Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Biblical Foundations For Religious Life
Biblical Foundations For Religious Life
Biblical Foundations For Religious Life
in this issue
Letter from the Executive Director
Letter from the
As we prepare the 2010 winter issue of InFormation, and the final issue of TransFormation in its current form,
Executive Director..... 1
it is indeed, a privilege to review with you RFC happenings of this past year – a
A Prophetic Vision.... 2 year which has been gifted generously and blessed graciously by our magnani-
mous God and by your support and engagement as members.
An Action Oriented
Initiative...................... 6 In addition to ForMission (2 sessions), Life Commitment and Orientation to
Formation programs which received excellent reviews, the workshop Biblical
Congress 2011 ............ 7 Foundations for Consecrated Life: A Prophetic Vision was offered in five hub
Life Commitment locations across the US. The attendance of close to four hundred attests to the
Program ...................... 8 interest the topic held for women and men living consecrated religious life. The
lead article in this issue by van Thanh Nguyen, SVD offers a summary review
Mary Daniel Turner of the workshop content. While the article calls us to bold words and daring
Scholarship Fund....... 9 actions as modeled by the prophets of the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, we
are also aware that our individual and communal call to be prophetic reveals
Book Review...............10 itself in ordinary and daily communitarian ways distinguished by a steadfast
adherence to Gospel imperatives.
Take Note ...................11
Our national Board and national office continue to focus on RFC’s 2007-2012 Goals and Strategies to “Re-
shape the organization’s governmental structures, processes, programs and practices to reflect present and
future realities affecting religious life.” With discerning hearts and trusting the nudging of God’s prophetic
Spirit, we attempt with courageous conviction to take “the next right step” in each situation and move forward
in hope.
Speaking of moving forward in hope, I encourage you to review on the NRVC website the documents from the
NRVC September 16-19 2010 symposium – Moving Forward in Hope Project. The project is a follow-up to
the NRVC/CARA 2009 Study.
The Transformation of Religious Life in North America: An Action-Oriented Initiative will be held in five
hub locations across the US January-March 2011 continues to draw significant numbers of participant registra-
tions and indicates the interest it holds for you, our members. For further information on this pilot project, see
advertisements in this issue and on the RFC website www.relforcon.org
May this Advent, this “in between” time be a blessed experience of patient waiting and joyful expectation as we
eagerly anticipate the coming of the Word made flesh among us. May we create a fitting dwelling place for
Him in our hearts, our Church and our world that cries out in need to see a human face of God.
Who are religious really? Through the centuries a lot of ink has been spilled over this question. While
Religious Formation Conference
some spiritual authors today are hesitant to call religious life “prophetic,” many have come to recognize
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that being prophetic is the key hallmark of this vocation. Vita Consecrata, a post-synodal apostolic
Silver Spring, MD 20910-4152
exhortation on consecrated life by Pope John Paul II in 1996, clearly defines religious life as prophetic.
The document dedicates a whole section to this dimension of consecrated life entitled, “A Prophetic
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Witness in the Face of Great Challenges” (#84-95). Paragraph 84, which is subtitled “The prophetic
301.585.7649 fax
character of the consecrated life,” states:
rfc@relforcon.org “There is a prophetic dimension which belongs to the consecrated life as such, resulting from the radical
www.relforcon.org nature of the following of Christ and of the subsequent dedication to the mission characteristic of the
consecrated life….”
Editor: Violet Grennan, mfic Authors, including contemporary authors, writing on religious life would agree that the form of life
not only can but must be prophetic today in order to fulfill its true character. There is no better place to
InFormation is published explore and find inspiration for our prophetic way of life than the biblical landscape and in doing so
four times a year by the Religious perhaps re-discover a model for religious life in our Church and world today. We might even be aston-
Formation Conference, expressly for ished to discover that we are challenged and transformed in the process of retrieving and embracing
RFC members. For information about anew prophetic religious life.
membership in the Conference,
contact the National Office. A Biblical Prophetic Landscape
Old Testament
© 2010 Religious Formation Conference In turning the pages of the Bible, one may be fascinated by the sheer number of characters who are por-
trayed as prophets. Most Christians in general and most Catholics in particular are familiar with some
PERMISSION TO REPRINT of the classical prophets. They might be able to name the four Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel
For permission to reprint articles from and Daniel. Some could identify a few names from the twelve Minor Prophets: Amos, Hosea, Micah,
InFormation please contact the Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Haggai, Zechariah, Joel, Jonah, Obadiah, and Malachi. Two other pop-
Editor at vgrennan@relforcon.org. ular prophets might be familiar to others—namely, Elijah and Elisha—whose stories take up a large sec-
When permission is granted, you will be
tion of First and Second Kings. Elijah and Elisha are leaders of a guild of prophets who dominated the
asked to provide information on the
circulation of the article and give
ninth century political and religious landscape of ancient Israel. Since their stories are often read in
“credit” to RFC. Permission is for a one liturgical celebrations, they are familiar to many believers.
time use only. RFC asks its member Many other prophets existed before the ninth century BCE. Abraham was called a prophet by God
congregations to defer to the in Genesis (20:7). Moses too was regarded as a prophet (Deut 18:15-19). The story of his call in Exodus
copyright of this publication. 3 is a traditional form of the commission of a prophet. The author of Deuteronomy idealized Moses as
a model prophet, stating: “Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD
TransFormation, the one-page knew face to face. He was unequaled for all the signs and wonders that the LORD sent him to perform
bulletin provided by RFC as an ongoing in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants and his entire land, and for all the mighty deeds
formation resource, is created to be and all the terrifying displays of power that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel” (34:10-12). Aaron,
reproduced and sent to members of the spokes-person for Moses, was considered a prophet (Exod 7:1). Miriam too acted as a messenger for
RFC member congregations. God in leading the victory dance after the crossing of the sea (Exod 15:20). Later she challenged Moses’
exclusive exercise of the role of prophet: “Is it through Moses alone that the LORD speaks?” (Num 12:2).
During the period of the judges (1200-1020 BCE), Deborah was called both prophet and judge. She sat
Design and layout: under a palm tree settling disputes and pronouncing judgment for the people (Judg 4:4-5). Responding
Beth Ponticello, CEDC to God’s invitation, she defeated the army of Hazor and helped liberate her people from foreign oppres-
www.cedc.org sion. Two other female prophets are often unknown. During the reign of Josiah (640-609 BCE) a book
of the law was found in the Temple. The priests brought the book to the king who instructed them to
consult with the prophetess for authenticity. The prophetess Huldah reviewed the book and declared it
_______________ to be authentic (2 Kings 22:8-20). The newly discovered book is believed to have been the book of
Deuteronomy.
Samuel is another important Old Testament figure who helped Israel move from a loose tribal con-
www.relforcon.org federation to a monarchy. As prophet and judge, he first anointed Saul and then David and served as
Please make note of the new the official “seer” under these kings. There are two other prophets who seemed to occupy an official
member password for the position in the court of King David: Gad and Nathan. Gad seemed to have been a close companion of
website: transformation2010 David during the early period of his life and helped him escape from Saul’s clutches. Gad also
announced God’s judgment upon David after the census and advised David concerning the purchase of
... consistently and faithfully live out their prophetic vocation, they
will not only give witness to their true character (understood as
transforming, shaping a way of life and its habitual way of living);
While people were struggling to survive due to famine, they will also provide a witness that has potential to transform
Amos, for example, imagined a new future where food will be so themselves and the world. For inspiration and guidance during
abundant that even wine and milk will run down the Judean hills this Advent season I suggest we turn to a book of the Scriptures
(9:13). Facing imminent calamity, Isaiah of Jerusalem envisioned that most Catholics tend to shy away from.
perpetual peace and a new world order where the wolf will lie
down with the lamb (Isa 11:6-9). Even though salvation for Israel Messages to the Seven Communities:
might have seemed unattainable, Micah still hoped that God will A Vision from Patmos
fling human sin into the depths of the sea (Mic 7:19-20). Despite the The Book of Revelation, also known as the “Apocalypse,” which
impending disaster, Jeremiah still spoke about how God has a in Greek means “unveiling,” was composed during a time of cri-
future and a hope for Israel’s remnant (29:11). To the heart-broken sis, probably in the mid-90s CE, when Christians in Asia Minor
exiles in Babylon, Ezekiel spoke about how God will bless, renew, (modern Turkey) were facing tremendous challenges and oppo-
and restore God’s people giving them a new heart of flesh and a new sition. To the seven communities (ecclesia), John, who was prob-
temple (Ezek 36-47). When Israel’s exiles returned to the ruins of ably a wandering Christian prophet (1:3, 10-11; 22:9, 18-19) and
the holy city and temple, and when hope seemed to have completely now exiled on the island of Patmos (1:9), wrote to criticize those
vanished, Third Isaiah envisioned that all nations will come to wor- who had lost their prophetic edge and energize those who were
ship God on the holy mountain (56:1-8) and there will be a new cre- experiencing hardships. His three-fold message to the seven
ation (65:17-25). Biblical prophets described here are essentially communities was: to resist cultural assimilation, to overcome
hope-givers and visionaries. complacency, and to persevere in times of hardship.
Prophets are too often seen exclusively as fortune-tellers or Most scholars today agree that religious persecution was not
prognosticators of future history. While this might be part of the main factor that threatened the existence of the seven
their prophecy, future prediction was not their primary task. Christian communities. While there was minor local opposition,
Rather than predicting events in a far-distant future, biblical the principal challenge for the early Christians who lived in the
prophets announced God’s will in an immediate set of circum- midst of the Roman Empire was its attraction and allurement.
stances. Both prophetic tasks of criticizing and energizing are The commodities of Greco-Roman cities and its affluent
directed primarily toward the prophet’s time using terms and
images comprehensible and relevant to their intended audience.
To make their message more effective, prophets used various
ways to convey their powerful message, at times becoming and
...
acting out the message themselves. Isaiah for example walked What do I/we as a community need
around barefoot and naked for three years to dramatize the situ-
ation of exile that threatened Israel and to illustrate the city’s to fall in love again and embrace
imminent humiliation and ruin (Isa 20:2-4). Micah likewise
walked around barefoot and naked, lamenting and wailing like our original covenant with our
the jackals and ostriches (Mic 1:8). To illustrate the broken rela-
tionship between God and the people, Jeremiah smashed a pot God and God’s people?
(19:11) and buried his underwear (13:1-11). To symbolically
demonstrate the burden of the Babylonian oppression, Jeremiah
wore a yoke first of wood and then of iron parading through
...
4 Religious Formation Conference
lifestyles, public baths, theatrical entertainment and imperial
cults, had lured and seduced the Christian believers. Believers at
Ephesus, Pergamum, and Thyatira had compromised their faith
...
through cultural accommodation to the Empire; so much so that
the church barely existed anymore. To the Ephesians John writes,
In this time of Advent we are called
“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love to “wake up” and “to be alert”.
you had at first. Remember then from what you have fallen;
repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you Is there an area in our personal
and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent”
(2:4-5). The message to communities in Pergamum (2:14-16) and communal lives that could be
and Thyatira (2:20-23) is one and the same, namely, to resist cul-
tural assimilation by refusing to eat food sacrificed to idols and
nudged into a different awareness
practicing fornication. For the prophet John, their assimilation and increased prophetic action?
had compromised their Christian faith.
Believers at Sardis and Laodicea faced a different situation.
The danger did not seem to come from overt hostility but from
...
the kind of comfortable conditions that led to complacency. Both Conclusion: “An Advent of a Renewed
of these communities were economically affluent and therefore Religious Life?”
took pride in being self-sufficient. To the community in It is interesting to note that in our examination of the Book of
Laodicea, Christ declares, “I know your works; you are neither Revelation, John of Patmos criticized five of the seven communities
cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because for having been seduced by the Empire. Perhaps some of our com-
you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit munities have become too assimilated into our culture and accom-
you out of my mouth. For you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, modated ourselves too fully to criticize our social, political, eco-
and I need nothing.’ You do not realize that you are wretched, nomic and religious institutions. Is it possible that our middle class
pitiable, poor, and blind, and naked” (3:15-17). The description lifestyle has made us complacent and in the process lost some of our
gives us a picture of a complacent and apathetic community. original zeal and passion to radically follow Jesus’ life and mission?
While the community is not accused of any major heresy or For those of us for whom this may be so, John’s admonition is
immoral practices, their self-satisfied complacency and half- resoundingly clear - “Come out” of the Empire and boycott it (18:2-
hearted commitment were enough to make Christ sick! Similarly, 4). Perhaps by resisting the Empire, religious will re-energize their
Christ criticized the believers at Sardis, “I know your works; you prophetic identity. We need to act now!
have a name of being alive, but you are dead” (3:1b). It seems that In reviewing the brief survey of the Biblical prophetic land-
both the communities at Sardis and Laodicea had no zeal or scape offered here, we may recognize that the biblical prophetic
intensity, and therefore they were ineffective and useless. tradition provides us with a solid foundation for establishing
Among the seven communities, Smyrna and Philadelphia who religious are called to be. (Notice that the Greek word
are the only ones that Christ did not criticize. The messages prophetes literally means “one who is called or summoned.”) To
mainly contain words of commendation and encouragement in be prophetic is indeed an essential character and function of our
times of suffering and persecution. To the community in way of life. Like all biblical characters, we are summoned to be a
Smyrna, Christ says, “I know your affliction and your poverty, prophetic voice and presence in our contemporary world and
even though you are rich. I know the slander on the part of those Church. Our task is two-fold: to criticize the institutions of our
who say that they are Jews and are not, but a synagogue of Satan” time and re-energize those of us who may have been overtaken
(2:9). The community at Philadelphia apparently experienced a by its attraction and seduced by its riches.
similar situation. They too were expelled from the synagogue and Due to various factors, some say that religious life is in a
publicly denounced by the Jewish officials. Without the privi- state of crisis. Others opine that it is at a crossroads. Still others
leges and protections afforded by the Jews, members of the think that religious women and men are caught between the
Philadelphian community were attacked and persecuted by the “gaps” of the “betwixt and between state” of radical or liminal life
Romans. Yet, despite suffering and hostility on all fronts, the (Ruffing, 1). Whatever the case might be, there is definitely a
community remained zealous in their commitment and faith. decline in religious vocations in many religious communities in
They did not waver in their resistance to the seduction of the first world countries. While the decline in numbers is significant,
Empire but rather stood firm in their prophetic witness. While the quality of religious life for many has not been impacted by the
the door of the local synagogue was closed to the Christian decline. After having traveled to various places in the U.S. to
believers, Christ nevertheless promised them a new passage: “I present this talk to women and men on the topic of religious life
know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door, titled “Biblical Foundations for Consecrated Life: A Prophetic
which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little Vision”, I have witnessed the lives and heard the prophetic voices
power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my of many religious women and men. Most, if not all, testified that
name” (3:8). The principal message for these two communities is religious life is not in “peril” but is in a “transforming stage.”
to not be afraid (2:10) and patiently endure (3:10) during the They have a heightened awareness of their prophetic vocation in
interim period. Christ assures them that he is coming: “I am the world in the midst of being smaller in number and perhaps
coming soon; hold fast to what you have, so that no one may less obviously visible than in previous generations. Is it possible
seize your crown” (3:11). Christ’s message to the suffering believ- that this “betwixt and between time” holds within it the promise
ers is incredibly hope-filled and powerfully reaffirming in the of an advent of a renewed religious life for all of us? If religious
dire straits of their situation. continue to model their lives on the biblical characters described
continued on page 8
vanThanh Nguyen, S.V.D., S.T.D., is assistant professor of New Testament Looking for data to inform and support your
Studies and chair of the Department of Biblical Languages and Literature at
social analysis, prayer , reflection and action:
Catholic Theological Union, in Chicago, Illinois. He is a missionary of the
The World Bank
Society of the Divine Word. He is a member of the editorial board and the
Working for a World Free of Poverty
www.worldbank.org
book review editor of New Theology Review. He contributes regularly for dif-
ferent professional journals.
Location:
Marillac Center, Leavenworth, KS
Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth
4200 South 4th Street LCP participants June 2010 at the Franciscan Spiritual Center in Aston, PA
Leavenworth, KS 66048-5054
913-758-6552
www.MarrillacCenter.org
Registration Information:
Please call Yvonne DeBruin, RFC Program director after Jan 20th for an application packet.
Total Cost: $ 2,480 for non RFC members - $1,655 for RFC Member Congregations
Please watch the RFC web-site www.relforcon.org as well as e-mailings for more details.