The United Secular Institute – A Branch of the Vine
An Overview of the Charism and Spirituality
Sing in honour of the great deeds the Lord has done,
make them know for all the world to hear
Lit of Hours Presentationof the Lord
An Overview of the Charism and Spirituality
Sing in honour of the great deeds the Lord has done,
make them know for all the world to hear
Lit of Hours Presentationof the Lord
Proposal: a united Secular Institute in the heart of the laity, the world and the church strong and effective for the 21st century and beyond: a Secular Institute which will sing its “own song” with its own Charism, Spirituality, Organistion...
From creation to the new creation this movement is a basic tenent of the Secular Institute Charism and Spirituality.
The Creation
“The eternal Father, by a free and hidden plan of His own wisdom and goodness, created the whole world. His plan was to raise men to a participation of the divine life...” Lumen Gentium 2
New wine New wineskins Mt 9: 17
Some reasons why the Secular Insititue being a new vocation requires a new mode of being and application
The united Secular Institute is comprised of laity men and women who are fully consecrated.The Secular Institute due to the nature of the vocation which is lived in the ordinary circumstances of everyday life, requires to have a clear seperate charism and spirituality written specifically for the vocation. Other charisms and spiritualities including those of the religious orders are limited in their efficacy when placed within a new vocation which has its own particular requirements. The vocation to the Secular Institute is in fact being held back by the adaptaions required of placing other older spiritualities into a new charism.
The members of the united Secular Institute being laity do not live within a religious structure with a rule which regulates the day.
The Secular Institute has an applied spirituality a spirituality which has to be adaptable to diverse persons, circumstances, apostolates. Applied spirituality is diferent from the “imitation spirituality” practised by religious orders
The charism/spirituality has to have a broard base which can be applied in the diverse circumstances and apostolates of the members.
“Jesus knew that he had come from God and was returning to God” Jn 13: 3
In view of the above requirements The Charism which I have divided into two parts is the framework of the vocation and gives a broard sweep – from eternity to eternity. The Spirituality is how the vocation is worked out in practice within the framework of the charism.
From creation to the new creation this movement is a basic tenent of the Secular Institute Charism and Spirituality.
The Creation
“The eternal Father, by a free and hidden plan of His own wisdom and goodness, created the whole world. His plan was to raise men to a participation of the divine life...” Lumen Gentium 2
New wine New wineskins Mt 9: 17
Some reasons why the Secular Insititue being a new vocation requires a new mode of being and application
The united Secular Institute is comprised of laity men and women who are fully consecrated.The Secular Institute due to the nature of the vocation which is lived in the ordinary circumstances of everyday life, requires to have a clear seperate charism and spirituality written specifically for the vocation. Other charisms and spiritualities including those of the religious orders are limited in their efficacy when placed within a new vocation which has its own particular requirements. The vocation to the Secular Institute is in fact being held back by the adaptaions required of placing other older spiritualities into a new charism.
The members of the united Secular Institute being laity do not live within a religious structure with a rule which regulates the day.
The Secular Institute has an applied spirituality a spirituality which has to be adaptable to diverse persons, circumstances, apostolates. Applied spirituality is diferent from the “imitation spirituality” practised by religious orders
The charism/spirituality has to have a broard base which can be applied in the diverse circumstances and apostolates of the members.
“Jesus knew that he had come from God and was returning to God” Jn 13: 3
In view of the above requirements The Charism which I have divided into two parts is the framework of the vocation and gives a broard sweep – from eternity to eternity. The Spirituality is how the vocation is worked out in practice within the framework of the charism.
The Second Vatican Council
The Christian Laity in the Church and in the world
The united Secular Institute has a basis in the magisterium of the Second Vatican Council
“The laity carry out for their own part the mission of the whole Christian people in the Church
and in the world" Lumen Gentium 31
The Christian laity live in the world in each and all of the secular professions and occupations and the laity are gathered together in the People of God and make up the Body of Christ under on head; citizens of the world and Church. Lumen Gentium
An encompasing spirituality
The charism/spirituality of the united Secular Institute has lay spirituality at its foundation with further requirements for consecrated laity who are formed into an Institute recognised by the Church. Vatican 11 documents teach that the laity have a secular character and that there specific is
“to order temporal affairs according to the plan of God....to work for the sanctification of the world from within” Lumen Gentium
but the Council documents are also clear that the laity pertain to the People of God and therfore have a role within the Church.
The Secular Institute needs to reflect both realities: life and participation in the world and church, although lay characteristics must remain in tact in both ambients; a “psyudo Religious” mode of comportment is unacceptable.
Solidarity in particular with others in the lay state is a fundamental concept for the Secular Institute. The more the Secular Institute has in common with the ordinary laity within the world and Church the more effective it will be.
To sum up the Secular Institute has solidarity as a basic concept and must reflect as far as possible the full range of lay life both in the world and church.
The Christian Laity in the Church and in the world
The united Secular Institute has a basis in the magisterium of the Second Vatican Council
“The laity carry out for their own part the mission of the whole Christian people in the Church
and in the world" Lumen Gentium 31
The Christian laity live in the world in each and all of the secular professions and occupations and the laity are gathered together in the People of God and make up the Body of Christ under on head; citizens of the world and Church. Lumen Gentium
An encompasing spirituality
The charism/spirituality of the united Secular Institute has lay spirituality at its foundation with further requirements for consecrated laity who are formed into an Institute recognised by the Church. Vatican 11 documents teach that the laity have a secular character and that there specific is
“to order temporal affairs according to the plan of God....to work for the sanctification of the world from within” Lumen Gentium
but the Council documents are also clear that the laity pertain to the People of God and therfore have a role within the Church.
The Secular Institute needs to reflect both realities: life and participation in the world and church, although lay characteristics must remain in tact in both ambients; a “psyudo Religious” mode of comportment is unacceptable.
Solidarity in particular with others in the lay state is a fundamental concept for the Secular Institute. The more the Secular Institute has in common with the ordinary laity within the world and Church the more effective it will be.
To sum up the Secular Institute has solidarity as a basic concept and must reflect as far as possible the full range of lay life both in the world and church.
Charism and Spirituality of the united Secular Institute
The Two Part Charism: The Individual member and The Official Instititute
The Charism with its two part division that of the individual and the official Institute and other major themes which comprise the frame work of the united Secular Institute, I have already dealt with in a previous writing entitled “The Charism”. The scheme below gives an overview of the Charism and Spirituality of the Secular Institute - further subject matter may be added if opportune.
The Most Holy Trinity– Father Son Holy Spirit Ontological and Economic Trinity
The spirituality is placed within a Trinitarian context
Jesus Christ - Prophet, Priest, King
The Virgin Mary – Mary will feacture in all parts of the spirituality as appropriate to the secular vocation of the Secular Institute.
Four Sources
The Consecration The Secular
The Fraternity The Apostolate
The Categories
Categories - are used in order that themes can be placed into a structure. A consequence of this arrangement, is that material should be more easily remembered and applied to the various states and situations, which arise in the quotidium.
Spiritual Themes
Holiness: Those within the Secular Institute by means of the Consecration are called to a state of perfection. This “perfection” is to be reflected in all aspects of life and it is important to give a good testimony to other laity by ones mode of living and activities.
Various Images
Basic Positions for example: "Run to Win"
Education – for the members of the Secular Institute it is essential that they are competent in their particular profession and that they have a knowledge of the catechism of the Church, and at least a basic grounding in doctrine; in particular that of which pertains to the laity and the Secular Institute.
The Two Part Charism: The Individual member and The Official Instititute
The Charism with its two part division that of the individual and the official Institute and other major themes which comprise the frame work of the united Secular Institute, I have already dealt with in a previous writing entitled “The Charism”. The scheme below gives an overview of the Charism and Spirituality of the Secular Institute - further subject matter may be added if opportune.
The Most Holy Trinity– Father Son Holy Spirit Ontological and Economic Trinity
The spirituality is placed within a Trinitarian context
Jesus Christ - Prophet, Priest, King
The Virgin Mary – Mary will feacture in all parts of the spirituality as appropriate to the secular vocation of the Secular Institute.
Four Sources
The Consecration The Secular
The Fraternity The Apostolate
The Categories
Categories - are used in order that themes can be placed into a structure. A consequence of this arrangement, is that material should be more easily remembered and applied to the various states and situations, which arise in the quotidium.
Spiritual Themes
Holiness: Those within the Secular Institute by means of the Consecration are called to a state of perfection. This “perfection” is to be reflected in all aspects of life and it is important to give a good testimony to other laity by ones mode of living and activities.
Various Images
Basic Positions for example: "Run to Win"
Education – for the members of the Secular Institute it is essential that they are competent in their particular profession and that they have a knowledge of the catechism of the Church, and at least a basic grounding in doctrine; in particular that of which pertains to the laity and the Secular Institute.
Time - for the Secular Insitute the use of “time” is more adapted to the vocation than is “space”.
Colours, and symbols for the various parts will be used as appropriate.
The New Creation – The plan of the Eternal Father
“At the end of time it will gloriously achieve completion when....all the just, to the last of the elect, will be gathered together with the Father in the universal Church”. Lumen Gentium 2
Conclusion
The above is a brief overview of content for the united Secular Institute. In susequent writings I shall take various themes from the Charism / Sprituality and give further indications as to their definition and application within the proposed united Secular Institute.
On the feast of Candlemass - Christ the light of nations, the World Day for the Consecrated Life let us sing a new song to the Lord in the formation of a united Secular Institute with its own proper charism, sprituality, oragnisation..
Colours, and symbols for the various parts will be used as appropriate.
The New Creation – The plan of the Eternal Father
“At the end of time it will gloriously achieve completion when....all the just, to the last of the elect, will be gathered together with the Father in the universal Church”. Lumen Gentium 2
Conclusion
The above is a brief overview of content for the united Secular Institute. In susequent writings I shall take various themes from the Charism / Sprituality and give further indications as to their definition and application within the proposed united Secular Institute.
On the feast of Candlemass - Christ the light of nations, the World Day for the Consecrated Life let us sing a new song to the Lord in the formation of a united Secular Institute with its own proper charism, sprituality, oragnisation..
A light to enlighten the Gentiles
and give glory to Israel your people
Diana May Cockburn
2 February 2016
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
World day for Consecrated Life
and give glory to Israel your people
Diana May Cockburn
2 February 2016
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
World day for Consecrated Life
