SISTERS TODAY - SISTERS TODAY December 1966 Volume 38 Number 4 - Religious Life and the Modern World

Sep 28, 2026

Sisters Today, December 1966, Volume 38, Number 4, presents a themed issue on the role of the religious woman in the Church and in contemporary life. The centerpiece article by Robert J. Kruse, C.S.C., examines religious identity in the post-conciliar sixties, interpreting modern secularization, shifting worldviews, and the resulting uncertainty within religious communities. The issue also includes contributions and literary features, such as examinations of cloister symbolism, consecrated virginity, readiness, and poems, followed by book reviews and publishing and censorship information.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages44

Reading Time1 h 8 min

AccessFree to download

SISTERS TODAY

Religious Life and the Modern World

Book Reviews

REGIONAL RESIDENCE 7225 Lahser Road BIRMINGHAM,MICH.48010 SISTERS TODDECEMBER,1966 # SISTERS TODAY TO EXPLORE THE ROLE OF THE RELIGIOUS WOMANIN THE CHURCH IN OUR TIME DECEMBER 1966 VOLUME 38NUMBER 4 # Religious Life and the Modern World 105Robert J.Kruse,C.S.C. Cloister Grill:Ambiguous Symbol 118Mother Mary Philomena,P.C.C. Consecrated Virginity 124Columban Browning,C.P. Readiness to Receive 134Mother M.Claudia,I.H.M. Poems 136 Sister M.Simeon,O.P.Daniel RogersSister Seana,S.S.J. # Book Reviews 138 NIHIL OBSTAT:Reino!d Theisen,O.S.B.,Censor Deputatus IMPRIMATUR:Peter W.Bartholome,D.D.,Episcopus Sancti Clodoaldi Published monthly by monks of Saint John's Abbey,Collegeville,Minnesota.Editor:Rev.Ronald Roloff,O.S.B.Book Review Editor:Rev.Myron Kasprick,O.S.B.Cover Design:Rev.Cajetan Palluck,O.S.B.Indexed in the CatholicPeriodical Index. Address all correspondence to Sisters Today,Saint John's Abbey,Collegeville,Minnesota,56321.(Checks payable to Sisters Today.)All manuscripts shouldbe accompanied by a self-addressed envelope and postage. 1 year $2.50;2 years $4.00;single copy 25 cents.Sterling area (exceptAustralia):1 year 18s;2 years 29s;single copy 1s 11d.Australia:1 year23s;2 years 37s;single copy 2s3d.Agent for India:Asian Trading Cor-poration,Post Box No.1505,Bombay-1.Printed by Sentinel Publishing Com-pany,413 East St.Germain Street,Saint Cloud,Minnesota.(Do not sendmail to this address.)Second Class postage paid at Saint Cloud,Minnesota. # Religious Life and the Modern World ROBERT J.KRUSE,C.S.C. At the outset of these reflections on religious life in the post-conciliar sixties it seems helpful to sketch in bold strokes a kind ofcaricature of the situation which confronts us.A caricature,for allits obvious limitations and exaggerations,is the option most availableto us in attempting to grapple honestly but briefly with the con-temporary challenge.With this short apology for defense I submitthat religious communities today are undergoing an identity crisis,and that the cause of the crisis lies in the conception of the world—the secular order—which has in recent years marshalled suchimpressive and sympathetic,albeit sometimes confusing,presscoverage. The remotest monastery in the most inaccessible hinterland bynow has become aware of the"secularization"of Christianity.Andthe world that the religious departed in the name of Christianityhas lately emerged as a world charged with opportunity—again inthe name of Christianity.Transcendent and eternal values areminimized when they are not discarded outright,while earthly andtemporal values,when they are not already canonized,are at leastregarded as evolving towards canonization.And the Christian'smission,we are assured,is to accelerate the evolution.In a word,incarnational insights are lime-lighted,while eschatological visionis increasingly overshadowed.An other-worldly orientation,for solong the rationale of many structures of religious life,stands con-victed of a variety of abuses.Preoccupation with this world,forso long suspect in religious communities,stands exonerated of themany offenses which formerly accused it.In such a state of affairsthat religious should be seized by uncertainty is not surprising.Andthe very assurance—almost a self-righteous assurance—with whichthey traditionally confronted the world,now serves them in poorstead as the grounds for that assurance seem to be rapidly eroding. Admittedly the above sketch is distorted.At the same time itmay serve to capture the contemporary mood.In fact,it seems thattwo attitudes should characterize religious as_they confront thewelter of unsettling viewpoints currently aired.First,this is no time for an indiscriminating acquiescence in every opinion that temporarilycreates a stir.Quite the contrary.Even while gladly acknowledgingthe authentic contributions to our religious understanding whichthe Christian "secularists"have made(I am thinking of men likeDietrich Bonhoeffer,Bishop R

FAQs

What theme does the December 1966 issue of Sisters Today focus on?

It explores the role of the religious woman in the Church in our time, framed within the broader discussion of religious life and the modern world.

What argument does Robert J. Kruse, C.S.C., make about religious communities in the sixties?

He describes an identity crisis, attributing it to the secular order’s changing conception of the world and the resulting erosion of traditional assurances.

What additional sections are included besides the main article?

The issue lists poems, contributions related to religious life, and a Book Reviews section, along with publication, censorship, and subscription details.

Sep 28, 2026

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