Overview of CFD Australia
IS IT POSSIBLE TO LIVE LIKE A MONK IN THE WORLD?
A monk is one who seeks God alone in a radical way. The monastic life has always been associated with cloistered life, silence, solitude and austerity.
But are these things essential to be a Monk? For us, the model for monastic life is Jesus. Jesus alone lived, even in His human nature, with the same complete devotion to God the Father that He, being the Eternal Son of God, lives with for all eternity. However, this relationship with the Father did not draw Jesus away from a relationship with human beings whom He Himself called "brothers", and whose lives He chose to share.
If, therefore, we wish to live the monastic spirit, we must be united to Christ. In the Community of the Sons and Daughters of God, this union with Christ can be lived in the state of life in which God has placed us: as laypeople, either married or single, who live in their own homes and who come from all walks of life, or as diocesan Priests. The men and women religious of this Community, live in distinct monasteries under a specific monastic rule.
The distinguishing characteristic of a monk's life is continual prayer. This implies a constant search for God, renouncing one's self in order to welcome God into one's heart.
Our heart is the 'interior cell' in which we meet the Lord and abide with Him in an intimate relationship. Thus we speak of 'interiorized monasticism', inspired by Eastern Christianity, especially the Russian Orthodox tradition.
WHAT IS OUR COMMUNITY'S VISION?
The Community originated from a desire to live out, and to help others to live out, the grace of Baptism in all its radicalness, which entails a commitment to strive towards holiness.
We live out this commitment by the grace bestowed upon us at Baptism. The Lord gave us the means to cultivate, develop and increase this grace through the following:
- Most importantly, the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist - the source and summit of the Christian life,
- The Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office),
- Listening to the Word of God (Holy Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church),
- Prayer of the heart, living in the Divine presence,
- Fraternal communion.
All these means will enable us to be docile to the Holy Spirit and obedient to the Heavenly Father's Will.
WHAT IS OUR APOSTOLATE?
The Community does not have an active apostolate. Our aim is to help men and women to uphold the absolute primacy of God through a life of faith, humility, silence and prayer.
WHAT IS OUR SERVICE TO THE CHURCH AND TO MANKIND?
- To bear witness to the primacy of God, Who cannot be lowered to a mere means to serve our human interests,
- To give others a sense of the reality of the Kingdom of God, which is already present through the Christian Mystery,
- To anticipate the life of heaven here on earth, a life to which everyone is called, and thus direct all our actions towards this one and only end.
HOW IS THE COMMUNITY STRUCTURED?
In order to help us live as monks, our Community is structured into four branches, which are all united under one but a threefold Consecration: to Christ, to Mary and to the Church.
1st Branch: Persons who take the rite of Consecration. Later on, members have the option to take religious vows, into another branch, if they so desire. This commitment is undertaken only after a period of discernment and spiritual preparation.
2nd branch: Married persons (either one or both spouses), take vows of poverty, conjugal chastity and obedience.
3rd branch: Single persons, widows or widowers, take vows of poverty, perfect chastity and obedience.
4th branch: Men and women who live out their Consecration with the religious vows of poverty, perfect chastity and obedience, live in small monasteries, with a lifestyle similar to that of traditional monastic Orders.
These four branches correspond to four different ways of living out the one and the same Consecration in the unity of the one Community.
The Community is spiritually guided by a priest who belongs to the 4th branch. It is governed and administered according to its spiritual guidelines by a central government, who are both elected and nominated. Countries other than Italy are administered by the nomination of an Assistant living in that country.
HOW IS THE LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY LIVED?
The Consecrated members meet locally in small groups once a week to foster the Community life through prayer, spiritual formation and fraternal sharing.
All small groups meet regionally once a month in a larger gathering.
In addition, the Community holds an annual silent retreat and local pilgrimage.
HOW DO I JOIN THE COMMUNITY?
Entry into the Community takes place by means of a formal rite of Consecration after a spiritual formation of at least on year. Please refer to Group Contacts.