oblates

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sir_galahad

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Can anyone tell me what an oblate is? I wrote to a religious order asking about the brotherhood and the vocations director told me that they have oblates who normally recieve minor ordinations.
 
I think that there are several oblates on this board, so hopefully one of them will give you a good answer. In the meantime, I can tell you that an oblate is a layperson who makes certain promises to a religious community, like swearing to live by their rule. I don’t think oblates take official vows, but the promises they make are similar to vows. You will also hear oblates referred to as “third orders”. In that usage, the “first order” is composed of brothers and religious priests. The “second order” is sisters and nuns. And the “third order” can be lay people or secular (diocesan) priests.

I am by no means an expert, so hopefully other forum members will now chime in to correct and clarify.

–Bill
 
the word “oblate” means offering and originally referred to a youngster who was offered to the monastery by his or her parents. remember this was in a time when children were routinely given by parents to service in households of the wealthy, as apprentices in trades or guilds, or to the military, and the monastery was an alternative, especially for a boy who showed academic gifts or suitability for life of service to the Church.

today many religious orders have affliates, third orders, seculars or oblates who are lay people who join the order for prayer, spiritual direction and support of the work of the order. They adopt the spiritual charism of the order and adapt it to daily life in the world. they do not take vows, but make a profession or oblation. Benedictines have oblates, Franciscans have Seculars, etc.

the way to find out is through members of an order near you whose work and spirituality you admire and wish to imitate.
 
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