Holy Orders (Aquinas 101)
Discernment session for people contemplating service in holy orders or religious life
“The thoughts, feelings and desires one has within the experience of peace and stillness in the presence of Christ are God’s thoughts, feelings and desires. This is how God reveals what He wants-His will-of us and for us. When one is in that holy place in Christ, one’s desires are Christ’s desires, what one wants is what God wants. God puts His thoughts, feelings, and desires into us. In that experience, God’s will is within my will. This is an important lesson. In order to know God’s will, one simply needs to pay attention to one’s thoughts, feelings and desires when one is experiencing the peace, stillness, clarity and gratitude found in the presence of Christ. God’s will, his desire for you, is not out there somewhere! It is found in your own desire when you are in Christ! That is the will of God for you! This cannot be stressed enough.”
“Fear is an obstacle. “Fear is useless, what is needed is trust” (Mark 5:36). If God says fear is useless then it is useless. Fear is the enemy of discernment because it comes from the devil. So what can help us to trust? Love! 1 John 4:18 says, “Perfect love casts out all fear”. When we are in love with God, we can trust him, because
we know him. We begin to discover the wisdom of God whereby we will want to do things God’s way and not ours. … God does not reveal himself by fear or through fear. God does not scare anyone into anything. God reveals his desires to us and draws us by a peaceful presence. It is the Enemy who scares men into and out of things. The Enemy reveals his desires through fear.
Just as God’s will is found in one’s own thoughts, feelings, and desires that flow from the experience of the peaceful presence of Christ, so the will of the Enemy is found in one’s own thoughts, feelings, and desires flowing from the fear, pressure and confusion that come from the Enemy. In the experience of fear, pressure and confusion, the Enemy puts his thoughts, feelings and desires into us. The Enemy reveals his desire in fear. He leads us by a fear flowing from a false belief, a lie. The Enemy drives a man by a fear of something false, while Christ draws a man by a peaceful presence to something that is true.”
“In prayer, God is calling us into a “spiritual childhood”. “I assure you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the Kingdom of God” (Matt. 18:3). As parents, how many times did we experience our children (or a small child) running into our arms and just holding on to us and hugging us for an extended period of time? We must learn to be held [by God]. This kind of intimacy is difficult for many and especially for men. It might be good to have them take a few minutes and reflect on John 13:25, where the Beloved disciple lays his head on the Lord’s chest. Imagine yourself doing so and while doing this lay all your concerns, fears and dreams on his chest. Surrender them to the Lord. Simply rest in his embrace.”
FRUSTRATION AND ANGER OF PRIEST SOMETIMES
PRIESTHOOD & GENDER: GENDER IS SCRIPTURE – CHRIST CAME TO REPAIR THE SIN OF ADAM NOT EVE
Seis mujeres de Ohio serán las primeras en formar parte del Orden de Viudas en EE.UU
https://www.infocatolica.com/?t=noticia&cod=50986
The Carthusian Nuns – Las Monjas Cartujas – As Monjas Cartuxas
The House at the end of the World, The Carthusian Cloistered Monastery Part 1
The House at the end of the World, The Carthusian Cloistered Monastery Part 2
The House at the end of the World, The Carthusian Cloistered Monastery Part 3
Silencio y soledad: la vida de las mujeres de la única cartuja en España
Orden de Canónigos Premonstratenses
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orden_de_Can%C3%B3nigos_Premonstratenses
BREVIARY AND OFFICE OF READINGS OF PRIESTS, THEIR ROUTINE AND DAILY CONFESSION
Catholic Priest Visits Orthodox Seminary
ABSOLUTE MUST SEE: Monasteries and consacrated homes and seminaries work as protection for the town
The daily routine of priests
¿Qué significa el alzacuello de los sacerdotes?
La Fraternidad Sacerdotal de San Pedro sigue creciendo
https://www.infocatolica.com/?t=noticia&cod=53766
The life of a hermit: A glimpse inside the little-known state of life – EWTN Great Britain
The life of a hermit: A glimpse inside the little-known state of life