Third Order or other?

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The Discalced Carmelites really impressed me during a visit to their Washington, DC monastery. I’m also fairly well acquainted with the writings of Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross. Fascinating saints and role models.
 
Luigi_Daniele said:
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I see by your profile that you are also a “fan” of Maximilian Kolbe, Padre Pio and CS Lewis. We have a lot in common. But I did not find a clue to the inside joke. Oh, I am also a fan of chicken cacciatore, if made by my Aunt, anyway. 🙂
 
I am a newbie 😊 Also a Secular Carmelite.

I was just curious…

Are there any third orders that allow one to follow a Rule at home but do not require contact with a community…sort of like living a hermit-like life. Obviously, with family, one cannot in reality be a hermit but I was curious if there is anything like that in existence?

Blessings,
Theresa

“You, O Lord, are my lamp, my God who lightens my darkness.” ~ Psalm 18
 
desert_heart said:
I am a newbie 😊 Also a Secular Carmelite.

I was just curious…

Are there any third orders that allow one to follow a Rule at home but do not require contact with a community…sort of like living a hermit-like life. Obviously, with family, one cannot in reality be a hermit but I was curious if there is anything like that in existence?

Blessings,
Theresa

“You, O Lord, are my lamp, my God who lightens my darkness.” ~ Psalm 18
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If there isn’t, there should be. 🙂

You can be a Legion of Mary auxiliary, but that is not the same thing. Still it is easy enough to do at home-- a few simple prayers and a 5-decade rosary everyday.

Also, did you know that if you are already someone who prays the rosary, you should join the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary. For just saying 15 decades a week (the old style complete rosary) you get all kinds of spiritual blessings, and you’re not doing anything extra. rosaryconfraternity.org/the-confraternity/spiritual-benefits-obligations-and-conditions-of-membership/ I think I’m allowed to put their link, but if not I’ll be happy to take it down. The first Confraternity was in the 1470’s so it’s been around a long time.

As for orders, I’ll be going to a Franciscan retreat next month, where I’ll find out more about their Third Order. I’m wondering if the Poor Clares have a similar Third Order.
 
Thank you Jim. I agree that there should be something along those lines. At one point, the Secular Carmelites allowed isolate members…members who had an association with a specific community but were not required to attend community meetings. They have changed the statutes to stress the importance of community and that Carmelite formation is not meant to form individualists. Carmelite spirituality is very practical and to set up a spiritual life all alone is not practical. That is what is stated at any rate. I think I am starting to understand better the reason why that aside from consecrated hermits or solitaries, there are not third orders that exist that would allow one to lead their own spiritual life at home with no support from a community.

Many blessings for your time,
Theresa

“The Father spoke one Word, which was his Son, and this Word he speaks always in eternal silence, and in silence must it be heard by the soul.” ~St. John of the Cross
 
JamesCaruso said:
As for orders, I’ll be going to a Franciscan retreat next month, where I’ll find out more about their Third Order. I’m wondering if the Poor Clares have a similar Third Order.
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Not being a smart guy, OK?

The OFS (“Third Order”–I actually prefer the older term over OFS, although I prefer OFS 10000 times more than SFO–“you work at San Francisco International”?:eek::mad:😃 ) is it’s own order. The only “Third Order” that has its own Minister General (President). So it goes 1st Order: religious men; 2nd order: religious women; OFS (Third Order): lay persons
 
Luigi_Daniele said:
Not being a smart guy, OK?

The OFS (“Third Order”–I actually prefer the older term over OFS, although I prefer OFS 10000 times more than SFO–“you work at San Francisco International”?:eek::mad:😃 ) is it’s own order. The only “Third Order” that has its own Minister General (President). So it goes 1st Order: religious men; 2nd order: religious women; OFS (Third Order): lay persons
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So you’re saying Third Order is for both men and women?
 
JamesCaruso said:
So you’re saying Third Order is for both men and women?
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There are actually two major groups of the Third Order within the Franciscan world. Third Order Secular and Third Order Religious. Third Order Secular is now called the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS based on its latin name). OFS is open to men, women, and diocesan priests/deacons. Third Order Religious consists of various groups of vowed religious, some of which are only for men, others only for women. Odds are if you see a Franciscan sister that is not a member of the Poor Clares, she is a Franciscan Third Order Religious. Many of the groups like Francsican Sisters of … are actually Third Order Religious.

So if you are interested in becoming a Franciscan and you don’t want to take vows, the main group you would look at is OFS. If you are not married and interested in taking vows and male, you would look at the various First Order Franciscan groups (OFM, OFM Conv, OFM Cap) and/or the various Third Order Religious groups. If you are female, interested in making vows, and not married you would look at either the 2nd Order (Poor Clares or other variation of the name Poor Clares) or Third Order Religious groups.
 
I would join the “I Thirst Movement” any day. They work according to the spirituality of Mother Teresa and they also focus a lot on Evangelization in order to satiate the Thirst of Jesus. Plus they are very Marian…

mcpriests.com/10_ithirstmovement.htm
 
I am also drawn to the Lay or Third Order of Carmelites. I am wondering how to find out how I would pursue talking to someone about this discernment. Are there any members here who are pursuing same, or already members of this Third Order?
 
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