Chastity means not to have a sexual relationship with anyone. This is so people can focus on following God. An example of this is when Jesus said,
“Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men,” Matthew 4v19
The disciples left their families and homes to follow Jesus.
Obedience means to obey priests, bishops and the pope. An example of this is in the commission,
“Teach them to obey everything I have taught you.” This tells us to obey Gods teachings and all who work for God.
Apostolic orders are the first type of religious orders. They live a life of voluntary community work. They tend the sick and old and care for the homeless.
“You should send for the church elders, who will pray for them and rub olive oil on them in the name of the lord.” This is an inspiration to apostolic orders to heal the sick and is the reason for the sacrament, anointing of the sick. Examples of apostolic orders are Notre Dame, Brothers of the Christian Schools and mother Teresa. Brothers of the Christian Schools, religious community, commonly called Christian Brothers, established by the French educator St John Baptist de la Salle, at Reims in 1680 and sanctioned by Pope Benedict XIII in 1725. The brothers take the religious vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, plus two vows peculiar to their institute: service to the poor through education and fidelity to their institute. They do not, however, enter holy orders. In the mid-1980s community residences numbered more than 1,250 throughout the world. About 10,000 brothers taught approximately 800,000 pupils.
Contemplative orders are the second type of religious orders. Their lives are a journey to God in prayer and worship in solitude, silence and community. Examples of contemplative orders are Carmelites, Poor Clares and Carthusians.The Carthusians were a monastic order founded by St Bruno, who in 1084 retired with six companions to the solitude of the valley of Chartreuse, near Grenoble. There they lived as hermits, wearing poor clothing and eating vegetables and coarse bread. After the order received
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Papal approbation in 1170, it expanded rapidly. It dates from 1180 in England, where the name Chartreuse Houses was corrupted into Charter Houses. The order is now conducted under the rules approved in 1682 by Pope Innocent XI.
The Carthusians were divided into two classes, fathers and lay brothers. Each father occupied a separate cell, with a bed of straw, a pillow, a woollen coverlet, and the tools for manual labour or for writing. Monks left their cells only on festivals and on days of the funeral of a brother of the order. Three times a week they fasted on bread, water, and salt, and several long fasts were observed during the year. Meat was forbidden at all times and so was wine, unless it was mixed with water. Unbroken silence was enforced except on rare occasions.
As Peter and Paul gave up their homes and families to follow Jesus, “Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men,” Matthew 4v19
Members of religious orders give up their homes and families to serve God in prayer and worship and in community service to fulfill their vocation.
