Why is becoming a nun not a sacrament, when ordination is?
The short answer
A sacrament is an outward sign instituted by Christ, and he decides what the sacraments are and who receives them. The priesthood is a share in Christ's own priesthood, unlike anything else; religious life is a way of living the evangelical counsels, open to men and women alike.
The priesthood
A sacrament is an outward sign instituted by Christ, and Jesus determines what is a sacrament and who receives it. The priesthood cannot be compared to religious life or to anything else on earth. It is a share in the priesthood Christ himself established, and a priest truly ministers in the person of Christ. No one is worthy of it. That Jesus ordained only men would be unfair only if everyone had a right to such an honor, and no one does.
Religious life
Religious life is a way of living based on the evangelical counsels Jesus preached. All of us, married or single, are called to chastity, to obey lawful authority and to be poor in spirit. The vows of religious life, representing the whole of a person's existence, take these a step further and so draw attention to them, reminding everyone that we owe God the offering of all that we are. Religious life is open to men and women alike.
Continue exploring
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