Fourth vow

Last updated

The fourth vow is a religious solemn vow that is taken by members of various religious institutes of the Catholic Church, after the three traditional vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. It usually is an expression of the congregation's charism and particular insertion in the apostolic field of the Church.

Contents

In the Society of Jesus

After a period of service as a priest, members of the Society of Jesus—referred to as Jesuits—can be allowed to take a fourth vow of obedience to the pope with regard to the missions.

The text of the vow is "(...) I further promise a special obedience to the sovereign pontiff in regard to the missions, according to the same Apostolic Letters and the Constitutions". [1] The same text is being used today, just as it was in the days of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.

The vow is an expression of the strong attachment the Jesuits have for the Church, and their willingness to accept whatever service the Church asks (through the pope) if it is of a great apostolic need. In part VII of the Constitutions , discussing the 'distribution of the members in the Vineyard of the lord' the founding fathers explain the purpose of the fourth vow: "Those who first united to form the Society were from different provinces and realms and did not know into which regions they were to go, whether among the faithful or the unbelievers; and therefore to avoid erring in the path of the Lord, they made that promise or vow in order that His Holiness might distribute them for greater glory to God" [2]

This vow is limited to the priests of the Society. Only those who have been accepted by the Society to take this vow may serve as major superiors in the Society of Jesus.

In other religious institutes

Other religious institutes have adopted the practice of taking a fourth vow:

A fourth vow of the Missionaries of Christ Jesus was suppressed in 1969. A fifth vow of the Legionaries was suppressed in 2009. [3]

Citations

  1. Constitutions S.J., N°527
  2. Constitutions S.J., N°606
  3. Pettinati 1978, col. 1529.

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesuits</span> Male religious congregation of the Catholic Church

The Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits, is a religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rome. It was founded in 1540 by Ignatius of Loyola and six companions, with the approval of Pope Paul III. The society is engaged in evangelization and apostolic ministry in 112 nations. Jesuits work in education, research, and cultural pursuits. Jesuits also conduct retreats, minister in hospitals and parishes, sponsor direct social and humanitarian ministries, and promote ecumenical dialogue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legionaries of Christ</span> Catholic religious congregation

The Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ is a Roman Catholic Religious order made up of priests, deacons and brothers in formation for the priesthood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religious vows</span> Promises made by members of religious communities

Religious vows are the public vows made by the members of religious communities pertaining to their conduct, practices, and views.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regnum Christi</span> International Catholic organization

Regnum Christi, officially the Regnum Christi Federation is an international Catholic Federation. It is made up of lay Catholics, as well as the religious congregation of the Legionaries of Christ, and the Societies of Apostolic Life of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi, and the Lay Consecrated Men of Regnum Christi. The statutes of the Regnum Christi Federation were approved by the Holy See on May 31, 2019, after an extensive investigation and discernment on the part of the Holy See who led Regnum Christi and all of its federated institutions through a deep reformation and renewal process that began in 2009. Regnum Christi is dedicated to promoting the Catholic faith and evangelization. Their motto is "Thy Kingdom Come."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Consecrated life</span> Type of lifestyle advocated by the Catholic Church

Consecrated life is a state of life in the Catholic Church lived by those faithful who are called to follow Jesus Christ in a more exacting way. It includes those in institutes of consecrated life, societies of apostolic life, as well as those living as hermits or consecrated virgins/widows.

A society of apostolic life is a group of men or women within the Catholic Church who have come together for a specific purpose and live fraternally. It is regarded as a form of consecrated life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claude La Colombière</span> French Jesuit priest and saint

Claude La Colombière, S.J. was a French Jesuit priest best known as the confessor of Margaret Mary Alacoque. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Institute of the Incarnate Word</span> Catholic religious institute in Argentina

The Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) (Spanish: Instituto del Verbo Encarnado) is a Catholic religious institute founded in Argentina by Fr. Carlos Miguel Buela on March 25, 1984. It is a religious institute of diocesan right. The institute is the male branch of the Religious Family of the Incarnate Word, a union of religious institutes founded by Buela; the other two branches are the female religious community known as the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará (SSVM) and the Secular Third Order.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro</span> Archdiocese of the Catholic Church in the Philippines

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro is an archdiocese of the Catholic Church in the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franciscan Minims of the Perpetual Help of Mary</span>

The Order of Atonement of the Franciscan Minims of the Perpetual Help of Mary (mfPS) is a single Roman Catholic active/contemplative religious order distinguished by three branches: the Men's Branch for priests and brothers/friars, the Women's Branch for nuns and the Lay Branch for those of all ages and professions, including the sick, dying, and those children conceived but as yet "unborn" or "pre-born".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catholic Marian movements and societies</span> Organizations within Roman Catholicism dedicated to the worship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Catholic Marian movements and societies have developed from the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary by members of the Catholic Church. These societies form part of the fabric of Mariology in the Catholic Church. Popular membership in Marian organizations grew significantly in the 20th century, as apparitions such as Our Lady of Fátima gave rise to societies with millions of members, and today many Marian societies exist around the world. This article reviews the major Marian movements and organizations.

"A religious institute is a society in which members, according to proper law, pronounce public vows, either perpetual or temporary which are to be renewed, however, when the period of time has elapsed, and lead a life of brothers or sisters in common."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesuit formation</span>

Jesuit formation, or the training of Jesuits, is the process by which candidates are prepared for ordained or brotherly service in the Society of Jesus, the world's largest male Catholic religious order. The process is based on the Constitution of the Society of Jesus written by Ignatius of Loyola and approved in 1550. There are various stages, from a novice, to studying, to full-time work and a return to studies before ordination as a priest or final profession as a brother. They are formed spiritually, academically and practically for the ministries they offer the Church and world.

Ignatian spirituality, similar in most aspects to, but distinct from Jesuit spirituality, is a Catholic spirituality founded on the experiences of the 16th-century Spanish Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order. The main idea of this form of spirituality comes from Ignatius's Spiritual Exercises, the aim of which is to help one "conquer oneself and to regulate one's life in such a way that no decision is made under the influence of any inordinate attachment." The Exercises are intended to give the person undertaking them a greater degree of freedom from his or her own likes and dislikes, so that their choices are based solely on what they discern God's will is for them. Even in the composition of the exercises by Ignatius early in his career, one might find the apostolic thrust of his spirituality in his contemplation on "The Call of the Earthly King" and in his final contemplation with its focus on finding God in all things.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the Catholic Church:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William A. Rice</span>

William A. Rice, S.J. was an American-born bishop of the Catholic Church. He served as the Vicar Apostolic of Belize from 1939 to 1946. He was also the founder of Baghdad College.

Joseph N. Dinand, S.J. was an American-born bishop of the Catholic Church. He twice served as president at the College of the Holy Cross from 1911 to 1918 and from 1924 to 1927. He also served as the Vicar Apostolic of Jamaica from 1927 to 1929.

PaschaseBroët was a Catholic priest, and one of the first Jesuits.

The Missionaries of Christ Jesus are a Catholic religious institute founded in Javier, Spain in 1944 by María Camino Sanz Orrio. Members use the post-nominal letters MCJ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religious sister</span> Woman who has taken public vows in a religious institute

A religious sister in the Catholic Church is a woman who has taken public vows in a religious institute dedicated to apostolic works, as distinguished from a nun who lives a cloistered monastic life dedicated to prayer and labor, or a canoness regular, who provides a service to the world, either teaching or nursing, within the confines of the monastery. Nuns, religious sisters and canonesses all use the term "Sister" as a form of address.