Here's an innovative way to express your support of women religious, who are in the midst of an apostolic visitation from the Vatican. What I like best about it is this: It is an entirely positive, loving and Christian way of sharing with the Vatican our gratitude for the contribution of women religious in our lives. It is also firmly in line with the Second Vatican Council's document Lumen Gentium, which called upon the laity to express their opinions "on things which pertain to the good of the church." "By reason of the knowledge, competence or pre-eminence which they have the laity are empowered--indeed sometimes obliged--to manifest their opinion on those things which pertain to the good of the Church." (LG 37) Here is part of the email we received today:
"Thank You Sister," is proud to announce the launch of an innovative web-based letter campaign in support of women religious. Letters from around the world written in support of women religious will be posted at www.thankyousister.com throughout the month of November. At the end of the month, the letters will be sent to Mother Mary Clare Millea, Cardinal Franc Rode, Cardinal Francis George and Pope Benedict XVI as well as leadership teams of communities of women religious in the United States.
They may help the poor and sick and needy, as well as teach everyone to love each other. But glory to God is the most important commandment.
Where are the habits?
Not to mention, I have never seen a religious sister under the age of sixty, unless she is with a traditional order. Regardless of this visitation, these ''ways'' are on their way out.
While it is certainly important to glorify God, the most imprtant commandment is to ''love God with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.'' If these Sisters are treating their neighbors as Christ before us, how are they failing to glorify God? Donning a habit, while a beautiful sign of the religious life, is not a requirement.
Pax,
Thomas
As for teaching people to love each other, remember that Jesus said, '''You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'''(Matthew 22:37-39). Isn't this glorifying God?
faithful servants of Christ and wonderful examples for the Church, there are
many who have wandered astray. There are countless instances where
sisters take public stands against Church doctrine, and that simply cannot be
since they are visible representatives of the Church. Additionally, most
of the orders are drying up in the new vocations department. Convents are
being visited just as seminaries were several years ago.
As a seminarian, I have worked with many great sisters in the past few
years. These have been both "traditional" in habits and living in
community and "modern" living as individual witnesses to Christ's
mission. The visitation can be a very positive thing. While I'm a great
admirer of Father Martin and his books are among my favorite spiritual reading,
I do disagree with his consistent portrayal of the visitation in a negative
light.