Underlying the rich variety of religious orders in the Church there is one simple reality: God calls men and women to live out their Christian vocation without owning personal property and without marrying, under obedience to a community. On the basis of that shared vocation to live a life of poverty, chastity and obedience, there are amazingly diverse ways of living out what the Church calls the consecrated life.
The most instantly recognizable form of the consecrated life is that of monks and nuns living within the classic structure of a monastery set back from the world in an enclosure and with a substantial church where they celebrate the office (community prayer) several times a day. Monasteries are often set in beautiful surroundings and are sanctuaries of prayer that draw visitors in large numbers. Monastic communities follow a variety of traditions among which are found Benedictine or Cistercian monks and nuns, as well as Carmelite and Poor Clare nuns, to name only some.
Venerable Mary Ward
"Cherish God’s vocation in you. Let it be constant, efficacious, and loving."
Another form of consecrated life is that of canons, such as Augustinians, and friars such as Franciscans, Dominicans and Carmelites. These orders of men celebrate the office several times a day but go out of their priories, to preach, teach and work among those they serve. The women’s communities that follow these traditions vary considerably, with some following a life that has a more monastic style.
The consecrated life is always developing new expressions and one of the most significant new developments occurred in the 16th century. St Ignatius of Loyola created the Society of Jesus, known as the Jesuits, a community of priests and brothers dedicated to the name of Jesus, who would defend the Church and help it develop in new ways. So that they could respond quickly to meet the changing needs of the church and the world, this new Society’s members were to live without monastery, habit or communal office, instead ‘finding God in all things.’ From this initiative have flowed many new orders, all following what is called the Ignatian tradition, orders such as the Faithful Companions of Jesus, the Congregation of Jesus and the Religious of the Sacred Heart.
From this time onwards, religious congregations were founded to deal with new religious and social challenges. For example, orders dedicated to teaching the poor, others serving the sick and missionary congregations focused on the needs of developing countries. The members of these religious congregations are known as apostolic religious and include congregations of priests such as the Salesians, congregations of sisters such as the Sisters of Notre Dame and congregations of brothers such as the de la Salle Brothers.
As well as religious orders, the consecrated life also includes ways by which lay people can explicitly dedicate their lives to God. Secular institutes developed in the 20th century, enabling lay people to live entirely in the secular world of work and society while also promising to live in poverty, chastity and obedience according to the institute. The 1960’s saw the revival of the ancient order of consecrated virgins, women who promise perpetual celibacy while living as independent lay people.
Our website on vocations to the religious life. Here you can find more information on the religious life, information on the vows religious take, different orders in England and Wales and upcoming discernment retreats.
The National Conference of Secular Institutes website provides information on secular institutes as well as providing details of institutes in the UK
