PART THIRD: ON THE RELIGIOUS STATE

1147. • Besides the way of the commandments, through which all men must tend to obtaining eternal salvation, there is given the way of counsels or of special perfection, which is of mere counsel, and is proposed by God Himself to only a few chosen, who, bidding farewell to the world, lead life in monasteries.

Christ Himself teaches us this double way in many places of the Gospel; for example, Matt. 19. 17, He says to the young man inquiring about the way of salvation: If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. But to the same one, asking what was still lacking to him, He responds in v. 21: If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.

There is also present a certain third way, middle between each preceding one, namely the way of chastity, or continence preserved in the world.

Hence a triple class of men is established by reason of the means proposed for obtaining God, or a triple state of life, namely the state 1° of matrimony; 2° of celibacy; 3° of religious life. Hence also there is a triple grade of perfection; for celibacy, as St. Paul declared,¹ and the Council of Trent defined,² is more perfect than the matrimonial state; but religious life is, as is clear, the most perfect of all. The priestly state, although in dignity it is the most excellent of all, nevertheless by reason of perfection yields by far to religious life. But as God is wonderful in His saints, so also is He wonderful in the various modes by which He advances them to sanctity.

It must be treated 1° concerning those things which are common to all Religious; 2° concerning those things which are proper to Religious who profess solemn vows; 3° concerning those things which are peculiar to Nuns; 4° concerning the privileges of Regulars; 5° concerning Regulars dispersed by force; 6° concerning the condition of Regulars in our United States.