THE SECOND ORDER

ELIGIBILITY AND MEMBERSHIP

A. The candidate must:

1. Be at least eighteen years of age to enter, nineteen years of age or older at time of Junior Profession.

2. Be a confirmed communicant in good standing with the See of Canterbury.

3. Obtain character endorsements or other recommendations from a duly ordained priest of the church who will normally be the candidate's own parish priest.

4. Submit a written declaration stating that the documents of the Order have been read, that the candidate agrees to abide by the provisions therein, and the decision to seek membership in the Community is made of the candidate's own free will.
 
 

 B. A candidate for membership in the Second Order of The Order of Saint Athanasius may be admitted as an aspirant and visit the Community for a weekend. This is a time for the candidate to live in community, living the life of a Religious. It is a time also of discernment for both the Mother Superior and the candidate as to the call into the Religious Life. The aspirant shall then return home for a time of prayer and meditation before contacting the Mother Superior for formal admission into the Order of Saint Athanasius.

C. A candidate must have the permission of her parish priest. Her parish priest shall be her day by day spiritual director and assign her the ministries for which she is best suited according to the needs of the parish. She shall be in obedience to her priest as well as the Mother Superior.

D. The right to admit candidates to the Postulancy or Novitiate belongs to the Mother Superior.

E. A person shall have been invalidly accepted, and will be subject to immediate dismissal if any information given by her on her application is proven to be false or misleading.

F. A Postulant or Novice may be released at her own request, or be dismissed at any time for just cause by the Mother Superior.

VOWS

The Vows of the Second Order are POVERTY, CHASTITY AND OBEDIENCE. These vows are as follows:

POVERTY

Members take a vow of poverty. However, since they live independently they must, of necessity, own some property individually. Married members are required to consider their marriage, and the needs of other family members. Whether married or single, all members must strive to live simply, realizing that what they have is from God and that ownership of these things is merely temporal. Members make a commitment to use their possessions in the service of God by donating a portion of their labor and wages to the Church and the Order.
 

CHASTITY

Married members MUST be faithful to their marriage vows. Unmarried members MUST live completely celibate lives. All must keep themselves pure in body and mind, according to their state in life, as well as being modest, self-disciplined and free from all excesses in order to be free to love others as commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ.
 

OBEDIENCE

Members owe obedience to:

1. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, acknowledging Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

2. The articles of faith contained in Scripture, Creeds, Catechism and Canons of the Church.

3. Bishops and other clergy appointed over them, as well as the direction of the Mother Superior of the Order and Ministers Provincial when such are elected or appointed.
 
 
 
 
PRIVATE DEVOTION OF THE MEMBERS

Sisters are encouraged to use their own personal form of prayer, prayer books, spiritual readings, rosary, etc. The Order will provide a list of required reading material. Members should also set aside thirty minutes each day for meditation and the study of Holy Scripture. Retreats are encouraged, whenever possible, minimum of once yearly. All sisters shall place prayer as their number one priority.
 
 

OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS

A. Postulants shall make a monthly report of apostolic activities and shall also report on her reading requirements. Her parish priest shall read and sign the report before mailing to the Mother Superior. She shall report on any struggles or positive experiences she might encounter during this time and seek counsel from her priest and the Mother Superior. Monthly confessions are to be made to her priest.

B. Each Novice Sister shall report her apostolic activities, in writing, to the Mother Superior at the end of each Embertide. This shall continue until Life Profession. Each sister shall give a written report of her fulfilled reading requirements. Once Life Professed, reports shall be sent once yearly.

In addition to the Embertide Report, the Sister may decide to include a Manifestation of Conscience. This is completely voluntary and will be read only by the Mother Superior. This report will be held in the strictest of confidence. A Manifestation of Conscience should include an overview of spiritual struggles, their effect and the spiritual growth that the Sister has gained from the experience. Each Sister is reminded that the Mother Superior is always available for spiritual or temporal guidance.

B. Included with the last Embertide Report of the year should be a proposal of the intended apostolic activities for the coming year. The Mother Superior shall accept, reject, or modify the proposal.

COMMON WORSHIP OF THE SECOND ORDER

It is the obligation of each member to:

1. Participate in the celebration of the Eucharist at least once a week. Daily attendance is encouraged.

2. Recite the Daily Offices from the Book of Common Prayer.

3. Participate in communal prayer whenever possible.
 
 
SUPPORTING THE ORDER

The Order of Saint Athanasius joins the Church in affirming that all members living outside the Community should give a share of her wages to the Church and the Order. Those living in community contribute their wages to the Community and tithes will be given by the Community to the parish.
 
 

OF THE HABIT OF THE SECOND ORDER




The habit of the Postulant shall be a white blouse, black skirt, a short white veil, and the cross of the order.

The habit of the Novice shall be a black alb extending to the ankles, girded with a white cincture, the rosary, black veil and the cross of the Order.

The habit of the Professed Sister shall be a black alb extending to the ankles, girded with a white cincture with the three-fold Vows represented by three knots, worn on the right side, the rosary, black scapular, black veil, and the cross selected by the Order.

Sisters are to be found in habit at all Masses and when performing any liturgical function or ministry. The habit should be worn at all times, unless secular occupation or activity prohibits.

If a Sister of the Second Order who is married becomes pregnant, she shall not wear the habit during this time. During this time, she continues to live the obligations of her Vows.

TITLE OF SISTERS

The Postulant shall use her given name.

Upon entering, one should already have a religious name in mind. If unable to select one the Mother Superior will designate one for the candidate.

Upon reception into the Novitiate, a novice shall be entitled to use the title "Sister" and to sign her name with the designation, n/OSA.

A Professed member may sign her name with the designation, OSA.