Differance between orders

[BrooklynBoy200]

Can someone give me a link or just explain to me the differances between a mendicant order, monastic order, clerical religious congregation, order of canons regular, lay religious congregation, and a society of apostolic life? Thanks.

 

[Formosus]

Monastic Order is cloistered to a greater degree then the others, good examples would be Benedictines, Cistercians, Carthusians. Medicant Orders are not really cloistered, but are usually multiple ones living in their houses(Friarys). Franciscans, Dominicans. Carmelites, and Augustinian Friars were the first 4 great medicant orders.
The above all take solemn vows
Clerics Regular(Clerical religious congregations) are priests and brothers whom take simple vows and are congregations like the Jesuits, Redemptorists, etc. Ususally they are all orders that were founded either right before Trent, or after it.
Canons Regular all follow the rule of St. Augustine, they are basically monastic clerics. I THINK they take solemn vows.
Lay religious are like the Third orders , or Opus Dei. Just usually lay people whom are going the extra mile so to speak ; )
Society of Apostolic life are basically priests without vows under a superior and what not (sorry this is a bad explanation). The FSSP and the Institute of Christ the King are both Societies of Apostolic life.

 

[soulsearching]

Just a couple of corrections…

All religious take solemn vows. Simple vows are vows that are taken in preparation for solemn vows, they are also called temporary vows.

For Societies of Apostolic life, promises (poverty, chastity, and obedience) are not mandatory, however some Societies of Apostolic life do make profession of promises. The promises are equally binding as vows, there are just some canonical nuances that distinguish between vows and promises, but effectively they are the same thing.
The reason they are not mandatory for a Society is because the essence of a Society of A.L. is the spiritually, while the essence of a Religious Order is the vows…

 

[Formosus]

Just a couple of corrections…

All religious take solemn vows. Simple vows are vows that are taken in preparation for solemn vows, they are also called temporary vows.

For Societies of Apostolic life, promises (poverty, chastity, and obedience) are not mandatory, however some Societies of Apostolic life do make profession of promises. The promises are equally binding as vows, there are just some canonical nuances that distinguish between vows and promises, but effectively they are the same thing.
The reason they are not mandatory for a Society is because the essence of a Society of A.L. is the spiritually, while the essence of a Religious Order is the vows…

I hate using wikipedia as a source, but only Religious Orders take Solemn Vows (Dominicans, Benedictines, Carthusians, Franciscans , etc) while congregations only take simple vows( Redemptorists, Passionists).en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_vow

 

[soulsearching]

Formosus,

always trust your instincts…

What would Wilkpedia know???

I know that for a fact that there are Temporary vows and Somlemn vows. Temporary vows are also referred by religious communities as Simple vows.

How do I know this? I know alot of religious, and have spent time in a communnity myself. First hand experience.

God Bless, and keep up the effort of learning more about your faith and the church…

 

[Formosus]

Temporary vows are not the same as simple vows.

 

[Formosus]

Profession is either simple or solemn. Solemn profession exists at present only in the institutes approved by the Holy See as religious orders. It is always perpetual, and dispensation from it is difficult to obtain; a religious who has been dismissed from his order is still bound by the obligations of the religious life; the same is the case with one who obtains from the Holy See the indult of perpetual secularization; professed who have left their order owe to the bishop of the diocese in which they reside the obedience which they formerly owed to their religious superior. Solemn profession implies a reciprocal engagement between the religious and his order, which undertakes to maintain him, and treat him as a member of its household; except in case of special privilege, it can dismiss a professed religious in canonical form only for incorrigible persistence in some grave public fault. The professed religious who is dismissed is ipso facto suspended, and the suspension is reserved to the Holy See (see the recent decree “Cum singulæ” of 16 May, 1911). According to existing law, solemn profession annuls a marriage previously contracted, but not yet consummated, and creates a diriment impediment to any future marriage; and also renders the professed religious incapable, without the permission of the Holy See, of acquiring or of possessing and disposing of property. In Belgium, and probably in Holland, profession no longer involves this disability.

Simple profession is sometimes perpetual and sometimes temporary, and therefore imperfect. At the end of a term of temporary profession, a religious is free to go back to the world, and the order has power to dismiss one who has not shown himself worthy to renew his profession, or to make a subsequent profession; but a physical infirmity which was caused after the vows, or the cause of which was known at the time of the vows, does not justify the dismissal of a religious against his will. In congregations which have no solemn vows, the Holy See ordinarily prescribes a term of temporary vows, varying from three to six years, before the perpetual vows. There are however some congregations, such as the Nuns of the Sacred Heart in which all the vows are perpetual; and pious societies without perpetual vows, such as the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul; or even without vows, like the Missionaries of Africa, or White Fathers, who have only an oath of obedience. The Holy See insists that on the expiration of temporal vows, these should be either renewed or converted into perpetual vows, as the case may be, without allowing any interval of time, during which the religious would be free from his obligations.

Simple profession sometimes is a preparation for solemn profession, and sometimes has a distinct character of its own. In all religious orders, three years at least of simple profession are a necessary condition for the validity of solemn profession (see NUNS), and for lay brothers, six years of simple profession and an age of at least thirty years are required (Decree of 1 Jan 1911) This time of simple profession may be considered as a second term of probation; it is not difficult for the religious to obtain a dispensation from his vows, and, on the other hand, the order may dismiss him for any grave cause of dissatisfaction, the sufficiency of which is left to the judgment of the superior. The dismissal of nuns, however, requires the consent of the Holy See; religious with simple or even temporary vows, who have received major orders in their institute, are in the same position, in regard to dismissal, as those who have made their final profession. Generally speaking, simple profession does not prevent a religious from retaining or acquiring property; the administration and disposition of property alone are forbidden. Except in the Society of Jesus it is no longer a diriment impediment to marriage, and it never annuls a marriage already contracted.

newadvent.org/cathen/12451b.htm

 

[batteddy]

All religious take solemn vows. Simple vows are vows that are taken in preparation for solemn vows, they are also called temporary vows.

No. The distinction between temporary and perpetual is different from the distinction between simple and solemn.

The distinction between temporary and perpetual is obvious, one is only for a set time period, the other for life.

Even the Catholic Encyclopedia can’t really explain the difference between simple and solemn in terms of canonical effects any more…but such a distinction nevertheless exists, and true Orders take solemn (which are always perpetual) while the newer congregations take simple (which may be temporary until perpetual vows are taken, renewed every year, or perpetual)

 

[batteddy]

Can someone give me a link or just explain to me the differances between a mendicant order, monastic order, clerical religious congregation, order of canons regular, lay religious congregation, and a society of apostolic life? Thanks.

Well, there is sort of a spectrum going something like this:

-Eremitic Life
-Monastic Order
-Mendicant Order
-Order of Canons Regular
-Order of Clerks Regular
-Religious Congregation
-Society of Apostolic Life
-Secular Institute
-Third Orders
-Lay Consecration

The Eremitic life is one of the most ancient forms of religious life. Because it is by its nature solitary, true hermits (in the strictest definition) are never truly part of any greater organization. Because the moment they organize with each other, they become cenobitic (communal) and so technically monastic. Though there are certainly (or were) many cenobitic groups which are basically a bunch of “hermits” living near one other, and many monks used to progess to a stage where they get a hermitage and live basically solitary lives in some monastic orders. The Church came to discourage eremitism in favor of the benefits of communal life, and some sort of cenobitic organization…but as of late she has been reaffirming the vocation of hermits and having them consecrated by diocesan bishops. It doesn’t necessarily mean total solitude in the desert. They can have some interaction with people, but they live a consecrated life more withdrawn from the world in a more solitary situation.

The Monastic life is what it sounds like. If is the life of Monks (or Nuns) in a monastery. They pray the hours, live under solemn vows, and live communally. Anything they use is not owned by the individual but by “the community” as a whole. They may be priests, but that is accidental to the monastic vocation which is substantially that of a Religious.

Mendicant friars are like monks in terms of praying the hours, living under solemn vows, and living communally, but they are not as cloistered. They originally depended on begging (instead of the produce of the monastery) for their needs, and technically they own nothing not only individually, but also communally. A true mendicant order (though the rules laxed) therefore owns nothing even corporately, but everything they use is technically deeded to the Holy See. Mendicant friars who are also priests have the priesthood as a substantial (not accidental) part of their vocation, but it is secondary to the Religious aspect which is primary.

Canons Regular are the middle ground. They are substantially both priests and religious, and niether of those aspects is secondary to the other. They live in community, and as a chapter pray the liturgy and fullfill priestly duties. They are incardinated not only in their Order (usually augustinian) but in the diocese too. They are based on the Cathedral Chapters of canons.

The Clerks regular are groups of religious priests like the Jesuits. While both consecrated and priestly life are substantial to their vocation, the priesthood is primary and the religious life secondary. They usually live in community, but where the clothes of a secular priest (no habit), and are not required to pray the office in choir (they do most of it privately) so as to make more room for active work. They eventually take solemn vows, but many (like the Jesuits) also have a period under simple vows before their final Solemn Vows.

A religious congregation is one of the newer groups of religious life (since roughly the late 18th-century). They live under constitutions, technically not Rules, and are not technically Orders in the strictest sense of the word. They may have Sisters, Brothers, or Fathers, but they are not cloistered. They concentrate on active life. They take Simple, not Solemn, Vows. Some take these simple vows perpetually, for others they are renewed every year (and the person may leave at the end of each year). If they are priests, often times the priesthood is considered the substantial part of their vocation, and the consecrated life as more accidental.

A Society of Apostolic Life is not a society of consecrated life. Their members take no public vows (some may choose to make private vows with their confessors, superiors, or bishops). They are a group of people (usually priests) who live in community, but do not take vows of poverty. Instead they are like diocesan priests who make “promises” of celibacy and obedience to their Ordinary…except their ordinary is the Superior in the society, not a diocesan bishop.

A diocesan priest or secular priest is a parish priest incardinated in a diocese as you know. He is only a priest, not a religious. However, he may make private vows, or in fact may take public vows in a Secular Institute established for diocesan clergy.

 

[batteddy]

A secular institute is a new form of religious life where members take vows before their diocesan bishop, and then live life according to their particular constitutions. They do not have to live in community (though some may choose to associate with one another) and go about their normal job in the world with no particular habit. There are secular institutes that diocesan priests who want to take part in consecrated life under public vows, while still remaining diocesan priests, can join.

Third Orders are programs sometimes like Religious Congregations, but other times more like Secular Institutes, whereby lay people can associate themselves with the First (monks/brothers) and Second (nuns/sisters) Orders of religious orders. Sometimes they are more like religious congregations, truly living in community, with a habit, and rules, and simple vows. Other times they are more like Secular Institutes with certain requirements and perhaps some sort of vows (and even sometimes distinguishing garb) but not living in community and allowing the person to go about their normal life in the world.

Lay consecration is the consecration of virgins and widows (usually women) by the diocesan bishop. They take no vows, except of course their chastity, and live like “diocesan sisters” as it were. They were common in the early church days, disappeared as Orders and parallel hierarchies of consecrated life got set up, but are making a come back.

Finally, not really fitting anywhere, were the military orders. These were orders of Crusader Knights taking the religious vows and living much like Monks except when they fought. They were both true Chivalric Orders and true Religious Orders. The only one left, really, is the Knights of Malta. But the idea of religious orders of chivalry turned into the idea of secular (civil) orders of chivalry, with the knighthood being granted by a sovereign (the king or queen or prince) and not through religious consecration. Many of these (like England’s), with varying degrees of legitimacy still exist. Even the Pope (as temporal sovereign of the vatican) gives secular knighthoods still (The Gregorian Knighthood, the Golden Spur, etc). Orders of Knighthood, Nobility, and Royalty are not really the topic of conversation here except where they overlap with Religious Orders: the Military Orders (of which only the knights of malta are really left.) The Knights of Columbus, by the way, are not a true order of chivalry (and dont claim to be) but a fraternal organization based off the Second and Third tier levels of the Military Orders (only the true Knight-Monks are really knights and monks, and have to have certain quarterings of nobility, but lay people can assosciate themselves fraternally in a variety of ways.)

 

[ACM]

Lay consecration is the consecration of virgins and widows (usually women) by the diocesan bishop. They take no vows, except of course their chastity, and live like “diocesan sisters” as it were. They were common in the early church days, disappeared as Orders and parallel hierarchies of consecrated life got set up, but are making a come back.

Just to clarify, the consecration of virgins is not exactly “lay consecration.” The Rite of Consecration of a Virgin Living in the World is a sacramental that is conferred upon a woman within the celebration of the Holy Mass. The consecrated virgin does not make a vow of chastity, though she does promise to live a life of chastity. The consecrated virgin does not really live like a “diocesan sister” either. There are some similarities between the life of a sister and a consecrated virgin, but there are also some distinct differences. You can find a wealth of information about consecrated virgins at the Web site for the U.S. Association of Consecrated Virgins, consecratedvirgins.org/. There’s also an excellent article at the Web site Catholic Culture, catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=6549, called “Consecrated Life–The Right Fit” by Loretta Matulich, who was the first woman in this country to receive the Rite of Consecration of a Virgin after the Vatican restored it.

Rejoicing in God’s wondrous love,

Alice Claire Mansfield
Consecrated Virgin
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

 

[ACM]

Lay consecration is the consecration of virgins and widows (usually women) by the diocesan bishop. They take no vows, except of course their chastity, and live like “diocesan sisters” as it were. They were common in the early church days, disappeared as Orders and parallel hierarchies of consecrated life got set up, but are making a come back./QUOTE]

A good article on consecrated virgins can be found on the Web at suite101.com/lesson.cfm/18869/2511/1.

There’s also a good article on consecrated widows at suite101.com/lesson.cfm/18869/2511/3, with a third article on consecrated widowhood today at suite101.com/lesson.cfm/18869/2511/5.

Currently there is no rite in the church for the consecration of widows, but, happy to say, the Vatican is working on one.

Rejoicing in God’s wondrous love,

Alice Claire Mansfield
Consecrated Virgin
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

 

[batteddy]

he consecrated virgin does not really live like a “diocesan sister” either. There are some similarities between the life of a sister and a consecrated virgin, but there are also some distinct differences.

Thank you for the information.

Sorry, I didnt meant to ignore the differences, I was just trying to draw a sort of parallel for someone to minimize confusion.

Yes, there are many differences (just like the differences between diocesan and religious priests)…but I was sort of trying to say that the analogy <> sort of holds true.

Of course, one major difference, I believe, is that consecrated virgins have to provide house and home for themselves…which is not true for diocesan priests, religious priests, or religious sisters. But you would agree that it is a form of consecrated life that exists in a diocesan way instead of in a seperate Order, yes? Like the new way of hermits…

What other major differences would you say exist?