The Unknown Vocation: Secular Institutes

[Faustina86]

What is a Secular Institute?  

Catholic Secular Institutes whose members are consecrated for love of the Church and for sanctification of the world.

Members of secular institutes are "in the world and not of the world, but for the world." They live in whatever providential circumstances God gives them, but they wholly consecrate their lives to God through the evangelical counsels of poverty, obedience, and celibate-chastity. They are the newest vocation in the Catholic Church, and many say they are the vocation of the new millennium.

Each secular institute bears the unique charism of its founders and traditions, and each celebrates its "communion" by annual retreats, meetings, common daily prayer, and friendships that evolve quite naturally from living a similar life in God despite differences in profession or work in the world. A web of connectedness grows over time, linking the members to one another inextricably. For all consecrated seculars, the vocation undergirds all they undertake because it becomes the essence of what they are in God’s eye.

Want to know more and see what communities are out there?:

https://secularinstitutes.org

Edited March 11, 2020 by Faustina86

[Guest]

I had a look at my new diocesan website and everything connected to vocations is for religious nuns, sisters and priests and brothers but only in a very general way.  No actual list of religious orders are on their website.  Consecrated Virgins and Secular Institutes do not get a mention at all.  The website is a nightmare to negotiate.

Not impressed at all - saddened.  Not surprised however.

Quite some years ago I did apply to The Leaven, the Carmelite Third Order in Ireland http://theleaven.org.uk/.  We exchanged numerous emails and they invited me to discern further on a distance formation basis providing I made one visit to them in Ireland first -  but there was no way I could afford the trip.

The Leaven is actually a Secular Order within Carmel, not a Third Order of seculars.  They began as forming a religious community and later discerned a call to secular life.

Edited March 12, 2020 by BarbaraTherese

[Faustina86]

That’s a shame Barbara... Where do you live? I’m in the USA, the link on the bottom of my post is the “United States Conference of Secular Institutes” We have roughly 30 institutes in the USA. I am a member of the secular Institute called Caritas Christi, my community has members in over 30 countries and six official languages and it’s a secular institute of pontifical right. Have you heard of it? https://ccinfo.org
 

if you’re still discerning consecrated life and secular institutes I wouldn’t give up. I have heard of “The Leaven” But I don’t think they’ve reached the USA yet...

 

[Guest]

I am in Adelaide South Australia, Adelaide Diocese.  I am no longer discerning and am 74 years of age now and settled in my vocation and very much aware it is my call with Joy and gratitude.  I did discern religious life in my younger years and had two short entrances in religious life pre and post Vatican II.

I have noticed that in the USA you do not seem to be as affected by new age type of thought and theology and you are more traditional than Australia....in the main more or less.  It seems to me that new age type of thought/theology has been a slow, very slow, grasp of Australian Catholicism including religious orders (I am very much tempted to say insidious grasp).  In Australia it has been a sort of follow the 'leader' type of mentality it seems to me, and 'the leader' is what others believe and think.......values of the herd and desiring/needing to belong to the herd. That is why I was not surprised at my first sight of the new diocesan website.  I had not visited the old one for a few years.

I was educated by Dominican nuns pre V2 thankfully and given a pretty sound grasp of basic theology and have never lost my love and exploration of theology - and my family was a very traditional Catholic family that went into a state of shock with V2 - which I never did doubtless due to my Dominican education probably in the main.  Deo Gratius primarily.

[Guest]

I had a look at the Caritas Christi website and it is quite informative: https://www.caritaschristi.cc/

[UndividedlyHis]

I am not really discerning this Vocation (though of course my heart is very open to Jesus and what He in His love has for me!) but I just wanted to drop by and leave a quick comment how much I admire Secular Institutes and everyone living out this beautiful Vocation faithfully for God. I think it requires special people with beautiful hearts for God and His Church and your faith inspires me.  God bless!!

[Faustina86]

4 hours ago, BarbaraTherese said:

I had a look at the Caritas Christi website and it is quite informative: https://www.caritaschristi.cc/

Barbara,

Sounds like you’ve lived a fulfilled life for the lord so far. I could probably learn a lot from you. The USA can be pretty liberal but we do have our traditional Catholics, myself included. Even though the vocation I am discerning is considered a vocation of the new millennium I am very traditional and see the beauty in the traditional orders. But we also need to find new ways to reach people in the heart of the world and to relate to them so I think secular institutes is a beautiful way to do that. And it also made consecrated life a possibility for me as I was born with a rare form cerebral palsy and didn’t think consecrated life could be possible for me. I did a lot of research and a lot of discernment, some trial and error, but eventually I came across Caritas Christi and I felt at home ever since. God willing I will make my first dedication next year. ☺️. Thank you for sharing and checking out Caritas Christi. Many people might feel the call to this form of consecrated life but not know about it which is why I like to share the vocation. 

1 hour ago, UndividedlyHis said:

I am not really discerning this Vocation (though of course my heart is very open to Jesus and what He in His love has for me!) but I just wanted to drop by and leave a quick comment how much I admire Secular Institutes and everyone living out this beautiful Vocation faithfully for God. I think it requires special people with beautiful hearts for God and His Church and your faith inspires me.  God bless!!

Thank you for stopping by and sharing encouragement. Prayers for you and your particular discernment!☺️

Edited March 12, 2020 by Faustina86

[Guest]

Hi Faustina

My post might might have been misleading perhaps I think and my apologies if so.  Congratulations and blessings on your making your dedication next year.

Please do not think that what I am about to write is addressed to you personally, Faustina - it is a general comment and my own opinion re Secular Orders and New Age type of thought and theology.

Personally............

...........I am all for Secular Institutes and think it is a beautiful and holy vocation - a Divinely inspired addition to consecrated life.  I embrace Vatican II, which really was a breath of fresh air for me, I could breathe at last!   I am faithful to The Church and Pope Francis and pray and hope to remain so until death.

New Age type of thinking is complex to explain to me other than it is not Christocentric...but the Church has addressed the issue in a very long document speaking against new age type of thought and theology, and I quote very briefly from it below:  : http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/interelg/documents/rc_pc_interelg_doc_20030203_new-age_en.html#2.3. The fundamental principles of New Age thinking

Quote

 

"Jesus Christ, the Bearer of The Water of Life"

Excerpt: "1.4. The New Age and Catholic Faith

Even if it can be admitted that New Age religiosity in some way responds to the legitimate spiritual longing of human nature, it must be acknowledged that its attempts to do so run counter to Christian revelation. In Western culture in particular, the appeal of “alternative” approaches to spirituality is very strong. On the one hand, new forms of psychological affirmation of the individual have become very popular among Catholics, even in retreat-houses, seminaries and institutes of formation for religious. At the same time there is increasing nostalgia and curiosity for the wisdom and ritual of long ago, which is one of the reasons for the remarkable growth in the popularity of esotericism and gnosticism

 

I do not think that The Church has to fall in line with modern society, rather I think that The Church has to understand/interpret modern society and discern how to respond to it fruitfully with how to draw people to Jesus and His Gospel, His Church:  I agree that we need to find new ways to respond to the world while remaining faithful to Jesus and His Gospel and Church.

"You who know how to read the signs of the weather but cannot read the signs of the times" (Matthew Chapter 16)

 

[UndividedlyHis]

9 hours ago, Faustina86 said:

Thank you for stopping by and sharing encouragement. Prayers for you and your particular discernment!☺️

Thank you so much Faustina for such beautiful encouraging words and prayers! God bless and Mary keep you!

[Faustina86]

9 hours ago, BarbaraTherese said:

Hi Faustina

My post might might have been misleading perhaps I think and my apologies if so.  Congratulations and blessings on your making your dedication next year.

Please do not think that what I am about to write is addressed to you personally, Faustina - it is a general comment and my own opinion re Secular Orders and New Age type of thought and theology.

Personally............

...........I am all for Secular Institutes and think it is a beautiful and holy vocation - a Divinely inspired addition to consecrated life.  I embrace Vatican II, which really was a breath of fresh air for me, I could breathe at last!   I am faithful to The Church and Pope Francis and pray and hope to remain so until death.

New Age type of thinking is complex to explain to me other than it is not Christocentric...but the Church has addressed the issue in a very long document speaking against new age type of thought and theology, and I quote very briefly from it below:  : http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/interelg/documents/rc_pc_interelg_doc_20030203_new-age_en.html#2.3. The fundamental principles of New Age thinking

I do not think that The Church has to fall in line with modern society, rather I think that The Church has to understand/interpret modern society and discern how to respond to it fruitfully with how to draw people to Jesus and His Gospel, His Church:  I agree that we need to find new ways to respond to the world while remaining faithful to Jesus and His Gospel and Church.

"You who know how to read the signs of the weather but cannot read the signs of the times" (Matthew Chapter 16)

 

Don’t worry I’m not taking anything you’re trying to share personal. Thank you for explaining more in depth. There has been all different kinds of religious heresy like this new age stuff you’re explaining that the church has a had to address for years since the beginning so it doesn’t surprise me. But thanks for sharing I have never heard of this.☺️

 

Edited March 13, 2020 by Faustina86

[Faustina86]

What Being a Member in a Secular Institute Looks Like:

 

Three conditions are necessary for a secular institute to exist:

Apostolate;

Consecration;

Secularity.

Apostolate: is the work every Christian must realize to establish the Kingdom of God. Having encountered the love of Jesus Christ, every baptized person wishes that everyone could experience conversion that takes hold of one’s whole life. For a secular institute member, this conscience is even greater and becomes life’s raison d’être.

Consecration: is the act through which a secular institute member makes the total giving of oneself to the Lord in view of the mission. By answering a personal calling from the Lord, through the means of consecration, the member choses the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience as the most excellent way to live out his gift to God. Every baptized person is called to live out the evangelical counsels since the Gospel is for everyone. Nevertheless, some persons decide to take a more definite step and ask the Church to recognize this gift.

Secularity: is the fact of living in the world, with the world, to reveal God present. By exercising one’s profession, accepting family, professional, civic and social responsibilities, a secular institute member discovers the world as a mission field.

This novelty in the Church gives a chance to laypersons to live out the Gospel’s radicalness in the world, while exercising their profession and being attentive to respond to apostolic opportunities that daily life brings.

In the midst of the world that advances oftentimes without reference to God, secular institute members want to unite their profound consecration to God and their presence to the world. They commit themselves to vows: chastity: in a celibate lifestyle; to a life of poverty: that wants to be a path to share with the poor and an invitation to offer their time, friendship and professionalism to those most in need; to a life of obedience that renders them more attentive to the calls of the Spirit in life’s different moments.

This way, living in the world, with the world, for the world, transforming it from the inside as leaven, salt and light, men and women members of secular institutes accept with generosity the mission Christ confided to them: to spread the Gospel to the four corners of the earth.

 

[Faustina86]

Caritas Christi Consecrated Secular Institute of Pontifical Right-USA 
 

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=942105389473207&id=644359102581172

[Guest]

bump

[Faustina86]

6 minutes ago, BarbaraTherese said:

bump

Bump? Lol ☺️

[Faustina86]

Our Daily Community Prayer:

 

Caritas Christi 

Prayer For The Church 

I come before you my God, to renew the promises I made at my dedication and to realize afresh the meaning of my vocation. My life is Yours. May it be spent in responding wholeheartedly to Your love and in giving You glory by my service in Your Church.

My prayer Lord, for Your Church is that she may realize the designs of Your heart and show forth Your presence among us. Take from me whatever You please, so it may serve our Holy Father, Pope___that, in Your Mystical Body, he may accomplish Your work in truth and fulfill the task that You have committed to him. 

I pray also for my Bishop___and for all Your priests; and I ask that they may be holy so that all who come in contact with them may love You more.

I humbly commit to You all those I meet in my daily life, those to whom I should be Your apostle and witness. Be pleased to make up for, and to supply on their behalf, my omissions, failures and carelessness, so that in spite of me the fire You came to cast on earth may everywhere be kindled. 

Lastly I pray for all the souls who are united to me by the bonds of the same promises, and for all those who sanctify themselves and dedicate themselves to the spread of Your Kingdom in the world, so that together we may accomplish Your work and be Your disciples and witnesses.

Above all I give myself to You, with all that I am, with all that I have and with all that is in my power to give, so that in me and through me Your well may be done.

I ask all this through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, so that after her example all my life may be spent for Your Church in loving You and making You loved, Who spent Yourself for love of us. Amen.

12 minutes ago, Faustina86 said:

Our Daily Community Prayer:

 

Caritas Christi 

Prayer For The Church 

I come before you my God, to renew the promises I made at my dedication and to realize afresh the meaning of my vocation. My life is Yours. May it be spent in responding wholeheartedly to Your love and in giving You glory by my service in Your Church.

My prayer Lord, for Your Church is that she may realize the designs of Your heart and show forth Your presence among us. Take from me whatever You please, so it may serve our Holy Father, Pope___that, in Your Mystical Body, he may accomplish Your work in truth and fulfill the task that You have committed to him. 

I pray also for my Bishop___and for all Your priests; and I ask that they may be holy so that all who come in contact with them may love You more.

I humbly commit to You all those I meet in my daily life, those to whom I should be Your apostle and witness. Be pleased to make up for, and to supply on their behalf, my omissions, failures and carelessness, so that in spite of me the fire You came to cast on earth may everywhere be kindled. 

Lastly I pray for all the souls who are united to me by the bonds of the same promises, and for all those who sanctify themselves and dedicate themselves to the spread of Your Kingdom in the world, so that together we may accomplish Your work and be Your disciples and witnesses.

Above all I give myself to You, with all that I am, with all that I have and with all that is in my power to give, so that in me and through me Your will may be done.

I ask all this through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, so that after her example all my life may be spent for Your Church in loving You and making You loved, Who spent Yourself for love of us. Amen.

[OneHeart]

On 3/11/2020 at 5:53 PM, BarbaraTherese said:

I had a look at my new diocesan website and everything connected to vocations is for religious nuns, sisters and priests and brothers but only in a very general way.  No actual list of religious orders are on their website.  Consecrated Virgins and Secular Institutes do not get a mention at all.  The website is a nightmare to negotiate.

Not impressed at all - saddened.  Not surprised however.

Quite some years ago I did apply to The Leaven, the Carmelite Third Order in Ireland http://theleaven.org.uk/.  We exchanged numerous emails and they invited me to discern further on a distance formation basis providing I made one visit to them in Ireland first -  but there was no way I could afford the trip.

The Leaven is actually a Secular Order within Carmel, not a Third Order of seculars.  They began as forming a religious community and later discerned a call to secular life.

I'm discerning secular institutes. I'm a secular Carmelite (fully professed OCDS) and when I entered, I thought that because there is an optional vow, that it was a consecration.  I was totally excited because for circumstantial reasons I can't enter a community. I thought yay! God remberede and I have a vocation. I was so excited.

 But it's not consecration. But by the time I figured that out I was already way into formation so I decided to stay. I love Carmel,and half a loaf is better than none. But I want to give my whole self and be received.  I explained to my President about my disappointment at not being able to be consecrated, but wasn't directed to Secular Institutes.  I discerned religious life for a bit and am very drawn to it. I want to be consecrated to God alone.  But community life isn't essential, and because of circumstances I have to stay "in the world". The circumstances are, I believe, the Lord's call on my life. So although I visited a community and really liked it, and they liked me, I've decided I have to stay in the world. Then I learned about Institutes just recently. And my SP had me draw up a rule of life for now, but it's private and I sense there is more.

Then I heard about the Leaven last month!. I'm thinking about contacting them.

 I've always been drawn to St.Catherine of Sienna and I thought OCSD was like what she did.  And St. Margaret of Cortona.  Consecration --- like being a nun but on your own. I would like to wear a habit too but if God choses to hide me, then ok.

I contacted the President or someone at the USA secular institutes but she hasn't responded to me.

I'm interested in consecration with a carmelite contemplative charism.  Are there others besides the Leaven?  I'm in USA.  I can afford travel.  Prayer and penance. Silence and intercession. Union with God. 

Can I get more information?

Jesus loves us!

 

[Faustina86]

17 minutes ago, OneHeart said:

I'm discerning secular institutes. I'm a secular Carmelite (fully professed OCDS) and when I entered, I thought that because there is an optional vow, that it was a consecration.  I was totally excited because for circumstantial reasons I can't enter a community. I thought yay! God remberede and I have a vocation. I was so excited.

 But it's not consecration. But by the time I figured that out I was already way into formation so I decided to stay. I love Carmel,and half a loaf is better than none. But I want to give my whole self and be received.  I explained to my President about my disappointment at not being able to be consecrated, but wasn't directed to Secular Institutes.  I discerned religious life for a bit and am very drawn to it. I want to be consecrated to God alone.  But community life isn't essential, and because of circumstances I have to stay "in the world". The circumstances are, I believe, the Lord's call on my life. So although I visited a community and really liked it, and they liked me, I've decided I have to stay in the world. Then I learned about Institutes just recently. And my SP had me draw up a rule of life for now, but it's private and I sense there is more.

Then I heard about the Leaven last month!. I'm thinking about contacting them.

 I've always been drawn to St.Catherine of Sienna and I thought OCSD was like what she did.  And St. Margaret of Cortona.  Consecration --- like being a nun but on your own. I would like to wear a habit too but if God choses to hide me, then ok.

I contacted the President or someone at the USA secular institutes but she hasn't responded to me.

I'm interested in consecration with a carmelite contemplative charism.  Are there others besides the Leaven?  I'm in USA.  I can afford travel.  Prayer and penance. Silence and intercession. Union with God. 

Can I get more information?

Jesus loves us!

 

Hi OneHeart,

What an interesting and inspiring journey you have been on so far in discerning your vocation. I went through a similar discernment with the Secular Carmelites and was curious  about the vow aspect myself  but discerned out when I was an aspirant because I still felt called to Consecrated Life. At the same time I came across my community Caritas Christi Secular Institute of Pontifical Right and started discerning with them. I went through a nine month preparation formation, I applied found out 2 months later I was accepted and then was officially received into the community November 1, 2018. Next year around this time I will be asking to take my first dedication/vows. So I am still experiencing my journey and discernment. One of the things I want to share about my community is that because we aren’t tied to a particular spirituality we can pray in whatever Catholic spirituality we feel called to. So even though we are not a Carmelite order you could still be a third order Carmelite and take vows in Caritas Christi our constitutions would not conflict with your way of life as a secular Carmelite . One of our members is actually a Benedictine Oblate. So if you would like to know more about my particular secular Institute here is our website. 
https://ccinfo.org

Here is the directory of the secular institutes in the USA I’m not sure where you’re from. But if you’re curious about learning more about a particular secular institute I would suggest you contact them directly. 
 https://secularinstitutes.org/institute-directory/

if you have any specific questions I’d be happy to answer them if I’m able to  

 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, OneHeart said:

I'm discerning secular institutes. I'm a secular Carmelite (fully professed OCDS) and when I entered, I thought that because there is an optional vow, that it was a consecration.  I was totally excited because for circumstantial reasons I can't enter a community. I thought yay! God remberede and I have a vocation. I was so excited.

 But it's not consecration. But by the time I figured that out I was already way into formation so I decided to stay. I love Carmel,and half a loaf is better than none. But I want to give my whole self and be received.  I explained to my President about my disappointment at not being able to be consecrated, but wasn't directed to Secular Institutes.  I discerned religious life for a bit and am very drawn to it. I want to be consecrated to God alone.  But community life isn't essential, and because of circumstances I have to stay "in the world". The circumstances are, I believe, the Lord's call on my life. So although I visited a community and really liked it, and they liked me, I've decided I have to stay in the world. Then I learned about Institutes just recently. And my SP had me draw up a rule of life for now, but it's private and I sense there is more.

Then I heard about the Leaven last month!. I'm thinking about contacting them.

 I've always been drawn to St.Catherine of Sienna and I thought OCSD was like what she did.  And St. Margaret of Cortona.  Consecration --- like being a nun but on your own. I would like to wear a habit too but if God choses to hide me, then ok.

I contacted the President or someone at the USA secular institutes but she hasn't responded to me.

I'm interested in consecration with a carmelite contemplative charism.  Are there others besides the Leaven?  I'm in USA.  I can afford travel.  Prayer and penance. Silence and intercession. Union with God. 

Can I get more information?

Jesus loves us!

 

I am in Australia, so not much help to you.  And as I said before, our diocesan website has nothing at all about vocations as it did in the old website.

That I am aware of only, some secular institutes do have a consecration (public vows) rather than a self dedication in a private vow.  

The following quotation comes from Fr. Hardon who is now deceased.  He was a highly respected Cathollic author.  His biography is HERE

 

Quote

 

http://www.therealpresence.org/archives/Religious_Life/Religious_Life_033.htm   But as the Church developed, there appeared three types of Christian perfection which have not only survived to the present day but will continue until the end of time. In general, they are, first, the strictly monastic. It may be heremetical, but that is rare; there are very few hermits in the Roman Catholic Church. The monastic form has many variants. The cloistered communities would qualify under that general rubric. Second, apostolic communities, where they engage in some kind of apostolic work which carries their efforts, even if not the persons, outside of their own community life. And third, secular institutes.

There is a fourth category contemplated by the Holy See in anticipation of the new Code of Canon Law, so that something may be done for the thousands of women who seem not to want religious life yet seem to want to live especially dedicated lives in the Church. The secular institutes are a recent development of the Catholic Church. If there would be a fourth category, it would be some form of what we now call “secular institutes,” but the implications still have to be worked out.

 

Re the above fourth category, I do not know if it is still being considered or not.  At this point in time and for some years now, there is lot of focus on the scandals in The Church and what is the path ahead.

I am under private vows and hold that it is not the consecration in religious life so much that makes for holiness, it is living out the three vows and God's Will within religious life.  I have made private vows of the evangelical counsel - must be forty years ago now.  My priest religious SD asked the Archbishop if I could have a Home Mass for the renewing of the vows.  The Archbishop agreed.  The Archbishop did comment "This is a good way to do it", whatever that might mean. That Mass was overwhelmingly humbling and emotional for me and I felt then and it continues up to today that I have given my whole self and life to Jesus.

ONe does not make a public consecration nor private vows and that is it, it is the title of the first chapter in a journey that will be lifelong.  Discernment and living out one's vows will be lifelong.

But my awareness at that Home Mass might be a private reaction and conviction - not necessarily for all.  I would not know.  Private vows for me has a particular aspect not available in religious life to my knowledge.  There is no recognition, respect nor big celebrations at milestones in one's journey, no habit, no religious rituals.  The private commitment for life is for Jesus alone and in a human sense it has no human type reward.  That is not to state that those in religious life do not live the life for Him and only Him.  I think many probably do.

I hope you will find what you are seeking and you will if you remain open to what God Wills, not on what you want.  The two are not necessarily compatible and I found that out in my many years of living the lifestyle I do - and my long journey of discernment which continues each day in discerning God's Will and in the renewing daily of commitment, come what may.  I also had to write my own rule of life.

God's Blessings on your journey.

[underatree]

I know a priest associated with this secular institute (Carmelite spirituality): http://www.notredamedevie.org/en/

I think it’s still mostly in French-speaking countries but he said they’ve been expanding over the past few years. I have a book by their founder, who was a Carmelite friar and who I think is now a Blessed. Very beautiful spirituality and life, certainly worth a look.

[Faustina86]

4 minutes ago, underatree said:

I know a priest associated with this secular institute (Carmelite spirituality): http://www.notredamedevie.org/en/

I think it’s still mostly in French-speaking countries but he said they’ve been expanding over the past few years. I have a book by their founder, who was a Carmelite friar and who I think is now a Blessed. Very beautiful spirituality and life, certainly worth a look.

Hi undertree,

Thanks for sharing! I have actually heard of that secular Institute. I love to learn about other religious communities and secular institutes so I can better share information with other discerners. As I am already a part of a secular institute myself. But this will be helpful for anyone interested in Carmelite secular institutes. There is a book called “Single For a Greater Purpose” and it talks about dedicated singleness which is not a form of consecrated life but it is a vocation in the church. Which the book references some religious orders and secular institutes which the book mentions in passing my community Notre Dame De vie and the Schoenstatt Movement. I think the book is writing about what is BarbaraTherese was talking about a form of a private vow for anyone interested in learning more about it.