Vocation To A Third Order?

[Saint Therese]

Is anyone a member of a third order, (especially the third order of St.Dominic)? If so, how do you know you have a vocation to one? How do you begin formation? Any advice or thoughts would be great! Has being a member of a third order strenthened or introduced growth into your prayer/ spiritual life?

[alicemary]

There are many third order chapters around, especially Dominican. Many are attached to a monastery of nuns. I am not a member of the third order, though I was very familiar with some members of one. It is a way to develop a prayer life, share with others the fruits of your contemplation, and do some good works. I know that any of them would be very happy to talk things over with you.
I think that it is a wonderful way to remain in the world, but be affiliated with a community. It is joining with others who are willing to spend time each day in prayer, and meet every month or more frequently as a group for prayer, education and service.
I know they have a set timeline for a formation, and it is geared to the individual.
Good luck in your search!! Am sure others will have more info for you

[CatherineM]

I am familiar with third order Benedictines. I was leaning towards formation when I moved out of state. The women I worked with that were third orders were older, and seemed very devout and willing to do any ministry put before them. They did the daily prayers, and went formally once a month with all the third orders, but often went every weekend to pray and worship at the monastery.

[puellapaschalis]

"Third Order Benedictines" are called "Oblates". The term "third order" doesn't really apply to the OSBs because the OSBs aren't really so clearly divided into "first" and "second" orders in the first place (although there's a clear division between the monks and nuns, don't worry ). I became an Oblate when I was 19.

Oblates are associated not so much with "the Benedictines" but with a particular and individual [i]monastery[/i] - just like the professed who "belong" to one place and don't move around. They follow the Rule "insofar as their state of life permits" and especially try to attend Mass and pray the Office daily.

How do you know if you're called to be an Oblate? Much in the same way you're called to be a Benedictine, I suppose. In the jocular tussle going on in Heaven between certain Saints (ahem), it's like St. Benedict, swooping you up, giving you his Rule, and running off with you to his grotto-with-direct-visions-of-God-and-Creation and just [i]not[/i] letting you go, however much any other saint (coughstdomininccough) might want in on the action

(sorry for the frivolity - it's five to six am here!)

Edited May 13, 2008 by puellapaschalis

[CatherineM]

Sorry, the only reason I called them 3rd order is that is how they referred to themselves when I asked them why they were kind of nuns but didn't live at the monastery. I guess they were dumbing it down for me since I was obviously clueless.

[VeniteAdoremus]

I don't think Benedictine oblates really mind you calling them "third order", especially since it gives them the chance to explain the difference to you

I've discerned with the lay Dominicans for .24 seconds, at which point I found out that unfortunately, in the Netherlands They Be Weird.

Also, I believe that "active" Dominican sisters, like Fransiscan sisters, are technically third order, but I'm not sure on the details.

If you're interested about a particular Third Order, the best you can do is find the one in charge of your local chapter (hopefully a solidly formed religious) and pick their brains. Third orders in my limited experience tend to differentiate even more than different monasteries of the same order.

[EWIE]

[quote name='VeniteAdoremus' date='May 13 2008, 05:00 AM' post='1526810']
If you're interested about a particular Third Order,


There is very helpful information on this page in regard to the [b]O[/b]rder of [b]C[/b]armel [b]D[/b]iscalced,[b]S[/b]ecular.
[url="http://www.ourgardenofcarmel.org/"]http://www.ourgardenofcarmel.org/[/url]

[EWIE]

There is very helpful information on this page in regard to the [b]O[/b]rder of [b]C[/b]armel [b]D[/b]iscalced,[b]S[/b]ecular.
[url="http://www.ourgardenofcarmel.org/"]http://www.ourgardenofcarmel.org/[/url]
[/quote]

Also, Pope Benedict is a member of the [b]OCDS[/b]. See this site;
[url="http://www.ourgardenofcarmel.org/carmspecial.html"]http://www.ourgardenofcarmel.org/carmspecial.html[/url]

[VeniteAdoremus]

[quote name='EWIE' post='1526967' date='May 13 2008, 05:50 PM']There is very helpful information on this page in regard to the [b]O[/b]rder of [b]C[/b]armel [b]D[/b]iscalced,[b]S[/b]ecular.
[url="http://www.ourgardenofcarmel.org/"]http://www.ourgardenofcarmel.org/[/url]
Also, Pope Benedict is a member of the [b]OCDS[/b]. See this site;
[url="http://www.ourgardenofcarmel.org/carmspecial.html"]http://www.ourgardenofcarmel.org/carmspecial.html[/url][/quote]

I think you mean Pope John Paul II Pope Benedict is said to be "deeply influenced by Benedictines during his youth", but I don't believe he's a lay anything.

[EWIE]

[quote name='VeniteAdoremus' date='May 13 2008, 11:55 AM' post='1527115']
I think you mean Pope John Paul II

OOPSIE....wrong Papa.
Thanks for correcting that.

[Era Might]

In "Christifideles Laici," Pope John Paul II writes:

[quote]The Church's rich variety is manifested still further from within each state of life. Thus within the lay state diverse "vocations" are given, that is, there are different paths in the spiritual life and the apostolate which are taken by individual members of the lay faithful. In the field of a "commonly shared" lay vocation "special" lay vocations flourish. In this area we can also recall the spiritual experience of the flourishing of diverse forms of secular institutes that have developed recently in the Church. [b]These offer the lay faithful, and even priests, the possibility of professing the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience through vows or promises, while fully maintaining one's lay or clerical state.[/b] In this regard the Synod Fathers have commented, "The Holy Spirit stirs up other forms of self-giving to which people who remain fully in the lay state devote themselves."[/quote]
He refers to lay people taking vows. Is he referring to third orders, or something else? Is it possible for a lay member of a third order to take formal vows? Also, are third order members allowed to wear the habit?

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Saint Therese' post='1526343' date='May 12 2008, 07:06 PM']Is anyone a member of a third order, (especially the third order of St.Dominic)? If so, how do you know you have a vocation to one? How do you begin formation? Any advice or thoughts would be great! Has being a member of a third order strenthened or introduced growth into your prayer/ spiritual life? [/quote]
+J.M.J.+
i believe i have a calling to the third order dominicans. it seems the dominican saints follow me wherever i go! but alas, there is no group nearby, so i just pray and study about the dominican way and saints on my own until a group comes.

[puellapaschalis]

[quote name='Era Might' post='1527154' date='May 13 2008, 08:58 PM']In "Christifideles Laici," Pope John Paul II writes:
He refers to lay people taking vows. Is he referring to third orders, or something else? Is it possible for a lay member of a third order to take formal vows? Also, are third order members allowed to wear the habit?[/quote]

I believe that Oblates may be buried in the Benedictine habit.

[TotusTuusMaria]

[quote name='Era Might' post='1527154' date='May 13 2008, 01:58 PM']In "Christifideles Laici," Pope John Paul II writes:
He refers to lay people taking vows. Is he referring to third orders, or something else? Is it possible for a lay member of a third order to take formal vows? Also, are third order members allowed to wear the habit?[/quote]


I believe he is referring to third orders there.

As to taking vows: "The Third Orders can each be divided into (a) regulars, i.e. living in convents, and (b) seculars, i.e. living in the world. Of these the first take vows, the latter can only make a solemn promise (except that Carmelite Tertiaries apparently take some sort of vows of obedience and chastity, cf. Angelus a S.S. Corde, O.C.D., "Manuale juris communis Regularium", Ghent, 1899, q. 1067), which, however, distinguishes them from members of mere confraternities and constitutes them legally a religious order (Constitution of Leo XIII, "Misericors Dei Filius")." (taken from New Advent)

So, religious brothers and sisters (in the convent) are considered Third Order, and they do take vows. Lay people considered Third Order make solemn promises.

I think the wearing of a habit/form of the habit may change for each Order. My godparents are Third Order Dominicans, and if I understand correctly from what they have told me, they have the choice of being buried in the habit - although they do not wear it in day-to-day life. They also both have private religious names (meaning they do not use them in day-to-day life)

This is what I was taught about Orders:

1st Order: Priests
2nd Order: Nuns
3rd Order: Sisters/Brothers and Lay people of the "Third Order"

[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14637b.htm"]http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14637b.htm[/url] - Lots of Info about Third Orders

Edited May 13, 2008 by TotusTuusMaria

[Saint Therese]

Do lay Dominicans ever get to wear the habit?