In my book I quoted the late Fr. Benedict Groescel as follows:
A
surprising and welcome development at the present time is the emergence of a whole wave of young men and women
interested in authentic religious life. They provide proof of the ongoing
presence of God’s grace…. These young people surprise us by their willingness
to join even communities beset by obvious theological confusion and little
observance of their traditional rule. If they manage to survive for twenty
years, the appearance of the sinking communities may change. In some
communities there is an absurd phenomenon similar to a theological sandwich:
The youngest and the oldest, who are in agreement, are like slices of bread.
The age group in the middle reminds us of mayonnaise.
Something
in human nature has been calling people to religious life for thousands of
years—and gospel teaching and church tradition have aimed this human hunger at
a strong form of Christian dedication. We should have learned by the disastrous
experience of the twentieth century that we cannot afford the luxury of
frivolous attempts at silly spirituality and self-seeking. We cannot continue
to be misled by untested and unscientific sociological and psychological
theories.
There
hardly seems a mistake that religious orders did not make. Corruptio optimi
pessimum, the old Latin proverb runs: Corruption of the best becomes the
worst. We have seen it for forty years. The generation formed since John Paul
II became pope is clamoring for something better.
Living close to the Mother House of the Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist, I always thought this order was the most dynamic in the United States, but now I see they have a rival in Tennessee: St. Cecelia's. All in all, THE DOMINICAN ORDER IS BEARING GOOD FRUIT!
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