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SFG75

When I was a teenager, I attended a Catholic high school and during the junior year at the school, the school held a retreat for the class at a monastery in a nearby town. Non-Catholic members of the class like me were more than invited to attend and I don't remember anyone having any reservations about such an arrangement. The building was an aging one, probably built around the 1920s and obviously showed some aging. I was very impressed with the humble nature of the monks in the order and it was very fascinating to discuss theology with them. Even being 17 at the time and full of the vigors of life, I couldn't help but notice that there was just something special about these men and that their life was one of great contemplation and intellectual searching.

The order closed down a few years later and it's not all that uncommon to read news accountso f how the church's orders and priesthood have suffered precipitous declines in initiated members. Greater use of lay members and perhaps the other gender, have been debated from time to time within the church. I'm not certain how those issues should be settled, as I'm not Catholic. At the same time, I find it very sad that young people are less and less inclined to pursue such a calling. In this age of instant-gratification, "have it now" technology and fly-by-the-screen-distracting advertising, I would think that these institutions are more and more necessary as people have become flooded in a sensory overload that leads many to view life through the lens of apathy and experience feelings of emptiness.

Sitaram · Site Admin Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 1079

As I mentioned, I must go to sleep soon, but I have many interesting stories to relate about Catholicism and Orthodoxy and Protestant denominations, and about so many different religions, and the people I have known.

I is so nice to be able to relax and speak freely, without fear. I used to feel sometimes like I was walking on egg shells.

Gem · Moderator Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 24 Location: London

Our society is materialistic, and most peoples interest in faith and spirituality tends to be only 'skin deep'. I'd agree that it is a sad state of affairs.

However the more I think about it the more it seems to me that historically speaking this has been cyclical, times of particular debauchery or materialism have been followed by times of renewed interest in Faith and spirituality and so forth.

I'm not sure how capable the worlds religious orders are of 'coping' with the new advances in our society, thats a whole new thread i guess. But to me at least they manage to provide a link to the past, and act as warnings/reminders of the slippery slope effect of the decisions we take.

SFG75 · Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 3:59 pm Post subject:

SFG75 · Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 9:22 pm Post subject:

Ran across this tonight while doing some reading, it reminded me a lot of your comments Gem.

One of perfect prayer is he who,
withdrawing from all mankind,is united with all mankind.
One of perfect prayer is he who
regards himself as existing with all people
and sees himself in every person.
The Philokalia

Ataratam · Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Posts: 1

I long considered being a monk. I turned down a number of females of
various ages and backgrounds through my teens, twenties, and up to 30.
Since then, there has been one young lady that I plan to marry on e day.
I always knew in my heart that I was not called to be a monk - but I
thought it a waste to not make the most of an ability to be celibate.

When I was in my teens, I was working out with wieghts to prepare
myself for summer self-exposure - yet, at the height of that mounting
concern, I suddenly felt held back spiritually. In a little over a minute, I
had had a dialogue with GOD, agreed never to dress immodestly again,
and have neither compromised that decision since then, nor even gone
near a beach.

I have passed years of my life feeling like there was no place for my life
on this earth. I am a lover of people (despite their faults), but I really
hate the loveless things fostered by unholiness. I expect one day that the
option to marry will be unbound for all Clergy from the Pope down.
Nonetheless, I don't think all non-clergy are called to Marriage. The world
needs more Saint Benedicts and Saint Anthonies (of the desert), who
remind all of what it means to fully throw one's lot in with JESUS, and
have no place whatsoever in the corruption of this world.

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