Essential
Harmony between the Charism, Spirituality, Organisation, Theology
The Secular Institute a separate and independent entity
Today the situation is that the vocation of the Secular Institutes is little known – or if known not understood and therefore easily confused with something else – by the clergy, and laity alike. The consecrated life continues to be associated with the religious life.
This state of affairs is not helped by the Secular Institutes being divided into small groups, with most having religious order spirituality or forming a parts of the various Movements. In order for the vocation to be placed on the same level as the religious it has to gain its own automony in spritiual and organisational terms.
On Secular Institute Forum the contention is that this obscuity caused by the consecrated laity being arranged according to the patern of the religious orders is not necessary. The reason for this is the Secular Institute is a body in its own right separate an independent entity with its own own lay charism and spirituality and this needs to express itself by becoming an autonomous self governing body. Every charism is complete in itself and contains its own proper spirituality, organisation etc. In order for the vocation to be placed on the same level as the religious it has to gain its own spiritual automony.
The necessity for harmony
The problem today within the actual situation of the Secular Institutes is that the above aspects are not in harmony, the reason being the mixing within the vocation of diverse spirituality and this disequlibrum is another cause of the inhibition of the maturation of the vocation. When these components are in concord, the vocation of the Secular Institute will flower and this will have a positive impact for the lay faithful and for the Project that God has for the Secular Institute today and in the future. The outcome will be that the way will open up in many directions, with new prospects and enlarged horizens.
The Organisation - The cart before the horse !
In order for the vocation to realise its potential it needs to have a united organisation. I have termed this the 'united Secular Institute', a body which will be composed of several Institutes almagamated together having broken the ties with the religious orders or other such.
There is a need for a united Secular Institute of consecrated laity strong and distinct, which will have a solid foundation in common – diversity will then be built into this structure. At present within the Secular Institutes the contrary is the case. There is division – and then a “getting together” of members of the various Institutes (NCSI). This “cart before the horse” is one reason why the vocation remains weak and little known.
The new organisation needs to be established for the good of the members and their mission; a strong contemporary organisation and as one of its roles a “bridge” to promote the interests of the laity before the Church.
I am convinced that the Secular Institute has been called into being by God in order to have a “key role” in the holiness and spiritual progress of the laity and for this work it is necessary that the Institutes re assemble and re organise in order to become an effective instrument of God among the laity.
A united Secular Institute once established, will be know and consulted by the people and hierarchy at a national and international – this currently is not possible due to the prevailing system of Institutes being divided between themselves.
Harmony between the Charism, Spirituality, Organisation, Theology
The Secular Institute a separate and independent entity
Today the situation is that the vocation of the Secular Institutes is little known – or if known not understood and therefore easily confused with something else – by the clergy, and laity alike. The consecrated life continues to be associated with the religious life.
This state of affairs is not helped by the Secular Institutes being divided into small groups, with most having religious order spirituality or forming a parts of the various Movements. In order for the vocation to be placed on the same level as the religious it has to gain its own automony in spritiual and organisational terms.
On Secular Institute Forum the contention is that this obscuity caused by the consecrated laity being arranged according to the patern of the religious orders is not necessary. The reason for this is the Secular Institute is a body in its own right separate an independent entity with its own own lay charism and spirituality and this needs to express itself by becoming an autonomous self governing body. Every charism is complete in itself and contains its own proper spirituality, organisation etc. In order for the vocation to be placed on the same level as the religious it has to gain its own spiritual automony.
The necessity for harmony
The problem today within the actual situation of the Secular Institutes is that the above aspects are not in harmony, the reason being the mixing within the vocation of diverse spirituality and this disequlibrum is another cause of the inhibition of the maturation of the vocation. When these components are in concord, the vocation of the Secular Institute will flower and this will have a positive impact for the lay faithful and for the Project that God has for the Secular Institute today and in the future. The outcome will be that the way will open up in many directions, with new prospects and enlarged horizens.
The Organisation - The cart before the horse !
In order for the vocation to realise its potential it needs to have a united organisation. I have termed this the 'united Secular Institute', a body which will be composed of several Institutes almagamated together having broken the ties with the religious orders or other such.
There is a need for a united Secular Institute of consecrated laity strong and distinct, which will have a solid foundation in common – diversity will then be built into this structure. At present within the Secular Institutes the contrary is the case. There is division – and then a “getting together” of members of the various Institutes (NCSI). This “cart before the horse” is one reason why the vocation remains weak and little known.
The new organisation needs to be established for the good of the members and their mission; a strong contemporary organisation and as one of its roles a “bridge” to promote the interests of the laity before the Church.
I am convinced that the Secular Institute has been called into being by God in order to have a “key role” in the holiness and spiritual progress of the laity and for this work it is necessary that the Institutes re assemble and re organise in order to become an effective instrument of God among the laity.
A united Secular Institute once established, will be know and consulted by the people and hierarchy at a national and international – this currently is not possible due to the prevailing system of Institutes being divided between themselves.
The Charism
I am not asking you to remove them from the world, but to protect them from the Evil One Jn 17: 15
The charism of the Secular Institutes consists of consecrated laity in the secular who live, work and share the ordinary life of the laity, believes and non belivers. This original and independent charism is a gift from the Holy Spirit to the Church in recent times and from this charism flow the other components of the vocation.
The Sprituality
Glorify the Lord with me, together let us praise his name Ps 34: 3
In the situation today it is the spirituality which presents a complex picture for the realisation of the project to form a single Secular Institute.
Why ?
Because in order to become a united independent entity it will be necessary for the Institute to have its own spirituality, a spirituality with a component of flexibility. At present the spirituality of the Secular Institutes are often taken from the religious orders and are many, varied and inadapted. This diversity is a reason for the separation between the Institutes, who although residing within the same region, loose their incisivness in bringing forward before the Church and society the concerns proper to the laity. The spirituality requires to be appropriate to those who live in the world and needs to contribute to the raising of the level of understanding of the things of God, in all the Lord's people.
The Vows
Make vows to your God and fulful them Ps 76: 11
A difference between the two vocations of the Secular Institute and the Religious concerns the vows. There is of course a canonical distinction between the two sets of vows, but here I am drawing attention to the vocational aspect.
For the religious there is the “imitation of Christ”, whilst for the Secular Institute it is not so much the imitation as the participation in Christ. To put it another way, by accepting the idea of the “imitation” the Secular Institutes are in the wrong compartment because the imitation of Christ is proper to the vocation of the religious, not to the members of the Secular Institute. The vows of the Secular Institute need to be reviewed, as this aspect is inhibiting the maturation of the vocation.
I am not asking you to remove them from the world, but to protect them from the Evil One Jn 17: 15
The charism of the Secular Institutes consists of consecrated laity in the secular who live, work and share the ordinary life of the laity, believes and non belivers. This original and independent charism is a gift from the Holy Spirit to the Church in recent times and from this charism flow the other components of the vocation.
The Sprituality
Glorify the Lord with me, together let us praise his name Ps 34: 3
In the situation today it is the spirituality which presents a complex picture for the realisation of the project to form a single Secular Institute.
Why ?
Because in order to become a united independent entity it will be necessary for the Institute to have its own spirituality, a spirituality with a component of flexibility. At present the spirituality of the Secular Institutes are often taken from the religious orders and are many, varied and inadapted. This diversity is a reason for the separation between the Institutes, who although residing within the same region, loose their incisivness in bringing forward before the Church and society the concerns proper to the laity. The spirituality requires to be appropriate to those who live in the world and needs to contribute to the raising of the level of understanding of the things of God, in all the Lord's people.
The Vows
Make vows to your God and fulful them Ps 76: 11
A difference between the two vocations of the Secular Institute and the Religious concerns the vows. There is of course a canonical distinction between the two sets of vows, but here I am drawing attention to the vocational aspect.
For the religious there is the “imitation of Christ”, whilst for the Secular Institute it is not so much the imitation as the participation in Christ. To put it another way, by accepting the idea of the “imitation” the Secular Institutes are in the wrong compartment because the imitation of Christ is proper to the vocation of the religious, not to the members of the Secular Institute. The vows of the Secular Institute need to be reviewed, as this aspect is inhibiting the maturation of the vocation.
The Theology
How rich and deep are the wisdom and the knowledge of God ! Rom 11: 33
During the years, between the foundation of the Institutes and today there has been a significant rise in the awareness of the consecration and the secular. However, I believe and I think you also believe, there need s to be a signficant development in the theology of the laity. Withinj the current system of binding together the laity with the spirituality of the religious orders, notwithstanding the development in these years of a 'secular theology', we have arrived at a point beyond which it will not go, at least without the injection of something new, and this 'something new' is what I have been communicating to you; a spirituality and theology for the Institute members, but also for all the laity, a task which only a united Secular Institute can realise.
How rich and deep are the wisdom and the knowledge of God ! Rom 11: 33
During the years, between the foundation of the Institutes and today there has been a significant rise in the awareness of the consecration and the secular. However, I believe and I think you also believe, there need s to be a signficant development in the theology of the laity. Withinj the current system of binding together the laity with the spirituality of the religious orders, notwithstanding the development in these years of a 'secular theology', we have arrived at a point beyond which it will not go, at least without the injection of something new, and this 'something new' is what I have been communicating to you; a spirituality and theology for the Institute members, but also for all the laity, a task which only a united Secular Institute can realise.
Conclusion
For the maturation of the vocation it is necessary that the Secular Institute is in harmony with itself as it is this disequilibriam which is the cause of the inhibition of growth and obscurity of the vocation. When the above elements are in concord the Secular Institute wil flower and this will have a positive outcome for the members themselves, the world and Church in present time and in the future.
The Secular Institutes need to think seriously about what is written above and then take the first steps for the renewal of the vocation.
For the maturation of the vocation it is necessary that the Secular Institute is in harmony with itself as it is this disequilibriam which is the cause of the inhibition of growth and obscurity of the vocation. When the above elements are in concord the Secular Institute wil flower and this will have a positive outcome for the members themselves, the world and Church in present time and in the future.
The Secular Institutes need to think seriously about what is written above and then take the first steps for the renewal of the vocation.
Today is the Accepted Time !
Diana May Cockburn
3 June 2017
