12. NEVER ALONE, BUT UNDER MARY’S GAZE, SHADOW AND HEART. By confidently wearing the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel we come to a keen awareness that we are never alone. In a world in which way too many people suffer a crushing loneliness, to the point of not even wanting to live, the Scapular serves to bring to our mind that we are really never alone. Our Lady, Our Heavenly Mother is truly with us every step along the way to Heaven. Saint Ignatius’ Virgin or Madonna was La Madonna de la Strada—Our Lady of the Street. The famous Spanish song in honor of Mary is “Santa Maria del Camino”—Our Lady of the Way. By wearing the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, may we renew our love for Mary as our Mother, our Teacher, Our Guide, Our Protector, Our powerful shield, and most assuredly Our Life, Our Sweetness and Our Hope!

As human persons we are all called to be fertile and to multiply. This was God’s first command to humanity. Man and woman who unite in the marital bond and become one flesh can, with the help of God’s grace, be instrumental in bringing forth new life. They can be father and mother; God Himself infuses the immortal soul in the moment of conception. What a sublime and glorious vocation: that of Holy Matrimony and the ability and gift of bringing forth new life in collaboration with God. Technically, we call this Procreation.

1. SPIRITUAL PATERNITY.  However, it must be asserted with utmost clarity that there is another form of engendering life, but this is raised to the higher level of the supernatural order. Most specifically this becomes evident and manifest with the Sacrament of Holy Orders in the exercise of the priesthood.

2. FATHER’S DAY.  During the course of Father’s Day that always falls in June, as Mother’s Day falls in May, it is not uncommon for people after Mass to wish the priest a great day in these words: “Happy Father’s Day!”

3. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NAME.  Both father and mother by the very nature and essence of their name give life to a new human being, of course with the help of God. A natural father is obviously called “Father or Daddy! However, the priest when addressed by people is not addressed as “Hey priest”, but rather, “Father”. In fact, the priest truly is the spiritual father to those who are entrusted to his care.

4. SPIRITUAL GENERATION: THE NATURE OF SPIRITUAL FATHERHOOD. How then is it that a priest, a “Father” does engender, generate and bring forth new life, life in the spirit? Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Unless one be born of water and the spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God, the flesh profits nothing; it is the spirit that brings forth life.” (Jn 3:5-6) In fact, there are various manners or ways that the priest, the spiritual father brings forth spiritual life. We would like to offer a list. Two of the most prominent ways in which a priest, spiritual father can bring forth life are the following: the sacramental life, through the administration of the Sacraments; then and of capital importance, the teaching, preaching and explanation of the Bible, the living Word of God. Let’s go!

5. CONCRETE MANNERS OF SPIRITUAL PATERNITY BAPTISMS.  Every time the priest pours the water over the head of the individual and pronounces the words: (Name): “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”, in that precise moment the priest is exercising in a very simple but sublime way his spiritual paternity. That individual, through the instrumentality of the priest, has become a son of God, brother to Jesus Christ, friend of the Holy Spirit, and living temple of the Blessed Trinity. As Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Born of water and the Holy Spirit.”

6. CONFESSIONS. Mortal sin deprives the soul of God’s life that we call sanctifying grace. When the sinner, immersed in grave sin (mortal sin) makes a sincere sacramental confession to the priest, this person passes from death to life, from the death caused by mortal sin to a life restored in sanctifying grace though the Sacrament of Confession. Indeed, the priest is the divine instrument that God has chosen to bring the sinner from death to life! What a marvel!

7. CONSECRATION IN MASS.  Another most solemn and sublime moment in the exercise of spiritual paternity is in the context of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. When the words that Jesus pronounced at the Last Supper, “Take and eat this is my Body, take and drink this is my Blood; do this in memory of me”, are repeated by the priest, in that precise moment Jesus Christ (Real Presence) is truly being born in the hands of the ordained priest. As Mary brought forth Jesus born in Bethlehem, so Jesus is born in the hands of the priest in the very moment of Consecration. At that moment, we can sing with the angels who bowed down and worshiped Him: “O come let us adore Him. O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ Jesus the Lord.”

8. HOLY COMMUNION.  One more step in the context of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the sublime moment of Holy Communion. At the moment when the priest lifts up the Host and says, “The Body of Christ” and you respond AMEN, then in that very moment Jesus enters your mouth, mind, heart and soul and you become one with the Eucharistic Lord. There is no more important action on this side of heaven than receiving Jesus in Holy Communion with love. Once again, the priest is the spiritual Father, instrumental in this sublime action that even the angels are not capable of exercising.

9. SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK.  This Sacrament expresses spiritual paternity in the sense that it serves to heal, comfort, fortify, and bolster the virtue of hope in the midst of illness, sickness and struggles with old age. Furthermore, if it is God’s will that the infirm person be taken from this life to the next, it serves to prepare the person for this last stage of their life and helps them die in the state of grace so they can have access to the Home of the Eternal Father for all eternity.

10. PREACHING/TEACHING—THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD.  The two basic and fundamental roles of the priest are to pray for the people of God, as well as to preach the fullness of the truth by explaining the Word of God and how to put it into practice. Saint Augustine offers us an enlightening and inspiring dynamic with respect to the Word of God preached and the Word of God accepted and assimilated in the heart of the people. This is the progression of the dynamic. The priest prayerfully reads and meditates upon the Bible, the Word of God. The Word passes from the Bible page to his eyes, and from his eyes to his mind, then the Word sinks from his mind into his heart. Then when he preaches or teaches the Word of God, the priest digs into his own inner being and he speaks the Word from his mind and heart, the Word resounds through time and space and enters into the ears of the listeners. From their ears, the words ascend to their mind, and then descend into their very heart and soul. What the priest had in his own mind and heart has been shared and is now in the mind and heart of all the listeners! What a miracle of grace! This indeed is spiritual paternity, because the Word has been born in the hearts of the faithful through the spiritual paternity of the priest whom we call Father!

7. SPIRITUAL DIRECTION AND SPIRITUAL PATERNITY.  Finally, and of paramount importance, is the role that the priest, the spiritual father, has in the context of spiritual direction. A true spiritual father is a teacher. The priest (teacher) by transmitting the truth enlightens, comforts, consoles, corrects, exhorts, encourages, lifts up, edifies, and sincerely cares for and loves his spiritual children.

8. Let us pray fervently for Bishops, priests, and future priests that they will take seriously their role as spiritual father to those who are entrusted to their care. May they be true fathers, Good Shepherds, and spiritual leaders and guides to the flock entrusted to their care. May they also have the heart of the Good Shepherd, “The Lord is my Shepherd there is nothing I shall lack.” (Psalm 23:1)

Jesus called the Rich Young man to follow Him and Jesus promised this man blessings and eternal life. Unfortunately, “possessed by his own possessions” the rich man departed from Jesus sad. He preferred his things, his wealth above and beyond the treasure of Jesus’ friendship in this life as well as in the next, heaven forever. (Mk. 10:17-31)

This Gospel passage relates, at least indirectly, to the call to the Religious Life, to the radical following of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The fact of the matter is that Jesus calls and invites the person to follow Him, but Jesus is never going to force the person. He respects the freedom of the individual.

In this short essay we would like to present for your reflection, education and meditation some of the most salient points and aspects of some of the key constitutive elements of what is called the RELIGIOUS LIFE.

VOCATION.   All of us are called universally to become saints. The words of Jesus, the “holy of holies”, are both clear and unequivocal: “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt. 5: 48)  Vatican II the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium V has as a title: “The universal call to holiness.” However, it must be said that every person has their own unique vocation.  Most are called to the married state, others to the single state, still others to the priesthood, and finally there are those who are called to the RELIGIOUS LIFE. This will be the topic of our brief essay.

1. ESSENTIAL PRIMARY PURPOSE.  The ecclesial document from Vatican II on Religious Life is titled Perfectae Caritatis. This Latin title exemplifies and incorporates the primary purpose of entering the Religious Life or the Religious state of life—that is to say, to arrive at perfect charity. In a word the most important virtue in the life of the follower of Jesus is that of charity—meaning a supernatural love for both God and our brothers and sisters. One enters the Religious state with the ultimate purpose of arriving at a state of a dynamic growth and development of one’s love for God, overflowing into one’s love for one’s neighbor. Indeed, if we truly love God then we must love our neighbor. (A constant reminder in the Letters of Saint John.)

2. FREEDOM.  Once again, with reference to the refusal of the Rich young man, the call to the Religious Life must be accepted freely, totally and unreservedly—no ties or strings attached. In a word, God wants to be loved and not by force but by a free act of the will, a loving choice.

3. FOUNDER.  Religious Orders and Congregations have specific founders that transmit and leave as a patrimony and legacy the specific spirit that God has endowed them with. Examples of founders are multiple: St. Ignatius and the Jesuits, Saint John Bosco and the Salesians, Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta and the Missionaries of Charity, Saint Francis and the Franciscans, Saint Dominic and the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), Saint Alphonsus and the Redemptorists, Saint Benedict and the Benedictines. There are many more, but we have left you with a few brilliant examples.

4. CHARISM. Each and every one of these founders have left what is called a specific charism to the Congregation. By charism is meant a specific physiognomy or characteristic note that distinguishes it and differentiates it from the others. Indeed, it is incumbent upon the members in each Congregation to get to know both the Founder (their spiritual father or mother), as well as their specific charism.

5. VOWS.  These are solemn promises made to God by the individual to arrive at a greater freedom of spirit and facility in following Jesus more radically and with a more intense love. Remember the document Perfectae Caritatis—the radical call to love Jesus fully and completely. In most Congregations the solemn promises are three—Chastity, Poverty , and Obedience.  Let us explain.

6. CHASTITY.  This is not simply a renunciation of the state of Holy Matrimony, but rather a desire to love Jesus fully and completely. In a word, Religious Life is truly a love affair between Jesus, the Bride Groom, and His Beloved, the Bride. Women Religious actually wear a ring, aware of the fact that they are mystically united to Jesus the Bridegroom of their soul. Jesus appeared to Saint Catherine of Siena and gave her a ring which was invisible to the eyes of others but visible to the saint.

7. POVERTY. This vow allows the Religious to renounce the pervasive and inherent danger of becoming overly attached to material things, and materialism as a whole. For this reason the Rich young man failed to follow Jesus because he had many possessions. If you like, he became possessed by his own possessions. In a word, with the vow of poverty, Jesus becomes the treasure of their life. Biblically, Jesus becomes the pearl of infinite value. If one possesses Jesus and is possessed by Jesus, he is richer than a multi-billionaire. Jesus warns the world: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Mt. 6: 24)

8. OBEDIENCE. By this vow, the Religious surrenders their will to God by willfully choosing to obey their Local Superior, Provincial and Rector Major (Head of the Congregation). This is done in imitation of Jesus, the model in all ways. In fact, Jesus was obedient even to death and death on the cross. (Philippians 2:8) By embracing this vow, the Religious is able to overcome one of the greatest enemies and obstacles for growth in the spiritual life—an overweening pride so characteristic of these modern times!

9. COMMUNITY. The early Christian community, as we read in the Acts of the Apostles, lived in community and were of one heart and mind and shared all in common. They were united in love for Jesus and love for one another. The onlookers were impressed by their lifestyle and commented on how they loved one another. “Love one another deeply from the heart.” (1 Pt 1:22) This powerful witness of love was a powerful force of attraction and motivation to become Christians. So it is with Religious Life, it entails living in common with one’s brothers or sisters. Venerable Bruno Lanteri (Founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary) stated shortly before his departure from this life to the next, these heart-warming but challenging words: “Love one another and do all you can to never break the bonds of love among yourselves.”

10. RELIGIOUS HABIT. The Second Vatican Council emphasized the importance of the Religious Habit as a sign of one’s consecration to God. Also, the Religious Habit is an Eschatological sign—meaning, it is a concrete sign and reminder that this world is passing and there indeed is a world that goes beyond this short and ephemeral life on earth. In other words, it points to our destiny which is heaven.

11. PRAYER IN COMMON. Another salient characteristic of Religious Life is that of prayer. A Religious has as their first duty the contemplation of divine things—that is to say, dedication to a serious life of prayer. They pray individually, but also find specific times to pray with their brothers or sisters. In the words of Jesus:  “Where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am midst in the midst of them.” (Mt. 18: 20)

12. APOSTOLIC LIFE AND CHARISM.  Religious that are dedicated to a more active life of apostolate are called to carry out their charismatic grace by exercising a specific apostolate. In fact, if a Religious truly loves Christ then they necessarily will love what Jesus loves—the salvation of immortal souls gained through prayers, penance, but also an active apostolate.

13. MARIAN DIMENSION.  Religious Founders have Jesus as the primary purpose and focus of their lives. Jesus indeed is the WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. However, Religious Orders have Mary, a model for all religious, as their spiritual Mother and Guide. It would be an interesting future study to do a work displaying the different Marian charisms in the Church, and most specifically in Religious Life. Some examples:  Saint John Bosco and Our Lady Help of Christians, Saint Dominic and Our Lady of the Rosary, Saint Alphonsus and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Saint Augustine and Our Lady of Good Counsel, Saint Bernard and Stella Maris/Our Lady Star of the Sea, Saint Mother Teresa and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

We will close our short essay on Religious Life taking the last few words from the Decree on the Renewal of Religious Life, Perfectae Caritatis October 25, 1965, words of great comfort and encouragement:

“All religious, therefore, with undiminished faith, with charity towards God and their neighbor, with love for the cross and with the hope of future glory, should spread the good news of Christ throughout the whole world, so that their witness might be seen by all men and our Father, who is in heaven, and will be glorified (Mt 5:16). Thus through the prayers of the gentle Virgin Mary, Mother of God, whose life is a model for all ( St. Ambrose, De Virginitate 2,3, n. 5) may they increase daily and may they bring more abundant fruits of salvation.