The following comes from a Jan. 24 story on Catholic World News.
The typical religious who professed perpetual vows in 2013 is a 37-year-old cradle Catholic who has three or more siblings and who regularly prayed the Rosary and took part in Eucharistic adoration before entering religious life, according to a survey released by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
460 (56%) of the major superiors of US religious institutes responded to the survey, which was conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. These 460 superiors reported that 107 men and women professed perpetual vows in 2013. Of the 107, 11 newly-professed brothers and 69 newly-professed sisters responded to the survey.
87% of the institutes reported no professions of perpetual vows, while 3% report two or more newly-professed religious.
Among the survey’s findings:
- 28% of newly-professed men and women religious came from families with five or more siblings; 19% have four siblings, 14% have three siblings, 24% have two siblings, 11% have one sibling, and 4% have no siblings
- 42% are the eldest child in their family, while 17% are the youngest child
- 18% of the newly professed religious are converts, typically at age 22
- 77% of the newly professed religious reported that both parents are Catholic, and 46% say they have a relative who is a priest or religious
- 74% are white, while 14% are Asian and 12% are Hispanic; 0% are African-American or Native American
- 76% were born in the US, and Vietnam was the second-leading nation of origin; the typical newly professed foreign-born religious entered the US in 1997
- 43% attended a Catholic elementary school, while 31% attended a Catholic high school and 30% attended a Catholic college; 51% participated in parish religious education programs as a child
- though the newly professed were educated at a time when fewer than 1% of American children were home schooled, the survey found that “5% of responding religious report being home schooled at some time in their educational background,” for an average of ten years
- 24% of newly professed religious held graduate degrees when they entered religious life, while 41% held bachelor’s degrees; 64% were employed full-time, and 25% part-time, before entering religious life
- 10% of newly professed religious report that their entry into religious life was delayed by college debt
- 24% participated in one of the World Youth Days, 9% took part in a National Catholic Youth Conference, and 6% participated in a Franciscan University of Steubenville conference as a high school student
- 46% took part in a youth ministry program, while 25% took part in a young adult ministry program; 54% served as parish religious education teachers, 45% as readers, and 49% in parish music programs; 55% of the newly-professed male religious, and 16% of the newly-professed women religious, had been altar servers
- 68% of the newly professed had attended a retreat before entering religious life, 59% regularly prayed the Rosary, and 70% regularly took part in Eucharistic adoration; 54% said they had received spiritual direction
- the typical newly professed religious began to consider a religious vocation at the age of 17 and was familiar with his or her institute for two years before entering religious life
- 12% reported that a priest or religious discouraged them from entering religious life; 26% report they were discouraged from entering religious life by their mother, 21% were discouraged from doing so by their father, and 36% were discouraged from doing so by another relative
- 46% say they were encouraged by a religious to consider religious life, 39% by a friend, and 39% by a parish priest; 29% said their mother encouraged them to consider a religious vocation, and 23% said their father encouraged them to consider a vocation
To read the original story, click here.
Heavenly Father, in your wisdom you have called certain women and men to a life of special consecration so that in prayerful observance of a lifestyle of poverty, chaste celibacy and obedience, they might be witnesses to us that as St. Paul says, “our true citizenship is in heaven.” Give them, Lord, the grace of joy and perseverance in their holy vocation. We ask this through Christ, our Lord.
Anonymous,
Are your aware of some of the incomes of these so called religious? “Lifestyle of poverty!”. Give us a break!
Yes I know true Religious, and they put to shame the other ones such as many who are paid to spread their heresies at the annual REC!
May God have mercy on an amoral Amerika!
Viva Cristo Rey!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
God give us many, holy, religious vocations as the quality of the sacrifice speaks volumes.
One wonders how much a certain ex Superior General is being paid to spread his love of sodomy at the upcoming REC. Poverty indeed!
May God have mercy on an amoral Amerika!
Viva Cristo Rey!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Kenneth, here you go again spreading innuendo without specifics. When you make accusations such as this one, tell us to whom you refer and what is wrong with their presentation. I reviewed all of the speakers for the 2014 REC and their subject matter. I didn’t see any that would not be helpful to those teaching the faith. When you do not name names or describe topics, you are much like the former Senator McCarthy back in the old days. Failing to tell us whom you are discussing is not the catholic approach.
LOL.
Yes, so much for living in the spirit of poverty, especially glorious Russia, which thinks it is so much holier than our beloved country.
Loved that story about the Patriarch of Moscow wearing a watch worth $30,000 and then lying about it!!!!!
I wonder how many participated in the so called “New Evangalization”.
You say it like evangelizing is a bad thing!
And it would not surprise me if the vast majority of those who did not take their final vows did not know their Faith, – meaning they did not know their Faith in entirety because there was no “CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, Second Edition” in their homes.
Further many US seminaries and convents do not require the reading of the CCC in entirety as part of their required studies.
People can not teach accurately what they do not know accurately – in entirety.
The USCCB and US Bishops always overlook the obvious, and never include any questions about the CCC.
“….the CATECHISM has raised throughout the world, even among non-Christians, and confirms its purpose of being presented as a full, complete exposition of Catholic doctrine, enabling everyone to know what the Church professes, celebrates, lives, and prays in her daily life.” – Pope John Paul II (CCC pg xiv)
Having a Catechism of the Catholic Church in a home is wonderful, but reading it, discussing it and knowing it by heart, of course not necessarily word-by-word, is the most wonderful Guide to Life I know of for a child.
In Catholic school, we studied Catechism one hour a day every single day, and I believe every child in our school fully understood the faith by the time we were given First Holy Communion. Why is that not the case today? Most Catholics I meet at Mass are so seriously deficient in their understanding of the faith and overtly opposed to many basic Catholic teachings that I wonder if they would choose to be Catholic if they made a serious study of what various religions teach. They seem to show up by family habit rather than knowledge of the faith they verbally profess to believe in while living and professing so many opposing beliefs as to, in some cases, seem barely to be even Christian, let alone Catholic.
I believe this is due to a serious deficiency in religious education combined with living in a culture of self-indulgence and allowing the prevailing culture to determine one’s actions.
Anyone who helps pass along the fundamentals of the Catholic faith is doing the world a service, but if you know your faith well, by all means help teach it at church, even if only as an assistant to begin with. It is amazingly rewarding, personally edifying, and spiritually enriching to work to help others to know, love and serve God.
I teach CCC at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. We have two semesters of Catechism where the entire CCC is covered paragraph by paragraph. Also, I teach an MDiv course that trains seminarians to use the CCC as a teaching tool. We use a book titled, The Pedagogy of God, which is based on the CCC.
Fr. Philip Neri, OP
wonderful work keep it up.God bless.
Too bad all Seminaries, Convents, Catholic Colleges and Universities do to do the same.
God Bless you Father. Keep up the good work.
Fr. Neri,
I’m glad there are a few seminiaries in the USA that use the CCC as one of their required texts. It would be shame if Lay Catholics knew the Faith better than their Priests.
I do have a few questions.
Since the CCC is used for some Priestly education at your seminary, during Sunday homilies:
WHY DON”T WE EVER HEAR ABOUT –
– Eternity in relation to Purgatory and Hell?
– the Mortal sins of Scandal, Heresy, Schism, and Sacrilege?
– the Mortal sins of: divorce with remarriage (adultery), homosexuality, pornography, fornication (including living together without marriage) ?
– commutative justice without which no other form of justice is possible (#2411) ?
– the need for the Sacrament of Penance ?
– true teachings regarding the death penalty, requirement of immigrants to obey the law (including immigration laws), just war, self defense, etc. ?
– – – – Why is there a DISCONNECT from what you say is being taught, and what is actually passed to the people from the pulpit (which is none of the above)???
The CCC is 25 years old, and all of the above are included and significantly affect society.
Thank you in advance for your thoughtful answer.
Fr Neri,
Sorry, please add the mortal sin of “contraception” to the list. #2399, #2370.
We never hear about this either from the pulpit.
What do your professed Priests do with their knowledge from their study of the CCC?
I don’t understand, because they do not pass it on to the Laity in Sunday homilies.
Lots of statistics here, bottom line, pray for vocations. Remember too that these potential vocations need mentors, and that means us. Be a good example to them by living the faith.
Many Catholic families today discourage their children from considering the priesthood and religious life. Catholics who are concerned about vocations should look in the mirror first by encouraging a child or family member or if qualified, enter the life oneself. Vocation SHOULD be about sacrifice, sacrificing life, money, career, job, family, children and grandchildren for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
Del, I believe that the reason why you see many “Catholic” parents discouraging vocations is because of their contraceptive mentality. When one uses contraception he/she is saying that “I will have only the children I want.” He/she is also saying “I WILL NOT sacrifice!”
With these attitudes it is hard for such a parent to believe that God created each child for His purpose. It thus becomes much harder to hand the children, they have “chosen” to sacrifice for, over to His providence.
The next time you pray for vocations, please remember to also pray for an end to the use of contraception among Catholic couples and other couples of good will. Please pray for those Catholics, as well as others, who are now beyond their childbearing years, who none-the-less used contraception when they were fertile, to repent of their sin.
You’ve hit upon a root cause, Tracy. Thank you for posting and God bless!
As a religious, I had to chuckle that the story was accompanied by a photo of a diocesan seminary. Just for the record, diocesan priests and seminarians are seculars, not religious.
Father Coiro, thank you for pointing out a difference that many Catholics are not aware of: diocesan priests versus religious order priests. In the past, St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park educated both types, but I’m not sure about today.
By the way, you and your Capuchin friars are in my prayers as you deal with the many scandals thrust upon you by people who were not in charge of the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi, but who apparently stuck their noses in, tried to take over, and have now left you with a huge mess, a nasty scandal, and much hurt to heal:
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/Dana-King-sets-sights-on-Oakland-City-Council-5204939.php
Church confession: On the same day a lawsuit was filed over an alleged sex scandal at North Beach’s National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi, San Francisco’s Roman Catholic Archdiocese revealed it was transferring its top administrator, Monsignor James Tarantino.
The archdiocese said Tarantino would be taking over as pastor at St. Mark’s Church in Belmont, effective July 1.
The news falls on the heels of sex and embezzlement claims involving Tarantino’s longtime friend and Marin County developer William McLaughlin.
McLaughlin was recently stripped of his duties as volunteer chairman of the shrine after it was revealed he had an affair with a female office assistant whom police are investigating for possibly embezzling church funds.
The former assistant, Jhona Mathews, 33, filed suit in San Francisco Superior Court last week against the archdiocese and McLaughlin, accusing him of sexual harassment and sexual battery. The suit detailed allegations of a sordid affair with McLaughlin that included spanking sessions inside a church sanctuary in which he supposedly used a paddle inscribed “B.N.O” (Boys Night Out).
Mathews said the paddle was given to McLaughlin by Tarantino.
The suit – filed on Mathews’ behalf by attorney Sandra Ribera, daughter of former Police Chief Tony Ribera – also puts Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone much closer to the story.
According to the suit, McLaughlin and Cordileone were “fast friends” who drank wine together. McLaughlin had an office next to the bishop at archdiocese headquarters near St. Mary’s Cathedral, the suit says.
I cannot accept the CCC as it is merely a Book of Etiquette for all practical purposes telling little about our Roman Catholic faith, doctrine, sacraments, and history compared to the Catechism of the Council of Trent. The CCC reads more like a protestant worldly position rather than teaching us about the Blessed Trinity so why even cite it? It is a product of V2 supporting V2′s drastic erroneous changes and should not be used. If we want to learn the true Roman Catholic faith that was past down to us and some of us parents, from our grand parents and great-grandparents generations and before them (certainly before V2), then we should study the Catechism of the Council of Trent, now that is a Roman Catholic Catechism still accurate to this day after 500 years of service! It is not obsolete and it is not a book of etiquette, instead it teaches about the Blessed Trinity, Holy Family, Holy Mother the Church, the 7 Holy Sacraments and their meanings. The Catechism of the Council of Trent is ageless and can be found on line, in fact the University of Toronto is a great source. Don’t leave this life without reading it, you’ll know the true Roman Catholic faith as opposed to simple etiquette. To truly know, love, and serve God is more important than knowing how not to offend your neighbor no matter how offensive they are to God. We should never please sinful mankind at the expense of offending Almighty God. OBTW, be sure you pray to the Holy Ghost to receive the virtues of knowledge and understanding before reading the Catechism of the Council of Trent so your eyes will be opened and you will receive all of the insight and graces you can possibly receive.
Thank you, James!
James, you clearly have not read the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” and are trying to get others to follow your unfounded and misguided lead. You may not realize it, but you are a heretic and schismatic.
The CCC contains the Doctrine of the Faith in entirety.
The words “MORTAL SIN” or “Grave Sin” are contained in 43 separate paragraphs.
The word “HELL” is contained in 16 separate paragraphs.
The word “HEAVEN” is contained in 149 separate paragraphs.
The word “PURGATORY” is contained in 4 separate paragraphs.
The 7 SACRAMENTS , Blessed Mother , Holy Mother Church, etc., are all contained in the CCC.
Do these all sound like mere “etiquite” to you ???
In addition, it is very clear you did NOT even read the table of contents in the CCC, or the index in the back.
.
The Catechism of the Council of Trent was written in 1566AD, and does not contain anything on contraception, voluntary sterilization, cloning, and many other issues that face Catholics today.
.
You got caught spreading mis-information. :(
In the future, please read accurately prior to putting pen to paper.
For quotes about the CCC from Popes Francis, Benedict, and Blessed John Paul II, on the net go to: “What Catholics REALLY Believe SOURCE”.
https://whatcatholicsreallybelieve.com/
The site also contains a link to a licensed (Vatican owns the copyright of the CCC) site where you can search words and it will give you all the paragraphs containing those words.
But, what kind of formation is given to priests, brothers, and religious-to-be? In response to a suggestion that mass in the extraordinary form be regularly scheduled at a new church in Northern Virginia, the talented young pastor dismissed the request by saying, “I don’t know how to say it!” Of course, this answer reflects the bishop and the local seminaries that produce the priests, but the answer was jarring. In this church, the N.O. was reverently said, and there were various other pieties echoing the richness of the real thing; but the pastor — the pastor! — had no knowledge of Latin, of the way Mass was said for centuries, and of the sacraments — the sacraments! — that had been said a certain way also for centuries. Nope, Vatican II and it implementation was a true revolution. The new shock wave of priests/religious are, with some exceptions, ignorant (and apparently happily so) of the very institution that they now serve. Kind of like going to law school and not reading the Constitution. But, there are Traditional orders, and the SSPX, and some local priests that persist in hearing the Holy Ghost and following the narrow path. One wonders what Pope Francis hears and follows?
Dumbing-down is the most ecumenical movement in town, St. Christopher. It leads the masses not to seek the why behind changes, replacing understanding with the soundbites of whatever is ‘pastoral’ for the moment.
The term doctrine is anathema unless it is used to shut out anything outside of that which is pastoral. Lovely catch-22.
But to accept novelty and political correctness as faithfulness is to condemn our Catholic ancestors to having committed gross mortal sin for following divinely revealed truth. Much like those who followed the Church of England did when all but one of England’s Bishops caved to Henry VIII and began persecuting faithful Catholics.
Ann,
As to the question why, you would first have to ask why SIX heretics were invited to help prepare the Novus Ordo. That’ right, in my catechism classes I was taught by real Nuns and Priests that Pro-test-ant Ministers are actually followers of heretics, thus heretics themselves. You might also ask why TWO highly suspect “Catholic” Archbishops (one was eventually exiled to Iran) made up the rest of that Commission! The Tridentine Mass of POPE ST. PIUS X was infallibly declared by that Saint to last until the end of Time, thus could never have been OUTLAWED!
May God have mercy on an amoral Amerika!
Viva Cristo Rey!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Thank you, Kenneth for speaking the Truth that is being mislabeled ‘unnecessary slanderous information.’
You were fortunate to have had the Truth given to you in your formative years. Others had to find out the hard way as they were force fed the disconnect of remnant truths at home and rampant love-in, heretical 60’s hangover jargon proffered during parochial school hours.
For goodness sakes, it was a nun who taught my Freshman high school class that fornication wasn’t a mortal sin – tee, hee, hee. It was just venial as one had to be an ADULT to commit adultery. I can see her even now chalking out the word and grinning.
This was at the most prestigious and expensive Catholic High school in the Bay Area. But we’re not supposed to concern ourselves with these disturbing realities (and that’s just one miniscule example) just pay, hand over your children and trust.
Like jumping off the cliff at Satan’s command because God has promised to save you. Sorry. Tempting God isn’t one of the commandments.
God bless.
Ann,
If you want a quick enlightenment, just ask fellow “Catholics” what the definition of “Infallible” is!
May God have mercy on an amoral Amerika!
Viva Cristo Rey!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
It has been documented that the Protestant ministers who served as consultants did so on only two elements for which Protestants have expertise: preaching the Word and congregational singing.
Protestant Congregational singing is not uplifting or inspirational, and usually (but not always) lyrics are about human beings rather than praising God.
Try Gregorian Chant.
Try Dr. Scott Hahn and converted Catholics like him to get advice on preaching the Word. We do not need to use Protestants.
God bless you, Father Coiro, but if the Vatican didn’t want people to suspect that the Protestant ministers in attendance at Vatican II had anything to do with crafting the Novus Ordo – the Protestants should have been left completely OUT of the picture or the mass changes should have been round filed as they are very Protestant in nature. (What grandiose fall guys)
That’s why when my Catholic high school religious class – again at a VERY expensive, exclusive school – required that I ATTEND a Protestant service for religion class (breaking the 1st commandment), I was struck by nothing. That is, I thought, what’s the big deal. Doesn’t look that different to me. And it wasn’t really. Didn’t make me feel in any way closer to my separated brethren, either, but rather made me think it would be a heck of a lot easier to be Protestant.
As for the music and oratory expertise, I will still lay the blame at the Vatican for not appreciating the BEAUTY they possessed. (Much like we all do when we turn from God and Truth.) For if what the NO offers now by way of music and oratory was the work of consulting these Protestant *experts*, we were all robbed. Please, get back to the Sacred and abandon the Pop culture trap as that’s precisely what people need to get away from.
But I guess the grass is always greener is said for a reason. Pray God we can get the beauty that is Catholic back.
The 6 Protestant ministers thing is a hoax.
If you think it is a hoax, Anonymous, take it up with Fr. Coiro who seems to think the presence of Protestants at VII is well document. Why? Because it is.
God bless.
Unfortunately, if a Priest does not want to say a Mass in the extraordinary form, he is not required to do so.
Formation should include both Forms of the Mass.
Formation should include required reading of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition.
This is not the case today.
They can not teach what they do not know.
They can not do what they do not know.
Often that is the plan of it, David. No fault incapacity. Sad actually.
I checked the curriculum of a couple of seminaries and found that they do teach from the CCC. Formation of priests is a multi-year process that involves many layers of theology and philosophy, not just one book. Review the process from several seminaries and you will have a better appreciation of what it takes to be ordained.
I wonder where this catechetical fundamentalism comes from? What did people do for the 16 centuries before the Catechism of Trent, and for the centuries and decades before the current catechism? Somehow this book is being elevated to a level that surely it does not deserve. A true statement of our faith it is, but it is hardly a document that deserves the level of reverence we give Scripture. And the fact that folks always add “2nd edition” to their admonitions just about proves that any catechism is limited in what it contains, as all editions are human renditions of mysteries sacred and transcendent.
YFC, IF you are a Catholic, you are a heretic and schismatic.
No one ever stated that the “CCC 2nd Ed” is more important than the Bible (Holy Scripture). Do not continue to twist things – doing the work of the Devil.
The Devil does not want us to know the truth.
You do not like the CCC because you do not agree with many teachings of the Church based upon your writings.
The “CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, Second Edition” contains the complete Doctrine of the Faith – per Popes Francis, Benedict and John Paul II.
You do not know more than they do.
“….the CATECHISM has raised throughout the world, even among non-Christians, and confirms its purpose of being presented as a full, complete exposition of Catholic doctrine, enabling everyone to know what the Church professes, celebrates, lives, and prays in her daily life.” – Pope John Paul II (CCC pg xiv)
Due to space limitations, on the internet go to: “What Catholics REALLY Believe SOURCE”
https://whatcatholicsreallybelieve.com/
You will find the words of our Popes regarding the CCC with links to the Vatican.
Catechism used to be learned within the family and extended Church family, YFC, and also taught by religious. Folks memorized it – often in small groups. Not necessarily because they just wanted to live by rote, but because books were expensive and having them was often a luxury – something we cannot really grasp today in this country. (We mock learning anything by rote these days unless perhaps it is the multiplication table as that is so very necessary, not like knowing the Faith is treated.)
But then folks took a lot of things more seriously back in the day as death and illness were far more tangible – often happening right in the next room at home. I would imagine that type of reality – not reality TV – would keep one focused and intent on knowing what God expected of them.
God bless!
Bob One,
We already know what you wrote. Unfortunately too many seminiaries (but not all) in the USA do not use the CCC as one of their required TEXT books.
The CCC is second only to the BIBLE (Holy Scripture).
It is good that a few seminaries use the “CCC 2nd Ed” as a text. But ALL seminaries, ALL convents, ALL Catholic colleges and universities, ALL Catholic High Schools (-grade 12) should use it as ONE of their REQUIRED texts.
Bishops should require their Diocese Priests, teachers in Catholic Schools, etc., to read/ study the CCC. They should actively encourage all literate persons in their Diocese to read the CCC.
Hopefully they ALL have been reading/studying the Bible.
CCC: “1791 This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility.
This is the case when a man takes little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin.
In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits.”
There will be NO UNITY within the Church without the Bible and the CCC.
“These, then, are the four elements which comprise the storehouse of memory which the Church hands down: the profession of faith, the celebration of the sacraments, the path of the ten commandments, and prayer. The Church’s catechesis has traditionally been structured around these four elements; this includes the CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, which is a fundamental aid for that unitary act with which the Church communicates the entire content of her faith: “all that she herself is, and all that she believes”. “ – Pope Francis (Encyclical Letter LUMEN FIDEI, 2013)
David, Thank you for being so generous in judging me as a schismatic and a heretic . It is truly sad how V2 members come across as haters of our great-grandfathers Roman Catholic Church, but can open their arms to the heretics that are a consequence of the protestant reformation. Yes Ken is correct about how protestants were involved in the 1960’s reformation to the new V2 church. Doesn’t that mean anything to you? I guess not, liberals can always find tell-tale ways to schmooze others into justifying their actions and change others minds. It appears that you don’t like the Roman Catholic Church prior to V2, like most modernists. Just learn about Roman Catholic heritage, and how the Church grew over the centuries. Learn about the martyred saints and popes that died to preserve the faith. Learn about Pope St. Pius the Vth and Pope St. Pius the Xth and their staunch defense to preserve the Roman Catholic Faith that made them saints.
Your methodology of scanning the CCC for key words is at best, only an indirect indication to the quality of that document. The real key of measuring value is by reading its content on what it says, even in relation to those key words that you selected. Your ridicule of the Catechism of the Council of Trent because it “does not contain anything on contraception, voluntary sterilization, cloning, and many other issues that face Catholics today”. These evil concepts which very-likely didn’t exist back then or at least so prevalently, can perhaps be explained just because people back then probably held a greater fear of offending God and were less self-centered than many people today. Enjoy reading your modern CCC, I stick with the true Roman Catholic Faith written in the traditional Catechism of the Council of Trent.