What is a third order nun?

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I have always been under the impression that the reason people became a priest or a nun was because deep down in their heart, they always felt called to that vocation. Are third order nuns or priest called to that vocation? Do they take vows? Is it a life long commitment.

If someone simply wants to do something to make them feel they are being serious about their faith but doesn’t want ‘too much of a commitment’, would they be better off trying to develop a devotion to a saint?

 

[Cloisters]

“Third Order Nun” usually refers to those sisters in vows in the Third Order “Regular”, meaning they follow a Rule. The active sisters who are aggregated to the great mendicant orders are usually Third Order Regular. The Nashville and Ann Arbor Dominicans are Third Order Regular.

The Dominican Sisters of the Perpetual Rosary used to be cloistered Third Order Regular. After Vatican II, their constitutions were changed, and they were aggregated to what used to be known as the Second Order, or the solemnly professed cloistered nuns. In other words, they’re all on the same sheet of paper. One group of them has perpetual adoration, the other adds the perpetual rosary to that. Farmington Hills is an example of perpetual adoration, while Marbury is Perpetual Rosary.
In the 1970s, the Dominican order declared itself a Family, and no longer used the First Order, Second Order, and Third Order designations. On occasion, someone will refer to us Laity as “Tertiaries.”

There are also Third Order Regular cloisters, especially for the Franciscans. Their post-nomial initials are “TOR”. In Europe, they’re referred to as “Tiercelines”. There are no TOR cloisters in the US, but there is a new community of TOR sisters in Ohio.

HTH.

Blessings,
Mrs Cloisters OP
Lay Dominican
http://cloisters.tripod.com/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/holyangels/id9.html/

 

[rosejmj]

If someone simply wants to do something to make them feel they are being serious about their faith but doesn’t want ‘too much of a commitment’, would they be better off trying to develop a devotion to a saint?

You don’t have to become a priest or religious to be serious about your faith. It is a vocation so you need to be called to it. You can become holy in any other vocation and you will probably become the most holy in the vocation you are called to.

The best things to do if you are serious about your faith are to develop a strong prayer life that includes mental prayer and to frequent the sacraments. Also trying to live a disciplined and mortified life for God and seeking to grow in virtue.

 

[mrsdizzyd]

There are two types of third orders.

Third order regulars are men and women religious who generally live in community (some are cloistered), are allowed to wear habits, and to take vows. An example would be the third order regular Franciscans.

Third order seculars are groups of lay men and women who try to live out the charism of their associated religious order while still living as lay people in the world (married or single). They are not men and women religious. They don’t live in community. They make promises not vows (there might be an exception to that I’m not thinking of). Examples would be lay Dominicans, third order secular Franciscans, Benedictine oblates, etc.

You don’t have to associate yourself with a religious order in order to become holy. If you live a virtuous life, have a consistent prayer life, and make frequent visits to the sacraments then you can advance in holiness.

 

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so if I am understanding correctly, it is a calling and the best is to develop a prayer life and discern God’s will

 

[PapyrusDouay]

I have always been under the impression that the reason people became a priest or a nun was because deep down in their heart, they always felt called to that vocation. Are third order nuns or priest called to that vocation? Do they take vows? Is it a life long commitment.

If someone simply wants to do something to make them feel they are being serious about their faith but doesn’t want ‘too much of a commitment’, would they be better off trying to develop a devotion to a saint?

Yes, i’d Say people who become priests, brothers, or nuns do so, or try to do so, because they believe it’s the vocation they feel called to.

Third order nuns and brothers are the same.

A devotion to a saint is entirely different. It’s a spiritual practice, not a vocation. I can’t say one is “better off”, since one is better off trying to follow God’s will, whether with a third order, first or second order, or in parenthood, or anyway else. It’s personal to the individual. God speaks to everyone as the individual soul they are.

 

[whisper]

This video specifically talks about Third Order Franciscans , but I think it is similar with other orders that are not Franciscan.

 

[Justin_Mary]

If someone simply wants to do something to make them feel they are being serious about their faith but doesn’t want ‘too much of a commitment’, would they be better off trying to develop a devotion to a saint?

I’m currently discerning if I am being called to the third order Carmelites. As I feel the call to holiness, I’m discerning if this is my way.

There are many other ways to answer the call. MMDM is a good one.

Or just start helping out in your Church & let the Spirit guide you.

 

[Justin_Mary]

so if I am understanding correctly, it is a calling and the best is to develop a prayer life and discern God’s will

Exactly. However, I do suggest finding a Spiritual director. Someone to help you along your way.

Our inclination is to believe the Spirit will lead us, & He will. But our inner self will imitate the Spirit & we end up feeding pride & vanity.