By giving their lives to the hardest tasks, consecrated women and men from all over the world testify to the supremacy of God and the significance of Jesus Christ for human life.
- Pope John Paul II
Religious brothers offer invaluable service to God’s people, though the vocation of religious brother is one that is lesser known in our church.
Brothers belong to religious communities that have a certain spirit, or charism, which defines their lives. The life of a brother is characterized by the common bonds of living in community, and commitment to prayer and service.
Religious brothers take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. These vows are what distinguish brothers in their vocation. The vow of poverty means a total sharing of possessions rather than private ownership of goods. This sharing not only provides for a simple lifestyle, but also encourages a spirit of unity in the religious order. The vow of chastity is the particular way that religious promise to love. It is not a loveless life; on the contrary, a brother shares his love with many people in many different ways. It is a total gift of self. The vow of obedience is a pledge to a spirit of cooperation within ones religious order, and adherence to the order’s charism.
Brothers help people to see the sacred in the ordinary moments of life.
The sacraments are important to brothers, as they are to all Catholics. They participate in the sacraments as lay people do rather than as ordained ministers of the church.
This distinctive fraternity has a wealth of talent where the brothers are involved in ministries that are as varied as the brothers themselves. Whether it be as educators, administrators, missionaries, or any other of their numerous areas of involvement, brothers bring with them a strong sense of dedication to the church.
There is also an overwhelming sense that religious brothers are our peers; living and working in our midst as companions on our journey of faith. They are men who are examples of how the actions of our daily lives can in themselves be holy. This recognition of holiness in ourselves and in others is one of the fundamental aspects of our faith. Bringing the gift of holiness into our world is what each of us tries to do in living our vocation well. Brothers do this, and we are grateful for their vocation; its graces give meaning and life to our church.
The vocation of brother is part of our rich tradition as Catholic Christians and our church would not be complete without those faithful men who spend their lives exhorting us to be closer in relationship to our Lord Jesus Christ! |
