tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26883902.post8969126047283770989..comments2024-03-25T11:09:41.538-04:00Comments on a minor friar blog: Sanctity Against BitternessBrother Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07780326836452864455noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26883902.post-60448982455430843902009-11-18T15:45:18.151-05:002009-11-18T15:45:18.151-05:00That was a great post that I shall try to remember...That was a great post that I shall try to remember if I ever become a nun. :)Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06624317806947588259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26883902.post-75550686645929962072009-11-17T16:30:47.268-05:002009-11-17T16:30:47.268-05:00Father Charles, GREAT "rant" : ) It is ...Father Charles, GREAT "rant" : ) It is indeed a tightrope, isn't it? On the one hand, you want to deny yourself earthly pleasures and habits which a) you find distracting from your vocation and b) show your commitment to sacrifice in the name of God. But when others around you constantly reassure you "it's alright. No need to be extreme." it's a bit hard to not go with the flow. And this is not because you are a weak character. To the contrary. It's that most likely you don't want to come off as somehow spiritually stronger or "holier than thou" to your fellow friars and risk their resentment.<br /><br />You did touch on a "sore point": I know for a fact that many religious (men and women) have it much better inside the convent/monastery/residence than they had on the outside. Like the military, they enjoy the structure, support network and communalism (often providing cars, health insurance, housing allowance etc) and I know many who simply would not be able to survive on the "outside" at this point of their lives, since they have essentially been taken care of for so long. The sad part is, this is precisely the reason they are still in; it has nothing to do with their spiritual calling, assuming they ever really had one.<br /><br />I'm not trying to sound like a downer, but I am saying you stand out SO MUCH from what I have just described. You sincerely give me hope for the next generation of religious.Qualis Rexnoreply@blogger.com