Catholic order

Catholic religious orders are organizations of laity and clergy in the Roman Catholic Church who live under a common rule. They are to be distinguished from Holy Orders, the sacrament which bishops, priests, and deacons receive.

Related Topics:
Religious order - Laity - Clergy - Roman Catholic Church - Holy Orders - Sacrament

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What distiguishes members of religious orders from the rest of the laity and the clergy is that they try to imitate Jesus of Nazareth by taking vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. They may additionally profess to obey certain guidelines for living,

Related Topics:
Jesus - Vows - Poverty - Chastity - Obedience

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There are actually two types of Catholic religious orders: congregations, which take simple vows, and orders proper, which take solemn vows. As an example, the Congregation of Holy Cross is a congregation because its members take simple vows, whereas the Society of Jesus is an order because its members take solemn vows.

Related Topics:
Congregations - Congregation of Holy Cross - Society of Jesus

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