The religious communities

Besides the clergy working in the diocese, there are also monks and nuns.  They are men and women who have been called to give up everything for Our Lord.  They have received and obeyed the call which the Rich Young Ruler refused when Our Lord said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me” (NRSV, Matthew 19:21).

So monks and nuns give up all their possessions, all idea of marriage, and all their liberty, and take the three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.  They belong to what are called the Religious Orders or Communities.  Each order or community has its own special rule of life which its members keep.  Some of the religious communities spend almost all their time in prayer and worship.  They are called the contemplative communities and provide a kind of power house of prayer within the Catholic Church.  Others spend their time both in prayer and in such activities as teaching or parish work.  They are known as ‘mixed’ communities or orders, being both contemplative and active.  But all of them are called by Our Lord to reach their perfection by giving up everything for his sake.  For more information, click here.