Third Orders Wearing Habits

[sgrima]

I have a few friends who belong to different religious orders as Third Orders, of course being my inquisitive self I set out to try and learn about them. When “interviewing” my friends (grilling them with questions) about the orders they belong to I noticed they don’t wear habits that the 1st and the 2nd orders get to wear. (with the somewhat exception of my friend in the Secular Carmelites who wears a large scapular). Some of my other friends told me that when they die they can be buried with a habit of their order.

I honestly didn’t see a problem with my friends wearing a habit as long as they do it with discretion. (i.e. If you wear the habit at your work versus wearing it in church or at order meetings) but that’s just my opinion.
(However, I could see where that would rouse some confusion if you are at church wearing a habit and you kiss your spouse at the sign of peace.)

Anyway, that said I thought I would make up a poll to find out what your opinions were. Please note that this is based on your opinion/belief not on the rule of your order.

 

[MnklyMRPD]

I even like the idea of 1st orders, 2nd orders and whatever other orders not wearing habits, just like priests who usually don’t wear habits in ordinary functions, but only wear them when they do mass, do sacramental activities and other more formal official deeds.

They can dress ordinarily and simply but not necessarily in uniform always, and/or not wrapping themselves with excessive clothings from, sando to t-shirt to long sleeved habits under another coat or whatever they call it.

I just like this kind of dressing better. They can retain their “white” clothing color show however. I like white color… it simply cools and inspires me…

Mnkly

 

[albertziggy]

Hi

To me, the question of wearing the full habit by a member of a Secular Religious Order will never die down as the habit will always remain an expression of a person’s spirituality or interior life. Since it is such, wearing it can never be suppressed by anyone.

I, for one, believe that members of the Secular Religous Orders should have the same ‘privilege’ as that of the Regular Orders.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

As many Popes have said Secular or Third Orders are “True Religious Orders”. They are however lived out in a very different way. Seculars and Third Order members have a much more difficult vocation simply because they live out their vocation “in the world”. I do think if Seculars and Third Order members were to wear the habit of the Order during everyday activity it would draw attention to them, which may be good or may be bad. But in many instances it would disrupt their ability to operate in the everyday world, un-noticed. Many of us bring Christ into places and situations where a “Religious Habit” would be barred or a “Catholic” would be rejected. Many of us wear signs and symbols that other Seculars and Third Orders would recognize, but otherwise go unnoticed by most others.