First of all, I would like to apologize for the fact that I have not written on this blog for a while. Events have conspired to such a degree that I do not have a moment’s rest to write here except occasionally. If you don’t see anything on this blog for a while, don’t take it personally. I care about my readers. I just can’t guarantee that you will see a new post here every day.
My topic for today is actually about a subject that is close to me. Most guys go into religious life wanting to become priests, but have you ever heard a guy say that he wanted to become a religious brother? Have you heard anybody ever tell his parents, “Mom, Dad, I want to become a religious brother”?
I think that one of the main misperceptions about being a religious brother is that it is for guys that didn’t quite make it to the priesthood in the studies. Some people think that it was that guy that was in the middle of theology studies when the Provincial handed down the orders that he would work as a car mechanic for the rest of his existence. Yet, this is completely the wrong view. The life of a religious brother is so much more richer than the stereotypes. Great saints, as I will illustrate, were nothing more and nothing less than religious brothers.
First of all, though, what does a religious brother do? Well, it would depend on a lot of things. Like everything else in religious life, superiors look at the person’s natural abilities and talents. Sometimes, a man may work as a cook, a doorkeeper, a teacher, a mechanic, or a janitor. Although some people may not think that these professions are honorable in the eyes of the world, but that is not what is most important. The most important thing is salvation and God will give a man any tool to help him achieve his salvation.
Also, a brother is the right hand man of the priest and the superiors. Although the work that a brother may do from day to day may be humble, menial, and thankless, he supports the priests by taking over some tasks that would take the priest away from his chief duty of ministering to souls.
The thing to remember, though, is that great saints have been religious brothers. St. Gerard Majella, one of the most famous Redemptorist saints, was a humble brother who was extremely renowned for his obedience. St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, a great Jesuit saint and devotee of the Rosary, was also a brother.
Therefore, we shouldn’t look down on the role of the religious brother. Rather, we should think of him as someone who sacrifices himself constantly so that others can get their work done. Even though the work may be thankless and onerous, it ultimately helps others in countless unknown ways.
Let’s pray together for more brothers to help assist our priests.
Our Mother of Perpetual Help, pray for us
St. Alphonsus Liguori, pray for us
St. John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us
St. Gerard Majella, pray for us
