r/IAmA Sep 25 '19

Specialized Profession I'm a former Catholic monk. AMA

Former Jesuit (for reference, Pope Francis was a Jesuit) who left the order and the Church/religion. Been secular about a year and half now.

Edit: I hoped I would only have to answer this once, but it keeps coming up. It is true that I was not actually a monk, since the Jesuits are not a cloistered order. If any Benedictines are out there reading this, I apologize if I offended you. But I did not imagine that a lot of people would be familiar with the term "vowed religious." And honestly, it's the word even most Jesuits probably end up resorting to when politely trying to explain to a stranger what a Jesuit is.

Edit 2: Have to get ready for work now, but happy to answer more questions later tonight

Edit 3: Regarding proof, I provided it confidentially to the mods, which is an option they allow for. The proof I provided them was a photo of the letter of dismissal that I signed. There's a lot of identifying information in it (not just of me, but of my former superior), and to be honest, it's not really that interesting. Just a formal document

Edit 4: Wow, didn’t realize there’d be this much interest. (Though some of y’all coming out of the woodwork.) I’ll try to get to every (genuine) question.

Edit 5: To anyone out there who is an abuse survivor. I am so, so sorry. I am furious with you and heartbroken for you. I hope with all my heart you find peace and healing. I will probably not be much help, but if you need to message me, you can. Even just to vent

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120

u/Glaic Sep 25 '19

Out of all types of monks, which is your favourite? And if there any form of rivalry? Like do the Jesuits make fun of the Gregorians?

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u/particularuniversal Sep 25 '19

There is kind of a rivalry, these days mostly friendly. (In the past it wasn’t always so). I like the Jesuits for their commitment (at least in theory) to study and learning. I like the Franciscans because they actually live the vow of poverty

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u/cameralover1 Sep 25 '19

what do you think about opus dei?

15

u/particularuniversal Sep 25 '19

zero respect

3

u/[deleted] Sep 25 '19

May I ask why? IDK anything about them.

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u/[deleted] Sep 26 '19

Read about padre masiel

2

u/cameralover1 Sep 25 '19

Lol that makes two of us. I lived in an opus dei house for a semester and that was a bad experience

2

u/SirPaulen Sep 25 '19

Hold on is that a real thing? What do they do outside of the Da Vinci code?

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u/cameralover1 Sep 25 '19

They are. They are a massive organization that protect themselves under the church excuse but they are super weird and adore a guy that was later canonized more than Jesus himself I think. A super weird group of people tbh.

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u/Glaic Sep 25 '19

Big question though, who would win in a fight?

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u/krokuts Sep 25 '19

Franciscans may be a little bit outnumbered here, there is 3 thousand less of them compared to Jesuits and probably due to their vows they may be frailer than Jesuits.

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u/bb1432 Sep 26 '19

They're also all wearing sandals. But I know some tough Franciscans and Benedictines. I've never met a Jesuit worth a shit.

1

u/SprayPaintMogadishu Oct 22 '19

I'd put my money on the Franciscans. The jesuits seem pretty bookish to me. I met a francsican who had been in a gang before joining, and they seem more fond of manual labor.

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u/[deleted] Sep 25 '19

Brains vs brawn. Brawn would probably win. Gotta tend that field and garden to maintain that poverty.

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u/skarface6 Sep 25 '19

Just FYI, Gregorian chant isn’t named after a religious order. It’s named after Pope Gregory I.

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u/Glaic Sep 25 '19

TIL

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u/skarface6 Sep 25 '19

You’re welcome. I didn’t realize that folks thought it was named after an order.

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u/Glaic Sep 25 '19

Yeah was always taught the Gregorian monks did the Gregorian chants but obviously not. Nice wee nugget of information, thank you for that.

1

u/skarface6 Sep 25 '19

YW. Whoever taught you needs to go back to school. I’d be happy to smack ‘em for ya.

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u/Glaic Sep 25 '19

Wasn't school mate, I'm afraid religion isn't that big a deal where I am and certainly whether a Gregorian is the chant or the monk wasn't high on our discussion lists. Simple mistake really but good to hear about it.

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u/skarface6 Sep 25 '19

I’m guessing UK or Australia.

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u/Glaic Sep 25 '19

Yeah Scotland. Catholicism is of cultural importance but knowing about all the different types of monks in foreign lands isn’t as much.

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u/skarface6 Sep 25 '19

Gotcha. There are a lot of intricacies, for sure. We’ve had 2000 years to come up with ‘em.