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ROYAL
OBLATES OF SAINT STEPHEN
Devoted
to Saint Stephen, Deacon and Protomartyr
Dedicated
to Christ the King
Spreading
the Word of God around the World
The
religious life is a special calling of prayer and total devotion to
service to God and His Church. The Metropolitan See founded and
maintains a religious order, the Royal Oblates of Saint Stephen. The
Oblates are dedicated specifically to service, following the example
of their celestial Patron, Stephen, Deacon and Protomartyr, and
mission work in evangelizing to the world.
The
Oblates of St. Stephen is an order consisting of religious men and
women who have professed obedience to the Rule. The order is
dedicated to and under the heavenly patronage of St. Stephen the
Protomartyr and dedicated to Christ the King. Also within the order
are laity as third order oblates who do not specifically follow the
Rule, but support the work of the order.
Members
are not bound by celibacy. The vows of stability,
chastity, and obedience still apply, however. Chastity refers to the
individual Oblate's state in life. If they are married, it is as any
other sacramental marriage. Stability refers to a life-long promise
of service to the church and the order.
Click
here to read the Rule.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership
categories are detailed in the abbreviated operating regulations
below. Candidates for the Second Order start first must under a year
of postulancy (except for clergy), and then seven years of the
novitiate before taking final (life) vows. Lay men and women in the
Third Order may bypass the postulancy on a case-by-case basis. The
Third Order members are not in solemn vows. Members may live in
communities, abbeys, or out in the world.
CATEGORIES
First
Order Oblates are men who are ordained as priests or deacons. Second
Order Oblates are men and women in solemn vows (detailed above).
Oblates may be married upon application or may marry after joining
with permission of their religious superior. Third Order Oblates have
no restrictions.
HABIT
First
and second order Oblates wear a distinctive and blessed habit as
part of their religious devotion and discipline. For men, this
consists of a white cassock and band cincture, white buttoned
mozzetta, white zucchetto, and white biretta without tuft. The female
Oblates have a habit consisting of a white monastic dress with white
mozzetta. Postulants wear a white cassock or monastic dress with a
red Saint Stephen cross suspended about the neck from a red cord.
These habits remind the Oblates of their special devotion,
discipline, and duties to God and the Church.
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