Religious Life

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The contemplative Sisters of the Monastery of Bethlehem in Livingston Manor, New York, support themselves by offering their hand-painted chinaware and other unique gifts for sale.

Christmas 2024: Handmade gifts from 14 Catholic monasteries

Dec 8, 2024

By Zelda Caldwell

A guide to some of our favorite handmade gifts to give and receive from religious communities and monasteries. Read more

For committed Catholics, statistics like this come as no surprise. It’s the Gospel message in a bar-graph, the Cross in a pie-chart.

What makes the religious so happy?

Nov 28, 2024

By Peter Laffin

“Priestly happiness is one of the great secrets of our time,” said Rossetti, a research associate professor at The Catholic... Read more

The Little Sisters, Disciples of the Lamb, at their garden of Damascus roses. The roses are used for aroma in skin care and cosmetic products.

National Vocations Week: The contemplative order that welcomes sisters with Down syndrome

Nov 7, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

The Little Sisters, Disciples of the Lamb community in France is thriving, welcoming religious sisters with Down syndrome and able... Read more

Pope Francis greets a woman religious at a Mass on the World Day of Consecrated Life, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, on Feb. 2, 2024, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.

Pope Francis hails ‘immense gift’ of vocation to the consecrated life

May 30, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

Pope Francis on Thursday addressed a message to participants in a conference on consecrated religious life currently taking place in... Read more

Elevation of the chalice at a Traditional Latin Mass.

Game, set, God: French athlete trades championship title for abbey life

Apr 30, 2024

By AC Wimmer

Ludovic Duée, captain of the Saint-Nazaire volleyball team and recently crowned French champion, shared a deeply personal decision with local... Read more

Father Peter Vasko, OFM, and Sister Naomi Zimmermann, FSE.

Living the religious life in the Holy Land: Two Americans share their stories

Feb 2, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

On World Day for Consecrated Life, Father Peter Vasko and Sister Naomi Zimmermann — both Franciscans — are grateful for... Read more

The Monastery of Città della Pieve in Italy.

Blind from birth, Sister Chiara Antonella shares her story of music and prayer

Dec 26, 2023

By ACI Stampa

The Poor Clare sister shared in a recent interview about her calling to religious life, life in the monastery, and... Read more

A still from the movie "Free."

‘A cinematic meditation’: Catholic film on religious life in U.S. theaters Nov. 2

Oct 31, 2023

By Courtney Mares

A new documentary on Catholic religious life will be shown in movie theaters across the U.S. for a one-night release... Read more

Eucharistic adoration following the pope's Corpus Christi Mass June 14, 2020.

Pope Francis: The Eucharist can fill ‘the wounds and voids produced by sin’

Aug 25, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope said in the eyes of the world it might appear “absurd” to confront societal problems by praying on... Read more

Father Joe Barron is among the first two Americans to join Pro Ecclesia Sancta, a religious institute founded in Lima, Peru. He was invited by Detroit Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron to found another home for the community in the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Religious community from Peru arrives in Detroit with mission to encourage vocations

Pro Ecclesia Sancta — “For the Holy Church” in Latin — will be based out of St. Isaac Jogues Parish... Read more

Speaking from World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal, the “City of Joy,” a Iesu Communio (Communion in Jesus) sister shares her vocation story with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner.

Religious sister tells how she discovered her vocation at a WYD thanks to Benedict XVI

The sister related that Pope Benedict XVI spoke “of the Eucharist as a ‘kiss’ and of adoration as a prostration... Read more

Father Marie-Dominique Philippe.

New report analyzes origins and phenomena behind abuse in France’s St. John community

Jul 2, 2023

By Solène Tadié

The 800-page document details findings of an internal investigation into the origins of abuse in the St. John Family. Read more

Sister Cyril Mooney, an Irish sister who changed education for impoverished children throughout India has died at age 86.

 Irish nun who changed education for India’s poorest children dies

Jun 28, 2023

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

Winner of the prestigious Padma Shri award, Sister Cyril Mooney’s school model was adopted by the entire country of India. Read more

Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity in Arlington, Texas.

Fort Worth Diocese: Vatican says bishop has authority over Carmelite monastery amid investigation

May 31, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

A May 31 diocesan statement said the Vatican appointed the bishop as “the pope’s representative in this matter.” Read more

The Reverend Mother Superior Teresa Agnes Gerlach of the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity in Arlington, Texas.

Fort Worth nun forced to use bishop-appointed canon lawyer amid dispute with diocese

May 24, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

The Carmelite nun is now appealing to the Vatican after the bishop refused to let her choose her own canon... Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience in St Peter’s Square on April 26, 2023.

Pope Francis: Monks and nuns are ‘the beating heart’ of evangelization

Apr 26, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope pointed to the example of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and other cloistered religious who sustain the life of... Read more

Dominican nuns at the Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary in Summit, New Jersey, make soap and candles which they sell at their Cloister Shoppe.

Christmas shopping? Check out these gifts handmade by monks and nuns

Nov 25, 2022

By Zelda Caldwell

If you’re looking for unique handmade gifts for those on your list, you’re going to love these delicious treats and... Read more

Cristina Scuccia, winner of The Voice Italy 2014

Nun who won The Voice of Italy singing competition leaves consecrated life

Nov 21, 2022

By CNA Staff

Sister Cristina Scuccia, the religious sister who won the 2014 edition of The Voice of Italy, has left the consecrated... Read more

Brother Paul Bednarczyk, CSC, who was elected superior general of the Congregation of Holy Cross July 1, 2022, speaks at the National Religious Vocation Conference in Plano, Texas, November 1, 2012.

Congregation of Holy Cross elects first non-priest superior general

Jul 7, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

The Congregation of Holy Cross has elected the Connecticut-born Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., as superior general. He is the first... Read more

Sister Isabela, Sister Roziane, and Sister Mariana Guimaraes.

Three sisters were called to be nuns in the same religious order

Apr 7, 2022

By Natalia Zimbrão

Sister Mariana, Sister Roziane, and Sister Isabela Guimaraes are three blood sisters who embraced their call to religious life in... Read more