Catholic Secular Third Orders or Catholic Order Associates group?

Question

Can anyone tell me the major differences and similarities between a Catholic secular third order, such as the Secular Franciscan Order or the Secular Carmelite Order, compared to an associate group in a Catholic nun's religious order?

Answer 1

Secular orders, commonly called third orders, are societies of people who wish to deepen their Christian life and apostolic commitment in assocation with and according to the spirit of various religious institutes, but without withdrawing from the world like monks or nuns. A member of a third order is called a tertiary. The orders are called "third" because their foundation usually follows the establishment of the first and second religious orders with which they are associated.

Recognized third orders are:
Dominican Laity
Lay Carmelites (Third Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel)
Oblates of Saint Benedict
Secular Franciscan Order
Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites
Secular Order of Servants of Mary (Servites)
Secular Third Order of Our Lady of Mercy (Mercedarians)
Third Order Secular of the Most Holy Trinity
Third Order of Mary
Third Order of Saint Norbert
Third Secular Order of Saint Augustine

Answer 2

what she said. They have a status in canon law. Associate groups do not have a status in canon law, and are usually created by newer congregations that do not have historically established third orders. Sometimes they are associated with particular monasteries (as in the case of Benedictine women) rather than being a larger group.

This goes back to the distinction between an order and a congregation. The examples listed in the first answer are third orders of Orders. In about the 14th or 15th century (my history is a bit weak this early on a Sunday morning) the Pope declared that he would not approve new Orders. He meant to encourage people to join existing ones, so as to avoid chaos. Some exceptions were made - the Jesuits is one - but in general what are commonly called Religious Orders founded since the Reformation are not strictly speaking Religious Orders, but congregations. This wikipedia link gives you a better explanation.

Answer 3

Benedicite!

I think that the main asnwer to your question has already been supplied.

I belong to the Anglican Cistercian Association.

This Association invites Anglican laity and male priests, who are members of the Church of England, and interested in exploring Cistercian spirituality and charism. Our main aim is to promote and endeavour to live our daily life according to the Rule of St Benedict, as expressed in the tradition of Citeaux.

We are, therefore, not Roman Catholics, but as all Anglicans, we are both Catholic AND Reformed.

Do visit our website for more information:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Anglican_Cistercian_Association/?yguid=285561078

Best wishes and God's blessing.

Answer 4

sure, I certainly have. I even went to three conferences for our close by Dominican 0.33 Order. i found out you ought to have been Catholic for 2 years a minimum of in spite of the incontrovertible fact that till you could now connect, and that i only switched over a sprint over a year in the past. i could persue it back sooner or later, i certainly like the charisms of the Dominicans.