A
Practicing Member of the Catholic Church
By this I mean Roman Catholic, not in
reference to the Latin rite but in reference to the unity under the leadership
of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. The majority of Roman Catholics belong to the
Latin Rite. There are, however, other rites within the Roman Catholic Church,
Maronite, Malabar, Melkite, Ukrainian, etc. There are Secular Order communities
in each of these rites. The OCDS
community of Lebanon belongs to the Maronite Rite. The word practicing
specifies something about the person who can be a member of the Secular Order.
As a basic litmus test of practicing the Catholic faith I suggest the capacity
to participate fully in the Eucharist with a clear conscience. The Eucharist is
the summit of Catholic life and identity. It is the meeting point of heaven and
earth. So, if one is free to participate in the summit, then the lesser points
of participation are certainly permitted.
For most cases in the past this was
rather simple to determine. People who came to the Secular Order came from
parishes where the friars were present, or through contact with friars or nuns
who recommended them to the Secular Order. Divorce was not a major factor in
Catholic life. Most situations were clear.
It is not so today. Things are not
always clear. It is precisely here where the Spiritual Assistant can be of most
help to the Council of a community of the Secular Order in the screening of
candidates. I give an example. A woman approaches a community of the Secular Order.
The woman is known by some of the Council. They know that this is her second
marriage. They also know that she regularly goes to Mass and participates in
the sacraments. The Council would like clarity before admitting this person to
formation.
There are a few possibilities with this
case. The Church annulled the first marriage. Or, by arrangement with her
confessor, she and her husband are living in such a way as to participate
in the sacraments of the Church. An interview with the Spiritual Assistant
would clarify the answers. Without necessity of too much explanation to respect
the right to privacy and a good name that every member of the Church enjoys,
he could give the word to the Council that would allow this person to enter
the Secular Order.
The Secular Order is a juridical part
of the Order of Discalced Carmelites. It is an institution of the Roman
Catholic Church and subject to the laws of the Church. The Sacred Congregation
must approve its own legislation. Therefore, someone who does not belong to the
Catholic Church may not be a member of the Secular Order. Non-catholic people
with interest in the spirituality of Carmel are certainly welcome to
participate in whatever way a community might invite them, but they cannot be
members of the Secular Order.
Here we have the first element of the
identity of a Secular Order member, a person who participates in the life of
the Catholic Church. There is, of course, more, because there are millions of
people who participate in the life of the Catholic Church who have not the
slightest interest in Carmel.
(Fr. Aloysius Deeney, OCD)
General Delegate to the Discalced Carmelite Secular Order
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