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Profile of Religious Life as it Organized in
the Course of Centuries
Introduction
The Christian state of life known as religious life started when
certain individuals began to "separate" themselves from the world,
either by living in the desert or in mountain caves. These individuals
made a choice to follow the gospel's counsels more intensely and
radically - taking a way of life that was more ascetic, isolated
from people, and involved much prayer, fasting, repentance, and
union with God through contemplation. This way of life involved
a long process or organization that evolved slowly in the course
of many, many centuries.
Organization of the separation from the world: 1st-5th c.
Those individuals who started to separate themselves from urban
life and civilized systems undertook an individualistic project
and were commonly known as hermits or eremites. They viewed
their retirement from the world and its life as a way of perfection
- a way of following the teaching of Jesus more radically and intensely.
During these early centuries, individuals fled to the desert, lived
in the caves of mountains or chose isolated places wherein they can
separate themselves totally from the world. Of these individuals,
those who began this movement obtained followers who did likewise
and patterned their way of life according to them. [example:
St. Anthony of the Desert]
Organization of a Common Way of Life: 6th-12th c.
As this way of life increased, some of the individuals who gathered
around a leader agreed to organize a common life among themselves.
Now, instead of an individualistic project, the way of life became
a collective project. What was created from this movement were
communities who organized their life and work and who lived more
stable and systematized lives. There are two types of this new
way of life: the monks in their abbeys and monasteries, and the
regular canons in their local church. The monks take vows and live
a sedentary life in silence and monastic cloister doing community
work. The regular canons on the other hand have a frame for common
life, are bonded with a bishop, and live a sedentary life bonded
with a local church where they perform ministerial services.
Organization of the mission: 13th-15th c.
As the 13th century approached, the monastic common life opened
itself to an "external" apostolic activity with poverty as the
sign of its way of life. This paved the way for the creation
of mendicant orders who organized themselves for the purpose
of the mission of preaching the gospel. Members of such orders
are bonded with a religious superior who takes responsibility
for the growth of the order and the expansion of their mission
to different lands. This religious superior also makes certain
that all the members of his order dedicate themselves foremost
to the spirit of the gospel
The mission conditioning the organization: 16th-18th c.
Whereas with the mendicant orders, dedication to the gospel and
living poverty is paramount for the condition for missions,
beginning the 16th century, it is the missions which condition
the organization of orders, congregations, and religious communities
who are more dedicated to action and mission. The missionary action
of these missionary institutes is the one that regulates the life
and work of those who live together in community. Their members
are regular clerics who are bonded with a specific mission. There
is no more monastic cloister among them: they are a community of
action and dispersion in the public place with mission as the
main element of their common life.
Primacy of insertion into the world over organization: 19th-21st c.
As the 19th century approached, the organization of the religious state
of life has evolved even further. Whereas in the previous centuries,
religious life was markedly a sign of separation from the world,
in more modern times, insertion into the world has become more and more
paramount. Members of these communities are organized into what is
known as secular institutes: an organization where there is a common
spirit, a common rule, spiritual bonds, and the professional freedom
to do a variety of tasks.
Summary:
As the profile of religious life is reviewed through the centuries,
we discover that at the beginning, it started as movement that separates
itself from the world to live a life that is closer to the gospel's spirit.
When it evolved throughout the centuries, there is a pattern wherein the
way of life has progressed to a greater re-insertion into the life of the
world.
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