|
|
 |
| |
The Vows of the Life in Jesus Community |
 |
The Life in Jesus Community is an integrated monastery in the Benedictine tradition, comprised of married couples, singles, and religious sisters, all of whom take the traditional Benedictine vows of stability, conversatio (conversion of life), and obedience. By the vow of stability, we make a commitment entirely and for life to God and to the Life in Jesus Community, its members, and its mission. In the vow of conversatio, we commit to allowing God continually to convert our lives more into His image and likeness. Through the vow of obedience, we promise to obey God and the authorities He has placed over us. Members who take only these vows alone are lay monastic members. Sisters of the community take these vows as well as the vows of the evangelical counsels which are poverty and chastity, and are referred to as religious members. |
|
 |
|
 |
|
The vow of poverty means surrendering personal possessions as well as the opportunity for worldly success, and trusting in God alone. The vow of chastity means committing to sexual purity and celibacy for the rest of their lives. Before making life vows, those desiring to become community members, as well as those seeking to become sisters, walk through a several-year discernment and formation period, including stages as an aspirant, postulant, and novice. Whether lay monastics or religious, all members live a monastic life under The Life in Jesus Community Rule and under the authority of our abbot in accordance with our constitution. |
|
|
From the earliest days of Church history, the monastic life has been distinguished by three basic features: 1) taking life vows before God 2) living according to a rule under an abbot, and 3) living in community with others who have taken the same vows. All three of these characteristics are foundational elements of the Life in Jesus Community. In addition, our community has the special charism of integrating the three states of life—single, married, and religious—and unifying them under a shared vision and spirituality; thus we refer to ourselves as an integrated monastery.
It is precisely in our unique structure, the integration of married, single, and religious members, that the Life in Jesus Community sees our special purpose, or charism, in the Church. As lay monastics and religious sharing a monastic life and call, we are called out, like generations of monastics before us, to intercede for the world and to support the work of the Church through our lives of prayer and service.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
