Cloistered
Contemplative religious communities are often cloistered or partiallycloistered—that is, they live separated from the rest of the world to bemore focused on prayer, includingprayer for the needs of the world. Ascloistered religious they rarely leavetheir monasteries, and all or mostof their work is done within themonastery itself, depending on thedegree to which they are cloistered.
Contemplative
Members of contemplative religious communities focus on prayer,especially the Mass, praying dailytogether the Liturgy of the Hours,and individual prayer such aslectio divina, the prayerful reading of scripture. They tend to livein greater solitude than apostoliccommunities so that they can betterdirect their prayer and work towardcontemplation, though some communities that consider themselvescontemplative are also engaged insome active apostolic ministries.
Discernment
Reflecting on and praying about howto respond to God’s call to followJesus Christ as his disciple in a particular way of life.
Chapter
A meeting of the members of areligious community to discuss anddecide on policy, leadership, and thedirection of the community. Chaptermeetings can occur at several levels,from the local to the international.
Charism
A religious community’s particularspirit, way of life, and focus, whichgrows out of its history, traditions,and founder. From the Greek wordcharisma meaning “gift,” charismguides decisions about mission.
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LITTLE COMPANY OF MARY SISTERSCOMPASSION ~ PRESENCE ~ PRAYER
www.lcmsisters.org • vocations@lcmh.org
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Discernment is theprocess of reflectingon and praying abouthow to respondto God’s call to followJesus Christ as hisdisciple in a particularway of life.
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