Secular Institutes
Inquiry Discussion Change
Proposal: a united Secular Institute, an independent body with a well defined new Charism and a specific lay spirituality, in the midst of the world, laity, Church
Inquiry Discussion Change
Proposal: a united Secular Institute, an independent body with a well defined new Charism and a specific lay spirituality, in the midst of the world, laity, Church
It is a fact that whether we like it or not time passes and with it new questions and demands. There is a real risk that if the Secular Institutes remain as they are today, they will be left behind and will not have the central place – as an independent organisation with lay spirituality, in the heart of the laity - that God has planned for the vocation.
A vacant space could easily be taken by others ( competent or not ) and the vocation will have failed to gain its designated place, an undesirable outcome. The saying ‘don’t miss the bus’ rings true in this prospective.
Furthermore, there is the likelihood that without change, the young who are searching for a well defined vocation with prospects, will look in other directions as is to a considerable extent already the case.
A vacant space could easily be taken by others ( competent or not ) and the vocation will have failed to gain its designated place, an undesirable outcome. The saying ‘don’t miss the bus’ rings true in this prospective.
Furthermore, there is the likelihood that without change, the young who are searching for a well defined vocation with prospects, will look in other directions as is to a considerable extent already the case.
An Inadequate Response
There is a pressing need for a purposeful inquiry and discussion on the proposition put forward for the formation of a renewed Secular Institute, an independent organisation with a new spirituality which gives full weight to both the consecration and the lay state. However… this exciting prospect cannot be realised with ‘a great silence’; a situation which allows time to pass and questions, comments or misunderstandings to remain unexplored and unanswered.
This is a serious problem because the work is not mine but the Lord’s and as persons with a special consecration the Secular Institutes have a responsibility to listen and investigate the proposals – in other words to take seriously and to examine attentively what is written.
There is a pressing need for a purposeful inquiry and discussion on the proposition put forward for the formation of a renewed Secular Institute, an independent organisation with a new spirituality which gives full weight to both the consecration and the lay state. However… this exciting prospect cannot be realised with ‘a great silence’; a situation which allows time to pass and questions, comments or misunderstandings to remain unexplored and unanswered.
This is a serious problem because the work is not mine but the Lord’s and as persons with a special consecration the Secular Institutes have a responsibility to listen and investigate the proposals – in other words to take seriously and to examine attentively what is written.
Investigation, Discussion
What I mean is that the time has become limited 1 Cor 7: 29
If the Secular Institutes respond now the members will have the merit of having answered the call of God at the right moment. It is to be borne in mind that God’s timing is always perfect and in gereral many problems arise when we are either in front or behind the time God has set.
That I am writing these things to you today, means that there is a motive and the onus is on the members of the Institutes to listen to what is being said and to make adequate decisions, because a serious proposal as that which I have so far been communicated, requires a serious answer - not just a ‘discussion around an e mail’ or something similar. Furthermore, there is a question of obedience to God’s Will.
What I mean is that the time has become limited 1 Cor 7: 29
If the Secular Institutes respond now the members will have the merit of having answered the call of God at the right moment. It is to be borne in mind that God’s timing is always perfect and in gereral many problems arise when we are either in front or behind the time God has set.
That I am writing these things to you today, means that there is a motive and the onus is on the members of the Institutes to listen to what is being said and to make adequate decisions, because a serious proposal as that which I have so far been communicated, requires a serious answer - not just a ‘discussion around an e mail’ or something similar. Furthermore, there is a question of obedience to God’s Will.
Own Way ? or God’s Way ?
It is an error to give superficial attention to the proposition.
A major reason is that today’s Secular Institutes today believe that the problems can be resolved by human intervention alone, by making certain ‘adjustments’. This is incorrect as they cannot be solved in this way. This approach is to put too much emphasis on our own ‘powers of resolution’.
The members of the Secular Institutes have to consider not ‘how they want to resolve matters in their own way’ but to open the mind and heart to consider taking a ‘new way’ ‘a new charism’ as Pope Francis puts it.
It is an error to give superficial attention to the proposition.
A major reason is that today’s Secular Institutes today believe that the problems can be resolved by human intervention alone, by making certain ‘adjustments’. This is incorrect as they cannot be solved in this way. This approach is to put too much emphasis on our own ‘powers of resolution’.
The members of the Secular Institutes have to consider not ‘how they want to resolve matters in their own way’ but to open the mind and heart to consider taking a ‘new way’ ‘a new charism’ as Pope Francis puts it.
God’s timing is always perfect and as these things are being said today there is a reason. It is essential for the Secular Institute members to give time and attention to the proposal to for an autonomous revitalised Secular institute with its own proper charism and spirituality in the midst of the laity and world.
Remember the Scriptures do not say ‘extinguish the spirit, but test the spirits’
1 Th 5. 19 - 22
Should we not give credence to the Word of God ?
Diana May Cockburn
5 July 2017
