What About All the Others?

What About All the Others?

What does the schema of dockers and floaters mean relative to those who seek God, who are desiring to find and climb the stairway to heaven? We seem to have two options or opportunities for Christians, and specifically Catholics. 


We have the religious vocation lived out in any of the various traditional religious orders, communities, congregations, confraternities, canonically consecrated hermits and virgins, Church institutes and movements, sodalities and groups. We have the religious vocation lived out to varying degrees of aptitude for all other people, the vast majority of souls, who are either married or single.

It seems that the outcome is somewhat startling when we consider the number who actually join any of the several approved, traditional religious orders (and all variations as stated above), compared to all the others--all others who comprise the vast majority of souls. Of these others, many may never in life come to a recognition or need of God, nor to find and climb some unfathomed stairway to heaven. Some others of all the others desire God, are trying to seek Him, but have not a raft upon which to float--let alone a grasp of the heavenly stairway's handrail. 

In St. Bernard's Medieval time, in just one monastery, Citeaux, 100 novices entered yearly. Soon the monastery had to be rebuilt to accommodate 700 monks. Consider, then, several other Cistercian monasteries formed throughout France, then spreading to other countries. Consider also during this time the numerous other burgeoning religious orders. So too, in our time, there are numerous approved orders (and variations therein)--but without the vast numbers of members. In fact, many traditional religious orders today are in decline. While the offshoot religious groups and movements are attracting some, in comparison to our general population, even our Church numbers, the correlative percentages are low.

 

Yes, some few of all the others—these other souls who for whatever reason are neither suited nor called to traditional, approved religious groups--may be fortunate to find a spiritual director in a priest who will agree to counsel and guide, but that is rare due to the shortage of priests as well as their increasingly administrative responsibilities of parish life. 


The bulk of all the others glean what pointers from confession, be inspired to read spiritual books and Scripture, or gain instruction from Catholic radio and television. Some few may make it a priority to go to daily Mass, or to read the Divine Office morning and evening prayers. They may join a parish Bible study, when offered, or pursue formal coursework in theology. And most others remain on the periphery, Sunday Mass and bi-yearly or yearly confession...many not even that.

The reality remains that a vast number of people exist in the way of the world, seeking, stumbling upon, and climbing social, capitalistic, secular stairways. For these souls who may have an awakening, as well as for the souls who are trying to live a Christian life but not suited to the structures existing in traditional religious order or group, there needs to be something. Thus, we return to the need for an option. Could the option be the Order of the Present Moment, the order of one or of one among many?