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Vows
A vow is a promise; a religious vow is a promise to God. Traditionally the vows of religious life are three: Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. These vows are also called the "Evangelical Counsels" because they are based on the Gospels and entail the following or imitation of Christ. Religious vows are made "publicly" in the presence of the Church and are witnessed and accepted by the appropriate religious superior. To be valid, the vows
of religious life:
THE MEANING OF THE VOWS The vow of Poverty is a call to live a simple life and to avoid the prevailing mentality of consumerism, where possessions determine a person's worth and become the end of life. Poverty is a call to share this world's goods with others and to recognize all things as gifts from God. The Augustinian Recollect religious gives up the right of personal ownership and holds everything in common to be used for the common good of all, most especially the poor and those in need. The vow of Chastity is a call to express love not in an exclusive or physical relationship (marriage/sexual union) but in a universal and spiritual way. This universal love is an imitation of the way that God loves us, and can only be sustained and nourished with Godıs grace and the support of the community. It is one way of fulfilling the Great Commandment: To love God above all else and our neighbor as ourselves. The vow of Obedience is a call to be sent. It is a free choice to allow God, through our human superior in religious life, to determine where we will go, what we will do, how we will use our time, talents and personal abilities in the service of the Gospel and of the Church. After the novitiate, the Augustinian Recollect professes temporary vows for no less than three and no more than seven years. The time of temporary vows is a time of testing - both for the community and for the candidate - to see if he wishes and is suitable to make a permanent commitment through final or solemn vows. Back to The Education Process |
