A Monastic Kind of Life

Slate ^ | October 14, 2008 | Harold Fickett

[ELS]

How Catholic religious communities are trying to attract young people again.

The Catholic Church has always seen the contemplative life as the "Air Force" in its spiritual struggle, as the Rev. David Toups of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops commented—a conduit of spiritual power. Though the number of young people entering monasteries, convents, and the priesthood has drastically dropped from the mid-20th century, some new approaches to religious vocations have inspired some young people in America to embrace this idea, replenishing several of the older religious orders and filling new ones. One such community with a young population, nestled in the Ozarks, is a place that could symbolize Catholicism's true hope for renewal in our time. Founded in 1999, the Clear Creek Monastery has grown from 13 to 30 monks who are intent on building a community that will "last for a thousand years."

[ELS]

There is at least one glaring inaccuracy, but considering the source, this is a pretty fair piece.

[MrChips]

Monasticism? Well, it's not hard to get tired of this world, these days. If Obama gets elected, I may retreat to a monastery myself. Might as well. I won't be able to afford my house.

[Tax-chick]

It’s not exactly in the Ozarks, for one thing.

[wideawake]

In the middle of the 20th century, when the average Catholic family had four or five kids and many had ten or more, parents had no problem with one or two of their children entering the religious or monastic life.

Their other children would get married and have the grandkids.

But with the advent of mass contraception and the precious decade that the Church lost in fighting it, the average Catholic family now has two or three children and many have one.

Contraception killed vocations.

[GOP_Thug_Mom]

I always knew that contraception kills babies (the pill, IUD), relationships, etc. But I hadn't thought about how it killed vocations! You are so right!

I do have one friend who was only able to have one son, and he is a priest with the Legionaires.

[GOP_Thug_Mom]

I so want to go visit the Clear Creek Monastery. I've have a couple of friends from church who've been--one family with 6 children (their oldest daughter is becoming a Carmelite nun) go there regularly.

And you're right! I couldn't believe it when I looked at the source!

[Titanites]

There is another monastery just getting started in Wyoming, the Carmelite Monks.

[ELS]

I have been there and it is a wonderful place. I pray that you will get there soon.