The Marian Academy of the Oblates of Holy Tradition
FROM THE CONSTITUTION OF THE MARIAN ACADEMY O.H.T.
1. Definition.
The Marian Academy of the Oblates of Holy Tradition is an association of Roman Catholic lay men and women set up under the direction of the Society of the Oblates of Wisdom for the glorification of God and the sanctification of its members through courageous opposition to the evil traditions of the world, the flesh, and the devil.
2. Special Purpose.
The special purpose of the Marian Academy is the preservation and deepening in its members of the authentic mental and moral values contained in the tradition of holiness in the Church, as exemplified by the lives and works of the canonized saints and as requested in modern times by Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Marian Academy O.H.T. supports the constructive ideas of the Second Vatican Council while vigorously opposing the destructive ideas of materialism, hedonism, subjectivism, pluralism, modernism, secular humanism, atheism, Marxism, and, in general, every spirit of mental ignorance and moral impurity that obstructs the truth and holiness of God and hinders the exercise of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
7. Benefits of Membership.
A principal special benefit of membership in the Marian Academy O.H.T. is the opportunity to pray and study in union with others who treasure the tradition of holiness in the Church. Oblates of Holy Tradition realize the need of ongoing spiritual and theological formation, and the Academy seeks to provide the means of fulfilling this need. Oblates of Holy Tradition ordinarily participate in local chapters and study groups, but, in indicated cases, they may work independently in active support also of the Crusade of Wisdom sponsored by the Society of the Oblates of Wisdom. In addition, all Oblates of Holy Tradition share in the spiritual benefits of the Marian Academy and of the Society of the Oblates of Wisdom.
18. The Object of Chapter Meetings.
The purpose of chapter meetings and of membership in the Marian Academy O.H.T. is to find precise motivation for preserving and developing the treasure of faith, hope, and charity instilled in one's heart by baptism. A positive conclusion is to be sought for every discussion.
22. Obedience to Truth.
The Oblates of Holy Tradition have pledged obedience to the Truth of God revealed in Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They are firmly committed to the divinely revealed truth of Sacred Scripture, as clarified by the Sacred Tradition and the infallible Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church (cf. Lumen Gentium, No. 25). Their special means of maintaining this commitment to Divine Truth is devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
24. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Oblates of Holy Tradition are consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and they nourish this consecration by practicing special devotions to the Sacred Heart and encouraging others to do the same. They make frequent acts of love to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, especially in His Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.
25. Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Oblates of Holy Tradition practice True Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Members of the Marian Academy O.H.T. become servants of Our Lady; they strive to carry out in their lives the authentic requests of Our Lady for modern times. They learn to see devotion to Mary as the best means of being devoted to Our Lord Jesus Christ and to His Sacred Heart.
34. Minimum Age.
The minimum age for acceptance into the Marian Academy of the Oblates of Holy Tradition is eighteen years completed. The minimum age for appointment as a President of a Chapter is twenty-one years completed.
40. Learning and Living the Faith.
All Oblates are dedicated to learning and living the truths of the Catholic Faith. Local chapters will promote this prayerful study as a proper activity towards their own members. Work in this regard done by the members outside of the Marian Academy O.H.T. itself is always done in their own name or in the name of other organizations. No public activities are ever undertaken in the name of the Academy or of the Oblates of Holy Tradition without the permission at least presumed of the local diocesan Bishop as well as of the direction of the Academy itself.
41. Academic Activity.
The Marian Academy O.H.T. and its members promote an ongoing effort to produce new syntheses of sacred theology which adequately contain the values of our Holy Tradition and apply them to the needs of our times. The Oblates of Holy Tradition assist the Oblates of Wisdom to advance this work. The paramount features of the academic activity of the Oblates include the following: a) a re-examination of methods of interpreting Sacred Scripture and the perfecting of a new method of interpretation, based upon the approach of the Fathers of the Church and of the great exegetes of the past, to bring out the truth and the spiritual riches of the whole of the Bible; b) the production of new textbooks of dogmatic and moral theology that take into account present realities and eliminate the false ideas inspiring many contemporary writings; c) the collection, preservation, and republication of the great writings of Catholic spiritual tradition; d) academic meditation on the role of Mary in the history of salvation in order to widen the theology of Our Lady by fuller perception of her place in Sacred Scripture, in Catholic thought, and in the history of the Church.
42. The Cause of Chastity.
In keeping with the tradition of chastity in the Church, and particularly in accordance with the requests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in modern times and of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in recent times, the Oblates of Holy Tradition promote formation in chastity and the constant preservation of the state of sanctifying grace. They vigorously oppose any inroads on the part of unchastity either in the form of impure personal indulgence or in the form of interpersonal systems of education based upon heterogeneous ideas that do not properly esteem the chastity of the saints.
44. Conversion of the World.
In these quasi-Apocalyptic times the members of the Marian Academy O.H.T. are assisting in the final effort to convert the world to love for the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. They unite their efforts in the sincere attempt to build human society according to the desires of Our Lord.
The Marian Academy O.H.T. is a positive answer for those men and women who are willing to take the challenge and be committed to a steadfast dedication to the tradition of holiness in the Church.
Resplendent and unfading is Wisdom
and she is readily perceived by those who love her
and found by those who seek her
(Book of Wisdom 6:12).
Contact:
The Director
Marian Academy O.H.T.
P.O. Box 13230
St. Louis, MO 63157
Tel (314) 621-2055