Associate to a Religious Order

[DJgang]

Maybe I should already know this, but…

I know in the Episcopal Church, you can become an Associate Member to some Religious Orders. You become involved in their prayer schedule so to speak, you may write a Rule of Life for yourself, the sisters pray for you as well, I’m assuming that you could receive spiritual direction from them. The Order may have retreats, special events for Associates, etc.

Is there anything like this in the Catholic church?

 

[puzzleannie]

search this forum or spirituality under seculars, oblates, third orders, lay associates etc. Yes most religious orders have some association for lay persons to participate in their spirituality. There are Benedictine monasteries in the Anglican Church, for instance, which have Oblates, and our own (Catholic) Benedictine house, with which I am an oblate, has two Episcopalian couples who are Oblates. There are Secular Franciscans, Dominican Tertiaries, and so forth. Jesuits have a lay volunteer corps. you could also search under the name of various religious orders.

for a description of living the Rule of St. Benedict in daily life in the world as an Oblate, see A Life-Giving Way be Esther DeWaal, and another book by Kathleen Norris (reviewed here in a recent thread, I forget its name).

 

[jellenc]

The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, La Crosse, Wis., (www.fspa.org) offer two ways to affiliate with the community. Prayer affiliation: offering orientation where candidates reflect upon their prayer. Covenant Affiliation: for those seeking to integrate prayer, community and ministry in a Franciscan lifestyle.

Affiliation is open to everyone baptized and active in the Christian faith.

 

[DJgang]

Thank you so much for your replies, I appreciate it!