If you were to form you own order...?

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Denae

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Okay, the “If you were pastor of your parish, what changes would you make?” or “If you were pope, what changes would you make?” threads have got me thinking…(Uh oh :rolleyes:)

If you were to form your own order, what would you do? Like would your order be contemplative? Active? Habited? Non-habited? Franciscan? Dominican? What would your charism be? Would you be cloistered? Would you have a deeper devotion to Mary? To the Eucharist? Would you have an age limit? College education required? Basically have fun with it. 🙂

This was not meant to be an entirely serious thread, just like dream up the perfect place for you!
 
My order would where habits, they would pray in latin and the vernacular, they would most likely be Franciscan, and they would be a contemplative order that supported themselves baking altar breads. There would be no age limit and our Rule would be tolerant of the many varied experiences that each new postulant would bring , acknowledging the fact that all of the different ages would bring a new color and ablity. There would be mandatory trips home out of the enclosure. We would also take the mentally ill or those others that sustained their health on medication.
 
My order would be traditionally habited: veil, wimple, scapular, floor length, the whole nine yards. But the color would either be wine red (representing Christ’s Blood) or dark violet (representing mourning for the sins against the Eucharist.)

Our Spirituality would be Benedictine.

We would be cloistered and our rule would be similar to the the Cistercians of Strict Observance. But we would never take perpetual or final vows. Even if you are 93 and have been in the order for 76 years, every seven years you would need to decide to take vows again. And if you decide not to you would receive your dowry plus interest to start your life again in the world.

There would be no upper age limit and while education would be encouraged you could further your education via correspondence or the internet. Inquirers must be at least 16 and cannot enter as candidates until 18.

Our charism would be reparation for sins against the Blessed Sacarament. We would maintain perpetual adoration before the Sacrament and be devoted to the Sacred Heart and Divine Mercy. Jesus would be our spouse, making Mary our Mother-in-law, so of course we will take great pleasure in doing things for Mary.
 
If I posed the question, the least I can do is respond!

My order would be Franciscan, habited, full length, and sandals. We would live in the city.

Our charism would be kind of ecclectic. We go where we are needed. We would run a summer and after school youth program for the inner city kids who normally wouldn’t have a place to go. Teach Confirmation classes, teach RCIA, and run seminars and classes for adults who are Catholic but have some questions about the faith. We would also help run soup kitchen, help stock food pantries, counceling the sick, visiting hospital patients. Also once a week, we would go to abortion clinics and pray there, and handing out pro-life literature to the women. Non confrontational, but letting them know that there are other options.

But all that would be secondary to our prayer life. We would be especially devoted to the Eucharist. With an hour of silent Adoration in the morning before Mass, then another half hour before dinner, Then community time, and another half hour of Adoration afterwards, then night prayers including a Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet, then silence til Mass the next morning. On Sundays we would spend the day at the convent, in silent prayer, contemplation. It would be a day of rest with each other, and prayer.

Our age minimum would be eighteen with fifty as the maximum. No college education would be required.
 
If I had my own order it would just be a church minastry. I go to St Marks, and I atend the life teen events and classes. In one of the (the subject was theolagy og the body) the person giving the talk made a critical mistake with one of the church teachings. The person said that the church’s stance on abortion and birthcontrol was fuzzy. The catholic church CLAERLY states that it is imoral and rong under any sercomstances. My order would be dedicated to the true theachings of the catholic church.
It would be a group of thoelogians and apologists ho understood and accepted all the catholic church teaches. Our mission would be to teach the faith truely and not with our own prefrence. Maybe even a few poeple mite want to try on this website? If there are any thoelogains out there. Maybe we could make this a reality.There would be no president, or any other positions. Just poeple ho want to spread the trueth to others.
 
I would found a male version of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary, who were founded in France during the French Revolution in 1790, in order to preserve the religious life.
These Sisters, to this day, do not wear a habit or any distinguishing sign. They do not use the traditional titles, ‘Sister,’ or ‘Dame.’ They may live in community sharing common life, or in a given geographical area, form an ‘expanded’ type of community, where each member’s home is considered part of a larger community. Whatever work they pursue is considered an apostolate or ministry. Nonetheless, they do have corporate apostolates, notably a school for deaf children in New York City, a business school in Montreal, a noted school in Buffalo, a mission in Ethiopia, a residence for women students in Tokyo.
Women who have obligations to elderly parents, or who cannot enter formation in a conventional novitiate are able to enter this unique congregation. They are NOT a secular institute. Rather, they regard the living of the consecrated religious life under any and all circumstances to be their primary focus. They are approved as a religious congregation of pontifical right.
During the communist era, members of this congregation lived the religious life behind the iron curtain, undetected as Sisters by the authorities. Score another point for the good guys!
So, do you think there would be any takers?
 
I’m sure there would be! Keep em coming guys. It’s so interesting to read about everyone’s various interests and goals. 🙂
 
[SIGN]My order would be Dominican, and they would live in Perth (where I live). They would be devoted to education, which may include teaching, counselling, leadership positions or anything like that, with the aim to lead young people to Christ and to teach the truth to all who some. They would wear the habit, and the age limiut would be 18+, except you can’t enter after you are 65. They must have a university education in whatever field of education they specialise, but if it is not necessary to their task then it is not required.
Local community work is their major commitment, but prayer is still their main priority.[/SIGN]
 
I have given this too much thought.

It would be an order of priests and brothers following the Augustinian Rule (probably) with the diocesan Ordinary as at least Titular head.

Its charism would be the reform of all aspects of parish life (including the priesthood). As such they would be limited to parish and seminary life. A large emphasis would be placed on ‘restoration’ of elements of Catholic life abandoned after V-II, and on personal engagement of the faithful through small groups (sodalities, confraternities, FUS style Households).

As regards the way of life for the Community, real poverty and obedience would be emphasized. Physical labor in the parish or parish outreach would be highly encouraged.

Formation would take place in the houses (rectories). While only a small number would be in each house, (3-7?) those in formation would be spread through the houses, with classes at the local seminary and regular meetings/outings for them to interact with each other.
 
I would not actually form an order but a “Society of Pontifical Right” modeled after the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri.

It would be a community of priests living together bound by no formal vows but that of mutual charity whose liturgical life would come from the Book of Divine Worship, a.k.a. the “Anglican Use” missal…

Of couse, the name I have in mind is the Oratory of Saint Bede.
 
Hmm…I guess if this is fantasy, than I will indulge myself.

We would be a community of women and men living a cross between apostolic and monastic life - each member has an active apostolate, but their her/his most important aspect is still prayer and community life.

We would wear a community habit that is both modern, poor and becoming - a plain grey hoodie with nice plain blue jeans; perhaps an outer scapular emblazened with a community logo and tied with a simple rope could be the unifying feature. It’s practical, distinctive, inexpensive, and approachable. Looks good on most, glamorous on no one, and can change with the times.

Our charism would be the re-evangelization of traditionally Catholic regions who are now mainly secular. We would be tied to the locale and participate in the greater community and their economy to the extent we could. We would go to Mass in their churches and pray the hours in common in a home-sized oratory. Hopefully, have many family-size houses of about 6. The aim would be that whatever we did, wherever we were, we would serve as a humble witness to Christ and dedicate our work to the glory of God.

In my mind, our first stop would be Ireland and France (only because I’ve visited there and was so disheartened to find so many “Post-Catholics”)

Requirements: must be baptized, practicing Christians (hopefully Catholic, but we’d take others who would participate in our prayer and community life and who held a deep respect for the Eucharist); must have completed some sort of college or technical training so as to have some marketable skills for earning even a modest income in a secular world (at your job, your ministry is your public witness and helps pay the bills). One would need to be debt-free or have a working plan for re-payment of student/medical/disaster/necessary loans. Members would be preferably single, but those who had nulled marriages and widowed could discern; also married older couples whose children were grown and settled could discern ministry together. The only thing that would exclude you would be a demonstrable inability to live the charism (community life, secular job, spreading the Gospel, etc.) or an incurable or profound condition that would cause certain and undue hardship to the community.
 
It’s interesting, (A HS moment?) that you should pose this question.
In actuallity I am feeling a tug to possibly do just that.
It’s a very amorphous thing right now, born out of the fact that so few orders welcome older (50+) people.
In Rough form, the idea would be an order, or confraternity, of both contemplative and active aspects, open to mature men, women and possibly even couples.
I would lean toward habits, or uniform of some kind. Possibly one style for “in house” and something else for the active aspects.

Haven’t really gotten too much beyond this though.

Peace
James
 
😃 Well,if I was to form an order of women, it would be active.
The sisters would be modeled on the Daughters of Charity.
They would live in community and follow the rule of St.Augustine,or some variation of the rule written by St.Vincent de Paul.
They would go to mass, adore the Eucharist,say the Divine office or some other one, and pray the rosary.
To enter, you would have to be 18 to 50 years old and free of debt.
High School or college education or work experience.
You certainly would be able to go and visit your family.
And the info whichOdubhghail gave on the Daughters of Mary, well,that gives me an idea too.If a sister did have to take care of elderly parents, they could do so and still be members like in the Daughters of Mary.
Our work would be with children and teens,really anyone.
We would provide a place for the police to take children who may have to be removed from their homes,sure you’ve seen the show Cops, and some of the situations they have .Work with abused kids,work with the homeless and battered women.
We would offer parenting classes especially for teen parents
and provide day care services for working class people.
Visit the sick and elderly in their homes, and do home nursing.
There is just so much that needs to be done.
As far as habits go,I was thinking of some sort of bonnet or cap,
and a habit in blue for Our Lady, something similar to that worn by the Sisters of Charity of Nazerath,Ky. Or perhasp a bonnet and a white habit,over which is a blue scapular.Bonnet in black or white,novices would wear a veil.Name for community,Daughters of Jesus the Good Shepherd.Or Daughters of Our Lady of the Poor, or Sisters of Merciful Jesus Our King.
 
I would like to start a community that would pray the Liturgy of the Hours in each church where community members reside. By praying in a local church it would encourage parish members to join in the Church’s official prayers each day. My community would encourage all people to celebrate the Sacraments, participate in Adoration/Holy Hours, Rosary, Stations of the Cross, Hour of Mercy, centering prayer etc.
I liked the Dominican Sisters of Bethany’s idea of not knowing about other community members’ past lives. I feel it would be more charitable for all if we did not compare ourselves with others.
During the time of formation, the sisters would decide if they wanted to participate in an active apostolate such as teaching, nursing, etc. or if they would be better suited to a more contemplative life. The contemplative sisters might choose to sew, garden, computer outreach, etc.
Requirements for entrance:
  1. At least 18 years of age - No upper age because I have known older women who found community life compatible.
  2. Willingness to live a community based life
  3. Education level appropriate for the life chosen
    I believe the Church is wise in allowing persons to enter as postulants when they are ready. Six months as a postulant will be enough time to see if they need more time to adjust to religious life, or are ready for the novitiate, or need to seek another way of serving our Lord. When an individual enters the novitiate, they may choose a new name or not, receive the holy habit, and begin a life of service. They will be trained in prayer, the vows, and knowledge of the Church. At the end of the novitiate, they again have the choice of a longer time in the novitiate, professing first vows, or searching for another form of service. This time of “temporary” vows is when the sister begins her active or contemplative apostolate At this point she will be considered a “full” member of the community. Her wisdom can be used at chapter meetings, leading the local church, or in service to others.
    I would like the community to wear a distinctive modern habit. Perhaps, the sisters would wear the same color and material. The sisters could wear a princess style dress, slightly gathered (less form fitting) style dress, jumper or another approved style. I would like to see them wear a modern veil or head coverings (the city in which I work has many Muslim shops that sell beautiful head coverings) appropriate to the neighborhood. It would be best if the sisters wore athletic shoes or other appropriate shoes for good healthy feet.
    I don’t want to mandate the type of Rosary, Bible, devotions that each member “should have”. I would prefer the sister to be allowed her choice because it is her life’s work.
    I would hope my community would be like the Dominicans and value truth. I like the idea of the community as being the center of their lives. I would want them to value the Liturgy of the Hours, Mass, and the sacraments. I would like to see them praying in the vernacular of the local church.
    Now I awake and am back at home . . .
 
Here goes:
(A contemplative and apostolic Priestly and Brotherly order)
-Devoted to The Holy Eucharist, The Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, St. Michael the Archangel, faithful to the sacred teaching of Holy Mother Church/Magesterium and the Holy Father.
-Devotion to Christ’s Passion (stations every Friday) and Divine Mercy 3PM hour.
-Parish work reviving the life of the parish through prayer and service.
-Live a life devoted to the Most Holy Eucharist (2 hrs adoration/day) with 10-20minutes of thanksgiving right after Holy Mass. A life that actually shows one is devoted to the Holy Eucharist.
-Vocations no upper age limit (set no obstacles to God’ s Will)
-Chanted divine office -hey there’s no hurry here.
-live in community.
-Pro-life Apostolate would be number one. Also outreach to most vulnerable including the handicapped, children, orphans
  • Habits or priestly clerics would be worn always as reasonable
  • Focused on the best education and formation possible - in philosphy and theology.
  • Moderation not to harsh not to easy - a simple life
  • Live the Life of Jesus preaching God’s GREAT Love.
PEACE
 
If I were to set up a religious order, it would be one for those who suffer mental illness and other forms of disability providing they had the ability to make a reasoned choice in free will to make the evangelical counsels as vows and potentially for life and were capable of carrying them out. It would not be along the lines of traditional orders and yet a life ‘in community’ in poverty, chastity and obedience or a ‘state of perfection’ under a rule of life. I would take my basic idea and then go through this thread picking on some of the really excellent ideas in this thread and wind them all into my basic concept. Blessings - Barb:)
 
I have many ideas for my own order… Perhaps I would found many orders, mainly active but also some cloisters! Some ideas for an order which would help the families (one of my ideas:)):
-faithful to the Pope and to the Magisterium of the Church;
-fiercely pro-life and pro-traditional family;
-common life in the convent/monastery;
-habit->like the Dominicans but with green scapulars, capes, veils and choir mantles;
-daily OF Mass in vernacular;
-daily office in vernacular;
-no upper age limit (18 years old would be the minimum age limit);
-they would accept people with mental disorders, since the disorder would be treatable;
-the postulants would wear an uniform.
 
I would -
  • Require traditional habits to be worn.
  • No maximum age limits
  • One of the order’s missions (?) would be to visit the sick, especially those who have no one to visit them.
  • Daily Mass (TLM).
  • Find a priest to listen to confessions before Mass (and before Daily Masses).
  • Have a 24-hour Adoration Chapel (probably for cloistered nuns).
  • Special devotion to the Divine Mercy.
I’m not sure what else nuns do at a convent, much less at a cloister.
 
Very interesting topic.
I wouldn’t have any specific spirituality,Dominican,Franciscan,etc. We would wear a long but simple habit with a veil that covered the hair. Our charism would be Eucharistic Adoration and praying for Divine Mercy for the Church,priests(and reparation for priests),and the world. Perpetual Adoration with sisters probably having 2 hours of adoration daily. The Divine Mercy chaplet would be said at the start of each Adoration Hour. we would offer our lives for unity and healing of the whole church,for healing of the priesthood,for the whole world(especially the dying and those who are suffering).
Our main work would be adoration so we would probably chant the office only 3 times a day. We would probably say the D.M.chaplet as a community at 3:00. we would say the rosary as a community. We would have 1 hour of lectio daily,scripture being primary.
We would be a simple,joyful,recollected community. We might have recreation together twice a week.
we would try to be self sufficient as possible growing fruits and vegetables.
Formation would stress knowing the faith,apologetics,scripture,encyclicals,the Church Fathers.
I think many of us who have been searching for a community for awhile have thought about this. Thought provoking question you raised.
 
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