Sarah Mitchell
Catholic religious orders, which began as early as the 500s, are communities of consecrated life whose members profess solemn vows. There are several types of Catholic religious orders, including canons regular, clerics regular, mendicants, and monastics. While the exact number of Catholic religious orders is unclear, there are said to be 547 religious orders and monasteries of men and women in the United States alone, in addition to 194 archdioceses/dioceses in the American Church. Some well-known Catholic religious orders include the Order of Saint Benedict, the Jesuits, the Dominicans, the Franciscans, and the Poor Clares.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of dioceses and religious orders in the US | 741 |
| Number of archdioceses/dioceses in the American Church | 194 |
| Number of religious orders and monasteries of men and women in the US | 547 |
| Examples of Catholic religious orders | Jesuits, Dominicans, Franciscans, Oratorians, Assumptionists, Basilians, Passionists, Poor Clares, Salesians, Missionaries of Charity, Benedictines, Cistercians, Premonstratensians, Cluny |
| Examples of religious communities branching out of the Franciscan Tradition | O.F.M. (Order of Friars Minor), O.F.M. Capuchin, O.F.M. Conventual |
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What You'll Learn
Monks and nuns
The earliest Catholic religious orders began as early as the 500s, with the Order of Saint Benedict being formed in 529. The Order of Saint Benedict is not considered a religious order in the technical sense, because it has a system of independent houses, meaning that each abbey is autonomous. However, the constitutions governing the order's global independent houses and its distinct Benedictine congregations (of which there are twenty) were approved by the pope. The Canons Regular of Saint Augustine are in a similar situation to the Benedictines.
The earliest orders include the Cistercians (1098), the Premonstratensians (1120), the Poor Clares founded by Francis of Assisi (1212), and the Benedictine reform movements of Cluny (1216). Other orders include the Trappists, who practice a lifestyle of vegetarianism, abstinence from alcohol, and abstention from private money and travel. The Carthusians are regarded as the most contemplative and withdrawn of Catholic monks.
The Dominicans, also known as the Order of Preachers, are another well-known Catholic order. They were founded by St. Dominic in the thirteenth century. St. Dominic gathered young women he had converted and rescued from the Cathars into a community at the church of St. Mary of Prouilhe. This original foundation of Dominican nuns continues to attract women seeking a contemplative life. The Jesuits are another famous order, known for their focus on spreading the Catholic faith through missions, teaching, and science.
In the Catholic Church, the term "nun" is reserved for women who belong to an institute of solemn vows, even if in some localities they are allowed to take simple vows instead. The 1917 Code of Canon Law distinguished between solemn and simple vows, with the former being associated with religious orders and the latter with religious congregations. However, the current 1983 Code of Canon Law no longer makes this distinction, using the single term "religious institute" to designate all such institutes.
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Friars and sisters
The English term friar is derived from the Norman French word "frère" (brother), from the Latin "frater" (brother), widely used in the Latin New Testament to refer to members of the Christian community. The term first appeared in the 12th or 13th century. Friars of the Dominican and Franciscan mendicant orders were asked to serve in armies as religious preachers and chaplains beginning under the Papacy of Gregory IX. Friars, particularly Franciscan and Dominican merchants, preached in favor of mercantilism, opposing the traditionally hostile attitude of the Catholic Church.
Sisters, on the other hand, are vowed religious women who embody the spirit of St. Francis and seek to guide humanity toward a sense of the sacred. They have various apostolic endeavours based on their Eucharistic devotion. There are also sisters in other Christian traditions, such as the Order of Lutheran Franciscans, the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans, and the Order of Lesser Sisters and Brothers.
In the Catholic Church, there are three independent Franciscan orders for men, an order for nuns known as the Order of Saint Clare, and the Third Order of Saint Francis, open to both men and women. The Poor Clares, or the Order of Saint Clare, was founded by Clare of Assisi under the guidance of Francis of Assisi. The Third Order of Saint Francis, or the Secular Franciscan Order, is for brothers and sisters who do not live in a religious community but continue to live secular lives while gathering regularly for fraternal activities.
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Diocesan priests
There are over a thousand Catholic religious orders, each with its own unique charism and spirituality, and they play a vital role in the life of the Church. Among these diverse communities, diocesan priests hold a special place, serving at the heart of local Church life.
The life of a diocesan priest is both challenging and rewarding. They are usually assigned to a parish, where they may serve as the pastor or associate pastor. This role involves a wide range of responsibilities, from preaching and teaching to offering counsel and comfort to those in need. Diocesan priests are often involved in the community, collaborating with local organizations and initiatives to improve the lives of those around them. They may also take on administrative tasks, overseeing the operations of the parish and ensuring the smooth running of its various ministries and programs.
Formation for diocesan priesthood typically involves several years of study and spiritual preparation. Candidates for the diocesan priesthood usually complete philosophical and theological studies at a seminary, where they receive a well-rounded education that includes human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation. This period of formation helps them develop the necessary skills and virtues to effectively serve the people of God.
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Jesuits
Catholic religious orders are communities of consecrated life with members that profess solemn vows. They are classed as a type of religious institute. The Jesuits, officially known as the Society of Jesus, are a Roman Catholic order of priests and brothers. The order was founded by the soldier-turned-mystic Ignatius Loyola, a Basque nobleman from the Pyrenees area of northern Spain. Ignatius laid out his original vision for the Jesuits in the "Formula of the Institute of the Society of Jesus", which is considered the fundamental charter of the order. This formula expressed the nature, spirituality, community life, and apostolate of the new religious order.
The Jesuits aim to spread the Catholic faith through missions, the apostolate, teaching, and science. They are sometimes referred to colloquially as "God's soldiers", "God's marines", or "the Company". The Jesuits participated in the Counter-Reformation and later in the implementation of the Second Vatican Council. Jesuit missionaries established missions around the world from the 16th to the 18th centuries, with varying degrees of success in Christianizing native peoples.
The Jesuits have always been a controversial group within the Catholic Church, frequently clashing with secular governments and institutions. In 1759, the Catholic Church began expelling Jesuits from most European countries and their colonies. This culminated in Pope Clement XIV officially suppressing the order in 1773. However, in 1814, the Church lifted the suppression.
The Jesuits take three vows: poverty, chastity, and obedience. They also take a fourth vow of obedience specifically regarding worldwide missions, reflecting their dedication to the universal Church and the greater good of all people, regardless of faith or culture. Jesuit education aims to form "men and women for others", who live for God and Christ rather than themselves. Service and justice are key priorities, with a focus on guiding young people towards a hopeful future.
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Franciscans
The Franciscans, or the Order of Friars Minor, are a mendicant religious order of men. The official Latin name for the order is the Ordo Fratrum Minorum, and its members are informally known as "friars" or "the Minorites".
The Franciscans are divided into three main branches: the First Order Franciscans, the Second Order Franciscans, and the Third Order Franciscans. The First Order Franciscans, or the Order of Friars Minor, comprise three separate families or groups, each considered a religious order in its own right under its own minister general and particular type of governance. They include the Observants, officially known as Friars Minor (OFM); the Conventuals, officially Friars Minor Conventual (OFM Conv.); and the Capuchins, officially Friars Minor Capuchin (OFM Cap.). The Conventual Franciscans are sometimes referred to as Minorites or Greyfriars because of their habit, and in Poland and Lithuania, they are known as Bernardines.
The Third Order of Saint Francis, or the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS), has many male and female members who try to live the ideals of the movement in their daily lives outside of religious institutes. The Third Order Regular (TOR) is made up of members who live in religious communities under traditional religious vows.
The number of religious communities branching out of the Franciscan Tradition is vast, and the order has a long history dating back to the 13th century when St. Francis began preaching around 1207 and travelled to Rome to seek approval from Pope Innocent III in 1209 to form a religious order.
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Frequently asked questions
It is unclear exactly how many Catholic religious orders there are worldwide, but sources refer to the Jesuits, Dominicans, Franciscans, and the Order of Saint Benedict, among others.
There are 547 Catholic religious orders and monasteries for men and women in the US.
A Catholic religious order is a community of consecrated life with members that profess solemn vows. They are classed as a type of religious institute.
