The Brothers Visit

Yesterday we served religious Brothers who visited our home. We have been asked to serve their order and share time with the members since 1998.

Yesterday, we went to a movie and enjoyed a meal together.

All the members of this order do their best to serve God in poverty, chastity, and obedience. From year to year they are not completely certain what decisions their superiors will make concerning their future. Relying on God's Permitting and Ordaining Will, we have observed many members being let go and others proceed to Holy Orders, others continue to work and serve within the community. Some men have left deciding that religious life was after all, not their calling.

Sometimes the decisions that have been made are heart breaking and difficult to understand. Other decisions have brought great joy to our family.

I do not fully understand religious life, the life of professed religious men and women in the Catholic Church. When asked to serve them, we serve. When asked to let go we let go.

Serving the men in this particular order has assisted in guiding us to a deeper prayer life and a deeper commitment to sacrifice and detachment.

Our Lord and Our Blessed Mother are always assisting, always guiding, and merciful concerning the efforts we have made. They are just and consoling when we fail or disappoint in our efforts to assist.

Have you been asked to serve religious orders through penance, prayer, and sacrifice?