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Learner1969
Guest
Is there any one on who are members of the Third Order and who would like to share their experience.
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Roseeurekacross
Guest
maybe move this to vocations?
Ask a regular to do it
Ask a regular to do it
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Learner1969
Guest
I would’nt have a clue how to move it, anyone help???
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Roseeurekacross
Guest
Hmm.
@ratio1
@ratio1
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Learner1969
Guest
If we have enough faith we can make mountains move but not a silly little post!!!
Cloisters
Well-known member
Only mods can move posts. Obviously, this one got moved.
The Secular Franciscan Order is an order unto itself, which is what St. Francis wanted. When I was in college, I roomed temporarily with an SFO, and she said “Poverty and Joy” were their thing. I think she had about five or six outfits and that was it. I’ve known other SFOs, both in real life and online.
I think this is the main website for the US:
http://www.nafra.sfo.org/
(Someone please tell CAF tech that I was unable to cut and paste the link. Thanks!)
It’s been my observation that what Francis does, Dominic explains. To that, I would add “while Angelus prays” to include the Carmelites.
Blessings,
Mrs Cloisters OP
Lay Dominican
http://cloisters.tripod.com/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/holyangels/id9.html/
The Secular Franciscan Order is an order unto itself, which is what St. Francis wanted. When I was in college, I roomed temporarily with an SFO, and she said “Poverty and Joy” were their thing. I think she had about five or six outfits and that was it. I’ve known other SFOs, both in real life and online.
I think this is the main website for the US:
http://www.nafra.sfo.org/
(Someone please tell CAF tech that I was unable to cut and paste the link. Thanks!)
It’s been my observation that what Francis does, Dominic explains. To that, I would add “while Angelus prays” to include the Carmelites.
Blessings,
Mrs Cloisters OP
Lay Dominican
http://cloisters.tripod.com/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/holyangels/id9.html/
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RCIAGraduate
Guest
Ms.Cloister, I know you don’t read the minds and souls of all Catholics but from your perspective, why aren’t third orders more common or widespread, is it a special calling like the Holy Orders? Why don’t millions of people join Third Orders or Lay Orders, or is this something not to be taken lightly?
Additionally, what do you in regards to the future of Third Orders, could you see more and more of the laity joining (like rediscovering a “lost treasure” like how some found the TLM or EF Mass) or will they continue to be hidden jewels and gems away from the rest of the world, including much of the church?
Please forgive me if the questions seem annoying.
Additionally, what do you in regards to the future of Third Orders, could you see more and more of the laity joining (like rediscovering a “lost treasure” like how some found the TLM or EF Mass) or will they continue to be hidden jewels and gems away from the rest of the world, including much of the church?
Please forgive me if the questions seem annoying.
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Fauken
Guest
Well, you do make promises (albeit not vows) and are bound to a Rule of that order. Your final promises are for life, so yes, it’s not something to be taken lightly. It’s also hard to be part of a Third Order if they don’t have a chapter nearby you, and some are not so widely available.
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mrsdizzyd
Guest
Being in a third order is not like Holy Orders at all, but it is not to be taken lightly. You make public promises, live out a charism, etc.
There is a discernment period. It usually takes years to become a full member of the order (usually life membership) and you may discernment your way out during that time.
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Cloisters
Well-known member
Not annoying at all. I find that many laity are clueless as to what they can do within the church. My primary organization, which is my OP apostolate, received much scrutiny from the laity because they had no idea they could have such an organization – even to the point of trying to discredit me. They’re also ignorant that laity can found religious communities, despite there being lay founders since the 1200s, and possibly before.
Do the laity know how to LISTEN interiorly? Vatican II said that sanctity is possible in the lay state, and encouraged Salesian spiritualilty, but this coincided with the sexual revolution, and souls have gone off the deep end. Religious life has suffered. Many potential vocations have been destroyed through abortion and birth control. There has been an over-emphasis on the lay state because of the idolatry of physical relations.
Couple this with what I’ve said above, and we have what I feel is the manifestation of “many called, few chosen.” If those within lay associations, third orders, and oblatures live their rules, and are faithful to the Magisterium, then Our Lady should protect and promote them. Just as in the religious life, the vocations come from a genuine living of the rule.
I am a convert and didn’t know Third Orders existed. I read about the Third Order saints, but didn’t know what it meant. When I lived in Louisville, KY, while attending college there, I discovered a Dominican church a few blocks from my dorm. I had been a daily communicant before moving, and the lack of the Eucharist set me into depression. I asked God what He wanted of me, and after Mass one day, I felt unseen hands lead me to the sign outside the church. Then my attention was drawn to the words “Third Order of St. Dominic”. It took reading “The Perfect Joy of St. Francis” at my next college to finally figure out what was being said.
The laity have to stop fooling around to discover what God wants them to do. If they do that, then perhaps they will discover the third orders. Hopefully, persons such as myself will help bring home the reality of such a life.
Do the laity know how to LISTEN interiorly? Vatican II said that sanctity is possible in the lay state, and encouraged Salesian spiritualilty, but this coincided with the sexual revolution, and souls have gone off the deep end. Religious life has suffered. Many potential vocations have been destroyed through abortion and birth control. There has been an over-emphasis on the lay state because of the idolatry of physical relations.
Couple this with what I’ve said above, and we have what I feel is the manifestation of “many called, few chosen.” If those within lay associations, third orders, and oblatures live their rules, and are faithful to the Magisterium, then Our Lady should protect and promote them. Just as in the religious life, the vocations come from a genuine living of the rule.
I am a convert and didn’t know Third Orders existed. I read about the Third Order saints, but didn’t know what it meant. When I lived in Louisville, KY, while attending college there, I discovered a Dominican church a few blocks from my dorm. I had been a daily communicant before moving, and the lack of the Eucharist set me into depression. I asked God what He wanted of me, and after Mass one day, I felt unseen hands lead me to the sign outside the church. Then my attention was drawn to the words “Third Order of St. Dominic”. It took reading “The Perfect Joy of St. Francis” at my next college to finally figure out what was being said.
The laity have to stop fooling around to discover what God wants them to do. If they do that, then perhaps they will discover the third orders. Hopefully, persons such as myself will help bring home the reality of such a life.
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RCIAGraduate
Guest
a. Do you think despite the massive setbacks after VII, there has been good fruit (possibly attributed to VII) as seen in the emergence or “flowering” of certain laity based movements like the “lay associations, third orders, and oblatures” even if times weren’t the brightest, one would hope there are good fruits since that council.
b. This is going to sound very cynical and basically sound like a business strategy, so please forgive me if you find this offensive or sacrilegious, but do you think parishes can help crave up and broaden their “appeal” by playing up to the identity of the Saints or Devotions that are their namesake? Granted, I don’t think said Saint would appreciate being reduce to a “company logo” but could we see some “cool stuff” if the parish community tried to adopt the spirituality/spirit of their namesake, maybe even create an engaged and active community with a special identity?
c. Do you see our Third Orders (and perhaps other lay movements) as a precious “well-kept” secret in our Church?
b. This is going to sound very cynical and basically sound like a business strategy, so please forgive me if you find this offensive or sacrilegious, but do you think parishes can help crave up and broaden their “appeal” by playing up to the identity of the Saints or Devotions that are their namesake? Granted, I don’t think said Saint would appreciate being reduce to a “company logo” but could we see some “cool stuff” if the parish community tried to adopt the spirituality/spirit of their namesake, maybe even create an engaged and active community with a special identity?
c. Do you see our Third Orders (and perhaps other lay movements) as a precious “well-kept” secret in our Church?
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Cloisters
Well-known member
a. God has a way of bringing good out of bad, so yes, I’m sure if we’re attentive we will see what lessons He wants to teach us.
b. I’ve always told the monasteries that their patrons aren’t there just to look pretty. Storm Heaven through their monastery’s patrons’ intercession, and their founders, for vocations. When I was in college, a Poor Clare sent me devotional materials for our town’s parish, named for St. Clare. The package was never used, and the new priest gave it back to me. I think we are missing huge graces for not imploring the assistance of our parish patrons through perpetual novenas.
c. The Southern Dominican friars’ liaison with the laity wrote a book about us, and referred to us (and probably the laity in general) as a “sleeping giant.” So yes, we can have lay saints, but we need holy convents to help with that.
b. I’ve always told the monasteries that their patrons aren’t there just to look pretty. Storm Heaven through their monastery’s patrons’ intercession, and their founders, for vocations. When I was in college, a Poor Clare sent me devotional materials for our town’s parish, named for St. Clare. The package was never used, and the new priest gave it back to me. I think we are missing huge graces for not imploring the assistance of our parish patrons through perpetual novenas.
c. The Southern Dominican friars’ liaison with the laity wrote a book about us, and referred to us (and probably the laity in general) as a “sleeping giant.” So yes, we can have lay saints, but we need holy convents to help with that.
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Roseeurekacross
Guest
If you have regular status you can move a post to another subforum.
someone has kindly moved it for you learner
There are a few kinds of communities learner, another newer form from the mid 20th century has four branches, The first three are secular but include consecration and vows in the 2nd and 3rd branches. The fourth branch is for monks and nuns wanting to live the communal life. However if a person is consecrated in this community , they are considered monks in the secular world.
its founder is being investigated for saint hood at the moment, but that will take some time as he has left a lot of writings.
I am not sure if this community has reached USA yet. It started in Florence and is in Australia, Columbia, and some South East Asian countries
Its a very prayerful community
someone has kindly moved it for you learner
There are a few kinds of communities learner, another newer form from the mid 20th century has four branches, The first three are secular but include consecration and vows in the 2nd and 3rd branches. The fourth branch is for monks and nuns wanting to live the communal life. However if a person is consecrated in this community , they are considered monks in the secular world.
its founder is being investigated for saint hood at the moment, but that will take some time as he has left a lot of writings.
I am not sure if this community has reached USA yet. It started in Florence and is in Australia, Columbia, and some South East Asian countries
Its a very prayerful community
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Learner1969
Guest
I could not get onto your link Mrs Cloisters but I have found something else:
http://www.franciscans.org.uk/?s=third+order
http://www.franciscans.org.uk/?s=third+order
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TechieGuy
Guest
What makes you think that that haven’t discovered that already?
Cloisters
Well-known member
Observation. Fooling around in this case has a double meaning – stop the sexual sin and get mentally and spiritually focused.
One cloistered nun told me that hedonism was the main reason for the decline in vocations. If a woman had a checkered past, they had to make sure she was mentally stable before entertaining the thought of discerning her call to them.
Additionally, former abortion clinic workers tell of the Catholic women holding their rosaries while they were getting terminations.
Organizations such as my own, and these forums, wouldn’t exist if we had been taught from the beginning how to discern the Lord’s will for us. I grew up Protestant, but when I converted in high school, I never heard a word about vocations the two years I attended parochial school. Discernment was more or less a word used once someone started responding to grace.
The vocations personnel with whom I interacted in Missouri drove home to us that the parish priests were responsible for promoting priesthood vocations. I also observed that a particular PA high school had a goodly number of vocations. I looked at the staff, and there were three different religious orders represented. I would imagine attending school there was like having a daily vocations fair. Little Flower High School in Philly used to have about 28 different religious orders represented. They had vocations, too.
More opportunities for women is only part of the answer for the vocations crisis. Our Lady is the Medatrix of all Graces, and she bestows them upon those communities who live their rules. I don’t think it has anything to do with larger sleeping spaces or anything like that. The laity also witnessed the “disintegration” of women’s religious life after Vatican II, and the faithful won’t recommend those active orders who went back to the clothing of the common people. The common people, btw, don’t want that. They want that angelic example and discipline.
Non-Catholics ask where the nuns went. I tell them what happened in the wake of Vatican II, and they say they miss the nuns. My own mom said she greatly respected the Catholics in Cincinnati because they had such well-behaved, polite, and disciplined kids. FOCUSED kids. And focused kids lead to focused adults.
So, yes, the deadly sin (“Cafeteria Catholics”) has to stop, and they have to make up their minds whether to believe in the True Presence and see where that leads them. If they don’t believe, they don’t need to receive communion. If they do believe, they need to go to confession, and start their relationship with God anew.
One cloistered nun told me that hedonism was the main reason for the decline in vocations. If a woman had a checkered past, they had to make sure she was mentally stable before entertaining the thought of discerning her call to them.
Additionally, former abortion clinic workers tell of the Catholic women holding their rosaries while they were getting terminations.
Organizations such as my own, and these forums, wouldn’t exist if we had been taught from the beginning how to discern the Lord’s will for us. I grew up Protestant, but when I converted in high school, I never heard a word about vocations the two years I attended parochial school. Discernment was more or less a word used once someone started responding to grace.
The vocations personnel with whom I interacted in Missouri drove home to us that the parish priests were responsible for promoting priesthood vocations. I also observed that a particular PA high school had a goodly number of vocations. I looked at the staff, and there were three different religious orders represented. I would imagine attending school there was like having a daily vocations fair. Little Flower High School in Philly used to have about 28 different religious orders represented. They had vocations, too.
More opportunities for women is only part of the answer for the vocations crisis. Our Lady is the Medatrix of all Graces, and she bestows them upon those communities who live their rules. I don’t think it has anything to do with larger sleeping spaces or anything like that. The laity also witnessed the “disintegration” of women’s religious life after Vatican II, and the faithful won’t recommend those active orders who went back to the clothing of the common people. The common people, btw, don’t want that. They want that angelic example and discipline.
Non-Catholics ask where the nuns went. I tell them what happened in the wake of Vatican II, and they say they miss the nuns. My own mom said she greatly respected the Catholics in Cincinnati because they had such well-behaved, polite, and disciplined kids. FOCUSED kids. And focused kids lead to focused adults.
So, yes, the deadly sin (“Cafeteria Catholics”) has to stop, and they have to make up their minds whether to believe in the True Presence and see where that leads them. If they don’t believe, they don’t need to receive communion. If they do believe, they need to go to confession, and start their relationship with God anew.
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MikeInVA
Guest
Part of the reason is that it is a calling, and not everyone has the calling. It is also a large commitment in time and energy that does require sacrifice. Also, there is very little evangelization of the third orders. You may see a pamphlet about an order in a church, but only if a parishoner is a member and makes the effort to put it there. The Franciscans are the only order I know that wears any kind of external symbol to identify membership, so it is hard to find someone to learn about a third order.
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mrsdizzyd
Guest
That does make it hard, and I think it is a shame.
Some of the Lay Dominicans at my parish wear black and white on Sunday. Even fewer wear a Dominican cross or shield. Honestly, the only reason I notice them is because I know they are Lay Dominicans.
Cloisters
Well-known member
Kudos to them. When I was in college in Louisville, and attended the late morning Mass at “Louie B’s” (St. Louis Bertrand), I noticed once a month a group of women wearing black and white, and the same color of crosses on bunting. They weren’t wearing awards, that’s just what that particular chapter did. When I joined, and wore the cross-on-bunting, fellow students thought I was being egotistical and wearing an award. I tuned it down to wearing it on Sundays and Holy Days.
The Secular Franciscans here in the US have a habit of a Tau cross, and that’s it. The one SFO who attends daily Mass wears hers. We also have a lay associate of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God. She may wear a medallion of some kind.
Ben oblates wear large St. Benedict medallions.
I wear our emerging charism’s blue and white and our crucifix.
The Secular Franciscans here in the US have a habit of a Tau cross, and that’s it. The one SFO who attends daily Mass wears hers. We also have a lay associate of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God. She may wear a medallion of some kind.
Ben oblates wear large St. Benedict medallions.
I wear our emerging charism’s blue and white and our crucifix.
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