Yeah I’m Irish and was educated by the De La Salle Brothers. The monks in Ireland during the dark ages acted as Europe’s university, and it is thanks to the brothers of that period that we still know about Ireland’s pre-Christian beliefs and culture. Still, times change. And while I certainly respect the charitable efforts of orders like the Franciscans I don’t really see why such charitable efforts must also be accompanied by seemingly unnecessary vows of poverty and chastity and living with a bunch of other men.
Poverty, chastity, and fraternity are helpful in attaining holiness. Poverty eschews material goods, chastity eschews family obligations, and fraternity provides brotherhood among men that they might lift each other up and hold each other accountable. By ridding ourselves of attachments, we are better able to spend time in prayer, meditation, and learning... all of which lift up ourselves and others in order that heaven might be attained by as many as possible.
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