Grace Thompson
Starting a Catholic religious order involves a series of steps and considerations. At its core, a religious order is a community of consecrated life where members profess solemn vows, including poverty, chastity, and obedience. The process typically begins with a vision or a sense of calling to serve God in a particular way. It often starts with a charismatic Catholic who inspires others to join their mission. Over time, the community seeks ecclesiastical approval and establishes a rule of life that aligns with the nature of religious life outlined by the Church. In modern times, new religious communities usually start with a small group living together and in touch with their local bishop. Joining a religious order requires dedication and sacrifice, with members giving up their lives in the world to dedicate themselves entirely to God within the community. The path to becoming a member involves psychological examinations, criminal background checks, and stages of postulancy and novitiate, where individuals participate in community life for 1-3 years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| A community of consecrated life | Poverty, chastity, and obedience |
| A community with a common mission | Evangelization |
| A community with a defined way of life | Service of the Kingdom of God |
| A community with a rule of life | Perfection of charity |
| A community with ecclesiastical approval | Consecration |
| A community with members who take vows | Sacrifice |
| A community with members who live together | Seclusion |
| A community with members who are eligible Catholics | |
| A community with members who are psychologically fit |
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What You'll Learn
Identify a need
Identifying a need is a crucial step in starting a Catholic religious order. This involves discerning a specific purpose or mission that the order will dedicate itself to fulfilling. Here are some key aspects to consider when identifying a need for a Catholic religious order:
- Spiritual Need: Bishop Barron, in his vision for a new religious order, emphasized responding to a pressing spiritual need. This could involve a renewed focus on evangelization, a return to traditional monastic practices, or a unique charism that the Holy Spirit has inspired within the community.
- Service and Ministry: Consider how the religious order will serve others and minister to those in need. This could include educating migrant workers, advocating for human dignity, or any other form of service that aligns with the community's values and the Gospel.
- Lifestyle and Community: Reflect on the unique lifestyle and community aspects of the religious order. This encompasses decisions such as living arrangements (monastery, inner city, large or small groups), spiritual practices and prayer traditions, and the specific rules and vows that will guide the community's daily life.
- Ecclesiastical Approval: While the community's founding vision may be inspired by an individual or small group, it must eventually seek ecclesiastical approval. This involves consultation with the local bishop and other religious communities to ensure that the new order is recognized canonically by the Catholic Church and can be officially considered a Catholic organization.
- Vocation and Consecrated Life: Joining a religious order is a significant commitment that involves consecrating one's life to God within the context of the community. It often involves vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and members should carefully discern their vocation before entering the order.
- Psychological Examinations and Formation: Modern Catholic organizations typically conduct in-depth psychological evaluations and background checks as part of the discernment process. This helps identify areas of concern or potential growth and ensures that individuals are prepared for the challenges of community life. The formation process includes stages such as "postulancy" and "novitiate," where individuals further test their vocation and gradually integrate into the life of the community.
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Develop a vision
Developing a vision is a crucial step in starting a Catholic religious order. It involves discerning a unique call to serve and love God and identifying a specific mission or purpose that the order will dedicate itself to. This vision is often inspired by the Holy Spirit and can take various forms, depending on how the community interprets the Spirit's call.
The vision for a Catholic religious order should encompass several key aspects:
Spirituality and Prayer: This includes determining how the community will pray and engage in spiritual practices. For example, will they follow the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius or the spirituality of Saint Teresa of Avila? The choice of spiritual practices and traditions will shape the daily life and focus of the order.
Community Life: Deciding how the community will live together is essential. This involves considering factors such as the physical location (e.g., a monastery, convent, or inner city), the size of the community (large or small groups), and the lifestyle they will lead. Will they, for instance, embrace seclusion and simplicity, or will they be actively involved in evangelization and outreach?
Ministry and Service: The vision should also define how the order will minister and serve others. This could include specific missions such as educating migrant workers, advocating for human dignity, or engaging in apostolic activities. The order's charism, or original inspiration from the Holy Spirit, should be reflected in their choice of service.
Rule of Life: A critical aspect of the vision is establishing a "rule of life," which is a defined way of living that aligns with the nature of religious life as outlined by the Church. This rule of life crystallizes the community's vision and values and is typically formed in consultation with other religious communities and the Church.
Vows and Commitments: Catholic religious orders are characterized by the profession of vows, such as poverty, chastity, and obedience, known as the evangelical counsels. When developing the vision, it is important to consider the specific vows and commitments that members will undertake and how these will shape their dedication to God and the community.
It is worth noting that the development of the vision is often an iterative process. It may evolve as the community forms and grows, guided by the founder's initial inspiration and the ongoing discernment of the community's call to serve God.
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Seek ecclesiastical approval
To seek ecclesiastical approval, you must first form a rule of life that crystalizes the vision of the founder(s). This rule of life must be congruent with the nature of religious life as outlined by the Catholic Church. Within this rule of life, the members of the community, in consultation with other religious communities and the Church, describe their spirituality, community life, and ministry.
The next step is to get in touch with your local bishop and go through a set of parameters to be recognized canonically by the Catholic Church and to be able to call yourselves a Catholic organization. You do not need to be a priest to start a religious community. For example, St. Francis of Assissi was a layperson when he began and was never ordained a priest.
After these initial stages are completed and the community is accepted, there are typically two separate stages called "postulancy" and "novitiate," where the vocation is further tested, and the individual is allowed to participate in the life of the community for 1-3 years. In the past, entering a religious order was often less complicated, and nearly everyone was admitted. In modern times, all Catholic organizations have an in-depth process of psychological examinations and criminal background checks. This stage is an important part of the discernment process, as it will identify areas that are problematic. Some areas can be improved with proper counseling and growth, while others are impediments. Living in a community for the rest of your life is not easy, so if there are any major psychological issues, that person will need to resolve those before entering a community.
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Form a rule of life
Forming a rule of life is a crucial step in establishing a Catholic religious order. This rule of life crystallizes the vision and mission of the founder and serves as a defined way of life for the community. It is the result of consultation among the members, other religious communities, and the Church. Here are some key considerations for forming a rule of life:
Spirituality
The community's spirituality should be clearly defined and articulated within the rule of life. This includes their beliefs, values, and spiritual practices. It is important to consider how they will pray and connect with God, drawing inspiration from various traditions or saints, such as the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius or the spirituality of Saint Teresa of Avila.
Community Life
The rule of life should outline how the members will live together as a community. This includes their living arrangements (e.g., in a monastery, in the inner city, in large or small groups), their relationships and interactions with each other, and any specific practices or disciplines they will observe.
Ministry and Service
A critical aspect of the rule of life is defining the community's ministry and how they will serve others. This could include activities such as educating migrant workers, advocating for human dignity, or engaging in evangelization and apostolic activities. The community's charism, or the original inspiration from the Holy Spirit, should be reflected in their ministry.
Vows and Commitments
As part of the rule of life, the community should establish any vows or commitments that members will be expected to make. This typically includes vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, but may also include other specific commitments depending on the order's focus and mission.
Formation and Discipleship
The rule of life should also outline the process of formation for new members, including any periods of postulancy and novitiate, where individuals are gradually integrated into the community and its way of life. It should define the expectations and disciplines that members are to observe as they grow in their calling and faith.
Relationship with the Church
The rule of life should be congruent with the nature of religious life as outlined by the Catholic Church. While the community may have a unique expression of their faith, it should still align with the broader teachings and authority of the Church. This includes being in touch with the local bishop and seeking ecclesiastical approval.
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Obtain final ecclesiastical approval
Once your community has been living according to its rule of life for some time, you may seek final ecclesiastical approval from the Church. This process typically involves working with your local bishop, who will guide you through the necessary steps.
To obtain final ecclesiastical approval, your community must demonstrate a sustained commitment to its rule of life and a clear sense of mission and purpose. This includes living in accordance with the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, as well as any specific charisms or spiritualities that your community has defined.
It is important to maintain open communication with your local bishop throughout this process. They will be able to provide guidance and support, ensuring that your community remains aligned with the teachings and authority of the Church. Additionally, your bishop can help you navigate any canonical requirements and parameters that are necessary for recognition as a Catholic organisation.
Final ecclesiastical approval solidifies the recognition of your community by the Church. It signifies that your community has been formally established and recognised as a Catholic religious order. At this stage, eligible Catholics may officially join your order to follow your particular way of living and grow closer to God.
While the process of obtaining final ecclesiastical approval can be rigorous, it is a necessary step to ensure the integrity and stability of your community within the Catholic Church. It is a testament to your community's dedication, and it sets a foundation for your continued growth and impact in service to God and the Church.
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Frequently asked questions
A Catholic religious order is a community of consecrated life with members that profess solemn vows. It usually starts with an idea or a vision, or a sense of a call to live a particular way of loving or serving God. The community must strive to live the gospel in a unique way, be it in a monastery, in the inner city, in large or small groups, and so on. It must also have a defined rule of life that is congruent with the nature of religious life as outlined by the church.
Anyone, religious or lay, can start a religious community. However, for it to be recognised canonically by the Catholic Church, the founder must go through their local bishop and a set of parameters.
Catholic religious orders can be classified as:
- Canons regular: Canons and canonesses who recite the Divine Office and serve a church and perhaps a parish.
- Clerics regular: Priests who take religious vows and have an active apostolic life.
- Mendicants: Friars and religious sisters who live from alms, recite the Divine Office, and participate in apostolic activities.
- Monastics: Monks and nuns who live and work in a monastery or nunnery and recite the Divine Office.
