All groups of religious founded prior to the Counter Reformation are orders. Some groups founded after the Counter Reformation are orders-all of these communities take solemn vows. This includes all orders in the following categories:
monks-Benedictine, Basilian, Cistercian, Carthusian, Camaldolese, Brigittine;
canons regular-of the Lateran, of the Holy Sepulchre, and so on;
friars-Franciscan, Dominican, Carmelite, Augustinian, Servite, Trinitarian, Mercedarian;
clerics regular-Theatines, Somascans, Jesuits;
nuns attached to these orders of men;
orders of nuns such as the Visitandines, Sacramentines, Passionists, and Redemptoristines.
Most communities founded after the Counter Reformation are congregations, in simple vows. They would include the male counterparts of the Visitandines (Oblates of St. Francis de Sales), Passionists, and Redemptoristines (Redemptorists). Almost all communities of women are congregations.
Some communities of men and very few of women are societies of apostolic life, where no vows are taken, but some other sort of sacred bond is normally accepted-Oratorians, Vincentians, Paris Foreign Missions, Missionaries of Africa, Pallotines, Glenmary, for men, and the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul and the Sisters of Social Service for women.
Then there are the secular institutes, whose members rank as consecrated laypersons. Some take vows, some take a combination of vows and promises, some make some other sort of profession.
