In a "rescriptum ex audientia" issued May 18, the pope said that the Vatican congregation overseeing religious orders can, in individual cases and at its own discretion, grant permission for non-priest religious members to assume the role of major superior.

The change includes the derogation of the second paragraph of canon 588 in the Code of Canon Law, which says that clerical institutes are under the direction of ordained priests.

Pope Francis said that the council of an institute of consecrated life, or a society of apostolic life of pontifical rite, may now nominate or elect a "non-cleric member" as major superior after receiving written permission from the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

The congregation, the rescriptum said, "reserves the right to evaluate the individual case and the reasons given by the Supreme Moderator or the General Chapter."

A non-cleric member can be nominated as a local superior without the Vatican's permission. Continue reading

The document, entitled Identity and Mission of the Religious Brother in the Church, focuses on the role non-ordained men play in various religious orders around the world, Vatican Insider reports. Commonly referred to as brothers, such men do not receive priestly ordination but are normally consecrated or anointed into a life of service with their order.

It notes that the first title Jesus assumed for himself and for his disciples was that of brother.

"Jesus Christ first of all became brother, shared our flesh and blood and was in solidarity with the sufferings of his brothers and sisters," the document says. "This is the title Jesus gives his disciples after his Resurrection."

"The Religious Brother, living his lay state through a special consecration, is witness to the value of the common priesthood received in Baptism and Confirmation," the 54-page document says. "His religious consecration is in itself an exercise in the fullness of the priesthood of all the baptized."

"Rooting his life deeply in God, the Brother consecrates all creation, recognizing the presence of God and the Spirit's action in creation, in cultures and in daily events," the document continues.

"The Brother develops his baptismal priesthood through brotherhood," the document continues. "Through it he becomes a bridge between God and his brothers, anointed and sent by the Spirit to bring the Good News of the love and mercy of God to all, especially to the least of his brothers, the weakest members of humanity."

The document describes brothers' communities "a prime manifestation of the baptismal priesthood."

According to CruxNow, there are about 55,000 brothers in the Catholic Church worldwide today.

Sources

• Global Pulse, an article by Stefan Gigacz, who is working on his Ph.D. at MCD University of Divinity, Melbourne.
• Image: Catholic Diocese of Umzimkulu

In a country where the number of Catholic brothers fell from 12,271 in 1965 to 4477 in 2012, representatives came together from four organisations: the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, the Religious Brothers Conference, the National Religious Vocation Conference and the Religious Formation Conference.

The think tank affirmed the brotherhood as the heart of male religious life and examined ways to promote it as a serious vocational option for young men.

"Our vocation is one of the Church's best-kept secrets," Holy Cross Brother Paul Bednarczyk, executive director of the National Religious Vocation Conference, told Catholic News Service.

"We are vowed religious who commit ourselves to a particular ministry, live in community and share prayers.

"We are not part of the hierarchy of the Church, which gives us more freedom in ministry to respond to those most in need. Our vocation complements the religious priesthood," he said.

Christian Brother Robert Berger, associate professor of religious studies at Manhattan College in Riverdale, said every religious community says something appropriate for its times.

He said the charism of some religious communities can be distilled to an individual word. "For the Benedictines, it's stability; the Franciscans, poverty; Christian Brothers, education; Trappists, silence; Dominicans, preaching. Since the Second Vatican Council, the gift has taken a new form, but is still vital to the Church."

Brother Berger said men considering a religious vocation today "are joining a seed, rather than a large plant", but they are attracted to the communal life and worship, and the timeless values they promote.

"The technology and speed of the way things are done in the 21st century are countercultural to a group of men who pray over psalms that are 3000 years old," he said.

Sources:

Catholic News Service

Conference of Major Superiors of Men

Image: Family Online