Why is this...

[therese14]

Why does Pope Paul VI in the
Documents of Second Vatican Council called “Religious Orders” as “Institutes”? Isn’t this irreverent?

Quote from the Second Vatican Council Document - Perfectae Caritatis

"2. The adaptation and renewal of the religious life includes both the constant return to the sources of all Christian life and to the original spirit of the institutes and their adaptation to the changed conditions of our time. This renewal, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the guidance of the Church, must be advanced according to the following principles:

a) Since the ultimate norm of the religious life is the following of Christ set forth in the Gospels, let this be held by all institutes as the highest rule.

b) It redounds to the good of the Church that institutes have their own particular characteristics and work. Therefore let their founders’ spirit and special aims they set before them as well as their sound traditions-all of which make up the patrimony of each institute-be faithfully held in honor.

c) All institutes should share in the life of the Church, adapting as their own and implementing in accordance with their own characteristics the Church’s undertakings and aims in matters biblical, liturgical, dogmatic, pastoral, ecumenical, missionary and social.

d) Institutes should promote among their members an adequate knowledge of the social conditions of the times they live in and of the needs of the Church. In such a way, judging current events wisely in the light of faith and burning with apostolic zeal, they may be able to assist men more effectively.

e ) The purpose of the religious life is to help the members follow Christ and be united to God through the profession of the evangelical counsels. It should be constantly kept in mind, therefore, that even the best adjustments made in accordance with the needs of our age will be ineffectual unless they are animated by a renewal of spirit. This must take precedence over even the active ministry.

1. The manner of living, praying and working should be suitably adapted everywhere, but especially in mission territories, to the modern physical and psychological circumstances of the members and also, as required by the nature of each institute, to the necessities of the apostolate, the demands of culture, and social and economic circumstances.

According to the same criteria let the manner of governing the institutes also be examined."

 

[1ke]

Why does Pope Paul VI in the
Documents of Second Vatican Council called “Religious Orders” as “Institutes”? Isn’t this irreverent?

Hmm, perhaps you could tell us why you believe it is “irreverent”. I’m really not seeing what the problem is.

 

[therese14]

Institutes are like businesses.

Religious Orders are supposed to be holy.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

You have completely misunderstood how the term “institutes” is being used. It is being used here in a technical sense that is specific to the mind of the Church.

Religious Orders, to be precise, actually take in only a portion of those in consecrated life. Religious Orders include the more ancient forms of religious life, such as the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) or the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) or the Order of Carmel (Carmelites) as well as the even more ancient Order of Saint Benedict (Benedictines) as well as the various reforms that descend from the Benedictines, including the Cistercians and the Trappists. Many cloistered women religious, Nuns, belong to the more ancient Orders.

Male and female Religious of more recent foundation, however, such as the Jesuits (the Society of Jesus) of the 16th century or the Passionists (the Congregation of the Passion) of the 18th century, are Religious Congregations and not properly termed “Orders”. This applies also to the many congregations of active women religious…who are properly termed Sisters. Then there are those communities that are Societies of Apostolic Life.

As we moved into the twentieth century, there were various additional new forms of consecrated life being founded, such as secular institutes as but one example. The eremetical life and consecrated virgins (both of which are handled at the diocesan level) are also properly counted as part of consecrated life but consecrated hermits and consecrated virgins do not suppose or depend upon any form of association, let alone one of the Religious Orders.

The broadest term was properly sought and applied so as to be inclusive of the vast variety of those living the evangelical counsels as either vows or sacred promises publicly professed, which were received by the Church. In ecclesiastical documents, one often encounters the term “Institutes of Perfection” since it describes the goal sought by consecrated life.

Perfectae Caritatis is not just addressing members of the Religious Orders but all of those in consecrated life.

The Vatican dicastery that oversees the men and women in consecrated life, in its various forms, is named The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.