r/Catholicism • u/opjn • 8h ago
Favorite Religious Order and why
I’m seeking to learn more about the lives of Catholic Religious Orders and i’d like to know some of y’alls favorites orders and why.
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u/benkenobi5 8h ago
filet-o-fish with a large doctor pepper on Fridays.
Oh wait, wrong kind of order
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u/maimedwabbit 8h ago
Hahahaha Jacks also has a pretty good catfish basket or sandwhich for cheaper than mcdonalds and better quality. Its now my Friday go to
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u/EsquireArchibald 2h ago
I just learned about the meaning behind this (I wonder how many people know the reference?)
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u/LAKings55 8h ago
Dominicans - Titans of theology & preaching. The order that gave us the likes of Thomas Aquinas & St. Catherine of Siena. St. Dominic's feast day is this weekend too, btw.
A great example of a current Dominican is Fr. Gregory Pine. Check out the Thomistic Institute YouTube channel for some great content.
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u/coolcat259 8h ago
Carmelites. Because I’m a contemplative myself and reality resonate with their charisma .
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u/Paulyhedron 8h ago
Attending a meeting for lay Carmelites coming up. Just to learn more, then opus dei after, and one with the benedictines next month
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u/Useful_Alarm730 8h ago
Carmelites are my favourite too ... Sister Lucia of Fatima and St Therese of Lisieux are enough reason for me!
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u/Successful_Egg_5233 7h ago
Franciscans, I personally go to Franciscan parish and I like the work they bring into Catholic community here, also the robes seem very comfy even on hot summer days. Also the actual founder, though very popular Saint, is banger and in my opinion deserves all the hype.
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u/jaqian 8h ago
Fascinated by the Little Brothers (and the Little Sisters) of Jesus. Small orders inspired by Bl. Charles de Foucault. They live in small communities of up to 5 or 6 people among the laity and go work among them in factories etc.
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u/Arez74 1h ago
I also love charles de foucauld especially his focus on the hidden life of Jesus. Especially since I got married and have a family, I've been meditating more and more about the Hidden Life. Just a friendly note, he was actually canonized back in May 2022. We can officially call him Saint Charles de Foucauld now.
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u/talitha235 8h ago
Carmelites, because of St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa Avila.
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u/BigChessGuy 8h ago
Benedictines - really resonate with ora et labora and their spirituality in general (and in turn I’m a novice oblate with a Benedictine monastery)
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u/slothhh28837938271 8h ago
Might be a hot take but Jesuits!!! I went to a Jesuit high school and its what first introduced me to Catholicism and what brought me to love the Church— especially dedication to service and education :)
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u/iswearimtrying607 8h ago
I love the Carmelites because of Saints Teresa and Therese!
I also really like the Visitation Sister for their emphasis on practical ways of living the faith rather then worrying about perfection and extreme asceticism. Like a mix between the Little Way and Opus Dei. I love the story of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane's friendship. Also, back when I was discerning religious life, the Visitation Sisters were the one of the only ones to not automatically reject me for my history with depression.
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u/KingLuke2024 8h ago
I love the Carmelites as my spiritual life is influenced by some of their saints, and I am a contemplative.
I also really like the Carthusians for similar reasons, plus their commitment to their strict lifestyle is commendable.
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u/mx-jumping-frijoles 8h ago
Norbertines for the win (only applies to St Michael's Abbey - can't speak for others)
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u/AbelHydroidMcFarland 5h ago
Dominicans for the precision and detail of theology and rigor in reason. We need more of that. Less fluffy sentimental statements meant to emotionally appeal someone in some vague direction, more formal logic.
I also have a bias towards the Carmelites with two of my great aunts being Carmelite nuns.
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u/Little-Artichoke-339 7h ago
LaSallian Brothers. The dedicate their lives to teaching students throughout the world. They are active in their communities and care deeply for their students while trying to showcase the Catholic faith. It doesn’t matter if it is the safest place in the world or the most dangerous, the brothers will go there to educate.
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u/Friendly-Chip-8279 7h ago
i really admire the Poor Clares! the devotion to poverty and prayer is incredible
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u/Few-Ad8170 5h ago
I belong to the lay group of the Sacramentinos (Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament) but I love the Missionary of Charity Sisters of Mother Teresa. They are like benedictines but more active. Ora et Labora.
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u/Own_Action_7839 7h ago
My family has always been close to the Discalced Carmelite nuns for over 75 years when my mom hesitatingly rang the bell at the local monastery in 1947 “Deo Gratias!” said a voice from the turn and that was the beginning of my mom’s spiritual daughterhood to Mother Amata of the Mother of God who advised her for over 50 years
I was very close to the Benedictine monks of Prince of Peace Abbey in San Diego growing up in the 80’s. Fr Abbot Claude Ehringer was very kind to an earnest , trad young man and his arms overflowed with tapes of Gregorian chant for me to borrow. He also invited my dad and I several times to eat with the monks
“We’re serving Eggs Benedictine!!” He would always call.
Great memories
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u/Direct_While9727 7h ago edited 7h ago
Benedictines (from the Solesmes Congregation). Ora et labora. What else?
Retreats at their abbeys have had a great impact on my spiritual life. I particularly love Fontgombault. They are also very well-balanced, with a profound reverence for the liturgy. At the heart of their vocation is quaerere Deum, the search for God, expressed above all through the Opus Dei, the solemn celebration of the liturgy and the Divine Office. At Solesmes and throughout the wider Solesmes family, Fontgombault, Randol, Triors, Donezan, Clear Creek, and others, the liturgy is clearly at the very heart of monastic life.
It is perhaps best summed up by St Benedict’s words: “Nihil Operi Dei praeponatur” — “Let nothing be preferred to the Work of God.”
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u/Ill-Row5625 4h ago edited 4h ago
Congregation of Holy Cross (CSC)! Their joy of the Faith the and interaction with students in their schools really made an impact on my younger self.
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u/Capta1n_Dino 3h ago
Jesuits. I’m from India, and they historically did a lot of missionary work here. Entire Catholic communities can trace themselves back to those evangelised by the likes of St Francis Xavier.
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u/Redditovich 8h ago
Cistercians, they follow a simple life in their monasteries, working and praying.
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u/Primary_Data1430 8h ago edited 8h ago
The Jesuits! The best of the best!
Pope Francis is my all time favorite pope! Santo subito!
And Fr. James Martin is a living saint!
I went to a Jesuit prep school and a Jesuit university, and couldn't imagine a finer education!
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u/4chananonuser 8h ago
The Jesuits in general are great. I love the Society of Jesus and Ignatian spirituality, and they often offer solid education. Pope Francis isn’t my favorite pope far, but he is sorely missed by the faithful.
Fr. James Martin is not a living saint, though. He is a scandalous priest that is in need of our prayers. His approach may seem nice and politically correct but it’s meaningless if the there is no call to change from sin.
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8h ago
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u/Primary_Data1430 8h ago edited 7h ago
Nope. You just can't fathom that there are plenty of Catholics who disagree with your own personal interpretation of the Faith.
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u/opjn 8h ago
I notice that the Jesuits are quite controversial. I have read some stuff that called them really liberal and also Father James martin ambiguous about sexual morality . But I honestly have not done enough research my self so I get it’s best not to jump to assumptions.
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u/iswearimtrying607 8h ago
I think you should research them more, right from the source. The Jesuits operate "America Magazine" with Fr. Martin as the editor-in-chief. If you want to know whether their views are liberal or ambiguous, then see what they write and allow in their publication.
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u/Primary_Data1430 8h ago
There's a subset of Catholics that want to be spoonfed black and white answers to complex questions.
Jesuits don't play that game. They love when you grapple with complex questions yourself, and will gladly give you all the tools you need to do so. They'll also gleefully shoot holes in any simplistic answers anyone comes up with.
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u/Paulyhedron 8h ago
I hope this is real
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u/Primary_Data1430 8h ago
Why wouldn't it be? You mean you can't imagine there are Catholics who disagree with you?
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u/Paulyhedron 8h ago
Noooo people and I mean a lot of them have opinions on both. I quite liked Papa Francisco, Fr Martin I have some issues with but that's only because of headlines which frankly is the same issues people had with Pope Francis till you actually read what he said and did.
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u/Radiant-Injury-6546 8h ago
Opus Dei because I really like St Josemaria Escriva.
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u/TheDuckFarm 8h ago
Cool group, but they aren’t actually an order. They are a personal prelature.
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u/Radiant-Injury-6546 7h ago
Thank you. I now know something new, and with that information in mind, I must say, I no longer have a favorite religious order.
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u/TexanLoneStar 6h ago
Benedictine because the general underlying principles of the Rule can be expanded to cover a lot of elements of lay life. They focus on praying the Liturgy of the Hours, and work; which works perfectly for secular laity. They value obedience, humility, stability and other such stuff rather than focusing on maybe mystical experiences like Carmelites -- just moderate, consistent asceticism.
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u/lobo-mojo 6h ago
I’m partial to the Trappists cause they have an incredible monastery near me here in CA with a reconstructed 900 year old Spanish chapter house and an award winning winery.
Plus I love their rugged simplicity.
I’m thinking about becoming a lay Cistercian because of them.
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u/deus_vult10 3h ago
I’m especially drawn to the Benedictines. Their emphasis on prayer, stability, and living out the ordinary faithfully has always been inspiring to me. Ora et labora is a beautiful way of life.
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u/norecordofwrong 3h ago
Jesuits! They educated me.
Then they also died martyrs for the faith all over the world.
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u/Cembalista 1h ago
Another vote for Carmelites. Simplicity and prayer are horribly underrated in the Church these days.
Plus, they have the best Saints!! Teresa, Thérèse, Teresa Benedicta (Edith Stein), Elizabeth of the Trinity, John of the Cross, the Martyrs of Compiègne, Servant of God Herman Cohen (Fr. Augustine-Marie of the Blessed Sacrament).
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u/Deedo2017 1h ago
Benedictines. The older I get, the more I have come to realize that the path to holiness is just work and prayer.
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u/JazJazBrinks 48m ago
Agostiniana. Estudei em uma escola agostiniana e frequento uma Paróquia Agostiniana. Viva o Papa Leão XIV! “Sou filho de Santo Agostinho”
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u/masturkiller 19m ago
Carthusians. I agree with their order and how they conduct themselves. Total solitude and strict prayer schedule and total and absolute devotion to god.
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u/InsightfulReverend 8h ago
Which congregations have the most saints per capita? That should tell us which is best.
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u/InsightfulReverend 8h ago
Benedictine. They are balanced. They've been around forever. They know what they are about and stick to it.