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

  • Thread starter Thread starter Denae
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
I initially avoided this thread, due to the human tendency to think we have all the answers (Pride is awfully elusive, and one should never take such a charge lightly. The Saints were often forced into founding religious orders – such was their humility).

However, I must say, there are some thoughtful ideas in this thread.

Blessings,

-Davide
 
I initially avoided this thread, due to the human tendency to think we have all the answers (Pride is awfully elusive, and one should never take such a charge lightly. The Saints were often forced into founding religious orders – such was their humility).

However, I must say, there are some thoughtful ideas in this thread.

Blessings,

-Davide
Good points, Davide, and well worth the pondering indeed! Also we have many great saints who started religious orders on their own intiative inspired by The Holy Spirit and who even had to face great opposition to that initiative during their lives, and sometimes from the Church heirarchy of their day. Our own Blessed Mary MacKillop (Australian) had her order disbanded and she was stripped of her habit and excommunicated…later lifted. At the time of her excommunication and back then no Catholic could even speak to her and she could not attend the Sacraments (though quite a few ignored this and to their potential peril), Mary stated “I have never felt closer to God”.

In our own day with many new concepts in religious living cropping up…The Church has recognized this as a work of The Holy Spirit and is striving to be open and welcoming to the new and as a work of The Holy Spirit and often in new forms of religious life…

So while we do need prudence for sure, including wisdom and humility…some could carry this to the detriment of the workings of the Holy Spirit, which of course makes these “virtues” not virtues at all.

Just for interest sake, I am quoting from the Catholic Catechism:
Catholic Catechism:

917
"From the God-given seed of the counsels a wonderful and wide-spreading tree has grown up in the field of the Lord, branching out into various forms of the religious life lived in solitude or in community. Different religious families have come into existence in which spiritual resources are multiplied for the progress in holiness of their members and for the good of the entire Body of Christ."457
918 From the very beginning of the Church there were men and women who set out to follow Christ with greater liberty, and to imitate him more closely, by practicing the evangelical counsels. They led lives dedicated to God, each in his own way. Many of them, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, became hermits or founded religious families. These the Church, by virtue of her authority, gladly accepted and approved.458

Bishops will always strive to discern new gifts of consecrated life granted to the Church by the Holy Spirit; the approval of new forms of consecrated life is reserved to the Apostolic See.459

Some other forms of religious living with full commitment to Christ and the Gospel to the exclusion of all else:
The eremitic life
Without always professing the three evangelical counsels publicly
, hermits "devote their life to the praise of God and salvation of the world through a stricter separation from the world, the silence of solitude and assiduous prayer and penance."460 921 They manifest to everyone the interior aspect of the mystery of the Church, that is, personal intimacy with Christ. Hidden from the eyes of men, the life of the hermit is a silent preaching of the Lord, to whom he has surrendered his life simply because he is everything to him. Here is a particular call to find in the desert, in the thick of spiritual battle, the glory of the Crucified One.
Consecrated virgins and widows
922 From apostolic times Christian virgins461 and widows,462 called by the Lord to cling only to him with greater freedom of heart, body, and spirit, have decided with the Church’s approval to live in the respective status of virginity or perpetual chastity "for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven."463
923 "Virgins who, committed to the holy plan of following Christ more closely, are consecrated to God by the diocesan bishop according to the approved liturgical rite, are betrothed mystically to Christ, the Son of God, and are dedicated to the service of the Church."464 By this solemn rite (Consecratio virginum), the virgin is "constituted . . . a sacred person, a transcendent sign of the Church’s love for Christ, and an eschatological image of this heavenly Bride of Christ and of the life to come."465 924 “As with other forms of consecrated life,” the order of virgins establishes the woman living in the world (or the nun) in prayer, penance, service of her brethren, and apostolic activity, according to the state of life and spiritual gifts given to her.466 Consecrated virgins can form themselves into associations to observe their commitment more faithfully.467
933 Whether their witness is public, as in the religious state,

or less public, or even secret
, Christ’s coming remains for all those consecrated both the origin and rising sun of their life:
For the People of God has here no lasting city, . . . [and this state] reveals more clearly to all believers the heavenly goods which are already present in this age, witnessing to the new and eternal life which we have acquired through the redemptive work of Christ and preluding our future resurrection and the glory of the heavenly kingdom.478

As mature Catholics we are also perfectly free to make private vows including the evangelical counsels (or vows commonly made by religious nuns and sisters, monks, priests and brothers).
Private vows are usually received by a priest and sometimes during Mass (yet they remain under the canonical classification of private vows and not public canonical vows). Such a person is most often under spiritual direction and perhaps even a rule of life and either one of the traditional religious Rules of Life, or perhaps one they have written themselves. I dont think these matters always apply however and vows may be made alone and completely secret between the person and God.

Promises and vows
2101 In many circumstances, the Christian is called to make *promises *to God. Baptism and Confirmation, Matrimony and Holy Orders always entail promises. Out of personal devotion, the Christian may also promise to God this action, that prayer, this alms-giving, that pilgrimage, and so forth. Fidelity to promises made to God is a sign of the respect owed to the divine majesty and of love for a faithful God. 2102 "A *vow *is a deliberate and free promise made to God concerning a possible and better good which must be fulfilled by reason of the virtue of religion,"21 A vow is an act of *devotion *in which the Christian dedicates himself to God or promises him some good work. By fulfilling his vows he renders to God what has been promised and consecrated to Him. The Acts of the Apostles shows us St. Paul concerned to fulfill the vows he had made.22
 
We would be Franminocns! (mix of Franciscans and dominicans) We would be active. We would wear the brown robe and white cape! I would buy three school buses. Two would have bunkbeds for the brothers/priests and the other one would serve as an adoration chapel and we could celebrate mass. We would be responders to natural disasters. Mainly hurricanes on the Gulf Coast. We would have a central abbey in North Louisiana. Unless we are responding to a natural disater we would be at the abbey in contemplative prayer but not complete silence. We would be more of a family. You can talk and basically do whatever until prayer and work begins.
 
We would be Franminocns! (mix of Franciscans and dominicans) We would be active. We would wear the brown robe and white cape! I would buy three school buses. Two would have bunkbeds for the brothers/priests and the other one would serve as an adoration chapel and we could celebrate mass. We would be responders to natural disasters. Mainly hurricanes on the Gulf Coast. We would have a central abbey in North Louisiana. Unless we are responding to a natural disater we would be at the abbey in contemplative prayer but not complete silence. We would be more of a family. You can talk and basically do whatever until prayer and work begins.
Hi Sacred Heart Fan…I am one too! I love the name you have chosen and entirely creative…but when I moved on to your points below, you are absolutely positively inspired! ABSOLUTELY! This has the real true genius and gift and inspiration of taking St. Francis’s original charism (I dont know much about the Dominican charism except that they are big on learning and eduction) and gift to The Church and interpreting it in the light of our own times now…you really and truly have something unique, really unique in spiritual creativity … a facility that is in fact a mobile monastery is absolutely gifted and what a great witness it would be with such potential to evangelize…your points are worth isolating I thought…
  • We would be active.
  • We would wear the brown robe and white cape!
  • I would buy three school buses.
  • Two would have bunkbeds for the brothers/priests and the other one would serve as an adoration chapel and we could celebrate mass.
  • We would be responders to natural disasters. Mainly hurricanes on the Gulf Coast.
  • We would have a central abbey in North Louisiana.
  • Unless we are responding to a natural disater we would be at the abbey in contemplative prayer but not complete silence.
  • We would be more of a family.
  • You can talk and basically do whatever until prayer and work begins.
We would be MORE OF A FAMILY. You can talk and basically do whatever until prayer and work begins.
This particularly took my eye! I dont think that we do need every single moment dictated by a rule or regulation of some kind. This type of thinking and innovation leaves room for the Holy Spirit to move and breathe quite freely…and such a way of life and a religious one does regard the brothers as mature adults striving to serve God and in Grace with The Holy Spirit - not potential reprobates who, unless governed by some rigid rule, will go completely astray and spread chaos and disaster…

Love it to pieces! God be with you and grant you The Grace to bring your vision and gift into reality…

The Lord’s richest blessings on you and yours…and your vocation…regards…Barb:)
 
well you see, i just like the dominican capes! I think they look cool with the Franciscan brown thingy! 😃
 
well you see, i just like the dominican capes! I think they look cool with the Franciscan brown thingy! 😃
:rotfl: …now “thingy” is a word I dont have to look up in the dictionary!👍 …an oftem used word here in Australia…

God has given us an eye for beauty and an eye for the aesthetically appealling. It is His Gift for good stewardship as I see things. Oh incidentally to consult the dictionary (as I had to) on the actual meaning of “aesthetics”, it’s here:
dictionary.reference.com/browse/aesthetics

…oh my, so that is what “aesthetics” means and I still dont really understand it:D

I hope it will be a cream coloured cape…brown and cream…ahhhhhh wonderful!..I loved your honesty and sense of the funny…more gifts for good stewardship, huh?..

…and methinks if you are going into a seminary or religious life…a sense of the funny, ridiculous and absurd in life will probably be a necessity to retain sanity and virtue…
 
Hi, everyone
Those of you in discernment, think about this. Come to Ireland. Glendalough, in County Wicklow, is a monastic ruin. The monastery was founded in the 6th or 7th century by St. Kevin. As with all Irish monasteries founded in the golden age, the monks or nuns each lived in their own hut, either of stone or wood, and the cells, as these structures were called, were scattered round the chapel, where the community would gather for prayer several times a day.
With Elizabeth I, the monastery was suppressed for good. However, as of the year 2000, the Dublin archdiocese, has built five cells on the grounds of St. Keven’s parish church, where one can live in the style of an ancient monk or nun for about 50 euro per night, in a self catering situation. Minimum of two nights stay. Three Sisters of Mercy are on site, and they manage the place, also offering spiritual counsel, in the style of the anam chara of old.
I have been there, tried it, and it is a fantastic experience.
 
I dont think that we do need every single moment dictated by a rule or regulation of some kind. This type of thinking and innovation leaves room for the Holy Spirit to move and breathe quite freely…and such a way of life and a religious one does regard the brothers as mature adults striving to serve God and in Grace with The Holy Spirit - not potential reprobates who, unless governed by some rigid rule, will go completely astray and spread chaos and disaster…
It is interesting to note that when Our Lord appeared to Saint Faustina, He told her that obedience to the rules of the community obtain more merit than anything else. Saint Faustina was able to climb to the highest degrees of holiness through self denial to rules. According to our Lord, there is no greater proof of love; nothing pleases Him more than sacrifice, especially that of the will through the vow of obedience. Saint Francis De Sales
"Let us consider whether we have sufficient courage and resolution to crucify and annihilate ourselves, or rather to permit God to do so. You must understand what it is to be a religious. It is to be bound to God by the continual mortification of ourselves, and to live only for Him. Our heart is surrendered always and wholly to His Divine Majesty; our eyes, tongue, hands and all our members serve Him continually. Look well into your heart and see if you have resolution enough to die to yourself and to live only to God. Religion is nothing else than a school of renunciation and self mortification.”
 
It is interesting to note that when Our Lord appeared to Saint Faustina, He told her that obedience to the rules of the community obtain more merit than anything else. Saint Faustina was able to climb to the highest degrees of holiness through self denial to rules. According to our Lord, there is no greater proof of love; nothing pleases Him more than sacrifice, especially that of the will through the vow of obedience.Saint Francis De Sales"Let us consider whether we have sufficient courage and resolution to crucify and annihilate ourselves, or rather to permit God to do so. You must understand what it is to be a religious. It is to be bound to God by the continual mortification of ourselves, and to live only for Him. Our heart is surrendered always and wholly to His Divine Majesty; our eyes, tongue, hands and all our members serve Him continually. Look well into your heart and see if you have resolution enough to die to yourself and to live only to God. Religion is nothing else than a school of renunciation and self mortification.”
👍 …very well said on all scores…For St. Faustina and religious I am sure that this is so re the religious vow of obedience. This does not mean that religious vows of obedience and keeping them are the only ways we can earn great merit of equal proportion, whatever.

I certainly do not mean that a proposed religious order should not have a superior to whom obedience is owed in the Rule. Nor do I mean that any such order should not have a Rule of Life. I am not saying that there should be no mortification or renunciation of self nor any other virtue.

As Catholic lay people we also are bound by obedience (our Baptismal Promises or Vows) and by a Rule of Life, which is what The Church teaches and what The Gospels proclaim and God’s Will for our own individual journeys. And we are not denied the heights of sanctity nor the call to the heights of sanctity of a religious etc. and are called to all the virtues that do apply in religious life without having an actual Rule of Life written for us and our days. What I meant was that I don’t think that a Rule of Life or a horarium or timetable within religious life needs to spell out for every moment. Certainly, as a community I think that there needs to be common observance of Prayer Times in Chapel. Although I have read that some communities for the Little Hours of Terce, Sext and None leave all of this or some of them to the individual sisters to pray in their own time.

As an example only…perhaps Fridays and Wednesdays are to be days of pentitential practises approved by the Superior or one’s spiritual director. There is to be a half hour of spiritual reading daily…not at 2pm - 2.30 Spiritual Reading …ie. generalizations rather than a rule to spell out all the details adn at what time etc. etc. Common sense indicates that in community life there are chores to be done and perhaps a weekly chore list with a sister or brother etc. assigned. Generalizations.

I dont think a Rule needs state that “sisters are to be charitable to each other and this means that…” rather, I think the Rule can state “charity is for all at all times regardless” or something along those lines. Perhaps the superior could give a weekly address on Charity or perhaps she appoint one of the sisters to do so. Question and answer times after. Perhaps once a week a Chapter or two of some spiritual classic is read - discussion time after. Generalizations.

I dont think that religious need a rule of life that spells out every little detail for every span of time in the day. I still dont think I am explaining my meaning adequately … but I certainly would not contradict anything in your post, and am not contradicting it.

But these are only my thoughts and not proclaiming any sort of teaching or doctrine etc. etc. Speculative thinking only …shared ponderings. I would be the first to take real fright if I thought that I was in any way outside mandatory Catholic teaching and beliefs.

Blessings and regards…Barb:)
 
👍 …very well said on all scores…For St. Faustina and religious I am sure that this is so re the religious vow of obedience. This does not mean that religious vows of obedience and keeping them are the only ways we can earn great merit of equal proportion, whatever.

I certainly do not mean that a proposed religious order should not have a superior to whom obedience is owed in the Rule. Nor do I mean that any such order should not have a Rule of Life. I am not saying that there should be no mortification or renunciation of self nor any other virtue.

As Catholic lay people we also are bound by obedience (our Baptismal Promises or Vows) and by a Rule of Life, which is what The Church teaches and what The Gospels proclaim and God’s Will for our own individual journeys. And we are not denied the heights of sanctity nor the call to the heights of sanctity of a religious etc. and are called to all the virtues that do apply in religious life without having an actual Rule of Life written for us and our days. What I meant was that I don’t think that a Rule of Life or a horarium or timetable within religious life needs to spell out for every moment. Certainly, as a community I think that there needs to be common observance of Prayer Times in Chapel. Although I have read that some communities for the Little Hours of Terce, Sext and None leave all of this or some of them to the individual sisters to pray in their own time.

As an example only…perhaps Fridays and Wednesdays are to be days of pentitential practises approved by the Superior or one’s spiritual director. There is to be a half hour of spiritual reading daily…not at 2pm - 2.30 Spiritual Reading …ie. generalizations rather than a rule to spell out all the details adn at what time etc. etc. Common sense indicates that in community life there are chores to be done and perhaps a weekly chore list with a sister or brother etc. assigned. Generalizations.

I dont think a Rule needs state that “sisters are to be charitable to each other and this means that…” rather, I think the Rule can state “charity is for all at all times regardless” or something along those lines. Perhaps the superior could give a weekly address on Charity or perhaps she appoint one of the sisters to do so. Question and answer times after. Perhaps once a week a Chapter or two of some spiritual classic is read - discussion time after. Generalizations.

I dont think that religious need a rule of life that spells out every little detail for every span of time in the day. I still dont think I am explaining my meaning adequately … but I certainly would not contradict anything in your post, and am not contradicting it.

But these are only my thoughts and not proclaiming any sort of teaching or doctrine etc. etc. Speculative thinking only …shared ponderings. I would be the first to take real fright if I thought that I was in any way outside mandatory Catholic teaching and beliefs.

Blessings and regards…Barb:)
Barb,
Excellent response to Rising Sons excellent post…

It is necessary to understand the difference between Strict obedience and Strict Rule.
This is something that I am considering as I discern a contemplative order for older adults. Such an order, made up of people who may be “Set-in-their-ways”, would look to combining strict-communal times and ordinances, with more general study, work and even leasure time. After all, such a group would be made up primarily of people who had spent their lives working, raising families etc. People use to setting their own agenda’s and while one certainly wishes to have good order within a community, one also wishes to have a joyful community that respects the gifts of each individual.

So, when one enters an order, they should certainly be prepared to submit fully to the Rule.
When one establishes an order, The wish is to design a rule that is Holy and Just, Strict yet possible to follow, and designed to attract the types of persons most suited to the particular charisms of the order.
Thus the two things can work in tandem.

At least that is my :twocents: worth

Peace
James
 
Hi, everyone
Those of you in discernment, think about this. Come to Ireland. Glendalough, in County Wicklow, is a monastic ruin. The monastery was founded in the 6th or 7th century by St. Kevin. As with all Irish monasteries founded in the golden age, the monks or nuns each lived in their own hut, either of stone or wood, and the cells, as these structures were called, were scattered round the chapel, where the community would gather for prayer several times a day.
With Elizabeth I, the monastery was suppressed for good. However, as of the year 2000, the Dublin archdiocese, has built five cells on the grounds of St. Keven’s parish church, where one can live in the style of an ancient monk or nun for about 50 euro per night, in a self catering situation. Minimum of two nights stay. Three Sisters of Mercy are on site, and they manage the place, also offering spiritual counsel, in the style of the anam chara of old.
I have been there, tried it, and it is a fantastic experience.
Thank you for this - It sounds georgeous!!
I am not sure, but I may have seen this place on an EWTN program called Catholic Ireland. But then again I may be thinking of something else.
In any event, it sounds wonderful.

Peace
James
 
Barb,
Excellent response to Rising Sons excellent post…

It is necessary to understand the difference between Strict obedience and Strict Rule.
This is something that I am considering as I discern a contemplative order for older adults. Such an order, made up of people who may be “Set-in-their-ways”, would look to combining strict-communal times and ordinances, with more general study, work and even leasure time. After all, such a group would be made up primarily of people who had spent their lives working, raising families etc. People use to setting their own agenda’s and while one certainly wishes to have good order within a community, one also wishes to have a joyful community that respects the gifts of each individual.

So, when one enters an order, they should certainly be prepared to submit fully to the Rule.
When one establishes an order, The wish is to design a rule that is Holy and Just, Strict yet possible to follow, and designed to attract the types of persons most suited to the particular charisms of the order.
Thus the two things can work in tandem.

At least that is my :twocents: worth

Peace
James
👍 …unity in diversity and diversity in unity - and I’m all for it. “In my Father’s House there are many mansions”…
And Peace to you and yours, James…Barb

…and “blessed are the peacemakers”👍
 
I am continuing my jaunt around Ireland. Last stop was Wexford. There, beside the Bride Street Church, is a contemplative order (technically it is a congregation, as the members take simple, not solemn vows; observe constitutional, rather than papal, enclosure; are Sisters, rather than nuns; and live in a convent, rather than a monastery).
It was founded by Bishop Furlong in the late 1860s or early 1870s, and its ministry is perpetual adoration. From a high of 38 members, they are down to 11. As a well known priest in Toronto stated, we need women who will enter cloisters to embrace the world. The Church needs consecrated religious life, and today, at mass, we prayed for vocations, particularly contemplative vocations.
These Sisters of Perpetual Adoration are no longer able to maintain continuous adoration; the 7.00 p.m. to midnight shift in the church adjoining the convent is undertaken by dedicated lay people (not that there is anything wrong with that!).
However, this one convent community is a treasure, and it would be a shame to lose it. They have a relationship with a similar sisterhood in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, founded by Father Julian Tennyson Woods (who was quite a character himself).
For those of you on this thread who are aware of the symbolism of colours, the Sisters wear a white tunic and veil, a red cord cincture, and a red scapular.
How about it, ladies, are there any takers from Europe? I realize this is not exactly ‘founding your own order,’ but revitalizing a community surely means in essence, the same thing.
 
Hi Sacred Heart Fan…I am one too! I love the name you have chosen and entirely creative…but when I moved on to your points below, you are absolutely positively inspired! ABSOLUTELY! This has the real true genius and gift and inspiration of taking St. Francis’s original charism (I dont know much about the Dominican charism except that they are big on learning and eduction) and gift to The Church and interpreting it in the light of our own times now…you really and truly have something unique, really unique in spiritual creativity … a facility that is in fact a mobile monastery is absolutely gifted and what a great witness it would be with such potential to evangelize…your points are worth isolating I thought…

This particularly took my eye! I dont think that we do need every single moment dictated by a rule or regulation of some kind. This type of thinking and innovation leaves room for the Holy Spirit to move and breathe quite freely…and such a way of life and a religious one does regard the brothers as mature adults striving to serve God and in Grace with The Holy Spirit - not potential reprobates who, unless governed by some rigid rule, will go completely astray and spread chaos and disaster…
Love it to pieces! God be with you and grant you The Grace to bring your vision and gift into reality…

The Lord’s richest blessings on you and yours…and your vocation…regards…Barb:)
Or sloth.

And sloth is a sure way to get tempted and lose!

That is why religious orders are called institutes of perfection.

There are rules that guide the person to Heaven.

There are no “mature adults” that want to serve God.

I hope you know what I mean.
 
Quoting : Pro Domina
Or sloth.

And sloth is a sure way to get tempted and lose!
…Totally agree. But I do not think that of necessity one needs a Rule of Life to be aware of sloth as deadly and to strive against it.
That is why religious orders are called institutes of perfection.

There are rules that guide the person to Heaven.
…Agree…The Rule should (and for the recognized traditional Rules of life, they do) guide the person to perfection and hence to Heaven. A Rule of Life, however, is not the only manner in which a person may strive for perfection and thus guided to Heaven. I have not carefully thought the matter through…but I do believe that a Rule of Life for religious need not spell out carefully the duty for ever moment of the day and that such would lead to moral decay and spiritual and community chaos. Quite respectfully, and you may not have read it/them, I think I have covered this in more detail in my previous post(s).
There are no “mature adults” that want to serve God.

I hope you know what I mean.
:confused: …my apologies, but I don’t understand. In our saints we have seen (because their lives are quite ‘public knowledge’) that there are mature adults who long to serve God and I believe that there still are these mature adults longing to serve God and striving to do so ardently, though their interior lives may not be at all public nor ever will be probably. They strive ardently and in ongoing renewal to keep their baptismal vows and to follow the Gospel.
 
I have actually seriously started considering forming my own religious order, so I have a few ideas.

My order would be Carmelite. It would definitely be a habited order, and I would lean towards the traditional Carmelite habit instead of the more modern one. I love the long veil.

The order would be contemplative/apostolic like the Carmelite DCJ sisters. I would probably have an apostolate of serving the unfortunate pregnant women who are facing trials, and considering abortion. The order’s mission would be similar to the Sisters of Life in that we would protect and enhance the dignity of human life. We would provide resources to those who are scared and alone. Many of the sisters would be certified/licensed in healthcare and would provide free or low-cost health screenings to pregnant women. We would also have a home for those whose mothers could not keep them and wanted to put them up for adoption. We would be adoption advocates for those who are considering abortion. So basically, entirely pro-life and pro-adoption.

We would have a deep devotion to Mary, since she is the model of motherhood, and also a deep devotion to St. Joseph since he is a protector of the innocents. The Eucharist would be the center of our apostolate because all strength comes from God. I would love to have perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

The age limit would be from 21-40. College education is not required before entrance, but would be a huge plus in acceptance. We would train the young ladies in the apostolate first, and after the temporary vows, we would request that they decide if they want to be a nurse or just a nursing assistant.

It would be my hope that eventually, the order would acquire a building to make in to a small birthing hospital and that obstetricians would provide their services free to the public.

I even have an idea for a name of the order:

Carmelite Sisters of the Holy Family and the Sacred Heart

I also have a name picked out for myself when I become a religious (God-willing):

Sr. Mary Anne Therese of the Sacred Heart

I love the Sacred Heart and the Devotion it and Divine Mercy are my very favorites. I’m sure I would include these devotions in my order, if I formed one. :crossrc:
 
I think there are more “new” charisms than the Holy Spirit actually inspired. So instead of inventing things why not give your life to one already. No offense to anyone, but there is nothing more pathetic for a person to say “I’m a founder” when its only her and some crazy person. This is not the begginings of a religious order.
It is the beggining of a possible circle of attention with rules and regulations.

I used she because men seem to be less crazy about founding.
It is usually a priest that does these things. And they rarely work.

Ever heard of the joke…

There only somethings God does not know…

How much money the Franciscans have…

What the Jesuits are planning next…

And how many female religious orders are there…
 
I think there are more “new” charisms than the Holy Spirit actually inspired. So instead of inventing things why not give your life to one already. No offense to anyone, but there is nothing more pathetic for a person to say “I’m a founder” when its only her and some crazy person. This is not the begginings of a religious order.
It is the beggining of a possible circle of attention with rules and regulations.

I used she because men seem to be less crazy about founding.
It is usually a priest that does these things. And they rarely work.

Ever heard of the joke…

There only somethings God does not know…

How much money the Franciscans have…

What the Jesuits are planning next…

And how many female religious orders are there…
Some truth I thought in the above. Over and above that I would not tie The Lord down to my rules and regulations about matters i.e. what He can and cannot effect. Many of our now traditional relgious orders were persecuted in one way or another in the lives of their foundress, who also underwent persecution.
Other than that the question posed as the title of this thread is theoretical with an “If”…my particular thoughts are a very big theoretical “If” indeed…and are only my theoretical thoughts.
Interestingly one of the great Rules, that of St. Albert, outlines more a spirit to be lived out than abc’s of what is to be done when although this is in the rule too but to a very minimal degree. The Rule of St. Albert of course is the Rule of the Carmelite Order.
The Rule of St. Albert is very brief marked by simplicity:
geocities.com/korvesem/carmel/albert.html

I think that the Rule of St. Basil is also very brief.

Blessings and my regards…Barb:)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top