New Monasticism has been triggered by ‘New Monastic Communities’ (henceforth NMCs), defined in the religious sphere as attempts – often borderline – at monastic life, initiated by priests, religious and laypeople who are critical of classical monasticism, which is hidebound, in their opinion, by obsolete customs and rules. More precisely, they are groups of people (some at least of whom have taken religious vows) living together permanently and revealing two main characteristics. Firstly, born in the wake of Vatican Council II, they are renewing monastic life by emphasizing the most innovative and disruptive aspects they can find in the Council’s theology. Secondly, they do not belong to pre-existing orders or congregations, although they freely adopt and adapt their Rules of Life. In the eyes of ecclesiastical authorities, the most disturbing elements of these communities are that: 1. They are mostly ‘mixed’, which is to say consisting of monks and nuns living ‘under the same roof’ (of course we are not talking here about sexual intimacy); 2. They accept lay members, whether single, married or families, residing in private dwellings more or less close to the monastery; 3. They reject enclosure and contemptus mundi, limiting collective prayer time in order to increase that available for labour, for evangelization and voluntary social work, often outside the monastery; 4. They are actively involved in oecumenical and interreligious dialogue, and harbour scarcely concealed sympathy with oriental religions, from which they sometimes adopt beliefs and practices.
Exploring New Monastic Communities. The Re-invention of Tradition
PALMISANO, Stefania
2015-01-01
Abstract
New Monasticism has been triggered by ‘New Monastic Communities’ (henceforth NMCs), defined in the religious sphere as attempts – often borderline – at monastic life, initiated by priests, religious and laypeople who are critical of classical monasticism, which is hidebound, in their opinion, by obsolete customs and rules. More precisely, they are groups of people (some at least of whom have taken religious vows) living together permanently and revealing two main characteristics. Firstly, born in the wake of Vatican Council II, they are renewing monastic life by emphasizing the most innovative and disruptive aspects they can find in the Council’s theology. Secondly, they do not belong to pre-existing orders or congregations, although they freely adopt and adapt their Rules of Life. In the eyes of ecclesiastical authorities, the most disturbing elements of these communities are that: 1. They are mostly ‘mixed’, which is to say consisting of monks and nuns living ‘under the same roof’ (of course we are not talking here about sexual intimacy); 2. They accept lay members, whether single, married or families, residing in private dwellings more or less close to the monastery; 3. They reject enclosure and contemptus mundi, limiting collective prayer time in order to increase that available for labour, for evangelization and voluntary social work, often outside the monastery; 4. They are actively involved in oecumenical and interreligious dialogue, and harbour scarcely concealed sympathy with oriental religions, from which they sometimes adopt beliefs and practices.
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
