Youthful ‘naiveté’ of religious commitment

by Peter Finney Jr.

By Peter Finney Jr.
Clarion Herald

For the second consecutive year, approximately 100 religious women and men of the Archdiocese of New Orleans held a “Meet and Greet” celebration following the Oct. 20 evening Mass at Holy Name of Jesus Church.

The idea, said Sacred Heart Brother Ron Travers, director of the archdiocesan Office of Religious, was to share with college-age Catholics the joy of religious life.

Twenty-six religious communities were represented, and after the Mass, celebrated by Jesuit Father Mark Thibodeaux, brief testimonies were given by two young religious – Sister of the Holy Family Seyram Mary Adzokpa and Benedictine Brother Ignatius Kreker, who has made a temporary profession with the Benedictine monks of St. Joseph Abbey.

‘A vibrant witness’

“We really want it to be known that each community here is a vibrant witness doing the Lord’s
work in a variety of ways,” Brother Ron said. “Being a consecrated religious today is one of many choices that we can make for our lives and how we live out our relationship with the Lord. Religious communities are an option we have to live this relationship with the Lord and with one another.

“Together, we witness the mission of Jesus to all of God’s people whom we serve. Being in this together makes us deeply connected with the life of the Lord and knowing that we are not going it alone. We are all called to be missionaries, no matter where we are, because we’re helping to build the kingdom of God in word and deed at this moment, today and every day.”

A holy fear

In his homily, Father Thibodeaux acknowledged the trepidation many religious must have felt when they made a lifelong commitment to poverty, chastity and obedience.

“If we look at it without the eyes of faith, to make any sort of long-term commitment is really illogical, isn’t it?” Father Thibodeaux said. “None of us knows what’s going to be ahead of us in the future. I was 20 years old when I knelt before the Eucharist and I said, ‘I vow before your divine majesty, perpetual – perpetual, perpetual! – poverty, chastity and obedience. And I promise to spend my life in it forever – forever!’ Does a 20-year-old really know what forever is and what perpetual means?”

Leap of faith

Similarly, Father Thibodeaux said, married couples make a lifetime pledge to each other not knowing what challenges lie ahead, but they persevere in faith.

“I’m so happy I vowed perpetual poverty, chastity and obedience,” he said. “I’m so happy that in this church, 21 years ago, the bishop called out my name and I stood up and said, ‘Present!’ and I stepped forward to be ordained. I’m so happy I made that ridiculous commitment because I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for that.

“So, maybe our problem is not that we’re too naive, but that we’re a bit too wise now. Maybe we know too much. Maybe we’re too cautious. ... Maybe we need to pray for that second naïveté in our life. Pray for the naïveté of the youth. Pray that the Lord might give us that divine amnesia so that when the Lord tugs on our heartstrings and invites us to do something crazy, as the Lord will, we’ll say yes.”

Hunger to do more

Sister Seyram, a native of Ghana, was working as a registered nurse in Texas when she felt a tug from God to do more.

“I had a hunger and a longing to do more,” she said. “I began to discern that God was calling me to a different life.”

She now ministers to the elderly at Lafon Nursing Home across the street from the motherhouse, and she is thrilled that she can pray with her patients, including the rosary.

“I continue to trust my God, who is faithful,” she said.

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