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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Consecrated Life	Tom	Friday, December 3, 2004
Question: Hello Brother Paul, Thanks be to God, I am a married father of two, 31 years old, and am currently studying in the novitiate of the Holy Family Institute (HFI). The HFI is a branch of the Pauline Family, begun by Blessed Father James Alberione. http://www.vocations-holyfamily.com/ The Holy Family Institute is the first Secular Institute begun exclusively for married and widowed Catholics. We take solemn, public vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience and we make a solemn promise of Fidelity to the Holy Father and the Magisterium. The Institute was started in 1960 and received full approbation from the Holy See, in 1996. As Father Tom Fogarty, our spiritual director, states (from the above website): "...once you become a full member of the Holy Family Institute, then EVERY good thought, word and action of your day - Every one, and not just the ones visibly directed to GOD - IS AN ACT OF RELIGION (St. Thomas Aquinas). That is the power of vows; That is the power of consecration. Your ordinary daily life in the Institute - no matter where it is lived - is vastly more spiritually valuable." Obviously, this is true for all those who make vows to God, but wouldn't you also say that the value of making vows privately or publicly in a religious family such as the Paulines, Franciscans etc. is that once received you participate and share actively in all the spiritual fruits, prayers, and sufferings of the enitre religious family worldwide? Also, I should tell you that I am also involved in the Intercessors of the Lamb as a companion. Fr. Tom is aware of my involvement in the Intercessors and he has OKed it for the time being, but I guess I am afraid that one day I may have to give it up. I did have two separate and profound discernments on my involvement with both; so I know that I am where I need to be for now. The question I have is whether the Church would ever allow my making additional promises or private vows on top of or in addition to my public vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience? For instance, I have a book, "Spiritual Legacy of Sr. Mary of the Holy Trinity," which talks about Jesus plea for others to make the vow of victimhood. Now, obviously I am not going to make this vow without much reflection and prayer; however, I feel called to this in a special way. It be God's Will, how would I do this? Would it simply be a private vow, made in the privacy of my own home? Or, would it be a private vow professed in the presence of a priest? What is the difference between the two? Does a private vow made publically (in the presence of a priest and witness) have the backing of the Church? The Intercessors of the Lamb also make vows of poverty, chastity and obedience as well as a fouth vow of victim-love or zeal. In the case of lay brothers / sisters, they make promises, not vows. Can I make these promises with their community before or even after my profession of vows with HFI? Thank you
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Tom: 1) The answer to your question on sharing the spiritual fruits of any religious family where one is received into that association by vows or promises is "Yes". It matters not whether the vows are public or private. 2) Concerning making additional vows privately, one can do that, but no one should make a vow without spiritual direction. If one is part of a religious family, then advice must be sought from the superiors of that family and obedience offered to their decision. Because of the nature of a vow of Victimhood one should NEVER make such a vow except with the permission of a spiritual director. If you do make this or any other private vow, it can be done merely by making the vow before God. It would be preferable, however, to offer your vow in the hands of a priest. Either of these options can be done in your home, or with the priest in the parish Church. It can even be done during the Mass unless the bishop prohibits it. There is no difference in a private vow made privately or a private vow made before a priest in a public place. Both are considered private and do not have any formal recognition from the Church (that is what a public vow is). 3) Concerning making private vows in another religious family, the Church has no problem with that. Canon 307 allows for multiple membership, depending on the proper law of the associations. Thus, whether or not you may be a member in two or more religious families depends upon the Rule of those families. For example, the Secular Franciscans do not allow their members to join other associations. In the Order of the Legion of St. Michael, of which I am a member, we have no problem with our members joining other associations as long as they maintain the Legion as a priority. So you will need to check with the HFI and ask about multiple memberships. You will also need to check the perspective associations you are interested in (such as the Intercessors) to ensure they will accept multiple memberships also. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Consecrated Life

Tom

Friday, December 3, 2004

Question:

Hello Brother Paul,

Thanks be to God, I am a married father of two, 31 years old, and am currently studying in the novitiate of the Holy Family Institute (HFI). The HFI is a branch of the Pauline Family, begun by Blessed Father James Alberione.

http://www.vocations-holyfamily.com/

The Holy Family Institute is the first Secular Institute begun exclusively for married and widowed Catholics. We take solemn, public vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience and we make a solemn promise of Fidelity to the Holy Father and the Magisterium. The Institute was started in 1960 and received full approbation from the Holy See, in 1996.

As Father Tom Fogarty, our spiritual director, states (from the above website):

"...once you become a full member of the Holy Family Institute, then EVERY good thought, word and action of your day - Every one, and not just the ones visibly directed to GOD - IS AN ACT OF RELIGION (St. Thomas Aquinas).

That is the power of vows; That is the power of consecration. Your ordinary daily life in the Institute - no matter where it is lived - is vastly more spiritually valuable."

Obviously, this is true for all those who make vows to God, but wouldn't you also say that the value of making vows privately or publicly in a religious family such as the Paulines, Franciscans etc. is that once received you participate and share actively in all the spiritual fruits, prayers, and sufferings of the enitre religious family worldwide?

Also, I should tell you that I am also involved in the Intercessors of the Lamb as a companion. Fr. Tom is aware of my involvement in the Intercessors and he has OKed it for the time being, but I guess I am afraid that one day I may have to give it up.

I did have two separate and profound discernments on my involvement with both; so I know that I am where I need to be for now.

The question I have is whether the Church would ever allow my making additional promises or private vows on top of or in addition to my public vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience? For instance, I have a book, "Spiritual Legacy of Sr. Mary of the Holy Trinity," which talks about Jesus plea for others to make the vow of victimhood.

Now, obviously I am not going to make this vow without much reflection and prayer; however, I feel called to this in a special way. It be God's Will, how would I do this? Would it simply be a private vow, made in the privacy of my own home? Or, would it be a private vow professed in the presence of a priest?

What is the difference between the two? Does a private vow made publically (in the presence of a priest and witness) have the backing of the Church?

The Intercessors of the Lamb also make vows of poverty, chastity and obedience as well as a fouth vow of victim-love or zeal. In the case of lay brothers / sisters, they make promises, not vows.

Can I make these promises with their community before or even after my profession of vows with HFI?
Thank you

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Tom:

1) The answer to your question on sharing the spiritual fruits of any religious family where one is received into that association by vows or promises is "Yes". It matters not whether the vows are public or private.

2) Concerning making additional vows privately, one can do that, but no one should make a vow without spiritual direction. If one is part of a religious family, then advice must be sought from the superiors of that family and obedience offered to their decision.

Because of the nature of a vow of Victimhood one should NEVER make such a vow except with the permission of a spiritual director.

If you do make this or any other private vow, it can be done merely by making the vow before God. It would be preferable, however, to offer your vow in the hands of a priest. Either of these options can be done in your home, or with the priest in the parish Church. It can even be done during the Mass unless the bishop prohibits it.

There is no difference in a private vow made privately or a private vow made before a priest in a public place. Both are considered private and do not have any formal recognition from the Church (that is what a public vow is).

3) Concerning making private vows in another religious family, the Church has no problem with that. Canon 307 allows for multiple membership, depending on the proper law of the associations.

Thus, whether or not you may be a member in two or more religious families depends upon the Rule of those families.

For example, the Secular Franciscans do not allow their members to join other associations. In the Order of the Legion of St. Michael, of which I am a member, we have no problem with our members joining other associations as long as they maintain the Legion as a priority.

So you will need to check with the HFI and ask about multiple memberships. You will also need to check the perspective associations you are interested in (such as the Intercessors) to ensure they will accept multiple memberships also.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum