1 Religious life as a consecration of the whole person, manifests in the Church the marvelous marriage established by God as a sign

of the world to come

Thus religious bring to perfection their full gift of themselves as a sacrifice offered to God, so that their whole existence becomes a continuous worship of God in charity.

A religious institute is a society in which members, according to proper law: pronounce public vows either perpetual or temporary, which are to be renewed when they have lapsed and live a life in common as brothers or sisters

The public witness to be rendered by religious to Christ and to the Church entails a separation from the world proper to the character and purpose of each institute.

Did you know?

Secular Institutes were established in 1947 by Pius XII in his encyclical Provida Mater Ecclesia, making it one of the newest forms of consecrated life. There are approximately 60,000 members belonging to 20 secular institutes.

What are Secular Institutes?

Secular Institutes are the newest form of consecrated life within the Catholic Church. They are in the world, but not of the world, but for the world. Unlike religious institutes (orders congregations), Secular institutes are religious communities with a common house public vows and financial responsibility members. and not and for

Instead, Secular institutes are organizations of like-minded Catholic laity or clerics who share a certain vision lived out personally, not communally. Unlike Societies of Apostolic Life, secular institutes are not an association with a singular missionary purpose in which all participate; instead they are committed to encouraging individuals striving for holiness in a vast variety of apostolates with common gospel values.

Secular Institutes
A. Members of the secular institutes live out the evangelical counsels in the midst of the secular world, hence, the name secular institutes. B. Their mission is to evangelize the secular, to bring the kingdom of God into the spheres of their respective professions, relationships, and lives. C. Members of secular Institutes are lay people with regular professions and jobs. For example: He or she could be the paramedic saving your life your childrens teacher the lawyer handling your case the firefighter responding to an emergency the bank teller handling your deposit the mechanic fixing your car the receptionist at the office where you work the doctor performing your surgery your next door neighbor or colleague. Members of secular institutes live alone in their homes or apartments or they may choose to share a residence with other members. They share fellowship through days or recollections, retreats, conferences and social meetings with each others.

Societies of Apostolic Life

Societies of Apostolic life are not technically a form of consecrated life although it shares many of the elements found in religious institutes such as the commitment to the evangelical counsels and living in community . However, their members are not called religious. Members of Societies of Apostolic life do not take religious vows. They can own property. Emphasis is given to the mission of the society. This mission could be : education, healthcare, missionary work etc. The society needs the permission of the local bishop in order to operate in a particular diocese.

Like religious institutes their members can be clerical or lay. The life of the society is regulated by constitutions approved by the Church. An example of this type of society are the Maryknoll missionaries.

Maryknoll Sister

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