The Rule of the Order of the Holy Family

About this book

ORDER OF THE HOLY FAMILY "Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God." Psalm 31:5The Order of the Holy Family is an ecumenical religious community rooted in the ascetic, monastic, and contemplative ideals of responding to God's love in a disciplined life of Christian discipleship. We share a common life of prayer, service, study, and tithes guided by the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience as understood in our rule and the New Testament. We are monastics who, in the cloister of our hearts, maintain commitments to our individual families, households, work, and churches. Membership is open to all Christians, married and single, female and male, clergy and laity. Together we seek unity with God and God's children within the depth of Christ. We offer ourselves humbly in sacrificial love to God and God's children in hope that God's peace, wisdom, love, and goodness may reign among us. We seek the revelation of the union of our souls with God through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Three FoundationsMembers of the Order accept the three foundations of poverty, chastity, and obedience, which are fulfilled in the love of God and neighbor. We accept poverty by emptying ourselves before God and surrendering our possessiveness as we honor and give thanks for the blessings of creation. We accept chastity by maintaining integrity and moral purity in all our relationships so we may truly love. We accept obedience by remaining humble, truthful, and receptive to the will of God. The Four Duties Members of the Order commit to the four duties of prayer, service, study, and tithes. These duties are fulfilled individually and in community. We discern our calling to each duty and the Order offers opportunities to share in the duties and discernment together.