The Celibate Religious Life
When I was a Protestant I always ran into these people who were just a little different. They were typically in their late 30's, 40's, maybe even 50's, not married, but generally had an inordinate love for God and others. They didn't know why they hadn't gotten married, but typically it was obvious to everyone around: they were detached from this world and too committed to their work which generally consisted in helping others. Many times these friends of mine would be great men or women of prayer and Bible study. These were normal people, but just didn't seem to fit into the normal Protestant model of grow up, get married, have some kids, retire, etc.
Luther, writing to a group of nuns so as to dissuade them of their obligation to keep their vow, wrote:
The point of this post isn't to go into Scripture and the Tradition to defend this ancient calling. That can be done, but I'm not doing that here. However, it is to point out that the religious life seems to be a calling that God has for so many and it is apparently embedded into our DNA. I'm so happy to be able to offer this option to my children because I do truly believe it is a calling for many (despite Luther's pontifications). This isn't something I realized since becoming Catholic but rather something I noticed as a Protestant--or rather noticed the striking absence of the availability of this option in that world. To all my Protestant brothers and sisters out there who aren't married, who feel a little out of place, who spend much of their life in prayer and service, please pray about the religious life. Don't let a defecto priest steal this sacred gift from you if that is what God is calling you to be.
I'm Catholic because in the Church, God still has place for everyone. Even someone like you or her...
Luther, writing to a group of nuns so as to dissuade them of their obligation to keep their vow, wrote:
"Though womenfolk are ashamed to admit to this, nevertheless Scripture and experience show that among many thousands there is not a one to whom God has given to remain in pure chastity. A woman has no control over herself. God has made her body to be with man, to bear children and to raise them as the words of Genesis 1:1..." 1525 from WittenbergLuther would leave the priesthood and marry a nun. I'm not here to run Luther's personal life through the ringer, but what ensues is the end of the celibate religious life in Protestantism. When was the last Presbyterian convent you've stumbled across? Methodist friary? Puritan Priory? Baptist Brothers of the Immaculate? Okay, okay, that last one was pushing it a little. Sorry.
The point of this post isn't to go into Scripture and the Tradition to defend this ancient calling. That can be done, but I'm not doing that here. However, it is to point out that the religious life seems to be a calling that God has for so many and it is apparently embedded into our DNA. I'm so happy to be able to offer this option to my children because I do truly believe it is a calling for many (despite Luther's pontifications). This isn't something I realized since becoming Catholic but rather something I noticed as a Protestant--or rather noticed the striking absence of the availability of this option in that world. To all my Protestant brothers and sisters out there who aren't married, who feel a little out of place, who spend much of their life in prayer and service, please pray about the religious life. Don't let a defecto priest steal this sacred gift from you if that is what God is calling you to be.
I'm Catholic because in the Church, God still has place for everyone. Even someone like you or her...
