Ask Father: Solid, Orthodox Religious Orders and Instititutes

Sound advice for any young man (or woman) discerning a call to the Religious Life. I thought I might be destined to be a monk, but God had other plans! 

From Fr Z's Blog

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

I am currently in the process of discerning a vocation to the priesthood and I am investigating different groups/orders. I am relatively familiar with the strictly “traditional” groups (ICKSP and FSSP especially) but it can be more difficult to test the waters of other groups, institutes, or religious orders in the U.S. which are not strictly traditional but might still be very solid and orthodox. Are there any in particular that you might recommend for consideration?

You would do well to discuss this with your confessor/priest spiritual director.  Remember, too, that a vocation to the priesthood and a vocation to religious life are not the same.  They can overlap, but they are not the same.

Different groups have different apostolates and charisms.  That should help you to identify which groups you may be more suited to.  They are usually founded upon a particular spiritual “school”, the spirituality of a saint and/or their founder.  That is also a tool for discernment.

It seems to me also good to consider what is close at hand and what you might already know.  Perhaps the answer is in your back yard.

That said, I understand that the Norbertines in California are pretty healthy, as are the Dominicans of the US Eastern province.  The Benedictines in Oklahoma are great.  The Transapline Redemptorists, very serious dudes, have now a place in Montana. Oratories are springing up, too.

You will have to be willing to go to visit places.