| If you would like to begin an Oratory of Divine
Love Prayer Group, have already begun one, or have a pre-existing
prayer group that you want to affiliate with Oratory, please follow
the following procedures. We are also including a registration form
on the bottom of this page. It must be filled out, signed and sent
to us in order to be affiliated with the Oratory of Divine Love.
- Gather some devout friends, at least six who will pledge themselves
to come together to pray once a week, or at least once every two
weeks. Usually an oratory should have at least six members. However,
homebound friends who cannot get to a group can register as affiliates.
They will be able to pick up the meditations on this website.
If the group grows beyond fifteen or so it loses its personal
touch, and it will be necessary to start a second Oratory from
the existing one. It is perfectly acceptable to limit the membership
to a particular age group or parish, or even to a specific occupation,
such as teachers or health care workers.
- Explain the requirements beyond attending the meeting:
- To pray fervently and reverently every day. Daily Mass attendance
is highly recommended but is not required.
- To show reverence, prayerfulness and silence in church,
and especially before the presence of Christ in the Eucharist
(whether exposed or in the tabernacle).
- To work regularly at hands-on work for the poor and needy.
- To be available to help in one’s parish, especially with
religious education, ministry to the sick, and other parish
work.
- To carefully read the Holy Bible, especially the Gospels
every day (use solid commentaries).
- To give a devoted example of a good Christian life at all
times, and to speak up in a responsible way for the observance
of the Gospel by Christians, and for a moral life for all
of society. The members try to live up to their responsibility
to confess Christ before all the world.
- Be sure not to use the name of the Oratory in any action
other than the weekly or bi-weekly prayer meeting. Members
are encouraged to join all good programs, but the Oratory
itself is a prayer movement.
Devout Christians who are not Catholics can be invited to the
prayer meetings, even regularly, but with the understanding that
this is a Catholic movement, loyal to the teaching of the Catholic
Church and the Holy Father. While non-Catholic Christians are
most welcome it would detract from the purpose of the Oratory
if these were accommodated by diluting the principles and practices
of the group, which is loyal to the teachings of the Church and
to the Holy Father.
- Have the person starting the Oratory Group, referred
to as the group Coordinator, and all of the members complete and
submit the Registration Form. If the prayer group disbands, the
coordinator is the person responsible to notify the ODL office
that the prayer group has discontinued. If you are applying as
a single affiliate, please note that on the Registration form.
You will receive confirmation once your Registration Form has
been processed by our volunteer staff. As it is a “Volunteer”
staff, please realize this may take some time.
Click
here for the Registration for as a Word document.
Click
here for the Registration for as a web page. |
