Daughters of the Heart of Mary

Paige3 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:28 am

Has anyone heard of the religious community for women - Daughters of the Heart of Mary?

I know their web site is http://www.dhmna.org in the U.S. and http://www.dhmary.com in the UK... but has anyone actually met one of these sisters or know of one personally?

Easter Blessings to all!

Paige3

Ancient Oracle · **Posted:** Tue Mar 31, 2009 6:52 pm

I looked at their page, and one of the answers on the FAQ just caused me more question ...

Quote:

Question: Are you a religious order or a secular institute?

Answer: Women and men who profess vows and belong to Religious Communities, are referred to under Canon Law as members of Religious Institutes. The term Institute can be the cause of confusion for some. In more common terminology, religious institutes are what people still call religious congregations, orders, or communities.

Our Society, The Daughters of the Heart of Mary, is a Religious Institute. In addition, we report directly to the Pope (the Pontiff) rather than to the local leadership (bishop) of a particular diocese, so we are further categorized by Canon Law as a Pontifical Religious Institute.

Secular institutes are organizations of like-minded Catholic laity or clerics who share a certain vision lived out personally, not communally.

Paige3 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:36 am

Ancient Oracle,

What about the FAQ question and response is bothering you?

I thought I understood what they said about religious institutes and secular institutes...

Did I miss something that seems to be implied in their answer???

Please let me know.

Thanks

Ancient Oracle · **Posted:** Wed Apr 01, 2009 6:41 pm

I expected a Religious order.

Faramir · **Posted:** Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:41 pm

Ancient Oracle wrote:

I expected a Religious order.

I think the word "Order" is generally reserved to the long-established orders... Benedictines, Dominicans, Franciscans, etc. I believe newer "orders" are generally called communities.

Paige3 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2009 10:02 am

No... from what I've read of documents coming out of Rome, the "official" term for all religious congregations, religious orders, or religious communities, i.e. those who take the evangelical vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, is now "Religious Institute." They are differentiated from the "apostolic societies" and "secular institutes."

Although they are called "religious institutes" as an official term, the common or informal use of "orders" or "congregations" or "communities" remains used as they have been for many years.

The Daugters of the Heart of Mary are then a religious order, not a secular institute, or apostolic society.

Make sense?

Ancient Oracle · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2009 4:46 pm

A little spin going on ...

Quote:

Question: What type of habit did you have in the past?

Answer: Unlike religious congregations who wore a habit or still wear one, our community members have always worn clothing comparable to that worn by the laity. This allows us to penetrate deeply the milieu (times and surroundings) in which we live and serve. For example: we were able to have sisters living and serving behind the "iron curtain" for many years because without distinctive dress or symbol, no one suspected that they were religious women.

Desertfalcon · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2009 4:51 pm

I'm not sure why it's "spin"? It sounds like an act of incredible bravery in the service of Christ. Can you imagine what would have happened to them if they had been discovered operating within the Soviet Empire? They deserve commendation.

Ancient Oracle · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2009 4:58 pm

They make their answer sound as if orders with traditional habits are not courageous, or willing to stand out - whereas for s nun to wear a habit on our streets requires fortitude.

Desertfalcon · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2009 5:01 pm

I didn't detect anything critical of other's practices in their explanation.

Ancient Oracle · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2009 5:06 pm

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Paige3 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 03, 2009 2:15 pm

I'm with you Sons of Thunder... I don't see anything wrong with their explanation.

The Daughters of the Heart of Mary are active in spreading the gospel message of Jesus... have been doing it for a couple hundred years... and even support the Pope. They are Pontifical group so that means they report into the Pope rather than the local Bishop... doesn't it?

Ancient Oracle... are you a pessimist? or just having a bad day?

paige

Obi-Wan Kenobi · **Posted:** Fri Apr 03, 2009 2:21 pm

The terms used in their FAQ (order, religious institute, etc.) are straight out of canon law.

Ancient Oracle · **Posted:** Fri Apr 03, 2009 4:09 pm

Quote:

no one suspected that they were religious women.

We have too many like that.

Paige3 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 06, 2009 8:46 am

About the last post - you are taking things out of context.

For someone reading only these posts - I strongly suggest that you go to the website for the Daughters of the Heart of Mary to see the actual questions and answers...

http/wwwdhmna.org

Bonaventure · **Posted:** Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:14 am

As you suggested, I went to their website.

Have you looked at their "links" page?

The groups they link to are unreliable at best.

Sistersonline is one of the worst. You can find links there that support FR. MAREK BOZEK and the radical feminist "Theologian" Sandra Schneiders is linked there raging about "a fake war being stirred up by the Vatican" because the Holy Father wants visitations to seminaries and religious orders.

Then there is this site. Look who they are honoring on the cover of their latest magazine:

It appears that the Daughters of the Heart of Mary are principally about leftist political ideas. I definitely could not recommend them to anyone.

Bonaventure · **Posted:** Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:22 am

It also should be noted that Paige3 is not someone wondering about the Daughters of the Heart of Mary, but she is part of them and is here to advertise for them. A quick glance at her email shows this thread is simply an advertisement meant to appear as someone who wants information on the Daughters of the Heart of Mary.

Edit: Paige3 appears is a Vocation Director for the Daughters of the Heart of Mary.

Signum Crucis · **Posted:** Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:28 am

Deceit seems to be an element of their modus operandi.

sparky · **Posted:** Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:53 am

Nice.

For what it's worth, Paige3 - I wouldn't recommend a religious "order" that doesn't wear habits to anyone.

There's a reason that communities like yours are dying off and having a "vocations crisis" while orders like this one here are bursting at the seams.

Maybe you should go visit them and find out what their secret is instead of masquerading as someone you're not on message boards.
--Ann

Obi-Wan Kenobi · **Posted:** Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:54 am

FWIW, she didn't say she was seeking information about them for herself. But she could have been (and should have been) much more open about who she is and why she is posting.

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