Want to be a Tertiary?
Something that has really been cooking in my mind for some time is the need for community-based ministries on university campuses. I have been so blessed by the outreach of such monastic communities as the Brotherhood of Hope in Boston and the local Dominican chapter at Yale, and have been thinking for several years about the possibility of we laity tapping in to the existing networks for ministry opportunities among young people. Turns out that there is a consoling option- the third order, or "tertiary," which provides opportunity for laymen and women to engage in the ministry and spirituality of one of the church's established Orders.
For instance- see the Dominican's third order site here.
What do you think?
For instance- see the Dominican's third order site here.
What do you think?
posted by MM at 11:53 AM
13 Comments:
Actually, I've been fascinated by the Third Order Carmelites for a long time.
I have this great copy of a Laymen's Catechism of the Franciscan Third Order, published in the early 1960's. It explains what it means to be a tertiary, etc.
One of the things I learned from that catechism which was most useful was the definition of living the Evangelical Counsels of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience. Living an Evangelical Counsel is not an absolute matter: in order to live Evangelical Chastity, one needn't embrace complete celibacy.
Instead, the exercise of Evangelical Counsels begins where the prohibition of sin ends. Therefore, one exercises Evangelical Poverty as soon as one give up licit, non-sinful luxery; one exercises Evangelical Chastity when one avoids what is immodest but not necessarily sinful.
That commitment to living the actual Evangelical Counsels of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience, between the bare-minimum of avoiding sin and the full renunciation made by monastics, is one of the primary defining marks of tertiaries.
I would like to hear from any lay people in Opus Dei....I am going to a night of recolllection on Wed and I can't wait!
Mary
Any member of Opus Dei would be very insistent that being a member of Opus Dei is not like being a tertiary, because they value their non-affiliation with traditional religious life.
Personal, my experience with Opus was neither impressive nor unimpressive, though I gradually became convinced that, while it helps many people, anyone with a tendency towards pride should stay away: the climate of Opus is not conducive unto the fighting of that particular vice.
I'm not sure that an Opus Dei member would agree with your assertion that they "value their non-affiliation with traditional religious life." The spirituality they promote can be seen as returning to the roots of Christianity, a time when Christians transformed the world around them through their ordinary vocations. Thus, their spirituality promotes a traditionally Christian life. Their insistence on the sacrament of penance, spiritual formation, praying the Rosary, and spending time in prayer with the Eucharistic Lord seem to be quite "traditional" elements to me.
As to pride--I think there is a tendency to mistake the spiritualilty of Opus Dei with the actual lives of various members, who do struggle with vice as anybody else. I agree that one who is naturally prideful might fall into this vice, but this is the same among tradition-minded Catholics, or anybody else who promotes "traditional" Catholicism.
John,
No, I think you misunderstood. I meant that they value their non-affiliation with "the religious life," with religious orders--Franciscans, etc. And, they really do: this is why they are so emphatic about their lay status, the sanctification of "daily life" or "ordinary life," and--as it was often described to me--the fact that "you don't need to go to a monastery to be holy." I think this is very fair and accurage assessment. Sorry for the confusion about the term "traditional religious life." Certainly, they support a traditional devotional life.
As far as pride goes, it was truly a problem for some people I met in Opus, but certainly not for all. I like your parallel with Traditionalists: both groups have the same tendencies, I think. So, if someone really, really struggles with pride, think twice. I think that's good advice.
The website for the Dominican Third Order of the Eastern U.S. Province is here.
Dominicans and universities go together like peas and carrots, but I don't know of many lay chapters that have university ministry as their chapter apostolate.
The Third Order itself requires five years of formation before making final profession, which makes inviting college students to join something of a challenge.
Getting involved with students in other ways, though, seems like a natural fit, and in fact I've got the germ of an idea for getting something started down in Washington. But then, we're never short on good ideas, the rub is seeing them through to fruition.
Thank you all for your really interesting input here. I personally remain very excited about pursuing these ideas further...
Wasnt Catherine of Sienna technically a (Dominican) "tertiary"?
Here's a wonderful article written by the Carmelite founder of the Ecclesial Carmelite Movement:
Antonio Maria Sicari*PDF file*
Ecclesial Movements: A New Framework for Ancient Charisms
It can be found in the back issues of Communio at website in Communio 29 (Summer 2002).
Pope Benedict called the ecclesial communities to Rome this past Pentecost.
Well stated, Andrew. It appears, then, that the mere participation in the activities of any religious organization doesn't guarantee a growth in sancity and holiness. Ultimately, it's up to the will of the individual to cooperate with grace to grow in virtue. An important thing to keepin mind, I think, for those of us who are in favor of traditional piety. It's not enough to simply attend Latin Mass or pray litanies or the Rosary, but ultimately, we have to allow the Lord to change our hearts.
Also, for anybody interested in organized lay moevments, check out the Militia Immaculata, founded by St. Maximilian, for the sanctification of the whole world, to bring all souls to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculta Heart of Mary. www.consecration.com, www.miyouth.org
There are many groups ("villages") throughout the country, and at many campuses and parishes.
Indeed, I don't think anyone would disagree that you're infinitely better off seeking a changed heart, an encounter with Christ, then following a traditional devotional life WITHOUT that fundamental change.
The only justification for a traditional devotional life, for becoming a tertiary, for joining Opus Dei, is if doing so is the best way for you to encounter the person of Christ. Certainly that's not new, but it's so foundational that it's worth repeating.
I am becoming an Associate to the Sisters of St. Joesph who are developing this program for lay religious. I had been a novice in the Ursuline Sisters in my early twenties. I feel called to a Third Order.
Steph,
Which Sisters of St. Joseph - Carondolet? I would think twice about that order, unless you are very liberal and like to march in the Gay Pride parade.
Post a Comment
<< Home