Differences between the Religious Orders

[Montie_Claunch]

I was just wondering, what is the diffrence between the Religous orders (like the Dominicans, Franscians, Augustinians, ect.)? Do they have a particually diffrent mission or stress in discpline (like education or charity or something)? Thanks and God bless.

 

[Catholic_Dude]

I was just wondering, what is the diffrence between the Religous orders (like the Dominicans, Franscians, Augustinians, ect.)? Do they have a particually diffrent mission or stress in discpline (like education or charity or something)? Thanks and God bless.

Very simple:
A man curious about Catholicism approached a Dominican.

He asked the Dominican about various subjects and eventually the conversation turned to religious orders. “So you are a Dominican?”

“Yes.”

“What can you tell me about the Dominicans?”

“Well, in short, we were founded by St. Dominic in the 13th century, in part to counter the Albigensian heresy.”

“I see. What about the Jesuits I keep hearing about?”

“They were founded by St. Ignatius of Loyala in the 16th century, in part to counter the Protestant Reformation.”

“Hmmm … so which is the greater order?”

The Dominican pondered this question for a moment and then replied:
“Well, when was the last time you met an Albigensian?”

 

[Jean_Anthony]

I moved this thread to the Vocations Forum where it more properly belongs.

 

[Marauder]

Without going into details the different religious Orders usually follow the ideals of their founder. Like the Franciscans follow the ideals of St. Francis. The Dominicans follow the ideals of St. Dominic, etc.

Each Order has it’s own Rule which usually defines what they believe and the rules of their community.

Most orders have charisms associated with them and things they stress.

Franciscans stress poverty and First and Second Order Franciscans take vows of poverty, chastity, and obediance.

Franciscans also stress being part of the world whether they live in a monastary and have outreachs to the community or are secular and live in the world.

There is usually a secular or Third Order associated with each of the Religious Order for lay people that would like to follow the ideals of the Order.

Different Orders stress different things, some stress preaching, some stress contemplative prayer, some stress monastic life, some stress public charity, etc. That doesn’t mean that the other orders don’t have that stuff it just means that the Order may stress it above other things.

 

[holly_potter]

I always thought all orders were about the same (except for the charisms), but somebody was asking in a different topic about orthodox (very Catholic) orders. I want to ask, aren’t they all Catholic? Or are there some renegade orders we should steer clear of?

 

[AdvanceAlways]

I always thought all orders were about the same (except for the charisms), but somebody was asking in a different topic about orthodox (very Catholic) orders. I want to ask, aren’t they all Catholic? Or are there some renegade orders we should steer clear of?

Well there are dozens of orders out there. Of course like someone in that thread pointed out, you will run into different types in every order. Some though, are clearly more liberal and some clearly more conservative. A great example of this, is the Jesuits vs. the Legionaries of Christ. Both of these are very large orders within the Church. The Jesuits, for the most part are much more liberal than the rest of the church. The Legionaries (IMO) take the meaning of being conservative to a new extreme.

 

[guanophore]

I was just wondering, what is the diffrence between the Religous orders (like the Dominicans, Franscians, Augustinians, ect.)? Do they have a particually diffrent mission or stress in discpline (like education or charity or something)? Thanks and God bless.

There are a lot of differences. I think it requires a lot of study to discern where God has called one to be. The Eastern Orthodox also have religious orders.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

There are a lot of differences. I think it requires a lot of study to discern where God has called one to be. The Eastern Orthodox also have religious orders.

The Eastern Orthodox do not have religious orders in the same sense as the Latin Catholic Church does. Some of the Latin Church orders have Eastern foundations but this is a very late occurance within the Church.

A religious in the Eastern Orthodox Church is a monk. There are many monasteries but they are not orders as we know them.

 

[Rising_Suns]

I was just wondering, what is the diffrence between the Religous orders (like the Dominicans, Franscians, Augustinians, ect.)? Do they have a particually diffrent mission or stress in discpline (like education or charity or something)? Thanks and God bless.

Dear Montie Claunch,
There is a very thorough comparison on the differences between religious orders at the following website;

www.religious-vocation.com/differences_religious_orders.html

I hope this helps you out in your search.

Many Blessings.