Quick coffee break and I was just thinking...
I was just adding on my theme yesterday of the year of St. Paul...
Have you heard of
The Holy Family Institute?For those who are married but wish to be consecrated...God opened the door in our times for such a thing..and in this "Pauline" year...the Year of St Paul, what a better time to share in case you have not heard: it is called: Holy Family Institute. Yes, you can be married and consecrated with Church regulated vows of Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience. Started by Blessed James Alberione.
Website: http://www.vocations-holyfamily.com/
It's for Catholic couples or widows, who wish to live their lives in a more consistent, God-oriented way. They draw inspiration from the Holy Family of Nazareth, model, light and source of grace. The goal they set ourselves is the sanctification of married/widowed life...and the "poverty" is nothing out of the ordinary as you have a family, of course!, but it is poverty in the sense of living normally and not blinging out with materialism...chastity is just what we are to normally live...it is nothing extra...it is chastity as is normally expected by the Church of ANY marriage...and Obedience of course to the Church which is what you are "supposed" to be doing anyhow! It is not scary as it sounds...no walking around in bare feet and robes and ashes. :P
Check out Holy Family Institute if you are looking to be consecrated laity vowed with Church regulated vows.
What the Institute is
* A branch of the PAULINE FAMILY;
* People living in ordinary families who have
consecrated and vowed their lives;
* Who are exclusively married or widowed;
* And are not Religious but consecrated laity.
What the Institute does for you: * Accepts you where you are spiritually;
* Provides intense training for membership;
* Invites you to correspond regularly for direction;
* Invites you to our Triduum or Retreat, three great
days of Prayer and Friendship with families from
all over
It was definitively approved by the Vatican on March 19, 1993.It counts hundreds of members in the United States and thousands worldwide.
Who should join? Membership in the Holy Family Institute is open to any Catholic husband and wife who lead normal lives and observe the teaching of the Church in their marriages. There is no upper age limit or special educational requirements. Widows, widowers and childless couples are also eligible.
IN PARTICULAR . . .
Pro - Life activists should consider membership: the media are constantly promoting promiscuity within marriage and outside it and this undoubtedly adds to the number of abortions. And, of course, the anti-life bias of the media is well-known.
Knights of Columbus may wish to add the great value of the vowed and consecrated life to their present activity. The Knights have always defended the family and the HFI blends very well with their apostolates . .
Teachers generally and CCD people in particular can find support for their difficult work in their relationship with the Pauline Family and their activity is a fine expression of their HFI commitment.
Writers and Artists of every kind can associate their lives and work to similar work being done by Pauline Family members.
Cursillistas are those who have made a Cursillo retreat. St. Paul is the patron saint of the Cursillo movement.
IN A WORD . . . It is not easy to think of someone who will NOT profit by HFI membership - and the HFI will equally profit as members contribute their time, talents and energies to it. Even if there are problems in your marriage, why not contact us anyway. We may be able to help.
THE BRANCHES OF THE PAULINE FAMILY The Pauline Family has no less than ten branches!
Priests and Brothers – the Society of St. Paul – the priests help in parishes on an occasional basis but mostly concentrate on editorial work. The Brothers help on the managerial and technical side.
There are four different Congregations of Sisters.
The Daughters of St. Paul whose work is similar to the work of the Society.
The Sister Disciples of the Divine Master, who devote themselves to the Eucharist, the Liturgy and the Priesthood.
The Pastorelle or Shepherdess Sisters who work in Parishes and run schools.
The Queen of Apostles Sisters for Vocations
Finally, there are four Institutes: Nazareth Today
The Annunciation of Mary – single women
St. Gabriel the Archangel – single men
Jesus the Priest – Diocesan priests who also become members of the Pauline Family
THE HOLY FAMILY
The tenth branch of the Family includes many Cooperators laymen and women who support the Family financially or otherwise collaborate with the Family’s work.
Now, let’s concentrate on
THE HOLY FAMILY INSTITUTE Outstanding Paulines
It is a branch of the Family like the others. And so its members, like the others, are consecrated and vowed! A wonderful divine privilege.
What do we mean by “vow”?
St. Thomas Aquinas remarks that a vow is “an act of religion.” By “act of religion” he means any action which is totally directed to God, such as a prayer, fasting, penance, hearing Mass, a pilgrimage, etc.
Most people make acts of religion only a certain number of times in the day and some hardly any – even on Sundays.
But the whole life of the vowed member, not just an occasional part of the day, is totally directed to God! So it can be said that his or her life is radically changed even when there is no visible change in the married or family life or the work of the member.
What do we mean by “consecration”?
By consecration we mean that the member is “set apart” or “dedicated to” a specific goal. In our case members are dedicated to the goals of the Pauline Family.
HOLY FAMILY INSTITUTE VOWS Are the Institute vows difficult to observe?
No.
THE VOW OF POVERTY implies a modest lifestyle in keeping with the norm in our social circle, honesty in business dealings, avoidance of needless expenditures, care of our property and the property of others, prompt payment of debts.
THE VOW OF CHASTITY in practice means the observance of the laws of the Church in marriage.
THE VOW OF OBEDIENCE involves observance of Church and civil laws and, in the Institute, collaboration with directions on practical and spiritual matters.
In a word: to a large extent the vows involve what a good Catholic is already doing in normal life. That is because – as we mentioned at the beginning – it is our commitment to living our ordinary family life well which is important.
But, surely, vows should be more difficult than you say?
The meaning of vows is not to make life difficult (it already is!) but to concentrate our energies on our daily duties at home or at work.
BECOMING AN INSTITUTE MEMBER You become a member in 3 stages. POSTULANCY – a period of 6 to 9 months during which the candidate learns the history of the Pauline Family and gets initial spiritual orientation.
NOVITIATE – a period of two years during which the spiritual orientation is intensified. (The Institute is governed by Church Law which requires two years in this stage).
PROFESSION – the Novice joins others (if possible) at our Annual “Triduum” or 3 Days of Prayer and Friendship and recites the formula of the vows during the appropriate ceremony.
Vows are renewed each year for three years and then the Member may make Perpetual vows.
Candidates are free to leave the Postulancy or Novitiate at any time and may also not renew their Temporary vows.
FORMATION This takes place through a Course of instruction by monthly CD’s and literature. The candidate corresponds regularly to ensure personal guidance.
OFFERING: $5.00 weekly
Can you afford to let this blessing pass you by? Our Divine Master has opened a door for you: NOT the door to being a cooperator, collaborator or helper; NOT the door to anything except the door to a new and exciting Church development which you can join as a "founder member" (and such members always have more merits than those who succeed them).
Other people have heard the Divine call - and answered it! Decide to join them. A few times in your life, your decision can make a RADICAL difference to your future. This is one such time.
Even if there are problems in your marriage, why not contact us anyway. We may be able to help.
Coffee is over....I'm contemplating Holy Family Institute...what a great year to join in! ;)
