Some points regarding the Saints of the Secular Institutes
The sprituality of past saints for the Secular Institutes Why ?
On every saint God has placed a limit, as only God is unlimited
The sprituality of past saints for the Secular Institutes Why ?
On every saint God has placed a limit, as only God is unlimited
Secular Institute Forum is a website started with the aim of presenting and stimulating discussion on the formation of a united Secular Institute in the heart of the world and church.
The Situation Today - Most of today’s approved Secular Institutes have taken religious order spirituality. The proposal for the amalgamation of the Institutes which is being presented on this website will entail the 'leaving' of the various saints as evidently, numerous saints would block the process of unification.
However, apart from the pratical reason stated above there are further
considerations to be taken into account on the topic of the ‘Secular Institutes saints.’ In this article I will give further thought as to why I do not think these saints are positive for the vocation in today’s world
The Situation Today - Most of today’s approved Secular Institutes have taken religious order spirituality. The proposal for the amalgamation of the Institutes which is being presented on this website will entail the 'leaving' of the various saints as evidently, numerous saints would block the process of unification.
However, apart from the pratical reason stated above there are further
considerations to be taken into account on the topic of the ‘Secular Institutes saints.’ In this article I will give further thought as to why I do not think these saints are positive for the vocation in today’s world
Why use a spirituality of the past for a new vocation ?
The consecration of the laity and their formation into Secular Institutes was a manner of consecrated life approved by the Church last century.
The 20th century was a period much later than the majority of ‘Secular Institute saints’ lived – persons such as St Francis, St Dominic ...
Consequently these saints make no reference to the Secular Institute either in word or in writing and their lifestyles were very different from the consecrated laity in the contemporary world. It is my contention that the laity in the Secular Institutes do not need these saints of the past, they are unnecessary for the Secular Institute vocation.
The consecration of the laity and their formation into Secular Institutes was a manner of consecrated life approved by the Church last century.
The 20th century was a period much later than the majority of ‘Secular Institute saints’ lived – persons such as St Francis, St Dominic ...
Consequently these saints make no reference to the Secular Institute either in word or in writing and their lifestyles were very different from the consecrated laity in the contemporary world. It is my contention that the laity in the Secular Institutes do not need these saints of the past, they are unnecessary for the Secular Institute vocation.
Two attitudes towards religious order saints within the Secular Institutes
A serious problem is that the spirituality of these saints is taking up too much time, effort, and energy in an attempt to continually update them for the vocation of consecrated laity today. referal to the sainys of the past is holding the vocation back.
There are books written by Secular Institute members which make reference to the saints of past ages, when the energy put into them would be better spent in other directions developing lay spirituality and looking at lay issues this is what is called for, action pertinent to our times – not those of past years.
On the other hand a tendency is developing to give little thought to the particular saint and for the laity to almost ‘break away’. Although this loosing of ties with particular saint is positive yet his type of half way house still reigns back development of the lay consecrated vocation as it clings too. If something is bound by a string or a chain it is still tied.
Whichever of the above positions is relevant to the particular Institute it is not a positive state as it constitutes an impediment for Secular Institutes which need to go forward with a new vision of their own in order to live and be efficacious in the 21st century.
A serious problem is that the spirituality of these saints is taking up too much time, effort, and energy in an attempt to continually update them for the vocation of consecrated laity today. referal to the sainys of the past is holding the vocation back.
There are books written by Secular Institute members which make reference to the saints of past ages, when the energy put into them would be better spent in other directions developing lay spirituality and looking at lay issues this is what is called for, action pertinent to our times – not those of past years.
On the other hand a tendency is developing to give little thought to the particular saint and for the laity to almost ‘break away’. Although this loosing of ties with particular saint is positive yet his type of half way house still reigns back development of the lay consecrated vocation as it clings too. If something is bound by a string or a chain it is still tied.
Whichever of the above positions is relevant to the particular Institute it is not a positive state as it constitutes an impediment for Secular Institutes which need to go forward with a new vision of their own in order to live and be efficacious in the 21st century.
A Thought
The members of the Secular Institutes are called to live in the world in the ordinary circumstances of everyday life. Now a key concept for the consecrated laity is that of solidarity with the ‘ordinary' lay faithful. For this mechanism to operate fully the consecrated laity have to take the general spirituality of the laity.
This is a major reason why the proposed united Secular Institute will take the spirituality of the laity and not the specialised spirituality of the religious orders as is presently the case.
The members of the Secular Institutes are called to live in the world in the ordinary circumstances of everyday life. Now a key concept for the consecrated laity is that of solidarity with the ‘ordinary' lay faithful. For this mechanism to operate fully the consecrated laity have to take the general spirituality of the laity.
This is a major reason why the proposed united Secular Institute will take the spirituality of the laity and not the specialised spirituality of the religious orders as is presently the case.
Institutes Together
In recent years, in some regions there have been groups of Institute members meeting together.
This tendency will indicates that there is already a movement towards becoming a unified Institute, although as yet it has not been recognised as such. The attachment of the various institutes with their diverse inspire saints blocks this tendency as they are an element of division between the various institutes.
However, as each Institute retains its automony this system has not been successful in resolving the difficulties of the Secular Institutes.
Notes in Brief:
In recent years, in some regions there have been groups of Institute members meeting together.
This tendency will indicates that there is already a movement towards becoming a unified Institute, although as yet it has not been recognised as such. The attachment of the various institutes with their diverse inspire saints blocks this tendency as they are an element of division between the various institutes.
However, as each Institute retains its automony this system has not been successful in resolving the difficulties of the Secular Institutes.
Notes in Brief:
- What if a member of the Secular Institutes has an attachment to one of the saints? I believe that a great devotion to a Saint is one sign which would indicate another vocation and not that to the Secular Institute.
- In this question on the position of the Secular Institute saints it is advantages to bear in mind that every saint wants to do the Will of God – consequently if God wills the Secular Institutes to become a unified Institute, for the saints in question there is no problem.
Summary What is the Secular Institute ?
The Secular Institute is an entity in its own right, it is not the lay secular part of the various religious orders or of any other spirituality. Authentic charisms contain within themselves their own proper spirituality, organisation and theology, they do not need to become a part of another charism.
Therefore I maintain that the present members Secular Institutes have their own authentic and original charism and sprituality and have no need to refer to another. But it needs to be realised which means making a move to become a united Secular Institute.
The Secular Institute is an entity in its own right, it is not the lay secular part of the various religious orders or of any other spirituality. Authentic charisms contain within themselves their own proper spirituality, organisation and theology, they do not need to become a part of another charism.
Therefore I maintain that the present members Secular Institutes have their own authentic and original charism and sprituality and have no need to refer to another. But it needs to be realised which means making a move to become a united Secular Institute.
In the above article it is important to understand that I am not decrying the saints, but addressing the specific situation of the Secular Institutes who have based their spirituality on religious saints or other significant figures.
Today is the moment to create a new united Secular Institute with lay spirituality for our time and tomorrow's world !
Let us go forward !
Diana May Cockburn
11 February 2017
Today is the moment to create a new united Secular Institute with lay spirituality for our time and tomorrow's world !
Let us go forward !
Diana May Cockburn
11 February 2017
