Our Beginning
The Order of ChristoCorrellians was founded by Sister Abigail Hester as a contemplative and ministerial community seeking to unite devotion to Jesus Christ with the wisdom and spiritual practices of the Correllian Nativist Tradition. The Order emerged from a desire to demonstrate that faith in Christ and respect for nature, mystery, and sacred symbolism need not exist in opposition to one another.
Rather than abandoning Christianity, the Order sought to rediscover its mystical roots. Early Christian contemplative traditions, Celtic spirituality, Franciscan reverence for creation, and the sacramental understanding that God is present throughout the natural world all helped shape the vision of the community.
A Vision of Reconciliation
The Order was born from the conviction that many people had experienced unnecessary divisions between Christian faith and alternative spiritual paths. Some felt forced to choose between following Christ and embracing practices that nurtured their connection with creation, the seasons, or contemplative ritual.
The ChristoCorrellian vision rejects this false choice.
The Order teaches that Christ is the source of divine love and reconciliation, while recognizing that truth, beauty, and wisdom may be encountered throughout creation. Members seek to follow Jesus while honoring the sacredness of the earth and the rhythms of nature.
Foundations
From its earliest days, the Order developed several foundational principles:
- Jesus Christ is the primary spiritual teacher and model for discipleship.
- Creation is holy and worthy of reverence and care.
- Prayer, ritual, meditation, and contemplation are complementary spiritual practices.
- The Divine may be encountered through silence, beauty, nature, community, and acts of compassion.
- Every person possesses inherent dignity and deserves welcome regardless of background or identity.
- Spiritual growth is a lifelong journey rather than a destination.
The Franciscan Influence
As its founder also established the Order of Franciscan Clareans, Franciscan spirituality naturally influenced the ChristoCorrellian vision.
Saint Francis of Assisi’s love for creation, his peace-making, his simplicity, and his recognition of all creatures as brothers and sisters resonated deeply with the Order’s understanding of the sacred world.
While remaining distinct communities, the Franciscan Clareans and the ChristoCorrellians share commitments to compassion, justice, hospitality, and care for creation.
Spiritual Practice
Members of the Order cultivate daily disciplines that may include:
- Prayer centered on Christ
- Meditation
- Seasonal observances
- Scripture study
- Care for creation
- Acts of mercy
- Healing ministry
- Service to those on the margins
- Personal spiritual development
These practices are understood not as obligations but as pathways toward deeper communion with God.
The Meaning of the Name
The name ChristoCorrellian reflects the union of two streams of spiritual heritage.
“Christo” expresses the Order’s devotion to Christ and the teachings of the Gospel.
“Correllian” acknowledges the wisdom inherited from the Correllian Nativist Tradition, particularly its appreciation of sacred ritual, reverence for nature, and the Divine present throughout creation.
Together these traditions form a distinctive spiritual path rooted in love rather than division.
Looking Toward the Future
The Order of ChristoCorrellians continues to grow as a community committed to spiritual formation, compassionate ministry, and respectful dialogue. Its hope is to build bridges where others have built walls, encouraging people to encounter Christ while honoring the sacredness of creation and the diversity of human spiritual experience.
The Order envisions a future in which contemplatives, ministers, healers, and seekers walk together in humility, wisdom, and love, bearing witness that faith can be both deeply rooted and wonderfully expansive.
“May Christ be our Light, Wisdom our Guide, Creation our Sanctuary, and Love our Rule.”
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