Habits for non-religious?

[Andruschak]

Assume one is not a member of any order of religious, not even a third order. But you have made private vows of poverty, chastity, and obediance. Can one wear a habit if your Spiritual Director and/or Priest give permission?

In this day and age of rampent secularism, wearing a habit is a way of preaching the gospel always, without the use of words.

The downside would be the danger of spiritual pride, which is why the (name removed by moderator)ut of a Spiritual Director and/or Priest would be needed

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Assume one is not a member of any order of religious, not even a third order. But you have made private vows of poverty, chastity, and obediance. Can one wear a habit if your Spiritual Director and/or Priest give permission?

In this day and age of rampent secularism, wearing a habit is a way of preaching the gospel always, without the use of words.

The downside would be the danger of spiritual pride, which is why the (name removed by moderator)ut of a Spiritual Director and/or Priest would be needed

I don’t know. Most habits served a purpose when they were first instituted. They did not make those who wore them stand out in a crowd.

In my opinion simple dress would be better for a lay person who is not a religious.

But then again I do not see any value in “private vows” such as these, I do not believe that the Church makes any considerations for such a thing.

Vows need to be public. If they are private then why were something public?

 

[Formosus]

There is consecreted virginity or eremtical consercretion ( don’t recall the right term for it). If one under went that, then wearing a habit would be permitted but one wouldn’t be living too public of a life after that : p

 

[daughterofmary]

Bl. Anna Maria Taigi wore the habit as a lay woman, but after her husband objected the priests saw that it was fit for her to just dress normally.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Quoting ByzCath

But then again I do not see any value in “private vows” such as these, I do not believe that the Church makes any considerations for such a thing.

newadvent.org/cathen/15511a.htm

According to the manner of their utterances, there are vows interior and exterior; vows express, and vows tacit or implied (as for instance, that of the subdeacon at his ordination); vows secret, and vows made in public. According to their juridical form, ***

they may be private

• **or made with the Church’s recognition; and these last are divided into simple and solemn vows.

Solemn and private vows in Canon Law:
penitents.org/vows.htm

Commutation

Canon 1197 – The person who makes a private vow can commute the work promised by the vow into a better or equal good; however, the one who has the power of dispensing according to the norm of can. 1196 can commute it to a lesser good.

vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4E.HTM

TITLE V.
A VOW AND AN OATH (Cann. 1191 - 1204)
CHAPTER I.
A VOW
Can. 1191 §1. A vow, that is, a deliberate and free promise made to God about a possible and better good, must be fulfilled by reason of the virtue of religion.
§2. Unless they are prohibited by law, all who possess suitable use of reason are capable of making a vow.
§3. A vow made out of grave and unjust fear or malice is null by the law itself.

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Can. 1192 §1. A vow is public if a legitimate superior accepts it in the name of the Church; otherwise, it is private.

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§2. A vow is solemn if the Church has recognized it as such; otherwise, it is simple.
§3. A vow is personal if the person making the vow promises an action; real if the person making the vow promises some thing; mixed if it shares the nature of a personal and a real vow.
Can. 1193 By its nature a vow obliges only the person who makes it.
Can. 1194 A vow ceases by the lapse of the time designated to fulfill the obligation, by a substantial change of the matter promised, by the absence of a condition on which the vow depends, by the absence of the purpose of the vow, by dispensation, or by commutation.
Can. 1195 The person who has power over the matter of the vow can suspend the obligation of the vow for as long a time as the fulfillment of the vow brings disadvantage to that person.
Can. 1196 In addition to the Roman Pontiff, the following can dispense from private vows for a just cause provided that a dispensation does not injure a right acquired by others:
1/ the local ordinary and the pastor with regard to all their subjects and even travelers;
2/ the superior of a religious institute or society of apostolic life if it is clerical and of pontifical right with regard to members, novices, and persons who live day and night in a house of the institute or society;
3/ those to whom the Apostolic See or the local ordinary has delegated the power of dispensing.
Can. 1197 The person who makes a private vow can commute the work promised by the vow into a better or equal good; however, one who has the power of dispensing according to the norm of ⇒ can. 1196 can commute it into a lesser good.
Can. 1198 Vows made before religious profession are suspended while the person who made the vow remains in the religious institute.