Why I don't wear a habit...



On the day of Jillian's profession.

 After my first profession of the vows, someone asked me, "Do you get a habit now?" As you see in the picture, I never did get one. But, just as the question didn't surprise me, you shouldn't be suprised by my "lack" of habit. As a member of a Secular Institute, I go around in skirts, dresses, or even jeans (whatever propriety and social norm dictate at the moment), and by doing so I do not besmirch or take away from the lofty reality of being consecrated to God in the Holy Church. On the contrary, wearing a habit would be opposed to Church authority.

The key to understanding this lies in the fundamental difference between a Relgious and a member of a Secular Institute:

The Religious are called to give public witness to Christ and the Church through SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD proper to the character and purpose of their specific institute. (Can. 607 §3.)  Religious are to wear the habit of the institute, made according to the norm of proper law, as a sign of their consecration and as a witness of poverty.

Members of Secular Institutes, never become religious...they remain lay. They undertake the evangelical counsels as Christian faithful, living IN THE WORLD. They strive for the perfection of charity and seek to contribute to the sanctification of the world, especially FROM WITHIN. (Can. 710)  The proper secularity of the institute is always to be preserved in its way of life (Can 712) - hence no habit.
 
We are members of the consecrated life, sharing with the Religious the blessing and responsibility of undertaking the evangelical counsels. We are still lay, however, and therefore share in the specific mission of the baptized Laity. 

Consecrated + Lay = Consecrated-Lay. A simple fact, a beautiful reality.

http://www.secularinstitutes.org/    www.kolbemission.org/en   http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_INDEX.HTM