The formation of an Independent renewed Secular Institute
The writings on Secular Institute Forum are aimed at giving a response to the situation of dependence on the spirituality of others, and will if the proposals are acted upon free the Secular Institute members to constitute their own Spiritual Family, according to the will of God.
'You cannot put a Charism under a Charism' From the Lord, Lent 2011
The above are the words of the Lord and I believe this sentence holds the key to unravelling the situation in which the Secular Institutes are currently placed. The position at present is that in the main, the various Secular Institutes, participate in other Charisms, Spiritualities, Movements etc. for example as part of the Franciscans, Carmelites, Salesians ect.
The writings on Secular Institute Forum are aimed at giving a response to the situation of dependence on the spirituality of others, and will if the proposals are acted upon free the Secular Institute members to constitute their own Spiritual Family, according to the will of God.
'You cannot put a Charism under a Charism' From the Lord, Lent 2011
The above are the words of the Lord and I believe this sentence holds the key to unravelling the situation in which the Secular Institutes are currently placed. The position at present is that in the main, the various Secular Institutes, participate in other Charisms, Spiritualities, Movements etc. for example as part of the Franciscans, Carmelites, Salesians ect.
The Secular Institute is a separate charism complete itself, which has been given by God in order to operate in its own right distinct from any other charism. Collaboration with other parts of the Church and others, is necessary, but the Secular Institute has been called by God to be a separate entity in the Church with its own charism, spirituality, mission, constitution, theology.
Tension
A significant problem with using the spirituality of the religious orders is that there is a tension between the ethos and situation for which the particular spirituality was initiated, (often several centuries ago) and that of the consecrated laity who having a new vocation require a new contemporary spirituality. The time it takes to update and apply these spiritualities would be better spent in developing the vocation of the consecrated laity. The taking of a charism from one vocation and epoch to another; from that of the religious orders to a new contemporary consecrated lay vocation, can by its nature have only limited application and is certainly not a recipe for success !
A significant problem with using the spirituality of the religious orders is that there is a tension between the ethos and situation for which the particular spirituality was initiated, (often several centuries ago) and that of the consecrated laity who having a new vocation require a new contemporary spirituality. The time it takes to update and apply these spiritualities would be better spent in developing the vocation of the consecrated laity. The taking of a charism from one vocation and epoch to another; from that of the religious orders to a new contemporary consecrated lay vocation, can by its nature have only limited application and is certainly not a recipe for success !
The Laity
“The term laity is understood to mean all the faithful except those in holy orders and those in the state of religious life specially approved by the Church”.
The laity are by baptism made one body with Christ and are constituted among the People of God, a part of the organic structure of the Church. They carry out for their own part in the mission of the whole Christian people in the Church and the world.” Lumen Gentium
The Consecrated Laity
The charism of the united Secular Institute is that of baptised lay persons who are fully within the lay state as defined above by the Church, but who have a particular call from God to a consecration beyond that of baptism. The consecrated laity live out their calling as do the lay faithful in the world within the ordinary circumstances of everyday life.
The united Secular Institute in the midst of the world, a union of the Consecration with the Secular, a vocation raised up by God to live the consecrated lay life in all its aspects, at one and the same time citizens of the world and members of the People of God ; a cry to Love from love in the heart of humanity.
“The term laity is understood to mean all the faithful except those in holy orders and those in the state of religious life specially approved by the Church”.
The laity are by baptism made one body with Christ and are constituted among the People of God, a part of the organic structure of the Church. They carry out for their own part in the mission of the whole Christian people in the Church and the world.” Lumen Gentium
The Consecrated Laity
The charism of the united Secular Institute is that of baptised lay persons who are fully within the lay state as defined above by the Church, but who have a particular call from God to a consecration beyond that of baptism. The consecrated laity live out their calling as do the lay faithful in the world within the ordinary circumstances of everyday life.
The united Secular Institute in the midst of the world, a union of the Consecration with the Secular, a vocation raised up by God to live the consecrated lay life in all its aspects, at one and the same time citizens of the world and members of the People of God ; a cry to Love from love in the heart of humanity.
The united Secular Institute - Integration of Parts
All aspects of the vocation need to be in concord –
This is a feature of enduring Institutions of the consecrated life
1 A foremost concern is that the vocation of the Secular Institute, should be anchored in the Church, rooted in lay spirituality and that its parts ie. the Charism, Spirituality, Apostolate, Constitutions, Theology, should be in concord.
This harmony is necessary not only for the maturation of the vocation but in particular, concord between the various aspects is essential for a vocation which has to be applied and interpreted within the lay state and consequently relies on a through understanding, and comprehension of “what we are about”.
The above requirement for flexibility and application, is a reason why it is necessary to be
explicit when writing for the Secular Institute; bringing out points found within the Charism and laying down requisites, more so than might usually be the case, when the term “Charism” is usually only a definition. A clear understanding and acceptance of principles is vital in a secular vocation where there may not be an immediate point of reference.
All aspects of the vocation need to be in concord –
This is a feature of enduring Institutions of the consecrated life
1 A foremost concern is that the vocation of the Secular Institute, should be anchored in the Church, rooted in lay spirituality and that its parts ie. the Charism, Spirituality, Apostolate, Constitutions, Theology, should be in concord.
This harmony is necessary not only for the maturation of the vocation but in particular, concord between the various aspects is essential for a vocation which has to be applied and interpreted within the lay state and consequently relies on a through understanding, and comprehension of “what we are about”.
The above requirement for flexibility and application, is a reason why it is necessary to be
explicit when writing for the Secular Institute; bringing out points found within the Charism and laying down requisites, more so than might usually be the case, when the term “Charism” is usually only a definition. A clear understanding and acceptance of principles is vital in a secular vocation where there may not be an immediate point of reference.
2 A further consideration is that in many vocations of the consecrated life, there is a change of state and environment, which put the vocation into a context. Those called to the Secular Institute however, remain within the lay state and do not necessarily have a change of ambience: When writing for the vocation, these particular conditions and requirements need to be borne in mind.
Structure, integration, understanding, flexibility and interpretation are all indispensable for the Secular Institute, yet with the inbuilt safeguard of certain principles and requisites which require adherence.
3 "the laity carry out their manifold apostolate both in the Church and in the world” Apostolicam Actuositatem
The Secular Institute will not have any specific apostolate for the individual member, but will encompass all forms of service according to the personal charism of each. This is consistent with the lay state where the laity operate over a whole range of activities within the world and the Church, at all levels of society and in all legitimate occupations and stages of life, as this variance is part of the Charism of the Secular Institute. However, the official part of the Secular Institute will have a specific competence.
Structure, integration, understanding, flexibility and interpretation are all indispensable for the Secular Institute, yet with the inbuilt safeguard of certain principles and requisites which require adherence.
3 "the laity carry out their manifold apostolate both in the Church and in the world” Apostolicam Actuositatem
The Secular Institute will not have any specific apostolate for the individual member, but will encompass all forms of service according to the personal charism of each. This is consistent with the lay state where the laity operate over a whole range of activities within the world and the Church, at all levels of society and in all legitimate occupations and stages of life, as this variance is part of the Charism of the Secular Institute. However, the official part of the Secular Institute will have a specific competence.
A Basic Stance Run – to Win 1 Cor 9: 24
“Daniel flourished in the reign of Darius” Dn. 6: 24
A fundamental position taken by the Secular Institute will be run to win, which is to be interpreted as the “best possible position” within the Will of God for the individual and for the Official Institute on the human, spiritual, professional, level. This perspective is consistent with the vocation of the consescrated laity and a position of diversity between the Secular Institute and the stance of many religious orders.
The united Secular Institute – Consecrated laity a vocation in the heart of the laity,
the world and the Church
“Daniel flourished in the reign of Darius” Dn. 6: 24
A fundamental position taken by the Secular Institute will be run to win, which is to be interpreted as the “best possible position” within the Will of God for the individual and for the Official Institute on the human, spiritual, professional, level. This perspective is consistent with the vocation of the consescrated laity and a position of diversity between the Secular Institute and the stance of many religious orders.
The united Secular Institute – Consecrated laity a vocation in the heart of the laity,
the world and the Church
The Secular Institute to all peoples, nations, conditions...
“Go into all the world and serve” Pope Francis 1
The united Secular Institute - a vocation of Consecrated Laity in the heart of the world: to the Glory of the Triune God and His Church, to contribute to the building up of the Kingdom of God within the secular, church and natural world, to the blessing and benefit of many: to Christians and to non Christians, to those with a faith and to those with non, to those who do good and to those who do evil, to those who care and to those who are indifferent, to all nations, to all peoples, in all conditions, in this time and in the time which is yet to be...
“Go into all the world and serve” Pope Francis 1
The united Secular Institute - a vocation of Consecrated Laity in the heart of the world: to the Glory of the Triune God and His Church, to contribute to the building up of the Kingdom of God within the secular, church and natural world, to the blessing and benefit of many: to Christians and to non Christians, to those with a faith and to those with non, to those who do good and to those who do evil, to those who care and to those who are indifferent, to all nations, to all peoples, in all conditions, in this time and in the time which is yet to be...
Diana May Cockburn
7 September 2017
7 September 2017
