Do We Have Secular Orders like the West Does?

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coptsoldier

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Title says it all. I am considering joining a secular order, and was wondering if we have any in the east.
 
Not really. There’s things like the Assyrian Army or the Lebanese forces. But these are “purely” secular in the sense that they have nothing to do with the Church officialy.
 
Some:

Antonian Order of Saint Ormizda of the Chaldeans (Chaldean)
O.A.O.C.
Code: 
         [Antonin Maronite Order (Maronite)](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dqoam.html)
     O.A.M.
  
 
         [Arrouhbaniat Albassiliat Almoukhalissiat (Melkite Greek)](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dqbs0.html)
     B.S.
     Basilian Salvatorian Order
     
         [Ar-Rouhbanyat Al-Marounyat Liltoubawyat Mariam Al-Azra   (Maronite)](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dqomm.html)
     O.M.M.
     Aleppians
     
         [Basilian Chouerite Order of Saint John the Baptist   (Melkite Greek)](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dqbc0.html)
     B.C.
  
 
         [Basilian Order of Saint Josaphat (Order of St. Basil the   Great)](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dqsbm.html)
     O.S.B.M.
     Order of St. Basil the Great
     
         [Order of Lebanese Maronite (Maronite)](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dqolm.html)
     O.L.M.
     Baladites
     
         [Ordine Basiliano Italiano di Grottaferrata](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dqsbi.html)
     O.S.B.I.
  
 
         [Ordre Basilien Alépin (Melkite Greek)](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dqba0.html)
     B.A.
  
 
         [Ukrainian Studite Monks (Ukrainian)](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dqmsu.html)
     M.S.U.
Holy Dormition Byzantine Franciscans
hdbfm.com/
 
As I am happily married I am not seeking religious order but would like secular order, also can an eastern catholic join a latin rite secular order
 
coptsoldier said:
As I am happily married I am not seeking religious order but would like secular order, also can an eastern catholic join a latin rite secular order
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As long as you are a practicing Catholic you may join any secular order that you like as long as you meet any other criteria they have for membership–afaik, that is. 🙂

I’m not aware of any specifically “Eastern” secular orders, though there might be some I haven’t discovered in my own searching. There ARE Byzantine Franciscans, so you might want to look into the secular Franciscan order, but don’t expect anything particularly “Eastern” there.

Even better, I think, you might also want to look into becoming a Benedictine oblate. There are various avenues available for that. Check this out as a starting place: osb.org/obl/ and osb.org/obl/intro.html St. Benedict is a “Western” saint deeply venerated also in the East. Very much worth looking into, imho.

Before joining any secular order, you need to pray about it, discern whether you are really “called” to do so, investigate it thoroughly, and…again, just my opinion, watch for evidence of too much theological liberalism–but only you will know what that means for you, if anything.

In Christ,
MinM
 
malphono said:
Vico, that entire list (here abbreviated for space considerations) is for RELIGIOUS ORDERS whereas the OP was asking about SECULAR orders.
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Oh, thank you for point that out. So then that should be non consecrated?

I had to look the terms up.
  • **religious institute (consecrated life) - monastics, mendicants, canons regular, clerks regular
    **
  • secular institute (consecrated life)
  • **society of apostolic life (no religious vows)
    **
 
malphono said:
Right. These would be what are called “Associations of the Cristian Faithful” in canons 298-329 of the CIC. A decent synopsis can be found here.
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Can. 298 §1. In the Church there are associations distinct from institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life; in these associations the Christian faithful, whether clerics, lay persons, or clerics and lay persons together …

So then there are these:
  • institutes of consecrated life
  • **religious institute (consecrated life) - monastics, mendicants, canons regular, clerks regular
    **
  • secular institute (consecrated life)
  • society of apostolic life (no religious vows)
  • associations the Christian faithful
I understand now that the original poster is looking for a lay “secular order”. Some societies of apostolic life have both lay and clerical members.
 
Vico said:
I understand now that the original poster is looking for a lay “secular order”. Some societies of apostolic life have both lay and clerical members.
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I think I understand brother Coptsoldier’s request. In the Coptic Orthodox Church, there are secular orders, but they are only for celibate men (IIRC). I think brother Coptsoldier is asking about joining a secular order as a married man.

Blessings
 
mardukm said:
I think I understand brother Coptsoldier’s request. In the Coptic Orthodox Church, there are secular orders, but they are only for celibate men (IIRC). I think brother Coptsoldier is asking about joining a secular order as a married man.

Blessings
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Like the Knights of Columbus or the Knights Hospitaller (although they are not Eastern)?? Maybe he could start an (Eastern) secular order for married men with permission, of course?
 
I think that coptsoldier is talking about a “third order” like the third order franciscans. Is that right?
 
Holy Resurrection Monastery (Romanian Greek Catholic) has a Monastic Associates program for folks who try to live the monastic ideal in whatever state of life they are within, here is a link. Is that something like what you are looking for?

hrmonline.org/?page_id=872
 
Dear jfoges and Josie,

From my experience as a Coptic Orthodox, if a Copt would say “secular order” he is referring to one where the members are consecrated for a charism of service to the community. This is a “debate” that is ongoing in the Coptic Orthodox circles - whether one can have a consecrated order that is distinct from the Traditional consecrated religious life. Normally, in the Coptic Orthodox Tradition, the only consecrated orders are for celibates and are cloistered. There are a number of consecrated secular orders (for celibate men and women) with mandates from individual bishops that have a charism for service to their communities, but there is no overt synodal approval for such structures, simply on the basis of the idea that it is not “Traditional.”

As far as I know, the Knights are only an association, not a consecrated order (correct me if I’m wrong). I think, perhaps, the Third Order Franciscans (if they are not required to be celibate) would be what brother Coptsoldier is referring to. The Franciscans have a powerful history and presence among the Copts in Egypt. But I think he is looking for something that has a more Eastern or Oriental spirit (though I think the Franciscans have a rather Oriental-leaning spirituality about them anyway).

Fr. MonkMoses (not sure if you are a priest – but just to be safe :)), I think your suggestion is worthwhile, but, if I am not mistaken, Coptsoldier is referring to some form of consecrated social ministry,

Blessings
jfoges said:
I think that coptsoldier is talking about a “third order” like the third order franciscans. Is that right?
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mardukm said:
I think I understand brother Coptsoldier’s request. In the Coptic Orthodox Church, there are secular orders, but they are only for celibate men (IIRC). I think brother Coptsoldier is asking about joining a secular order as a married man.

Blessings
Click to expand...
I hope coptsoldier will comment and clarity. I know of two but not Coptic:

(Melkite) The Order of Knights of Jerusalem, for spreading the faith and supporting the church.

There are Byzantine Franciscans and Byzantine Carmelites. I believe there are associated lay Third Orders.
 
Vico said:
I hope coptsoldier will comment and clarity. I know of two but not Coptic:

(Melkite) The Order of Knights of Jerusalem, for spreading the faith and supporting the church.

There are Byzantine Franciscans and Byzantine Carmelites. I believe there are associated lay Third Orders.
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The Byzantine Carmelites byzantinediscalcedcarmelites.com/page2.html is a consecrated order of nuns with no affiliated third order that I know of. There are, of course, third order Carmelites but not, afaik, Byzantine.

Also, while there are Byzantine Franciscans, I’m not aware of any specifically Byzantine third order affiliates–but there may be.

The OP is married so any order requiring celibacy would probably meet with great disapproval from his dear wife :D.

I believe the Holy Resurrection Monastery requires personal visits in the form of retreats (??), so, depending on where the OP lives, this may or may not be a good option for him.
 
MichaelinMD said:
I believe the Holy Resurrection Monastery requires personal visits in the form of retreats (??), so, depending on where the OP lives, this may or may not be a good option for him.
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From the HRM website: “Given the emphasis on personal spiritual direction, it is difficult to accommodate Associates who live some distance from the Monastery. We do have several in this situation, however, and are willing to receive applications from others if there is some way of ensuring that they are able to access good spiritual direction in their local area, or at least are able to come to visit the Monastery at least annually.”
hrmonline.org/?page_id=872

Sounds good, but “good spiritual direction” is frequently very difficult to find.😦 This is why I have not yet applied to this program.
 
Well of course! The Third Order Carmelites of hey
the Syro Malabar for instance. The Carmelites are
neither east nor west but both.
 
MichaelinMD said:
The Byzantine Carmelites byzantinediscalcedcarmelites.com/page2.html is a consecrated order of nuns with no affiliated third order that I know of. There are, of course, third order Carmelites but not, afaik, Byzantine.

Also, while there are Byzantine Franciscans, I’m not aware of any specifically Byzantine third order affiliates–but there may be.

The OP is married so any order requiring celibacy would probably meet with great disapproval from his dear wife :D.

I believe the Holy Resurrection Monastery requires personal visits in the form of retreats (??), so, depending on where the OP lives, this may or may not be a good option for him.
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Secular Franciscan Order, Holy Dormition Byzantine Franciscan Friary
hdbfm.com/sfoinfo.htm
 
Vico said:
Secular Franciscan Order, Holy Dormition Byzantine Franciscan Friary
hdbfm.com/sfoinfo.htm
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Thanks for that link, Vico, though I’ve seen it before! St. Francis is one of my favorite saints. In my own searchings of secular orders I investigated the Secular Franciscan Order fairly thoroughly, to the extent of participating for a short time as an inquirer with one of the chapters local to me. I found it interesting, but not for me personally. There was nothing particularly “Eastern” or “Byzantine” in the spirituality taught and practiced and certainly nothing at all in the prayer or liturgical life. In fact, I found it thoroughly Latin and “Western” and as an Eastern Catholic, I felt much like a fish out of water, much as I do when attending a Roman Rite N.O. Mass. It wasn’t what I was looking for so I chose not to continue.
 
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