RELIGIOUS LIFE
MEMBERS of contemplative religious communities focus on prayer, praying daily together the Liturgy of the Hours, and individual prayer such as lectio divina, the prayerful reading of scripture.
Vocation terms defined BY CAROL SCHUCK SCHEIBER
Carol Schuck Scheiber is the content editor of VISION Vocation Guide.
It can seem like religious life has a language all its own. Here’s a guide to understanding terms you might hear while exploring the possibility of life in a religious community.
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HAT’S THE DIFFERENCE between apostolic and contemplative? Cloistered and monastic? Novice and postulant? If it sounds like religious are speaking Greek, we’re here to help.
Apostolic In the context of consecrated religious life, apostolic religious communities are engaged for the most part in active ministries. While prayer and community life are important to them, their members serve in a variety of ways: teaching, parish ministry, health care, social work, care for the elderly, work with young people, service to the poor, and many others.
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