Why Some Religious Communities are Dying

This National Vocations Awareness Week, I look at why I think some religious communities aren't getting vocations.
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[@josephmoran6249]

father casey i just came back to church after 40 years away from it when i came back to church i felt god was right beside me. and held my arm. and it all because you. and your videos thank you father casey.

[@lindaeaton8367]

Welcome!

[@elisabetta611]

Welcome home, Brother!!

[@blujeans9462]

Welcome back! Praying the Lord will guide you in your journey. Many blessings!

[@lilytanui2235]

Welcome back to the church.

[@italianboy2005]

Welcome back & Father Casey's videos are great

[@KFox17]

I was nervous you were going to say something else, but you said exactly what I have been thinking for a while now, and I am so glad! Many young Catholics looking to give their life to the religious vocation want to "go big or go home," they want to go all in for God, and don't want to live a halfway religious vocation. People are thirsting for authentically lived out Catholicism, even those who don't realize it yet.

[@casadosdelmaximinus1949]

Ever heard about the kingdom of consciousness, or at least the phrase, I stumbled upon it; it is something either me doing it or not entirely or empty.

[@AnnoDomini56]

Same thing with me, I’m a young catholic whose faith has been strengthened by countless challenges and other ideas. I either want to go all in and be a friar or not at. Still halfway through high school

[@doug.jones.88]

As a young religious in formation, I was nodding my head the whole way through this video. There's no question that a lot of this comes down to the generational issues you highlighted in a video over the summer. Some religious orders have been flexible and able to recognize what what young people are looking for in today's world, while some have stayed to one degree or another with a model of Church best fit for another time. It's not easy to change a culture, and a lot has changed over the past half century; I don't envy vocation directors and major superiors. In my own order, I certainly see evidence of generational tensions here and there, but the folks calling the shots are in tune with where the Church is and where it's going, and our numbers entering and the vibrant life of our men in formation show it. It's a wonderful thing, and I wish all religious communities could experience it, because each one has an important charism in the Church and is needed!

[@KJnapalm]

What community are you a part of, if I may ask?

[@tomabbott9653]

You are one gifted, and eloquent Priest. You laid this out so accurately, and charitably. When I try to explain this to people, why some communities flourish while others languish, I compare the Navy Seals and the Country Club. The Navy Seals have no issues attracting new recruits. They have to turn them away. Why? t’s a very difficult, challenging, and dangerous life. Exactly! When you’re talking about devoting your entire life to something, you don’t want to devote it to the country club, you want to devote it to something worthwhile, something that will make a difference, something that will challenge and stretch you. I think this is the difference. God bless you! I’m subscribed with alerts!

[@elisabetta611]

Well said, Father Casey!! As an above the knee amputee turning 40 this year my ability to join an Order is non existent BUT I still made personal vows promising myself and my life to our Lord. I wear my rosary visibly and read Scripture daily. Much of my courage to do so was inspired by you and your ministry. God bless and guide you always, Father Casey!!

[@TheChristianFairy]

If you are an unmarried lady maybe explore consecrated virginity?

[@anastylos2812]

Funny thing: I considered becoming a monk but when I spent a weekend with them it felt like a couple of old guys living in the same house that just happened to pray sometimes.

[@ssshadowwolf6762]

Truly -I don’t mean to be offensive but it does seem you were not ready or you missed the point . I’m curious-what did you expect ? ( serious question).

[@blackfalkon4189]

@ED JOAQUIN S. CASTRO _"on the bright side its good if you enjoy a quiet life"_ tis often said, that doing nothing, is sort of _everyone's_ fantasy IF that's true then that would make Sloth the prevalent sin (not Pride)

[@BuggyrcobraAya]

A lot of your videos really inspired me in my early days of discernment a few years ago, and helped give me a better understanding of vocation and religious life. Now, in a few weeks I will be starting postulancy with the Dominican friars in my country, and you are right in saying that the habit is what attracts a lot of people to the life, since it is what has helped draw me to them. I just want to say thank you Father for your witness to religious life and for helping to inspire me to pursue this vocation as well

[@BreakingInTheHabit]

Glad to hear it! Hope things go well for you!

[@biblicalpolitics602]

Well said, man of God! I admire your courage and wisdom to address such an important topic.

[@Luke-db9fc]

Do you have courage and wisdom?

[@robertstephens1868]

Fr. Casey, I have been watching your videos for some time now, & have been very much impressed by your presentations. I’m from faraway Australia. I’ve no doubt your ministry is very fruitful. I am a diocesan priest aged 79, & have a cousin, an OFM, in his mid-eighties. So we are both in the evening of life. It’s inspiring to see your enthusiasm is practice in such a difficult era for our church & our society. I keep your ministry in my prayer. Oremus pro invicem.

[@michellestolwyk7517]

I think this same criticism could be aimed at Catholic education as well. How many schools are trying to compete with public schools by being more palatable to non-Catholic families? And how vibrant are these schools today?

[@BreakingInTheHabit]

Good point!

[@icyhugs]

That should be a problem about $$$? The schools won't receive $ if they fail to get enough students?

[@heyo8118]

Hi everyone, I know you don’t know me but I was hoping for some prayers for my father. He is at the hospital at the moment and I really need all the prayers I can get for him 💖 Thank you and have a good day

[@aslinndhan]

I'll pray for your dad and you and your family.

[@heyo8118]

@@aslinndhan Thank you so much 💖

[@marinattysegura5844]

Praying for your father ...

[@heyo8118]

@@marinattysegura5844 Thank you so much 💖💖💖

[@marinattysegura5844]

@@heyo8118 how is he doing?

[@samuelcarver1343]

I’m not a catholic but I find this very interesting

[@tzadiko]

Me too! This is one of your best videos. It's applicable way beyond its topic. If you make attracting people your only focus, you will attract no one

[@oneworldonehome]

"To build a foundation for learning and living The Way of Knowledge, you will need a community. This does not mean that you need to run off with others and try to live in some kind of philosophical arrangement. It means that you become reliant upon others who are with you in the wilderness. At first, this reliance may be seen as a burden and as an infringement upon your freedom. You may say, “I don’t want anybody dependent on me! I want to be free to do what I want when I want to. I don’t want to be accountable to anyone else.” And yet that is only your personal mind being fearful to give up its control. What freedom does it have except to be chaotic? What is freedom to the personal mind except the right to surround itself with more and more layers of deception and to offset its sense of isolation and misery with fruitless and desperate attempts at happiness? The very burden that the personal mind complains about is the very thing that gives you meaning in life. Alone you have no meaning. There are no meaningful individuals in the universe. An individual is a potential for relationship. It is the relationships that are important. It is what you are connected to and who you represent that gives meaning to your existence here. It is what you belong to-not as in a political party or a social club, but who in your heart you are joined with-that gives meaning and substance to your existence. No matter how great and glorious you may become as an individual, no matter how esteemed and worshipped you may be in your society, you are only a potential human being until you have given your life to another. As a potential human being, you will not find your fulfillment. You will not fully experience your meaning or your purpose in the world or the direction that you must go in life. And you will need more and more adulation in order to offset the terrible sense of isolation that you feel. You are now escaping this hell, for this is hell. Isolation is hell. Heaven is total inclusion, but there is a long journey between heaven and hell. You must have the desire for heaven and the capacity for heaven. Knowledge within you will take you there because this is its only purpose." A quote from a beautiful free online book titled *Living the Way of Knowledge* by Marshall Vian Summers

[@pauldavis969]

Religious Communities are Dying .... these communities die when they no longer serve a purpose for their communities..when they no longer have value to their people..... There is a New Community forming...a community where it is recognized that the planet is rapidly degrading and humanity must restore/protect it... it is recognized that there is great spiritual poverty within many people ..... and amongst many religions... and that something must .restore this. And ..it is recognized that humanity is no longer alone in this great universe..... this community is growing in number throughout the world...just in time to change the course of humanity... see newmessage org...

[@robertsword8963]

I am truly moved by your message and enjoy each one as they come out. I am equally moved by how well spoken you are and how you come across to your audience: engaging, committed and very embracing your gifts. I wish you were here locally, as I would love to attend mass and learn more from you. I pray that I your message reaches your intended audience and its well received. Thank you for all you do.

[@bekind6763]

This was an excellent video. Thank you!

[@charlesmcdermott6139]

I know that it isn’t “pc”, but the loss of habit does seem significant.

[@amdg672]

My thought too. Today at mass I saw some young Dominican nuns and this is what came to mind immediately 'cos 2 miles away is an order that switched to regular clothes after V2 but is now dying with no new vocations. The youngest age is in the 60s/70s.

[@christinasteiger388]

Except that one of the rapidly growing forms of consecrated life is actually consecrated virginity, where women live in the world and don't wear a habit. So perhaps the habit in rapidly growing religious communities is indicating something more than just the habit.

[@els1f]

I've literally been an open minded atheist my entire life (not the annoying kind😁) and the thing that keeps drawing me to studying religions is the charitable motivation with a full heart and the total meaninglessness of our regular society. It's next impossible to find a way to sustain your life that also sustains your spirit. As general outsider, i can imagine this video is very accurate✌️❤️

[@danielcarpency7591]

Well, I think that is God opening his arms for you to call you to his church. If I may suggest, perhaps you could go to a local church? Not weekly yet, just start slowly, and let God into your heart. I think you'll find the peace that you are wanting, and the love that only God can provide. As you start to attend more often, I think you'll find it easier to welcome Christ into your heart.

[@danielcarpency7591]

And when you do that, I think you'll find that Christ will sustain your spirit.

[@rdrun51660]

Awesome view, thank you! From a Christian that try's not to be the annoying kind to atheists', I think your journey is amazing. But it is your journey to decide, no one else's. Good luck and in the kindest way I wish, may God bless you. 🙂

[@Thomas-wu1qb]

Great video Casey, thank you.

[@ambrosiusndzedzeni4965]

Each time you make a video, there is always something new to learn from it Fr. Thank you. The phrase you made saying that you really hate to diminish a vocation down to a habit is actually not something to worry about because you're not actually diminishing it. Many have been attracted by the habit and have finally found out that the vocation was their niche. So many actually don't realize their call but get to understand by the strong attraction they've got for the little good things priests do and or put on, but undermine. I'd like to encourage all religious men and women to keep on putting on their habits; it's really worth it. I totally agree with you that though some may want to put on the habit as a sign of honor, majority love it for its simplicity, distinctiveness, and emptiness. It constantly reminds some of who they are and what they have been called to do. It may sound funny, but it's true that many who have been called to the religious life who initially wanted to join some order after encountering you or watching your videos would certainly love to be part of your order as a result of your attractiveness. By the way, I love your habit Fr. You inspire and would definitely change the world. Always in mind, "go where the people gather”.💪 Ahead ahead and courage.

[@wnygal]

So these days nuns and sisters no longer wear habits and you can hardly tell they are religious. Sad

[@econdude3811]

Wuuut...my aunt is a Sister of Mercy. She always wears a symbol of Catholicism when she goes out. She is no less a nun than Mother Teresa was. The point is that someone is a nun, not that she wears a habit

[@wnygal]

@@econdude3811 Of course she is a nun, no disrespect intended to your aunt, but the religious habit for priests, monks, friars and nuns etc. more easily sets them apart from the rest of the world and shows everyone they are consecrated to God.

[@marysmith268]

@John I don’t believe they think they’re better than priests, I think the idea was to become more modern in hopes more women would join. Hasn’t worked out that way at least in my part of the country.

[@pedroparamo891]

@John I think you're not aware that a lot of priests don't dress as priest either, and trust me, some are still pretty radical.

[@patthompson8591]

Mary Smith. That is true for some Orders. The Notre Dame sisters/nuns in Africa started wearing "normal everyday" sensible type attire in the late 1960's. Some retained the veil but smaller & less noticeable, whereas others were indistinguishable from lay women. They also moved out of the convents/nunneries and lived in flats/houses amongst the people. Admittedly & wrongly, one lost the deep respect afforded them as nuns when the nun's habit was set aside. And when asked by a nun what one thought about this change, I told her the nun's habit set them apart from lay women & signified a measure of purity & holiness. Her response was, we want people to regard & accept us as human beings - no different from anyone else - making it easier for them to mingle freely & affect/influence normal people at the point of the community. *By the way, I applied to join the nunnery after we had a three day Retreat for vocations in a Roman Catholic boarding school (The Notre Dame Order), but was promptly rejected by the Provincial Mother Superior (reason given - I was insulting the Order as I was a *little devil*)😊😁 😭.

[@dianebalch5369]

Wonderful! Refreshingly honest and candid!

[@bromar96]

Thank you for your honesty.

[@jameskirchner]

One factor is that some dioceses torment their most faithful priests (I don't mean the crazy, extremely scrupulous OCD priests, but the faithful orthodox ones), and when young men see that, they decide that that diocese is not the place to study and be ordained, so they move elsewhere.

[@Spectrometer]

@@marcokite So, Casey does an entire video giving an argument most consider "traditional", encouraging radicalism in Faith, but yet he is still a "pc" Priest...

[@blackfalkon4189]

@@marcokite what's your denomination? (more of a rhetorical question but still curious)

[@ZiraRisasi]

Amazing things as usual,brother

[@charlesbuzbee1043]

The church needs more Casey Coles if I were younger I would consider a religious vocation. You have opened the doors and let us have a glimpse into religious life. Keep up the good work! Dominicans are you listening.

[@ipso-kk3ft]

Man I love the Dominicans too!

[@yaelsahov]

Great video thank you!

[@rscottlogan9471]

This is an easy one as I have had many religious in my family.The most important reasons are.Abandoning the habit.Adopting heretical views.Abandoning tradition religious life and practices.Finally a failure to actively seek out new vocations.

[@BreakingInTheHabit]

I know of no religious communities that adopt heretical views. Please don’t be flippant with that word.

[@rscottlogan9471]

Breaking In The Habit Maybe not as a community but over the past 55 years we have seen nuns and priests advocate women priests,gay marriage and abortion rights.You are too young to remember some of these.Google The letter posted in the New York Times years ago signed by multiple religious.You have Jesuits running around who are speaking and writing books and making social media posts that reject church teaching.Do you remember the SSND nun who challenged Pope John Paul 2 to his face about ordaining women?Look at the Vatican investigation into women’s religious communities that Pope Francis quashed.Plus dear Father let’s not kid ourself.I am old enough to be your father.We both know what the score is in many religious communities.

[@tylerk1013]

I don't think he's being literal. People take their experiences with individual clergy and religious and apply that generally to the orders. If some hypothetical Jesuit or Servite somewhere tells some orthodox young gay man struggling to remain celibate that he's fine as he is and the church doesn't believe he's really called to celibacy anymore, that man is right to be scandalized and he may project that experience onto the priest's Order. It's not entirely unreasonable. After all, that cleric got his formation *somewhere*. To deny today that there's a large number of heretics among the clergy does nobody any favors when people actually encounter them and are genuinely scandalized. Gaslighting those people and telling them their experiences aren't real helps nobody in the long run.

[@rscottlogan9471]

Peccator in Opus Misericordiae As Judge Judy often says.Don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining.All Catholics with half a brain know what the mindset is in most religious communities.The issue is many laity support that mindset so they don’t care!Some good Examples are Sister Simone Campbell,Sister Jean Chittister and Father James Martin.

[@tylerk1013]

@@societyofthesilvercrucifix1911 This is kind of what I was getting at. The Jesuit Order itself has not officially in its full capacity as an order, come out and said these things are what the Jesuit Order holds and teaches. It's just prominent Jesuits who hold these views. As long as an order doesn't come right out and say "we as an order believe, profess, and teach xyz", it can be denied that it has anything to do with the order. These are examples of Jesuits who have said problematic/possibly heretical things, but that can just be attributed to those men and not their order. Although, I think to a certain degree, to see the order apparently failing to do its job to maintain orthodoxy, it's easy to see why one would say the order is heretical since it tolerates heretics in its ranks.

[@annedibari5096]

AWESOME!!!! Father Casey, on point as always.

[@conor4475]

This is a very good take Friar. God bless

[@JuanMartinez-pp1uh]

Many communities abandoned the use of habits true.. and if that's bad enough they also abandoned the catholic moral spiritually. They became a living club of nice people and that's not attractive for a young person that wants to live a devoted religious vocation.

[@rscottlogan9471]

Juan Martinez Amen!The good news is many communities are thriving.Sadly this Vatican has zero interest in bringing needed reforms to religious life.

[@nikikranz]

I absolutely agree with you, and this uniqueness, this passion is what I'm looking for in the local Secular Franciscan group. As the members are mainly elderly, I don't forsee changes in their approach. I'm praying to find sense of belonging and to understand if this is where God wants me to be. I'm definitely here because of St Francis but not (yet) because of the people in the community. Does this make sense from a Franciscan point of view? Or does it mean I have a different way to go?

[@GertieTheGardener]

If you're looking for a strict rule of life, you might look into the Confraternity of Penitents. They're a secular Franciscan group that is focused on intense fasting and prayer.

[@Alexcrack-bn5uy]

I really like that organizations like FSSP or ICKSP are growing for people to know about the Latin Church tradition

[@allancuseo7431]

Brilliant and inspiring at the same time

[@thomaswhite8822]

AMEN!!! You are spot on.

[@williamhillyard6688]

Thank you Father Casey. God Bless you.

[@albertodeangelis9291]

I couldn’t have found a better answer!!!! Standing ovation to you father!!!

[@anthonysciberras1294]

Thank you Fr I have seen this in some communities it's sad to see God bless you and I hope that here in Australia this will happen.Just as you said.

[@assuntajala9978]

Well said father...and this is one of my favourite channel

[@77agape]

great video, important comments on the topic of religious communities.

[@crose7974]

Wow! I actually really like this video 👏🙏 wish all your videos had this theme. Let's be Saints!!

[@huguettesigouin-allan2809]

Just love your honesty Father Casey you always speak the truth thank you keep up your good work God bless you 😇

[@elenal1049]

May God bless you Fe Casey !

[@mmvr2680]

👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼 Aleluuuuuuuuuuia!!!!! Shout it from the roof tops! Thank you father! Thank you so much! It was a relief to hear you say that. We need this. It is so important to actually hear a priest say this. We need to hear it, so we don’t feel so alone. It’s heartbreaking, sometimes. Thank you, thank you, thank you! May God bless you.

[@joannebywaters4154]

Amen!!💖💙😇😇😇🙏🙏🙏thank you again , especially for your courage to share radical truths...The Truth that sets the world ablaze!!😊

[@jamesjc]

spot on! 👌🌷🙏🏼

[@josephjude1290]

Great video Father; I think it's also because people are having less children in general. Parents often don't want their only child to enter the religious life.

[@carlosperezdelema]

Not really he said that vocations are going up, so it's not that.

[@here_we_go_again2571]

@@carlosperezdelema In this era many who enter religious life are not teens. They are people who have acquired their education or a trade and at some point decided to persue the religious life instead of marriage and family.

[@patrickmcnamara7143]

@@here_we_go_again2571 I'll probably be an exception to that then, let's see. Between 500 in two grades at my high school, myself and 2 others are already discerning it

[@el-sig2249]

Well said Fr.

[@st.michaelthearchangel7774]

Well, wearing the habit 24/7 is an absolute must, strictly living the rule the founder set out for the order, doing penance, fasting, outreach, preferably all seven hours of the office, laughing together, enjoying each other’s ridiculousness and mannerisms, and being joyful will attract authentic folks looking to give their life to Christ in a special way. Also, get rid of the TV. It’s not needed as a religious. Basically, 1st order Franciscan life ftw. ;) Don’t be scrupulous as a religious, either. Relax a little, so you can be more joyful and laugh more. :)

[@kemmow25]

Great job again. Yes visibility, being strong and different is what we need more of. And may add us lay persons praying more.

[@carolinariley]

Excellent!

[@danfobb8301]

informative for me as I did not know of problems communites are facing

[@thedank0r162]

Uploaded 12 seconds ago lol Thank you for the video as always Father Casey!

[@deb9806]

There are some growing communities, Dominican Sisters, Mother Mary of the Eucharist, Sisters for Life, Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal, Sisters of Alma. I know Catholics who never heard of them but watching some of their videos (knowing no one is that happy all the time) is inspiring. Many value education and advance the sisters schooling and push them to learn more about God and themselves.

[@IotaEtaSigma]

Amazingly good advice

[@Nepthu]

I pondered seminary for several years. Two of my parish priests recommended me to the priesthood due to my volunteer service and joy of the faith. I had also published a book about wrestling with faith. However, I did not hit it off with our vocation director. I found out later that he favors men straight out of high school, not men in their 30s to approach priesthood. Through church I made friends with a seminarian and stayed at his seminary for a week to see if it felt right. Unfortunately, while attending his classes, I found most of them were about studying Latin and philosophy like Plato's "The Cave." This was a re-hash of my bachelors in history. It felt more like esoteric college than serving God's children. I tried to speak to the vocation director about it, but he never returned my messages. I took this as a sign that God had other plans for me.

[@thecatholicman]

Great video! You have it spot on! I go to SSPX mass and they have said this for years. Catholics don’t need pop culture priests and religious. We need men with a real Catholic identity

[@boku5192]

Well done

[@JM-740]

Because many people aren’t being catechized properly and many reject the teachings of the church. Religious vocations are meant to be difficult and are about being children of God and fully devoting ones life as you said in your video. It was good to hear you say this truth.

[@frankrault3190]

We might distinguish two words that are often regarded as synonymes, though they are not. I mean: Radicals and Extremist. The word Radical comes from Latin 'Radix', which means: Root. Someone who takes his vocation in a radical way isn't an extremist per se, but is searching for the roots of what he loves, or whom he's is loved by, which doesn't exclude any humble attitude or warmheartedness. Extremists though often forget the borders that humility asks them to not cross. As an analogy: Our liver can do its tasks in a radical way, especially when we're ill. It would be catastrophical though if our liver tries to usurp the functions of the kidneys or the heart. Being radical doesn't mean that we're violent. As an an extremist, we are at least violent towards ourselves, and often to others,. Maybe not always physically, but often verbally. And we lose sight of God. Thanks, Father Casey, for sharing your words! Thumbs up!

[@BreakingInTheHabit]

Yes, this is a good distinction.

[@frjosemaria]

Excellent distinction

[@jerrypawlak2396]

Next video - Fr. Casey argues same arguments but for restoring traditional ordinations with distinc functions of each step. etc. ect.

[@maryann7619]

In the background, is that a picture of the cover art to "Thus Spake Zarathustra" ?

[@happyslap2588]

Good video. I myself am currently in postulancy to become a third order regular Franciscan friar at the queen Elizabeth monastery of Hungary.

[@kimnach]

Isten áldjon!

[@georgenyasudi4060]

I have someone who got completely discouraged and disappointed after he was told by the Consolata missionaries and the St. Francis De Sales that the maximum age limit to be accepted is 27 years and he's 31. Two other vocation directors did not even bother to respond.

[@hunter1029016]

Can you please do a video about the "Treasury of Merit" // logic behind indulgences for the dead? Having trouble understanding... Thank you

[@victoria103]

Do you have a devotion to Our Blessed Mother? I noticed in some videos you mention that you do not pray the rosary??

[@cathiuy5878]

very interesting reflection

[@gvivo2120]

Thank you, Fr. Casey, for being downright honest in your assessment of this thorny issue. Many religious orders are badly in need of reform in this day and age where the spirit of secularism led them to identify with contemporary values that tend to erode their original charism. You, Father, are like "the voice in the wilderness" crying out in this age of relentless infotech upgrading to call the consecrated back to holiness and "point them towards Christ". Fortunately for Catholic religious and missionaries, they don't need to 'modernize' the evangelical counsels... all they need do is constantly go back to the basics laid down by Christ more than 2000 years ago. Saint Francis of Assisi did so and he received Christ's stamp of approval. My belief: Jesus sees another Francis in you. God bless 🙏✝️

[@kevinorth1795]

Amen! Thank you for this. So much of common society is about selfishness and endlessly consumptiive. I give myself entirely over to my mission!

[@reginamay914]

Hello Father, Please explain next time the spirituality of the consecrated on the religious vow of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience. I want to know more deeply about this vowed life. Thank You so Much. You are brilliant.

[@mbohherberto1001]

He has made this video for you. Hope you watched! God bless

[@victorinoterradillosortega2539]

Paz y Bien. Desde el Santuario de san Pedro de Alcántara en Arenas de san Pedro,( Ávila). España

[@josephr.gainey2079]

Another problem with vocations is that nearly every religious institute won't accept those of us who are over 45 or aren't in perfect health and/or have large amounts of money to donate.

[@ardavo]

Fr Casey, you are spot on here! I know a number of communities on their way to extinction for the very reasons you outline. Unfortunately they are not listening!

[@haraldfrancisoddsen7413]

I'm in the RCIA in Norway now, and discerning the call of religious life with the fransiscans OFM. I'm 45, and not sure if I would be accepted, maybe too old. But God is calling, and I really wanna figure out what he wants for me.

[@icyhugs]

Have no fear, one of the late bishops in Hong Kong became a priest in ur age and he led Hong Kong to go through the handover from British colony to CCP colony.

[@vanmamawannabe6360]

What does vocation mean in this context?

[@agary918]

When I was a seminarian I noticed a lot of the things you have said. During my discernment and religious formation I had the opportunity to met other religious orders and know about the diocesan priesthood . One thing I noticed, and still don’t understand is why some people in religious orders and some diocesan priest don’t use their habit. They dress like lay people, and some times I think that it can be a problem to others to identify them as consecrated people.

[@ToxicPea]

You know, Bishop Robert Barron has also been pounding down on the "water-down" problem recently. It's great to see Catholic theology channels pointing our problem out for what it is. Perhaps a relatable story, my Protestant friend (I suppose I should say she's a very strong believer) and I were talking about Creationism vs the Big Bang Theory, and at the moment I started using some of the more advanced philosophical/theological thought processes that I picked up from my school and around here on youtube, she just had a big brain fart. As small as I am as a lay person, I know that I can help the people I know in my life grow more spiritually. If every lay person tried to do that, we might just have a more God-centric world.

[@ryst19]

As I see it around my locality those Orders that are dying are not remaining true to their founders charism either. Those that are are maintaining or increasing while those that have gone off on several tangents are dwindling.

[@edwardconnely4608]

Right on

[@viviennedunbar3374]

This is the same in parishes, the more a parish is like the world the less attractive it is. Everyone wants a challenge and a life that shows it is dedicated to God. This doesn't mean you need to be super traditional but you have to be faithful, devout and true to the Gospel.

[@formicus6717]

Wow. That is wisdom.

[@italianboy2005]

When I was growing up priests & nuns , dressed like priests & nuns, after Vaticsn 2 &;in the late 60s & 70s , a lot of religious to me were almost shamed to give up the habit & the cassava as it was believed religious should blend in to the community not be different & to me that was the beginning of the end. There are Cstholics out there whose only contact with a nun in a habit is in The Sound of Music, a beautiful movie. To me the loss of the habit is when vocations dropped. You are so right about vocstions & the habit, The Dominican Susters of St Cecelia wesr the habit & are bursting at the seams. I want to know a religious is a religious . I feel safer 4 some reason if there is a priest or nun on a plane or subway. I agree the habit is a sign of evangelizing & to me a comfort.

[@ntmn8444]

There was a guy I dated who called me one day, and he told me he was going to become a priest. I told him, go for it. If you feel the calling, then go.

[@metodemersic]

Amen!

[@revdodie7076]

u r right !

[@mfernandez5743]

How literate in Church dogma are the new recruits?

[@helens8977]

Fr Casey, don't you think much of the same applies to the regular church as well? My (protestant) church just seems to want people to feel nice, there is no challenge and even I, who have been a Christian all my life, am uninspired. It is one reason why I watch your videos! I want my life to be more and I can totally understand why others aren't attracted to join. Some on here blame "modernism" or liberal ideas. I don't. The answer isn't to be stuck in the past. I just want to feel that I am following Jesus and witnessing to his Kingdom in this increasingly lost world.

[@charlottewolery558]

I know. It's awful. They even say this is a hospital for the wounded. BULLSHIT! We need to be Dojos! We need not to pray until our knees imprint themselves on the stone. We need to learn, to stare into the abyss of our souls and deal with whatever comes out. Church CANNOT be comfort. At least the evangelicals understand this in principle. The love of comfort makes us worse than weak or makes us cowards. Seminaries, at least the mainline ones don't attract the right kind of people. Shepards are not gentle and beautiful poetic souls: they are warriors that that lead and fight rustlers and bandits and mountain lions, sometimes with just a sling. Weak men, milquetoast men, do not belong in the pulpit. And that was what I saw in the brief time I was in a liberal seminary long ago.

[@giovannimartini6405]

I don't know how to solve it, but it feels soo discouraging when the Gospel becomes a therapy or just a discourse of peace and love... Jesus had both: He welcomed everyone where they were, and at the same time He was so passionate, and burning, and demanding. One part doesn't work without the other. Today temptations are a semipelagian rigorism and a lazy relativism.

[@odessaxmusicclips6028]

I had the privilege of staying in a Ukrainian seminary while I was working with orphan children in LVIV. I was amazed on the numbers of young men studying to become priests .... 250!!!! It was like the army... Up at 0600 for mass, the breakfast, then sport, then study. Each day was packed. It was an amazing experience . Eastern Europe is truly the holy land compared to the west. In various cities around Ukraine I also noticed huge Jesus Christ bill boards, and they also played church bells. You would NEVER see or hear that in western countries....It would offend all the leftists and Muslims... Truly amazing

[@loric4423]

We do have church bells here in the US

[@odessaxmusicclips6028]

@@loric4423 They are banned in Australia , they offend muslims and atheists

[@carloslugo5057]

Recently a member from the Capuchin Order that is in charge of looking for members to the order in a phone call told me that I am not allowed to enter because of my age. I told him that many adult people like me would become believers late in their life because in these times many were raised and grow up as unbelievers. Nowadays and in late XX century a kid who was raised without the moral pillars of catholism is a miracle to embrace God in adulthood. Many of them or the majority of the people live their life as If God does not exist. He just told me one more time that he is sorry, that his superior does not allow people of my age.

[@Daniel_1230]

People, let us not forget the like👍👍. Father Casey deserve it 🤗

[@glory1ministries734]

I am glad that some Catholics are being awakened and studying the Bible to know and understand the Truth which is in Christ Jesus alone. But, let it be according to the leading, inspiration and interpretation of the Holy Spirit. For the light of the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding far exceeds than any man-made or man's interpretation by his own understanding. ( Acts 2:38-39; John 16:13-15; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Proverbs 3:5 ) In my dream, I saw a Parish Church building of medium size where mass service was being held. The church building was almost full of people on its sitting capacity. The mass attendees were all sitting and the service was going on. What was shocking was that the one who was performing the service on the altar who was supposed to be the priest was completely naked from head to feet. He was not standing, but lying, facing upward and floating on the air, just one or two feet above the altar table. All people could see him completely naked. Yet, it seemed that they did not mind it, and even enjoyed the sight as if nothing abominable was going on at the altar. I sensed an atmosphere of quietness and loneliness inside the church building. The people were in slumber and seemed to be hypnotized. When I woke up in the morning, I was somewhat troubled in my thoughts as I recalled the dream. Yet, immediately I received the light of its meaning. The message is clear that it is about the spiritual condition and state of the "Roman Catholic Church", its leaders and members. God revealed to me how abominable is the Roman Catholic Church before Him. She is naked, blind and deceived. ( Revelation 4:14-20 - The church of Laodiceans; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; Romans 10:1-3; 11:8-10; Matthew 15:14; Ephesians 5:12-14 ) Since my birth, I grew up following the Roman Catholic doctrine, belief and practices until the day I got born again in my spirit when I prayed the prayer of justification in the Name of the Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. On that day of my new birth, instantly I stopped drinking alcoholic drinks and smoking at the same time, for THE LORD had removed from within me the desire of it. Immediately I was filled with the Holy Ghost. Then it was followed by many godly and biblical spiritual experiences and one of these was to dream dreams. ( Acts 2:17; 2:38-39; 3:19-20 ) May the followers of the Roman Catholic Church be awakened and know the Truth that will set them free, which is in Christ Jesus alone and the Word of God, the Holy Bible. They have the zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. They are lukewarm, because their faith is not according to the Word and Truth. ( John 8:32; Romans 10:2 ; Hosea 4:6; Isaiah 45:20; Revelation 3:15-16 ) I am sharing this dream in obedience to the Word of The LORD in Jeremiah 23:28, that says, 'The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell of a dream..' Amos 3:4 - 'Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey?..' Amos 3:5 - 'Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him?..' Amos 3:6 - 'Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not afraid?..' Amos 3:7 - 'Surely the LORD GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.' God bless and graces to all.

[@SheldonDsouza126]

Many communities need to go back to their founder for inspiration. Go back to the charisms of the founder.

[@goobydoobers501]

not only that. but there is so much student debt and financial enslavement that young people are often unable to enter religious life, especially in america

[@stevemillerecon]

Well said and lovingly said. Your reasoning can be extended to the laity as well. Those seeking God want something that's apart from the world, something "radical" that points them toward the divine. They want that in the physical churches and they want it in the liturgy. They want difficult, inconvenient teachings that challenge them.

[@josephdryden2256]

You are spot on Father. This is exactly what is wrong with the church overall and why all the mainstream protestant churches are dead men walking. Why go to church to hear the pastor preach secular humanism when I can get that every day on my TV. When we go to church we are not seeking more of this world but a glimpse of the next.

[@andrelandry548]

I noticed some area speaking the same language have more priest of the same faith per church then others

[@okorochukwubuikem832]

Loving Jesus is a radical step thanks for that words .

[@natescott61]

I would like to see if God is calling me into religious life. I am not sure how to pray for this. What do you Suggest as a prayer for discernment?

[@user-ck7tg1dq9y]

Bl. Charles de Foucauld has a Prayer of Abandonment that might be helpful.

[@honurapanui]

I am not a Catholic, but preach it, boy! Very inspiring

[@delia9431]

Excellent and YES it is a sign of evangelism. Hugs

[@user-ck7tg1dq9y]

I received news that a local religious order (the Scarborough Missionaries) are not taking any new members and their average age is over 70. It's sad, because they supplied Religious Ed classes where I was (and did other work worldwide). They'll be missed, but I guess they served their purpose. Maybe a new order will replace them.