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St. Aelred (1110-1167)
Sex and Salvation
Holy Union
Friendship
Lifestyle of the Monks & Sisters
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The Order of St. Aelred exists primarily for the sanctification of its members through mutual encouragement and support.
At the same time, members of the Order are involved in ministries of service to the people beyond the walls of the monastery. The most required ministry is working with people who have felt the sting of rejection by church and society and perceive this as a rejection by God. Reconciling gays and lesbians with God's unconditional love and acceptance is an ever-present ministry. Some members of the Order also work in the areas of addictive problems, such as alcohol, drugs, sexual compulsiveness, smoking, overeating.
Following the example of Metropolitan Community Church, The Order of St. Aelred has joined in restoring the Sacrament of Holy Union which was prevalent in the Church for several centuries. Holy Union is open to same-sex couples who fervently seek to live in loving commitment and desire to make a "public" proclamation of their vows in a sacramental ritual.
In the monastery monks and sisters live a daily life of prayer, study, and work which is described in the following essay by one of the monks, entitled, Our Life Together:
We encourage one another to live the gospel in true friendship.
It involves being a community of people with a calling to set aside parts of our life for prayer, for study, and for works of service. It means living in obedience in accordance with the Rule of the Order.
We are inclusive and ecumenical, and we try to live wholistic lives with the intellectual, physical, spiritual, and emotional components of our humanity in harmony and balance -- thus aiming for an integration of our spirituality and sexuality.
We can actually say with a straight face that we are here because we want to become saints, not plaster statues, but human beings living in love and drawing closer to God.
