A permanent state of life recognized by the Church, entered freely in response to the call of Christ to the perfection of love and characterized by the making of public vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
Another term for the three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
Public commitments to God to follow Jesus in His poverty, chastity and obedience in religious community; with poverty the members hold all things in common, taking care of each other’s needs; with chastity the member gives up marriage to be free for the sake of God’s kingdom; with obedience the member imitates and shares in Jesus’ obedience to His Father in order to accomplish God’s work.
A way of life that can be priests, brothers or sisters living in community, embracing the spirituality, charism and teachings of the community’s founder; members follow Jesus taking vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, growing in holiness through their gift of themselves to God and His people.
The founder brings together a group of men or women who share the same charism and mission in the Church; these are religious communities of priests and brothers and communities of sisters; those dedicated primarily to prayer are contemplative communities; those who combine prayer with apostolic ministries are called active communities.
Man who lives in a religious community, takes vows of poverty, chastity and obedience; promises to use his talents to serve God wherever the community decides they are needed; not ordained priests.
A woman who lives in a religious community, takes vows of poverty, chastity and obedience; promises to use her talents to serve God wherever the community decides they are needed; traditionally referred to as a bride of Christ.
Sister / brides of Christ called to pray and serve the needs of the Church in a more hidden way, living in cloistered communities and not leaving their convents for any outside apostolates.
Usually applies to a man who belongs to a cloistered/contemplative community whose apostolate is prayer.
First stage of becoming a consecrated religious; depending on the community it can be from about six months to a year.
Second stage of becoming a consecrated religious; strong emphasis on prayer and developing a deep relationship with Jesus; depending on the community lasts one to two years.
After the novitiate, if the man or woman discerns God continues to call them to religious life, he/she takes the three vows for a period time, usually one year; each year the vows are renewed until the man / woman and the community decide it is time for permanent/perpetual vows.
A particular attribute or spirit of a religious order/community; special way of loving in the world.
The type of work or mission of the order through which their particular charism is lived out.
Men or woman who belong to a religious community whose mission is prayer; do not generally leave the cloister to do other work.
Many religious communities have lay groups of men and women who meet regularly to learn about and live the particular charism/spirit of the religious founder; after a period of candidacy promises are usually taken.
An institute of consecrated life in which the Christian faithful lives in their homes, working for the sanctification of the world especially from within; they make a commitment to live the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience; do not necessarily live together as a community; their goal is to be a transforming presence in society.
