1) What is the Company of St. Ursula?
2) What is your mission?
3) What is a "Company"?
4) Why St. Ursula?
5) Is this a religious community?
6) What is the difference between this
way of life and religious life?
7) How do you experience community?
8) Is the Company like an association?
9) How are members supported financially?
10) What is new or innovative about
this life?
11) Who is Angela Merici?
12) Did you say "celibacy"?
13) What do you DO?
14) Must I leave my job to join the
Company?
15) What is a secular institute?
16) How would I explore becoming a
member of the Company?
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1) What is the Company of
St. Ursula?
We are a group of single lay women, consecrated to Christ
in life-long celibacy, who seek to follow the Gospel
along the spiritual path of Angela Merici. To learn more, download a PDF version of our brochure.
2) What is your mission?
To live so deeply our relationship with God, through
Jesus Christ, as to be able to find God everywhere....
Experiencing Gods love from within, we are called
to bring this love to others, to be a Gospel presence
and to radiate Gods love in our jobs, homes, families,
neighborhoods, parishes and civic communities.
3) What is a "Company"?
The word "company" comes from two Latin words
and means "sharing bread," that is, life.
It has a long history of referring to spiritual groups.
The Company of St. Ursula follows certain spiritual
practices.
4) Why St. Ursula?
Saint Ursula was a leader of women in the early Church.
She and her companions were martyred at Cologne, Germany,
in about the fourth century. She represents commitment
to Christ, courage and womens leadership.
5) Is this a religious community?
No.
6) What is the difference between
this way of life and religious life?
Our life is completely in the world. Each member is
financially responsible for herself. There are no established
group works or living arrangements. A member lives wherever
is suitable for her. Our companionship is based on living
the same vocation, following the same Rule (spiritual
practices) and gathering regularly in a sisterhood of
shared values and spirit.
7) How do you experience community?
In a spiritual family bound by a common Ursuline vocation
and spirit. We gather regularly for prayer and sisterly
support.
8) Is the Company like an association?
No. We are not connected with a religious order. We
are not a third order nor a lay association. This is
a permanent lay vocation in the Catholic Church. It is a secular institute.
9) How are members supported financially?
Each member is responsible for her own financial support.
10) What is new or innovative about
this life?
The Company of St. Ursula was revolutionary in its beginning
(1535). It offered an alternative future to women. It
was founded by Angela Merici, a lay woman, who composed
its Rule of life. The Church approved this Rule in 1546.
A lay institution since its foundation, the Company
now exists around the world. The Company of St. Ursula
in the United States was initiated on November 25, 2000.
11) Who is Angela Merici?
Saint Angela Merici (ca. 1474-1540) created a way of
consecrated life for single lay women. She founded the
Company of St. Ursula in 1535 in Brescia, Italy. She
composed a Rule, which is a guidebook to this way of
life.
12) Did you say "celibacy"?
Consecrated celibacy. Yes.
Countercultural. Yes.
Consecrated celibacy is a WAY OF LIFE. It is understood
as the loving gift of ones whole self in response
to Jesus Christ, who has first loved us. This way of
life is supported by deep prayer and by the companionship
of other women on the same journey. This celibate love
flows outward in service to the world.
13) What do you DO?
We offer loving service to our world, in the spirit
of the Gospel, through occupations and ministries as
varied as the women forming the Company.
Our times call for special attention to peace and justice.
14) Must I leave my job to join
the Company?
No. Each member works in her own chosen occupation.
15) What is a secular institute?
A secular institute is a form of consecrated life in the Catholic Church. Members commit themselves to certain Gospel values called the “evangelical counsels.”
16) How would I explore becoming
a member of the Company?
Contact us by mail or e-mail.
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