Overview of Different Spiritualities & Forms of Consecrated Life Donuts & Doctrine February 15 & April 26, 2015
Prayer for the Year of Consecrated Life O God, throughout the ages you have called women and men to pursue lives of perfect charity through the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. During this Year of Consecrated Life, we give you thanks for these courageous witnesses of Faith and models of inspiration. Their pursuit of holy lives teaches us to make a more perfect offering of ourselves to you. Continue to enrich your Church by calling forth sons and daughters who, having found the pearl of great price, treasure the Kingdom of Heaven above all things. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Chronology of Some of the More Commonly Known Religious Orders Benedictines St. Benedict of Nursia (529) Carthusians St. Bruno (1084) Cistercians Various monks (1098) Norbertines St. Norbert (1120) Carmelites Unknown (late 1100s ) Franciscans St. Francis of Assisi (1209) Pauline Father Bl. Eusebius of Esztergom (1215) Dominicans St. Dominic (1216) Augustinians Various (1243) Ursulines St. Angela Merici (1535) Jesuits St. Ignatius of Loyola (1540) Visitation Sisters St. Jane Francis de Chantal (1610) Vincentians St. Vincent de Paul (1625) Sisters of Saint Joseph Six women (1650) Trappists ( branch of Cistercians) Unknown (1664) Passionists St. Paul of the Cross (1725) Redemptorists St. Alphonsus Liguori (1732) Salesians St. John Bosco (1873) Missionaries of Charity Bl. Mother Teresa (1950)
Where Did They Start? Country of Original Foundation Italy France Palestine Hungary Spain India Benedictines Carthusians Carmelites Pauline Fathers Jesuits Missionaries of Charity Franciscans Augustinians Ursulines Passionists Redemptorists Salesians Cistercians Norbertines Dominicans Visitation Sisters Sisters of St. Joseph Trappists
Types of Religious Institutions Canons Regular Clerical state & sings the liturgy of the hours in choir & may run parish-life apostolates, lives in community Monastic Live in seclusion from the world and lives asceticism Eremitical (solitary) Cenobitical (lived in community) Mendicant Depend directly on charity for their livelihood, live and pray in common, may have a more active apostolate Clerics Regular Made up of priests who are also vowed religious and who usually have a more active apostolate *Some families of a particular order may have more than one type of institution within their ranks.
Type of Religious Institution Canons Regular Monastic Orders Mendicant Orders Clerics Regular Norbertines Benedictines Dominicans Jesuits Cistercians Franciscans Fathers of Mercy Trappists Augustinians Salesians Carthusians Carmelites Passionists Pauline Fathers Ursulines Visitation Sisters Missionaries of Charity Sisters of Saint Joseph Vincentians Redemptorists
Process of Approval of a New Order Permission from proper department in the Roman Curia (e.g. the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life) Approval of the Ordinary (usually the bishop) of the diocese of origin ecclesiastical institution of diocesan right Decretum laudis Decree of Praise ecclesiastical institution of pontifical right Final approval of the constitutions
What Is a Charism? A specific way of living out authentic, Christian spirituality Catechism #2684 Way of life approved by the Church, that if followed will guide the person living that life to saintly perfection
What s a Charism? A charism is a gift from God to the Church for the world. With regard to a Religious Order, the term refers to the gift which God gives to an individual or group to inspire the founding of a new religious family within the Church. This gift is handed down through the centuries and enriched by all who are called to live it. The charism of each religious family is the particular way in which its members are called to follow Christ. Since all Christians follow Christ, the charisms will have many elements in common, but the way in which these elements are emphasized gives each religious group its unique feel. All religious families have been asked by the Church to rediscover their original founding charism and make it come alive in each culture and in every age.
Large Group Discussion From your own experience, what would you identify as the MAJOR charism of the communities listed previously? How is that charism connected to the apostolate in which that community engages?
What s in the Constitutions? With Benedict, the concept of Rule developed into a particular way of life that held the promise of continuity into the distant future. Yet the continuity was more psychological than juridical. Constitutions spell out the purpose of the religious institute It includes the types of apostolates the institute will focus on, in keeping with that purpose Objectively and juridically, the constitutions of a religious community are the basic principles on which the community is to operate: Rules are the directives for implementing these principles; Customs are generally the quasi-prescriptive norms that differ from region to region (or province to province) within a single large community. Taken from Fr. Hardon s American Religious Life in Historical Perspective
Steps in Formation Process Aspirancy Postulancy Novitiate Temporal Vows Perpetual Vows
Secular Institutes in the USA Institute For Founded Purpose Apostolic Oblates Women 1947 Apostolic holiness Apostolic Sodales Priests 1992 Priestly holiness & brotherhood Caritas Christi Women 1937 Contemplative apostolic laywomen Catechists of the Heart of Jesus Company of St. Paul Women 1940 Religious instruction Priests, men, & women 1920 Sanctification of professional work Crusaders of St. Mary Men 1960 Formation of young people Don Bosco Volunteers Women 1978 A variety of apostolates Family of Mary of the Visitation Father Kolbe Missionaries of the Immaculata Handmaids of Divine Mercy Women 1976 Help people protect their faith Women 1954 Evangelization, veneration of Mary Women 1951 To promote riches, graces, vital life stream of Divine Mercy
Secular Institutes in the USA Institute For Founded Purpose Institute of the Heart of Jesus Institute of the Heart of Jesus Institute of the Heart of Jesus Priests 1791 Diocesan priestly life Men 1791 Consecrate to God through evangelical vows, prayer, and fraternal discernment accountability Women 1791 Live Gospel radically Jesus Caritas Fraternity Women 1952 In the tradition of Charles de Foucauld Lay Missionaries of the Passion Lay Missionaries of the Passion Men 1980 Promise to live the spirit of the Passion of our Lord Women 1980 Transform the world Madonna della Strada Women 1936 Christianize secular world Mission of Our Lady of Bethany Women 1948 Love the rejected
Secular Institutes in the USA Institute For Founded Purpose Missionaries of the Kingship of Christ Missionaries of the Kingship of Christ Notre-Dame de Vie Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate Women 1919 Witness Gospel values Men 1928 Reign of Christ Women, men & priests 1932 Primacy of spiritual in world (spirit of Carmel) Women 1952 Live charity of Christ Opus Spiritus Sancti Priests, deacons 1950 For a new Pentecost Pius X Men 1940 Serves particular apostolate of institute Schoenstatt Fathers Priests 1988 To promote Schoenstatt Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary Women 1926 Marian, renewal of society DeSales Secular Institute Women 1964 Personal sanctification, parish apostolates
Secular Institutes in the USA Institute For Founded Purpose Servite Secular Institute Women 1947 Contemplation and service Servitium Christi Women 1952 Live mystery of Eucharist Voluntas Dei Institute Priests, men, married couples 1958 Serve the Church everywhere Information taken from: www.secularinstitutes.org
Examples of Societies of Apostolic Life Apostles of the Interior Life Bethlehem Mission Society Companions of the Cross Congregation of Jesus and Mary - The Eudists Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul Glenmary Home Missioners Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest Institute of the Good Shepherd Maryknoll Missionaries of the Precious Blood Oratory of Saint Phillip Neri Paulist Fathers PIME Missisonaries Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter Priestly Fraternity of the Missionaries of St.Charles Borromeo Sisters of Social Service Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Society of Saint-Sulpice Society of the Catholic Apostolate Sodalitium Christianae Vitae Missionary Society of St. Thomas the Apostle
Consecrated Virgins Central elements of consecrated virginity From the Code of Canon Law: The virgin is consecrated to God by the diocesan Bishop according to a rite approved by the church. [Catechism of the Catholic Church, 922-924] She is betrothed mystically to Christ and dedicated to the service of the church. She enters a public state of consecrated life in the Church. She lives her life individually, under the direction of the diocesan Bishop. Information taken from: consecratedvirgins.org
Consecrated Virgins Central elements of consecrated virginity From the Rite of Consecration to a Life of Virginity: The consecrated virgin is constituted a sacred person in the Church. [Introduction, No. 1] No particular service or spirituality is imposed; the consecrated virgin's time is spent in works of penance and of mercy, in apostolic activity, and in prayer, in accord with her state of life and spiritual gifts. [No. 2] She is strongly advised to recite the Liturgy of the Hours daily, and is committed to praying Morning and Evening Prayer. [No.2] Her life is one of perpetual virginity. [No.5] Information taken from: consecratedvirgins.org
Consecrated Virgins Central elements of consecrated virginity Secular State: The consecrated virgin remains in the secular state, providing completely for her own material needs, medical care, and retirement. At no time is the diocese financially responsible for her. [Sr. Sharon Holland, Consecrated Virgins for Today's Church, 1998, as printed in Consecrated Life, Vol. 24, No.2, pp. 257-75] Information taken from: consecratedvirgins.org
Consecrated Virgins Central elements of consecrated virginity The consecrated virgin does not wear habit or veil, nor use the title "Sister," nor write "OCV" after her name. She witnesses subtly, but publicly and powerfully, by her virginal life given exclusively to Jesus Christ. Consecrated virgins today wear their ring, but their comportment, modesty in dress, simplicity in lifestyle all betoken their living of the evangelical counsels. Information taken from: consecratedvirgins.org
From Canon Law & the Catechism ALL INSTITUTES OF CONSECRATED LIFE (Cann. 573-606) Can. 603 A hermit is recognized by law as one dedicated to God in consecrated life if he or she publicly professes in the hands of the diocesan bishop the three evangelical counsels, confirmed by vow or other sacred bond, and observes a proper program of living under his direction. Can. 604 1. Similar to these forms of consecrated life is the order of virgins who, expressing the holy resolution of following Christ more closely, are consecrated to God by the diocesan bishop according to the approved liturgical rite, are mystically betrothed to Christ, the Son of God, and are dedicated to the service of the Church.
From Canon Law & the Catechism RELIGIOUS INSTITUTES (Cann. 607-709) Can. 673 The apostolate of all religious consists first of all in the witness of their consecrated life, which they are bound to foster by prayer and penance. SECULAR INSTITUTES (Cann. 710-730) Can. 710 A secular institute is an institute of consecrated life in which the Christian faithful, living in the world, strive for the perfection of charity and seek to contribute to the sanctification of the world, especially from within. Can. 711 The consecration of a member of a secular institute does not change the member s proper canonical condition among the people of God, whether lay or clerical, with due regard for the prescripts of the law which refer to institutes of consecrated life.
From Canon Law & the Catechism SOCIETIES OF APOSTOLIC LIFE (Cann. 731-755) Can. 731 1. Societies of apostolic life resemble institutes of consecrated life; their members, without religious vows, pursue the apostolic purpose proper to the society and, leading a life in common as brothers or sisters according to their proper manner of life, strive for the perfection of charity through the observance of the constitutions. Can. 740 Members must live in a house or in a legitimately established community and must observe common life according to the norm of proper law, which also governs absences from the house or community. CONSECRATED LIFE CCC 914 "The state of life which is constituted by the profession of the evangelical counsels, while not entering into the hierarchical structure of the Church, belongs undeniably to her life and holiness. CCC 915 It is the profession of these counsels, within a permanent state of life recognized by the Church, that characterizes the life consecrated to God.
From Canon Law & the Catechism HERMITS CCC 920 Without always professing the three evangelical counsels publicly, hermits "devote their life to the praise of God and salvation of the world through a stricter separation from the world, the silence of solitude and assiduous prayer and penance." ORDER OF VIRGINS CCC 924 the order of virgins establishes the woman living in the world (or the nun) in prayer, penance, service of her brethren, and apostolic activity, according to the state of life and spiritual gifts given to her. Consecrated virgins can form themselves into associations to observe their commitment more faithfully.
From Canon Law & the Catechism RELIGIOUS LIFE CCC 925 Lived within institutes canonically erected by the Church, it [religious life] is distinguished from other forms of consecrated life by its liturgical character, public profession of the evangelical counsels, fraternal life led in common, and witness given to the union of Christ with the Church. SECULAR INSTITUTES CCC 928 "A secular institute is an institute of consecrated life in which the Christian faithful living in the world strive for the perfection of charity and work for the sanctification of the world especially from within."
From Canon Law & the Catechism SOCIETIES OF APOSTOLIC LIFE CCC 930 Alongside the different forms of consecrated life are "societies of apostolic life whose members without religious vows pursue the particular apostolic purpose of their society, and lead a life as brothers or sisters in common according to a particular manner of life, strive for the perfection of charity through the observance of the constitutions. Among these there are societies in which the members embrace the evangelical counsels" according to their constitutions.
A Vocation Prayer by Bishop David Ricken Almighty God, You have given me the gift of life, and the gift of your Holy Spirit. For these incredible gifts, I thank you. Help me to use them well. Deepen within me a desire to do your will. Help me to hear and answer your call to serve you. Guide me to the vocation you have chosen for me, as a loving spouse and parent in the Sacrament of Marriage, as a single person living a life of generous service, or through a special call to serve you in Religious Life or the Priesthood. May your Holy Spirit keep me always close to your Son Jesus, and help me to say yes to Him with the gift of my life. Amen.