Secular third orders with full habits

[Bookcat]

OK.
I am sure a lay association would probably OK just about everywhere, though

One can be a member of various associations of the Faithful.

Monasteries though often do not allow tertiaries to be oblates.

I would also discourage tertaries from seeking to be oblates or other kinds of tertiaries…for such is more in terms of “vocation” it would seem to me to be rare to be “two kinds” of tertiary…for it is a way of life…etc

 

[EvelynEVF]

We have a person beginning formation with the SFO who is currently a Benedictine Oblate. She will need to be released by her Benedictine monastery before she could be admitted into the Franciscan fraternity. Each one is a distinct vocation, and it is necessary to pick only one.

 

[Bookcat]

Hahahah I meant any of you knowledgable folks able to post the secular orders. For instance if the Redmptorists have a secular order or such? Like I PM’ed JR it wasn’t until I came across this post that I realized there were even Secular Orders. I have only been in the Church since 2008 but because of this post I have actually made contact with Seculars Franciscans in my area and they have responded. Just wondering besides Dominicans, Discalced Carmelites, Secular Franciscans what other secular orders are there so that people like me can get involved. Thanks guys/gals.

Ok here you go from top of my head (some official names may be a wee bit off they change and have had different names down through the centuries):

Secular Franciscans (Franciscan Tertiaries)
Lay Dominicans ( Dominican Tertiaries)
Secular Order of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinitarian Tertiaries)
Mercedarian Third Order (Mercedarian Tertiaries)
Lay Carmelite Third Order (Carmelite Tertiaries)
Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites (Discalced Carmelite Tertiaries)
Secular Servites (Servite Tertiaries)
Secular Augustinians (Augustinian Tertiaries)
Secular Augustinian Recollects (Augustinian Recollect Tertiaries)

Some others existed in the past…for some Orders that have only one Branch today…had more than one in history. Such as a discalced branch. The above however all exist currently.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

One can be a member of various associations of the Faithful.

Monasteries though often do not allow tertiaries to be oblates.

I would also discourage tertaries from seeking to be oblates or other kinds of tertiaries…for such is more in terms of “vocation” it would seem to me to be rare to be “two kinds” of tertiary…for it is a way of life…etc

Good point

 

[Bookcat]

We have a person beginning formation with the SFO who is currently a Benedictine Oblate. She will need to be released by her Benedictine monastery before she could be admitted into the Franciscan fraternity. Each one is a distinct vocation, and it is necessary to pick only one.

In regards to Benedictine oblation yes such is often the case. The particular monastery may not permit such (understandably)

Also perhaps some Secular Orders or Local provinces may not permit one to belong to another Order. However under current Canon Law (Roman) one can be a tertiary of more than one Order (as have some Saints in the past) …but as I noted before such I think should be rare…for as you note it is more of a question of particular vocation…and usually that will be one or another in terms of Secular Orders.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

In regards to Benedictine oblation yes such is often the case. The particular monastery may not permit such (understandably)

Also perhaps some Secular Orders or Local provinces may not permit one to belong to another Order. However under current Canon Law (Roman) one can be a tertiary of more than one Order (as have some Saints in the past) …but as I noted before such I think should be rare…for as you note it is more of a question of particular vocation…and usually that will be one or another in terms of Secular Orders.

St Thomas More was a Benedictine Oblate and a Third Order Franciscan (for example)

 

[EvelynEVF]

The problem for the Benedictine is not the Benedictines. It’s the SFO it is my understanding that this is universal for the Order.

I’m guessing that whatever Canon you’re looking at that deals with “tertiaries” is talking about lay people associated with the first order of whatever family? Since the SFO is canonically free-standing, if you’re an SFO, you’re an SFO and nothing else. It would be like being a Franciscan friar plus a lay Dominican. Wouldn’t that make one’s head spin?

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

The problem for the Benedictine is not the Benedictines. It’s the SFO it is my understanding that this is universal for the Order.

I’m guessing that whatever Canon you’re looking at that deals with “tertiaries” is talking about lay people associated with the first order of whatever family? Since the SFO is canonically free-standing, if you’re an SFO, you’re an SFO and nothing else. It would be like being a Franciscan friar plus a lay Dominican. Wouldn’t that make one’s head spin?

 

[Bookcat]

The problem for the Benedictine is not the Benedictines. It’s the SFO it is my understanding that this is universal for the Order.

I’m guessing that whatever Canon you’re looking at that deals with “tertiaries” is talking about lay people associated with the first order of whatever family? Since the SFO is canonically free-standing, if you’re an SFO, you’re an SFO and nothing else. It would be like being a Franciscan friar plus a lay Dominican. Wouldn’t that make one’s head spin?

The impediment is not canonical. The same Canon for SFO is the same for all the Secular Orders.

But yes the impediment can lie on both sides …for the SFO may have decided not to permit such…as well as the particular Benedictine Monastery.

 

[JReducation]

In regards to Benedictine oblation yes such is often the case. The particular monastery may not permit such (understandably)

Also perhaps some Secular Orders or Local provinces may not permit one to belong to another Order. However under current Canon Law (Roman) one can be a tertiary of more than one Order (as have some Saints in the past) …but as I noted before such I think should be rare…for as you note it is more of a question of particular vocation…and usually that will be one or another in terms of Secular Orders.

One may be a member of two third orders as long as neither of them is a Canonical Order of Pontifical Right. That’s the problem withe Secular Franciscans. Canonically, they are not a Franciscan association.

Secular Franciscans are a Canonical Order of Pontifical Right with the same rights and duties as the friars, the nuns and the sisters in the Franciscan family. Their profession is equivalent to mine, even though I’m a friar. This is not the case with any other Third Order in the Church. They are the only canonical secular order. Just as I can’t be a Dominican and Franciscan, neither can they. They are bound to the proper law of their institute, which was approve by a Papal Bull issued by Paul VI in 1978. Prior to that by Pope Honorius in 1221.

They really do not belong in this discussion. They are in a category all by themselves. Neither do oblates belong in this discussion. Oblates are not a Third Order. They are a different canonical animal.

In the case of the Secular Franciscans there are deacons, priests, bishops and even popes among them. They are not just a lay order. The Secular Franciscans are both lay and clerical. What they are not is consecrated religious. A Secular Franciscan priest is not a consecrated religious, but he is as much a Franciscan as I am. And his profession is as binding as mine is. We follow a different rules and different constitutions. Our community structures are different.

If I’m not mistaken, the Benedictine Oblates also have clergy. Someone correct me, if I’m wrong on this one.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[EvelynEVF]

“Canonical animal.” I think that’s even more fun that “juridical personality!” I think I’m going to have to figure out how to bookmark your last post, Br JR, because this “tertiary” thing comes up an awful lot, and clearly nobody takes my word for it

 

[Bookcat]

One may be a member of two third orders as long as neither of them is a Canonical Order of Pontifical Right. That’s the problem withe Secular Franciscans. Canonically, they are not a Franciscan association.

Secular Franciscans are a Canonical Order of Pontifical Right with the same rights and duties as the friars, the nuns and the sisters in the Franciscan family. Their profession is equivalent to mine, even though I’m a friar. This is not the case with any other Third Order in the Church. They are the only canonical secular order. Just as I can’t be a Dominican and Franciscan, neither can they. They are bound to the proper law of their institute, which was approve by a Papal Bull issued by Paul VI in 1978. Prior to that by Pope Honorius in 1221.

Such is not the case…

In certain periods of the past perhaps…like under the 1917 code. But not currently under the 1983 code. Also various other tertiaries are members of the Orders per se as tertiaries…such was not simply a Franciscan thing.

If a SFO can not be a member of another Third Order this is from their particular Constitutions or Statutes…not from some particular status via Canon Law.

(but again not that I recommend any seek to be a member of two Third Orders)

PS…all Secular Orders are also bound by the proper law of their institute …and all are associations under Canon 303 of the Latin code…even if they are part of the Order per se.

 

[JReducation]

“Canonical animal.” I think that’s even more fun that “juridical personality!” I think I’m going to have to figure out how to bookmark your last post, Br JR, because this “tertiary” thing comes up an awful lot, and clearly nobody takes my word for it

“Canonical animal” is the term that I use whenever one of these situations comes us that is not clearly defined in Canon Law, because it’s very specific. You see, Canon Law, like the Constitution of the USA is written to cover those areas and legal questions that are more common. By common, we mean that it involves the whole Church, not just one particular group or person, just as the Constitution does not address specific legal questions that involve one group or person. They address the common good.

Often, what happens in the Church is the same thing that happens in secular society. Situations come up that are not addressed in the law. In a secular state, you would take it to the proper authority to address. That could be the Congress, the State Legislature or the courts. Someone passes either a law or hands down a ruling. Nevertheless, these laws and rulings are not recorded in the Constitution of the nation or of the individual State. They are recorded elsewhere. There are many rules and laws in the Church that do not appear in Canon Law, because they are very specific, but they have juridical authority over all the faithful, especially those to whom they speak. In this case, the faithful, whether Franciscan or not, have to accept the SFO as a true canonical order of Pontifical Right. Rome has spoken.

The case of the Secular Franciscan Order is one of them. The name was very carefully chosen, when the name change took place. It’s canonical name was never The Third Order Franciscan. That was just a way of specifying to which of Francis’ three orders you belong. People identified them in chronological order.

The Third Order was coined by the Franciscans, because we were the first religious family to have three orders. The Dominicans were founded before us, but they had two orders. Dominic founded the Order of Preacher Nuns. They were a cloistered order dedicated to pray for preachers. About two-years later, he founded the Order of Preacher Brothers. In chronology, the Dominican Nuns are the first order Dominicans and the friars are the second order. Later, the Dominicans would start a lay movement borrowing from the Franciscans, but following the Rule of St. Augustine and the Spirit of Dominic. Other third orders followed.

Francis’ third order was different for the following reasons.

1. 
   *]Francis gave the order its own rule and its own government. The friars and the Poor Clares have never been superiors to the Order of Penance.
   
   *]Francis allowed deacons, priests and bishops to join his third order. Clergy are not laymen. They are a secular order, because these brothers and sisters made a solemn promise to live according to the rule until death. They deliberately, did not make the three vows. However, the rule and the constitutions clearly speak about the life of poverty, obedience to the Church and to the order, and the importance of a life of chastity. This is why it has been written that the profession of the Secular Franciscan is equal to that of the friars.
   
   *]Because it was founded by Francis himself, there is no doubt as to what was his intention. It’s mission is not the same as that of the friars or the nuns. Unlike the Dominicans who all share the same mission, because they are linked. We Franciscans are not linked. Francis gave each of his orders a different mission and vision. In addition, other third orders were added to the different religious families at the petition of the faithful, usually, not by the founders.
   
   *]Finally, the third order of St. Francis has always, to this day, been required to hold a general chapter to revise their constitutions and those constitutions must be approved by the Holy Father himself. To the best of my knowledge, they are the only third order who has to do this. This is normally done by religious orders, of Pontifical Right. Pontifical Right means that no one except the Holy Father may intervene in their affairs. For example, once the local bishop gives permission for the Secular Franciscans to start a new fraternity in his diocese, he may not suppress it or intervene in its affairs, ministry or finances…
   
   To see that the SFO is a canonical order, it’s in your rule, your constitutions and in several documents that you can find on the international site of the SFO.
   
   That’s why I said, that I don’t think that the Secular Franciscan Order belongs in this list, because it’s a different canonical animal. It has laymen and clerics. It is autonomous and answers only to the Holy Father, not to the Franciscan friars or the Franciscan women religious.
   
   To get back to this thread, the order did have an official habit. It was abrogated by Paul VI. However, any pope can bring it back. Or the General Chapter can write it into the constitutions and submit them to the Holy See for approval.
   
   My community was founded by a merger of Capuchin Friars and Secular Franciscans who responded to the call to preach the Gospel of Life. We claim Franciscan Succession, because we never broke away from the family nor were we founded by someone outside of the family. Our first superior was a former Secular Franciscan. Since he was fully professed, that makes him a legitimate successor of St. Francis. I still do formation work for the SFO in my area.
   
   **“It should be remembered that the SFO is directly dependant on the Holy See, and the Pope” ** From a letter written by the Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Lif to the SFO, May 9, 2010.
   
   ciofs.org/Y2009/a9ENrodelet.html
   
   Fraternally,
   
   Br. JR, OSF

 

[Bookcat]

One may be a member of two third orders as long as neither of them is a Canonical Order of Pontifical Right.

Such I do not think is the case…it has to do with the proper Constitutions or Statutes of the particular Third Order.

That’s the problem withe Secular Franciscans. Canonically, they are not a Franciscan association.

With all due respect I do your post is incorrect on various things

The SFO are still an association…coming under canon 303

Secular Franciscans are a Canonical Order of Pontifical Right with the same rights and duties as the friars, the nuns and the sisters in the Franciscan family.

Well that simply can not be the case…for they do not have the same rights nor the same duties as the Friars, Nuns and Sisters…even the Friars and the Sisters have different rights and duties than each other…but YES they are Franciscans just as are the other members of the Franciscan Family

Their profession is equivalent to mine, even though I’m a friar.

Such is also not the case. Their Profession is a solemn promise …yours are vows…such are VERY different and not equivalent. For example yours is binding under pain of moral sin…via the virtue of Religion and has the other characteristics of a vow…and in your case that of a religious vow…theirs does not…and theirs is not binding in conscience under pain of sin…they are two very different things. Much more could be said…but that would be a whole study on third orders and religious !

This is not the case with any other Third Order in the Church.

Again simply not the case for the above reasons and from the reasons that other Third Orders are similar in their Profession and membership in their Order and some actually can have vows…where as most have the solemn promise

They are the only canonical secular order.

Again such is not the case…all secular Orders are canonical or they would not be secular orders…they all …including the SFO fall under Canon 303 of the 1983 Latin Code of Canon Law

Just as I can’t be a Dominican and Franciscan, neither can they. They are bound to the proper law of their institute, which was approve by a Papal Bull issued by Paul VI in 1978. Prior to that by Pope Honorius in 1221.

All Secular Orders/ Third Orders are bound by the Proper Law of their institute…and several of them approved by Popes if not all…some very long ago… And actually all third orders fall under the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life even though they are not in Consecrate Life…

Neither do oblates belong in this discussion. Oblates are not a Third Order. They are a different canonical animal.

Oblates are different for sure…but they have some similarities and they predate third orders

In the case of the Secular Franciscans there are deacons, priests, bishops and even popes among them. They are not just a lay order.

So do other Secular Orders!!! …even Popes…

The Secular Franciscans are both lay and clerical. What they are not is consecrated religious. A Secular Franciscan priest is not a consecrated religious, but he is as much a Franciscan as I am.

Same is true of other Secular Orders! There are Priests etc in the various other Secular Orders…and there have been Popes who have been tertiaries of other Orders

And his profession is as binding as mine is.

Such was discussed above…his Profession is not as binding as yours.

Have a great Weds!..and lets us all follow Christ faithfully!

If I’m not mistaken, the Benedictine Oblates also have clergy. Someone correct me, if I’m wrong on this one.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[JReducation]

The impediment is not canonical. The same Canon for SFO is the same for all the Secular Orders.

But yes the impediment can lie on both sides …for the SFO may have decided not to permit such…as well as the particular Benedictine Monastery.

The impediment was imposed by the Sacred Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated LIfe. It was the will of the Sacred Congregation that no one be admitted to the Secular Franciscan Order who is a professed member of any other order or public association that requires a profession…

It was the wish of the Sacred Congregation to keep the consistency between the friars, the nuns and the seculars. When the constitution was submitted to the Holy See, the Sacred Congregation added this legislation. If the General Chapter did not pass this legislation, then the Sacred Congregation would refuse to send the constitution to the Holy Father for his signature.

There was one more thing that the Sacred Congregation added that was not written into the constitutions, because it was already in the admonitions of St. Francis. The Sacred Congregation wanted it clear that the Secular Franciscan Order is an Order of Pontifical Right. The Sacred Congregation insisted that it say in its constitutions that it answers only to the pope, not to the friars, nuns or even the bishops. That action placed the Secular Franciscan Order on the same canonical level as the Friars and Nuns. They were no longer subordinate, associated, or attached to us. They were an autonomous Franciscan Order and a separate juridical person. However, they have a voice and a vote on all matters Franciscan along with the other General Ministers. I believe that this is very unique to them.

Since they become an association of Pontifical Right and the law says that you cannot belong to two institutes of Pontifical Right which require a profession of obedience, that’s why you must turn away anyone who belongs to another group that requires obedience to them and to their rule. I know very little about Benedictine Oblates. But I do know that every Benedictine Congregation is an institute of Pontifical Right, unless it’s founded by a local bishop.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Bookcat]

Ok here you go from top of my head (some official names may be a wee bit off they change and have had different names down through the centuries):

Secular Franciscans (Franciscan Tertiaries)
Lay Dominicans ( Dominican Tertiaries)
Secular Order of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinitarian Tertiaries)
Mercedarian Third Order (Mercedarian Tertiaries)
Lay Carmelite Third Order (Carmelite Tertiaries)
Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites (Discalced Carmelite Tertiaries)
Secular Servites (Servite Tertiaries)
Secular Augustinians (Augustinian Tertiaries)
Secular Augustinian Recollects (Augustinian Recollect Tertiaries)

Some others existed in the past…for some Orders that have only one Branch today…had more than one in history. Such as a discalced branch. The above however all exist currently.

Opps…I should have mentioned too the Minims…forgot them

 

[Bookcat]

The impediment was imposed by the Sacred Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated LIfe. It was the will of the Sacred Congregation that no one be admitted to the Secular Franciscan Order who is a professed member of any other order or public association that requires a profession…

What year?

It was the wish of the Sacred Congregation to keep the consistency between the friars, the nuns and the seculars. When the constitution was submitted to the Holy See, the Sacred Congregation added this legislation. If the General Chapter did not pass this legislation, then the Sacred Congregation would refuse to send the constitution to the Holy Father for his signature.

same question…

There was one more thing that the Sacred Congregation added that was not written into the constitutions, because it was already in the admonitions of St. Francis. The Sacred Congregation wanted it clear that the Secular Franciscan Order is an Order of Pontifical Right. The Sacred Congregation insisted that it say in its constitutions that it answers only to the pope, not to the friars, nuns or even the bishops. That action placed the Secular Franciscan Order on the same canonical level as the Friars and Nuns. They were no longer subordinate, associated, or attached to us. They were an autonomous Franciscan Order and a separate juridical person. However, they have a voice and a vote on all matters Franciscan along with the other General Ministers. I believe that this is very unique to them.

Being an Order of Pontifical Right is the case with a number of or orders…and would not be from the admonitions of St. Francis but would be granted by the Holy See…and the various Orders generally see the members as sharing fully in the Charism …and even some as members per se of the Order…even if autonomous. All Third Orders/Secular Orders by Canon Law are subject to the higher superiors in the Order…this is part of their vary nature…

Since they become an association of Pontifical Right and the law says that you cannot belong to two institutes of Pontifical Right which require a profession of obedience, that’s why you must turn away anyone who belongs to another group that requires obedience to them and to their rule. I know very little about Benedictine Oblates. But I do know that every Benedictine Congregation is an institute of Pontifical Right, unless it’s founded by a local bishop.

Again …I do not recommend such…but my understanding is that one may…but perhaps some recent decision has changed things…but it would not apply if so…to only the SFO

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Bookcat]

Secular Franciscans (Franciscan Tertiaries)
Lay Dominicans ( Dominican Tertiaries)
Secular Order of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinitarian Tertiaries)
Mercedarian Third Order (Mercedarian Tertiaries)
Lay Carmelite Third Order (Carmelite Tertiaries)
Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites (Discalced Carmelite Tertiaries)
Secular Servites (Servite Tertiaries)
Secular Augustinians (Augustinian Tertiaries)
Secular Augustinian Recollects (Augustinian Recollect Tertiaries)
Minims Tertiary

These are the historical (current) Third Orders Secular (CIC 303)

 

[JReducation]

Bookcat:
**What we have now shown in the primitive legislation of the Franciscan movement enables us to list the constitutive elements of the profession of the Brothers and Sisters of Penance. It involves:

a) an obligation contracted before God;

b) the commitment to observe a form of life or Rule;

c) definitive incorporation into the Order.

The same elements are also constitutive of religious profession, and this leads us to maintain that the propositum vitae or promise of the Secular Franciscan Penitents are equivalent to a religious profession.**

Decreed at the General Chapter, approved by the Council of Francsican Ministers General and by the Sacred Congregation for publication throughout the Franciscan family. Nov 15, 2008. Written and submitted by Br. Felice Cangelosi OFM Cap, Vicar General of the Friars Minor Capuchin.

As to association, the way that I was using the term I mean that they are not in association with one of the Franciscan orders. They are completely autonomous. We have no jurisdiction over them, nor do we even follow the same rule of life. Our relationship is fraternal, because we are sons and daughters of the same spiritual father.

As to rights and duties:

own property
elect their own government
have their own constitution
represent themselves before the Holy See
cannot be suppressed by a bishop once he has given them permission to enter his diocese
bound to live according to the rule that St. Francis gave them
bound to serve the Church according to the mind of St. Francis
bound to a fraternal life
bound to a routine of prayer and liturgy

These are all of the same rights and duties as the friars and the nuns. There is nothing different.

The friars Ministers General have determined that the profession of the SFO and the friars are just as binding, with the difference being that one is a vow and the other is a solemn promise, but they bind us to live the same thing: “To live the Gospel according to the Rule of St. Francis for (insert order), until death” However, both are public liturgical actions that are received by the respective order and the Church. The Church expects both the friar and the secular to be faithful to his covenant. The difference between the vow and the solemn promise has to do with dispensation. The vow can only be dispensed by the Holy See and with some exceptions, it can be dispensed by the Major Superior.

I hope that my clarification of the language is helpful.

What you have to remember is that there are things that are not written in canon law that are written in other documents approved by the Holy See or even the Holy Father himself. Also, each religious family has its own vision of itself. If all were exactly as canon law paints them, there would be no diversity of gifts. Canon Law looks for common elements. It does not address specifics that may be particular to Dominicans, for example. That would addressed between the OP and the Holy See. But the conclusion does not make it less juridically binding. It’s just not included in canon law, because it never came up or because it’s unique to the Dominicans, just an example. I could have used Salesians.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Bookcat]

What we have now shown in the primitive legislation of the Franciscan movement enables us to list the constitutive elements of the profession of the Brothers and Sisters of Penance. It involves:

a) an obligation contracted before God;

the nature of things was VERY DIFFERENT in the primitive Rule…ast it is now there is no obligation in conscience and no vows…but yes a real committment of course…a solemn promise if you will

b) the commitment to observe a form of life or Rule;yes of course

c) definitive incorporation into the Order.

Again in the primitive Rule things were different…but Yes if they are member of the Order sure…but not the same as the religious …not as binding…

The same elements are also constitutive of religious profession, and this leads us to maintain that the propositum vitae or promise of the Secular Franciscan Penitents are equivalent to a religious profession.

They are “equivalent” if such can be said…only in certain senses…for example they are a Franciscan Profession…they have a rule …they are fully made Franciscans…but not equivalent in the senses I mentioned among others …

and to compare the primitive rule with the current rule …one is talking about the same institute but yet something very different…

Decreed at the General Chapter, approved by the Council of Francsican Ministers General and by the Sacred Congregation for publication throughout the Franciscan family. Nov 15, 2008. Written and submitted by Br. Felice Cangelosi OFM Cap, Vicar General of the Friars Minor Capuchin.

So it is rather new…that clears that up…was after my more active theological work on the tertiary vocation

As to association, the way that I was using the term I mean that they are not in association with one of the Franciscan orders. They are completely autonomous. We have no jurisdiction over them, nor do we even follow the same rule of life.

Yes of course…the Third Orders are autonomous …but they are still under the jurisdiction of the some of the Superiors of the Religious Order…such is the very nature of being a Third Order…such as the Minister General prob in your case

Our relationship is fraternal, because we are sons and daughters of the same spiritual father.

These are all of the same rights and duties as the friars and the nuns. There is nothing different.

I beg to differ here…there is much different between lay persons …between seculars and religious…

The friars Ministers General have determined that the profession of the SFO and the friars are just as binding, with the difference being that one is a vow and the other is a solemn promise, but they bind us to live the same thing: “To live the Gospel according to the Rule of St. Francis for (insert order), until death”

By NATURE such is not “just as binding” …you have a bit of misunderstanding what they mean here…but yes they are to live the same Charism and are all Franciscan Brothers and Sisters…

The difference between the vow and the solemn promise has to do with dispensation. The vow can only be dispensed by the Holy See and with some exceptions, it can be dispensed by the Major Superior.

There is a great deal more of a difference here…a vow is a very different animal

I hope that my clarification of the language is helpful.

What you have to remember is that there are things that are not written in canon law that are written in other documents approved by the Holy See or even the Holy Father himself. Also, each religious family has its own vision of itself. If all were exactly as canon law paints them, there would be no diversity of gifts.

Actually Canon Law fits ALL of the third orders…yes there are various differences between them…but they all fit the canons in Canon Law…particularly 303 (and must do so)

Canon Law looks for common elements. It does not address specifics

Yes exactly!

that may be particular to Dominicans, for example. That would addressed between the OP and the Holy See. But the conclusion does not make it less juridically binding. It’s just not included in canon law, because it never came up or because it’s unique to the Dominicans, just an example. I could have used Salesians.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF