What major religious orders are monastic?

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In the West, the only strictly MONASTIC orders are the Carthusians and the Benedictines and their derivatives: Cistercians and Trappists.

Franciscans and Dominicans and Carmelites (among others) are Friars. The whole stücke of St. Francis was that they were NOT monks but something different; their poverty was much more radical.

Augustinians are canons.

Jesuits and such are clerks regular.
 
Thanks. Do you know of a place where I can find a list of Benedictine, Trappist, Cistercian or Carthusian monasteries in the United States?

Edit: I live in Maryland/D.C., and the only abbey I know if is St. Anselm’s, Benedictine. Are there any others in my area? Also, what is the difference between an abbey, monastery and priory?
 
EphelDuath said:
Thanks. Do you know of a place where I can find a list of Benedictine, Trappist, Cistercian or Carthusian monasteries in the United States?

Edit: I live in Maryland/D.C., and the only abbey I know if is St. Anselm’s, Benedictine. Are there any others in my area? Also, what is the difference between an abbey, monastery and priory?
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There is a site for religious orders of men or women. Just go to google.

There are three major houses for men, priory, monastery, friary, abbey, convent and residence.

The difference depends on the tradition of the religious community. Abbeys are usually autonomous. Only monks and enclosed nuns live in abbeys. Monasteries can be enclosed, but the members can enter and leave as is the case with the Passionists. The Passionists are mendicants. They live in a monstery. A priory is the home for friars, usally Dominicans and Carmelites. They may or may not have an enclosure, but the friars are not enclosed. Friars are mendicants, which means that they are itinerant. Friary is the home of Franciscan men. Friaries rarely have an enclosure, but may do so. St. Francis did not want them to have an enclosure, but did want them to have a quiet place.

People often confuse these houses and call them all monasteries, just as they call everyone who has a hood a monk. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The religious house usually gets its name from the form of government that they have.

Priory is governed by a Prior or the First Among Equals. Abbey is governed by an Abbot, or Abba, Father (he need not be a priest). A friary is governed by a friar, brother, he may or may not be a priest. Monastery has a monastic enclosure, an area that is off limits to the laity.

For many years Franciscan houses were referred to as monasteries. Vatican II demanded that they return to their roots and stop living in monasteries. Their houses are now friaries, which means brotherhoods. This represents the original spirit of the founder. They are brothers who are governed by another brother.

Fraternally,

JR 🙂
 
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