Vocations to the Religious Life
God calls us because he loves us. As Christians, we are all called by virtue of our baptism to be in Christ: to grow into ever closer union with him and to live out our lives in response to his life, death and resurrection. For each of us that involves living in a particular way and becoming a particular kind of person; someone who reflects something of the life of Christ. That is our primary calling; to represent Christ in the world
Some men and women are called to live what is known as the ‘Religious Life’, as a monk or a nun, a Franciscan friar or a sister. This way of life is diverse and ranges from the enclosed contemplative life through to the contemplative life in action. There are many religious, both lay and ordained, living in community throughout the country. There are others living dispersed lives as oblates and members of Third Orders.
You may have a strong inner conviction that God is calling you. How you experience that conviction will vary. It might be a nagging feeling over time that will not go away. It might come as a bolt out of the blue that this is what God’s will is for you. However you experience the call of God, it is likely to be persistent and will not go away.
(the above is extracted from "Ministry in the Church of England")
| "Many who are drawn to visit
communities speak of them as a still point in the midst of a hurricane
or as a pool of water in a dried up river bed of receding faith. Such
a role is part of their calling but it has to be seen in terms of
networks. Communities need to be in touch with those struggling on the
margins, ordinary Christians seeking to live their faith at home and
work, clergy living with inadequate frames of support. Religious
communities themselves straddle the boundaries already. Not all have
abbey churches and echoing plainsong. One of the best kept secrets of
the church is the thousands of sisters and brothers working away in
small groups of two or three, or even alone, at the service of the
sick, the homeless, addicts, the abused and the oppressed"
Fr George Guiver, Superior, Community of the Resurrection |
If you feel a sense of call to the Religious Life and would like an initial discussion with one of the Brethren at the Community of the Resurrection, please contact us in the first instance for your enquiry to be passed on in a sensitive and totally confidential manner. Alternatively, please write directly to the Superior, Fr George Guiver, Community of the Resurrection, Stocksbank Road, Mirfield, West Yorkshire WF14 0BN.
| Lord Jesus Christ in your great love you draw all people to yourself and in your wisdom you call us to your service. We pray at this time you will kindle in the hearts of men and women the desire to follow you in the Religious life. Give to those whom you call grace to accept their vocation readily and thankfully, to make the whole-hearted surrender which you ask of them and, for love of you, to persevere to the end. This we ask in your name. Amen |
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