Religious institute
Encyclopedia
In the Roman Catholic Church
, a religious institute is "a society in which members, according to proper law, pronounce public vow
s, either perpetual or temporary which are to be renewed, however, when the period of time has elapsed, and lead a life of brothers or sisters in common".
may be lived either individually or as a member of an institute. The life of a hermit
or a consecrated virgin
is recognized by the Church as forms of individual consecrated life. The Church also envisages new forms of consecrated life emerging. There are two types of institutes of consecrated life. One type is that of the religious institute. The other is that of the secular institute
, defined as "an institute of consecrated life in which the Christian faithful, living in the world, strive for the perfection of charity and seek to contribute to the sanctification of the world, especially from within".
Societies of apostolic life
resemble religious institutes, but differ in that their members do not take religious vows. They pursue the apostolic purpose of the society to which they belong, while leading a life in common as brothers or sisters and striving for the perfection of charity through observing the society's constitutions. In some of these societies the members assume the evangelical counsels by a bond other than that of religious vows defined in their constitutions.
Historically, what are now called religious institutes were distinguished as either religious orders or religious congregation
s. The Church no longer makes that distinction and applies to all such institutes the single name "religious institute" and the same rules of canon law.
, members of religious institute make religious profession, which is "a public vow to observe the three evangelical counsels
" of chastity, poverty and obedience. A vow is classified as public if a legitimate superior accepts it in the name of the Church, as happens when one joins a religious institute. In making their religious profession, they are "incorporated into the institute, with the rights and duties defined by law", and "through the ministry of the Church they are consecrated to God".
Religious profession can be temporary or perpetual: "Temporary profession is to be made for the period defined by the institute's own law. This period may not be less than three years nor longer than six years."
Typically, members of Religious Institutes either take vows of evangelical chastity, poverty and obedience (the "Evangelical Counsels") to lead a life in imitation of Christ Jesus, or, those following the Rule of St Benedict, the vows of obedience, stability (that is, to remain with this particular community till death and not seek to move to another), and "conversion of life" which implicitly includes the counsels of chastity and evangelical poverty. Some institutes take additional vows (a "fourth vow" is typical), specifying some particular work or defining condition of their way of life (e.g., the Jesuit vow to undertake any mission upon which they are sent by the Pope; the Missionaries of Charity vow to serve always the poorest of the poor).
The traditional distinction between simple and solemn vow
s no longer has any canonical effect. Solemn vows once meant those taken in what was called a religious order. "Today, in order to know when a vow is solemn it will be necessary to refer to the proper law of the institutes of consecrated life."
, and the Rule of St. Francis. The Rule of St Basil, one of the earliest rules for Christian religious life, is followed by monastic communities of Byzantine
tradition. Western monastics (Benedictines, Trappists
, Cistercians, etc.) observe the Rule of St Benedict, a collection of precepts for what is called contemplative religious life. The Rule of St Augustine stresses self-denial, moderation, and care for those in need.
Jesuits
follow what is called not a Rule, but the Constitutions composed by Saint Ignatius of Loyola
, which laid aside traditional practices such as chanting the liturgy
in favour of greater adaptability and mobility under a more authoritarian regime. Other institutes combine a Rule with Constitutions that give more precise indications for the life of the members. Thus the Capuchin
Constitutions of 1536 are added to the Rule of St. Francis In addition to the more fundamental provisions of the Rule or Constitutions, religious institutes have statutes that are more easily subject to change.
who had consecrated themselves to Christ are found at least as far back as the 2nd century. There were also individual ascetics, known as the "devout", who usually lived not in the deserts but on the edge of inhabited places, still remaining in the world but practicing asceticism and striving for union with God, although extreme ascetism such as encratism
was regarded as suspect by the Church.
Paul of Thebes
(fl. 3rd cent.), commemorated in the writings of St Jerome
, is regarded as the first Christian hermit in Egypt
, his withdrawal into the desert apparently having been prompted by the persecution of the Christians at the time. Saint Anthony
was the first to leave the world to live in the desert for specifically spiritual reasons; St Athanasius speaks of him as an anchorite
. In upper Egypt
, sometime around 323, Saint Pachomius decided to organize his disciples into a form of community in which they lived in individual huts or rooms (cellula in Latin
), but worked, ate, and worshipped in shared space. Guidelines for daily life were drawn up (a monastic 'rule'); and several monasteries were founded, nine for men and two for women. This method of monastic organization is called cenobitic or "community-based". Towards the end of his life St Pachomius was therefore not only the abbot
of a monastery
but also the head of a whole group of monasteries.
The Greeks (e.g. St Basil the Great of Cappadocian Caesarea) and the Syriac-speaking east had their own monastic traditions (e.g. St Ephrem
of Nisibis and Edessa).
, who after serving in a Roman legion converted to Christianity and established a hermitage near Milan
. He then moved on to Poitiers
, where a community gathered around his hermitage. In 372 he was called to become Bishop of Tours, and established a monastery at Marmoutiers on the opposite bank of the Loire River. His monastery was laid out as a colony of hermits rather than as a single integrated community.
John Cassian began his monastic career at a monastery in Palestine and Egypt around 385 to study monastic practice there. In Egypt he had been attracted to the isolated life of hermits, which he considered the highest form of monasticism, yet the monasteries he founded were all organized monastic communities. About 410 he established two monasteries near Marseilles, one for men, one for women. In time these attracted a total of 5,000 monks and nuns.
Most significant for the future development of monasticism were Cassian's Institutes, which provided a guide for monastic life and his Conferences, a collection of spiritual reflections.
Honoratus of Marseilles was a wealthy Gallo-Roman aristocrat, who after a pilgrimage to Egypt, founded the Monastery of Lérins
, on an island lying off the modern city of Cannes
. Lérins became, in time, a center of monastic culture and learning, and many later monks and bishops would pass through Lérins in the early stages of their career.
(Regula magistri), was written somewhere south of Rome around 500. The rule adds administrative elements not found in earlier rules, defining the activities of the monastery, its officers, and their responsibilities in great detail.
Benedict of Nursia
was educated in Rome but soon sought the life of a hermit in a cave at Subiaco
, outside the city. He then attracted followers with whom he founded the monastery of Monte Cassino
around 520, between Rome and Naples
. His Rule
is shorter than the Master's. It became by the 9th century the standard monastic rule in Western Europe.
, who ranked with Saint Patrick
as a major figure of the Irish church. The monastery at Kildare
was a double monastery, with both men and women ruled by the Abbess, a pattern found in many other monastic foundations.
Commonly, Irish monasteries were established by grants of land to an abbot or abbess, who came from a local noble family. The monastery became the spiritual focus of the tribe or kin group. Irish monastic rules specify a stern life of prayer and discipline in which prayer, poverty, and obedience are the central themes. However Irish monks read even secular Latin texts with an enthusiasm that their contemporaries on the continent lacked. By the end of the 7th century, Irish monastic school
s were attracting students from England
and from Europe.
Irish monasticism spread widely, first to Scotland
and Northern England
, then to Gaul and Italy. Columba
and his followers established monasteries at Bangor
, on the northeastern coast of Ireland, at Iona
in Scotland, and at Lindisfarne
, in Northumbria
. Columbanus
, an abbot from a Leinster noble family, travelled to Gaul in the late 6th century with twelve companions. He and his followers spread the Irish model of monastic institutions established by noble families to the continent. A whole series of new rural monastic foundations on great rural estates under Irish influence sprang up, starting with Columbanus's foundations of Fontaines and Luxeuil, sponsored by the Frankish King Childebert II
. After Childebert's death Columbanus travelled east to Metz, where Theudebert II allowed him to establish a new monastery among the semi-pagan Alemanni in what is now Switzerland
. One of Columbanus's followers founded the monastery of St. Gall on the shores of Lake Constance, while Columbanus continued onward across the Alps
to the kingdom of the Lombards
in Italy. There King Agilulf
and his wife Theodolinda granted Columbanus land in the mountains between Genoa
and Milan, where he established the monastery of Bobbio
.
, which organized into an order
with common governance the monasteries following the Benedictine Rule that chose to join it or were founded by it, continued with the foundation in 1084 of the Carthusian
monasteries, which combined the hermit life with that of the cloister, each monk having his own hermitage, coming together only for the liturgy
and an occasional meal, and having no contact with the outside world, and the foundation a few years later of the Cistercians, a foundation that seemed destined to fail until in 1113 a band of 30 young men of the noblest families of Burgundy
arrived, led by Bernard of Clairvaux
, then 23 years old, who was to prove a dominating figure in the life of Western Europe for forty years. This was followed by the foundation in 1120 of the Canons Regular of Prémontré
, not monks but clergy devoted to ascetism, study and pastoral care. These aggregations of monasteries marked a departure from the previously existing arrangement whereby each monastery was totally independent and could decide what rule to follow. It also prepared the way for the quite different religious orders of the thirteenth century.
s in 1210, two of the principal mendicant orders
, who supported themselves not, as the monasteries did, by rent on landed property, but by work and the charitable aid of others. Both these institutes had vows of poverty but, while for the Franciscans poverty was an aim in itself, the Dominicans, treating poverty as a means or instrument, were allowed to own their churches and convents. Similar institutes that appeared at about the same time were the Augustinians
, Carmelites
and Servites. While the monasteries had chosen situations in the remote countryside, these new institutes, which aimed at least as much at evangelizing others as at sanctifying their own members, had their houses in the cities and towns.
appointed a rule for communities of such people who accepted to live in an enclosed community. Their vows were not to be solemn vow
s, at that time considered indissoluble, but simple. Though institutes of this kind were soon excluded by Pope Pius V
, they continued to exist and then gained approval, at first only on the part of local bishops but later of the Holy See, which finally on 8 December 1900 granted their members recognition as religious. Their lives were oriented not to the ancient monastic way of life, but more to social service and to evangelization
, both in Europe
and in mission areas.Their number increased further in the upheavals brought by the French Revolution
and subsequent Napoleonic invasions of other Catholic countries, depriving thousands of monks and nuns of the income that their communities held because of inheritances and forcing them to find a new way of living their religious life.
Examples of such institutes are the Claretians
, La Salle Brothers, Passionists, Redemptorists, and Vincentians.
" reserved in canon law for those who belonged to an institute of solemn vows, even if in some localities they were allowed to take simple vows instead.
The same Code also abolished the distinction according to which solemn vows, unlike simple vows, were indissoluble. It recognized no totally indispensable religious vows and thereby abrogated for the Latin Church
the special consecration that distinguished "orders" (institutes with solemn vows) from "congregations" (institutes with simple vows), while keeping some juridical distinctions between the two classes.
Even these remaining juridical distinctions were abolished by the 1983 Code of Canon Law, which distinguishes solemn from simple vows but does not divide religious into categories on that basis.
By then secular institute
s had emerged as a new form of institutes of consecrated life
, alongside religious institutes.
It makes no attempt to include all religious institutes. The Annuario Pontificio
lists for both men and women the institutes of consecrated life and the like that are "of pontifical right" (those that the Holy See has erected or approved by formal decree). The list of pontifical-right religious institutes of women takes up 216 pages of the publication, with 6 or 7 institutes (mostly 7) on each page.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, a religious institute is "a society in which members, according to proper law, pronounce public vow
Vow
A vow is a promise or oath.-Marriage vows:Marriage vows are binding promises each partner in a couple makes to the other during a wedding ceremony. Marriage customs have developed over history and keep changing as human society develops...
s, either perpetual or temporary which are to be renewed, however, when the period of time has elapsed, and lead a life of brothers or sisters in common".
Distinctions
Consecrated lifeConsecrated life (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, the term "consecrated life" denotes a stable form of Christian living by those faithful who feel called to follow Jesus Christ in a more exacting way recognized by the Church...
may be lived either individually or as a member of an institute. The life of a hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
or a consecrated virgin
Consecrated virgin
In the Catholic Church a consecrated virgin is a woman who has been conscrated by the church to a life of perpetual virginity in the service of God. Consecrated virgins are to spend their time in works of penance and mercy, in apostolic activity and in prayer, according to their state of life and...
is recognized by the Church as forms of individual consecrated life. The Church also envisages new forms of consecrated life emerging. There are two types of institutes of consecrated life. One type is that of the religious institute. The other is that of the secular institute
Secular institute
In the Roman Catholic Church, a secular institute is an organization of individuals who are consecrated persons – professing the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience – while living in the world, unlike members of a religious order who live in community. It is one of the...
, defined as "an institute of consecrated life in which the Christian faithful, living in the world, strive for the perfection of charity and seek to contribute to the sanctification of the world, especially from within".
Societies of apostolic life
Society of Apostolic Life
A society of apostolic life is a group of men or women within the Catholic Church who have come together for a specific purpose. Unlike members of an institute of consecrated life , members of apostolic societies do not make religious vows...
resemble religious institutes, but differ in that their members do not take religious vows. They pursue the apostolic purpose of the society to which they belong, while leading a life in common as brothers or sisters and striving for the perfection of charity through observing the society's constitutions. In some of these societies the members assume the evangelical counsels by a bond other than that of religious vows defined in their constitutions.
Historically, what are now called religious institutes were distinguished as either religious orders or religious congregation
Congregation (catholic)
The term "congregation" has three usages specific to the Roman Catholic Church. One concerns the Roman Curia, the other two concern religious institutes.- Roman Curia :...
s. The Church no longer makes that distinction and applies to all such institutes the single name "religious institute" and the same rules of canon law.
Religious vows
After completion of the novitiateNovitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
, members of religious institute make religious profession, which is "a public vow to observe the three evangelical counsels
Evangelical counsels
The three evangelical counsels or counsels of perfection in Christianity are chastity, poverty , and obedience . As Jesus of Nazareth stated in the Canonical gospels , they are counsels for those who desire to become "perfect"...
" of chastity, poverty and obedience. A vow is classified as public if a legitimate superior accepts it in the name of the Church, as happens when one joins a religious institute. In making their religious profession, they are "incorporated into the institute, with the rights and duties defined by law", and "through the ministry of the Church they are consecrated to God".
Religious profession can be temporary or perpetual: "Temporary profession is to be made for the period defined by the institute's own law. This period may not be less than three years nor longer than six years."
Typically, members of Religious Institutes either take vows of evangelical chastity, poverty and obedience (the "Evangelical Counsels") to lead a life in imitation of Christ Jesus, or, those following the Rule of St Benedict, the vows of obedience, stability (that is, to remain with this particular community till death and not seek to move to another), and "conversion of life" which implicitly includes the counsels of chastity and evangelical poverty. Some institutes take additional vows (a "fourth vow" is typical), specifying some particular work or defining condition of their way of life (e.g., the Jesuit vow to undertake any mission upon which they are sent by the Pope; the Missionaries of Charity vow to serve always the poorest of the poor).
The traditional distinction between simple and solemn vow
Solemn vow
In Roman Catholic canon law, a solemn vow is a vow that the Church has recognized as such....
s no longer has any canonical effect. Solemn vows once meant those taken in what was called a religious order. "Today, in order to know when a vow is solemn it will be necessary to refer to the proper law of the institutes of consecrated life."
Religious rules, constitutions and statutes
Religious institutes generally follow one of the four great religious rules: Rule of St Basil, Rule of St. Benedict, Rule of St. AugustineRule of St. Augustine
The Rule of St. Augustine is a religious rule employed by a large number of orders, including the Dominicans, Servites, Mercederians, and Augustinians.-Overview:...
, and the Rule of St. Francis. The Rule of St Basil, one of the earliest rules for Christian religious life, is followed by monastic communities of Byzantine
Byzantine Rite
The Byzantine Rite, sometimes called the Rite of Constantinople or Constantinopolitan Rite is the liturgical rite used currently by all the Eastern Orthodox Churches, by the Greek Catholic Churches , and by the Protestant Ukrainian Lutheran Church...
tradition. Western monastics (Benedictines, Trappists
Trappists
The Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance , or Trappists, is a Roman Catholic religious order of cloistered contemplative monks who follow the Rule of St. Benedict...
, Cistercians, etc.) observe the Rule of St Benedict, a collection of precepts for what is called contemplative religious life. The Rule of St Augustine stresses self-denial, moderation, and care for those in need.
Jesuits
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
follow what is called not a Rule, but the Constitutions composed by Saint Ignatius of Loyola
Ignatius of Loyola
Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish knight from a Basque noble family, hermit, priest since 1537, and theologian, who founded the Society of Jesus and was its first Superior General. Ignatius emerged as a religious leader during the Counter-Reformation...
, which laid aside traditional practices such as chanting the liturgy
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
in favour of greater adaptability and mobility under a more authoritarian regime. Other institutes combine a Rule with Constitutions that give more precise indications for the life of the members. Thus the Capuchin
Capuchin
Capuchin can refer to:*Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, an order of Roman Catholic friars.*Capuchin monkey, primates of the genus Cebus considered among the most intelligent of the New World monkeys , named after the friars....
Constitutions of 1536 are added to the Rule of St. Francis In addition to the more fundamental provisions of the Rule or Constitutions, religious institutes have statutes that are more easily subject to change.
Foundation and approval
Religious institutes normally begin as an association formed, with the consent of the diocesan bishop, for the purpose of becoming a religious institute. After time has provided proof of the rectitude, seriousness and durability of the new association, the bishop, having consulted the Holy See, may formally set it up as a religious institute under his own jurisdiction. Later, when it has grown in numbers, perhaps extending also into other dioceses, and further proved its worth, the Holy See may grant it formal approval, bringing it under the Holy See's responsibility, rather than that of the Bishops of the dioceses where it is present. For the good of such institutes and to provide for the needs of their apostolate, the Holy See may exempt them from the governance of the local Bishops, bringing them entirely under the authority of the Holy See itself or of someone else. In some respects, for example public liturgical practice, they always remain under the local bishop's supervision.Roots in Egypt and Syriac- and Greek-speaking East
From the earliest times there were probably individual hermits who lived a life in isolation in imitation of Jesus' 40 days in the desert. They have left no confirmed archaeological traces and only hints in the written record. Communities of virginsConsecrated virgin
In the Catholic Church a consecrated virgin is a woman who has been conscrated by the church to a life of perpetual virginity in the service of God. Consecrated virgins are to spend their time in works of penance and mercy, in apostolic activity and in prayer, according to their state of life and...
who had consecrated themselves to Christ are found at least as far back as the 2nd century. There were also individual ascetics, known as the "devout", who usually lived not in the deserts but on the edge of inhabited places, still remaining in the world but practicing asceticism and striving for union with God, although extreme ascetism such as encratism
Encratites
The Encratites were an ascetic 2nd century sect of Christians who forbade marriage and counselled abstinence from meat. Eusebius says that Tatian was the author of this heresy...
was regarded as suspect by the Church.
Paul of Thebes
Paul of Thebes
Paul of Thebes, commonly known as Saint Paul the First Hermit or St Paul the Anchorite is regarded as the first Christian hermit...
(fl. 3rd cent.), commemorated in the writings of St Jerome
Jerome
Saint Jerome was a Roman Christian priest, confessor, theologian and historian, and who became a Doctor of the Church. He was the son of Eusebius, of the city of Stridon, which was on the border of Dalmatia and Pannonia...
, is regarded as the first Christian hermit in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, his withdrawal into the desert apparently having been prompted by the persecution of the Christians at the time. Saint Anthony
Anthony the Great
Anthony the Great or Antony the Great , , also known as Saint Anthony, Anthony the Abbot, Anthony of Egypt, Anthony of the Desert, Anthony the Anchorite, Abba Antonius , and Father of All Monks, was a Christian saint from Egypt, a prominent leader among the Desert Fathers...
was the first to leave the world to live in the desert for specifically spiritual reasons; St Athanasius speaks of him as an anchorite
Anchorite
Anchorite denotes someone who, for religious reasons, withdraws from secular society so as to be able to lead an intensely prayer-oriented, ascetic, and—circumstances permitting—Eucharist-focused life...
. In upper Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, sometime around 323, Saint Pachomius decided to organize his disciples into a form of community in which they lived in individual huts or rooms (cellula in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
), but worked, ate, and worshipped in shared space. Guidelines for daily life were drawn up (a monastic 'rule'); and several monasteries were founded, nine for men and two for women. This method of monastic organization is called cenobitic or "community-based". Towards the end of his life St Pachomius was therefore not only the abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
but also the head of a whole group of monasteries.
The Greeks (e.g. St Basil the Great of Cappadocian Caesarea) and the Syriac-speaking east had their own monastic traditions (e.g. St Ephrem
Ephrem the Syrian
Ephrem the Syrian was a Syriac and a prolific Syriac-language hymnographer and theologian of the 4th century. He is venerated by Christians throughout the world, and especially in the Syriac Orthodox Church, as a saint.Ephrem wrote a wide variety of hymns, poems, and sermons in verse, as well as...
of Nisibis and Edessa).
Gaul
The earliest forms of monasticism in Western Europe involved figures such as Martin of ToursMartin of Tours
Martin of Tours was a Bishop of Tours whose shrine became a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. Around his name much legendary material accrued, and he has become one of the most familiar and recognizable Christian saints...
, who after serving in a Roman legion converted to Christianity and established a hermitage near Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. He then moved on to Poitiers
Poitiers
Poitiers is a city on the Clain river in west central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and of the Poitou-Charentes region. The centre is picturesque and its streets are interesting for predominant remains of historical architecture, especially from the Romanesque...
, where a community gathered around his hermitage. In 372 he was called to become Bishop of Tours, and established a monastery at Marmoutiers on the opposite bank of the Loire River. His monastery was laid out as a colony of hermits rather than as a single integrated community.
John Cassian began his monastic career at a monastery in Palestine and Egypt around 385 to study monastic practice there. In Egypt he had been attracted to the isolated life of hermits, which he considered the highest form of monasticism, yet the monasteries he founded were all organized monastic communities. About 410 he established two monasteries near Marseilles, one for men, one for women. In time these attracted a total of 5,000 monks and nuns.
Most significant for the future development of monasticism were Cassian's Institutes, which provided a guide for monastic life and his Conferences, a collection of spiritual reflections.
Honoratus of Marseilles was a wealthy Gallo-Roman aristocrat, who after a pilgrimage to Egypt, founded the Monastery of Lérins
Lérins Abbey
Lérins Abbey is a Cistercian monastery on the island of Saint-Honorat, one of the Lérins Islands, on the French Riviera, with an active monastic community....
, on an island lying off the modern city of Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
. Lérins became, in time, a center of monastic culture and learning, and many later monks and bishops would pass through Lérins in the early stages of their career.
Italy
The anonymous Rule of the MasterRule of the Master
The Regula Magistri or Rule of the Master is an anonymous sixth-century collection of monastic precepts. It was probably used by Benedict of Nursia as source material for his own Rule of Saint Benedict. It is no longer in active use by any monastic community.-See Also:*Rule of Saint Benedict*Rule...
(Regula magistri), was written somewhere south of Rome around 500. The rule adds administrative elements not found in earlier rules, defining the activities of the monastery, its officers, and their responsibilities in great detail.
Benedict of Nursia
Benedict of Nursia
Saint Benedict of Nursia is a Christian saint, honored by the Roman Catholic Church as the patron saint of Europe and students.Benedict founded twelve communities for monks at Subiaco, about to the east of Rome, before moving to Monte Cassino in the mountains of southern Italy. There is no...
was educated in Rome but soon sought the life of a hermit in a cave at Subiaco
Subiaco, Italy
Subiaco is a town and comune in the Province of Rome, in Lazio, Italy, from Tivoli alongside the river Aniene. It is mainly renowned as a tourist and religious resort for its sacred grotto , in the St. Benedict's Abbey, and the other Abbey of St. Scholastica...
, outside the city. He then attracted followers with whom he founded the monastery of Monte Cassino
Monte Cassino
Monte Cassino is a rocky hill about southeast of Rome, Italy, c. to the west of the town of Cassino and altitude. St. Benedict of Nursia established his first monastery, the source of the Benedictine Order, here around 529. It was the site of Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944...
around 520, between Rome and Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
. His Rule
Rule of St Benedict
The Rule of Saint Benedict is a book of precepts written by St. Benedict of Nursia for monks living communally under the authority of an abbot. Since about the 7th century it has also been adopted by communities of women...
is shorter than the Master's. It became by the 9th century the standard monastic rule in Western Europe.
Ireland
The earliest Monastic settlements in Ireland emerged at the end of the 5th century. The first identifiable founder of a monastery was Saint Brigid of KildareBrigid of Kildare
Saint Brigit of Kildare, or Brigit of Ireland , nicknamed Mary of the Gael is one of Ireland's patron saints along with Saints Patrick and Columba...
, who ranked with Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
as a major figure of the Irish church. The monastery at Kildare
Kildare
-External links:*******...
was a double monastery, with both men and women ruled by the Abbess, a pattern found in many other monastic foundations.
Commonly, Irish monasteries were established by grants of land to an abbot or abbess, who came from a local noble family. The monastery became the spiritual focus of the tribe or kin group. Irish monastic rules specify a stern life of prayer and discipline in which prayer, poverty, and obedience are the central themes. However Irish monks read even secular Latin texts with an enthusiasm that their contemporaries on the continent lacked. By the end of the 7th century, Irish monastic school
Monastic school
Monastic schools were, along with cathedral schools, the most important institutions of higher learning in the Latin West from the early Middle Ages until the 12th century. Since Cassiodorus's educational program, the standard curriculum incorporated religious studies, the Trivium, and the...
s were attracting students from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and from Europe.
Irish monasticism spread widely, first to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Northern England
Northern England
Northern England, also known as the North of England, the North or the North Country, is a cultural region of England. It is not an official government region, but rather an informal amalgamation of counties. The southern extent of the region is roughly the River Trent, while the North is bordered...
, then to Gaul and Italy. Columba
Columba
Saint Columba —also known as Colum Cille , Colm Cille , Calum Cille and Kolban or Kolbjørn —was a Gaelic Irish missionary monk who propagated Christianity among the Picts during the Early Medieval Period...
and his followers established monasteries at Bangor
Bangor Abbey
Bangor Abbey was established by Saint Comgall in 558 in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland and was famous for its learning and austere rule. It is not to be confused with the even older abbey in Wales on the site of Bangor Cathedral. Bangor Abbey was a centre of learning which trained...
, on the northeastern coast of Ireland, at Iona
Iona Abbey
Iona Abbey is located on the Isle of Iona, just off the Isle of Mull on the West Coast of Scotland. It is one of the oldest and most important religious centres in Western Europe. The abbey was a focal point for the spread of Christianity throughout Scotland and marks the foundation of a monastic...
in Scotland, and at Lindisfarne
Lindisfarne
Lindisfarne is a tidal island off the north-east coast of England. It is also known as Holy Island and constitutes a civil parish in Northumberland...
, in Northumbria
Northumbria
Northumbria was a medieval kingdom of the Angles, in what is now Northern England and South-East Scotland, becoming subsequently an earldom in a united Anglo-Saxon kingdom of England. The name reflects the approximate southern limit to the kingdom's territory, the Humber Estuary.Northumbria was...
. Columbanus
Columbanus
Columbanus was an Irish missionary notable for founding a number of monasteries on the European continent from around 590 in the Frankish and Lombard kingdoms, most notably Luxeuil and Bobbio , and stands as an exemplar of Irish missionary activity in early medieval Europe.He spread among the...
, an abbot from a Leinster noble family, travelled to Gaul in the late 6th century with twelve companions. He and his followers spread the Irish model of monastic institutions established by noble families to the continent. A whole series of new rural monastic foundations on great rural estates under Irish influence sprang up, starting with Columbanus's foundations of Fontaines and Luxeuil, sponsored by the Frankish King Childebert II
Childebert II
.Childebert II was the Merovingian king of Austrasia, which included Provence at the time, from 575 until his death in 595, the eldest and succeeding son of Sigebert I, and the king of Burgundy from 592 to his death, as the adopted and succeeding son of his uncle Guntram.-Childhood:When his father...
. After Childebert's death Columbanus travelled east to Metz, where Theudebert II allowed him to establish a new monastery among the semi-pagan Alemanni in what is now Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. One of Columbanus's followers founded the monastery of St. Gall on the shores of Lake Constance, while Columbanus continued onward across the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
to the kingdom of the Lombards
Lombards
The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
in Italy. There King Agilulf
Agilulf
Agilulf called the Thuringian, was a duke of Turin and king of the Lombards from 591 until his death.-Biography:A relative of his predecessor Authari, he was selected king on the advice of the Christian queen and widow of Authari, Theodelinda, whom he then married...
and his wife Theodolinda granted Columbanus land in the mountains between Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
and Milan, where he established the monastery of Bobbio
Bobbio
Bobbio is a small town and commune in the province of Piacenza in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy. It is located in the Trebbia River valley southwest of the town Piacenza. There is also an abbey and a diocese of the same name...
.
Developments around 1100
A monastic revival already begun in the 10th century with the Cluniac reformCluny Abbey
Cluny Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Cluny, Saône-et-Loire, France. It was built in the Romanesque style, with three churches built in succession from the 10th to the early 12th centuries....
, which organized into an order
Religious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
with common governance the monasteries following the Benedictine Rule that chose to join it or were founded by it, continued with the foundation in 1084 of the Carthusian
Carthusian
The Carthusian Order, also called the Order of St. Bruno, is a Roman Catholic religious order of enclosed monastics. The order was founded by Saint Bruno of Cologne in 1084 and includes both monks and nuns...
monasteries, which combined the hermit life with that of the cloister, each monk having his own hermitage, coming together only for the liturgy
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
and an occasional meal, and having no contact with the outside world, and the foundation a few years later of the Cistercians, a foundation that seemed destined to fail until in 1113 a band of 30 young men of the noblest families of Burgundy
Duchy of Burgundy
The Duchy of Burgundy , was heir to an ancient and prestigious reputation and a large division of the lands of the Second Kingdom of Burgundy and in its own right was one of the geographically larger ducal territories in the emergence of Early Modern Europe from Medieval Europe.Even in that...
arrived, led by Bernard of Clairvaux
Bernard of Clairvaux
Bernard of Clairvaux, O.Cist was a French abbot and the primary builder of the reforming Cistercian order.After the death of his mother, Bernard sought admission into the Cistercian order. Three years later, he was sent to found a new abbey at an isolated clearing in a glen known as the Val...
, then 23 years old, who was to prove a dominating figure in the life of Western Europe for forty years. This was followed by the foundation in 1120 of the Canons Regular of Prémontré
Premonstratensian
The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines, or in Britain and Ireland as the White Canons , are a Catholic religious order of canons regular founded at Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Saint Norbert, who later became Archbishop of Magdeburg...
, not monks but clergy devoted to ascetism, study and pastoral care. These aggregations of monasteries marked a departure from the previously existing arrangement whereby each monastery was totally independent and could decide what rule to follow. It also prepared the way for the quite different religious orders of the thirteenth century.
Thirteenth century
The 13th century saw the founding and rapid spread of the Dominicans in 1216 and the FranciscanFranciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
s in 1210, two of the principal mendicant orders
Mendicant Orders
The mendicant orders are religious orders which depend directly on the charity of the people for their livelihood. In principle, they do not own property, either individually or collectively , believing that this was the most pure way of life to copy followed by Jesus Christ, in order that all...
, who supported themselves not, as the monasteries did, by rent on landed property, but by work and the charitable aid of others. Both these institutes had vows of poverty but, while for the Franciscans poverty was an aim in itself, the Dominicans, treating poverty as a means or instrument, were allowed to own their churches and convents. Similar institutes that appeared at about the same time were the Augustinians
Augustinians
The term Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , applies to two separate and unrelated types of Catholic religious orders:...
, Carmelites
Carmelites
The Order of the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel or Carmelites is a Catholic religious order perhaps founded in the 12th century on Mount Carmel, hence its name. However, historical records about its origin remain uncertain...
and Servites. While the monasteries had chosen situations in the remote countryside, these new institutes, which aimed at least as much at evangelizing others as at sanctifying their own members, had their houses in the cities and towns.
Sixteenth century and later
Associations of people, lay or clerical, who are linked in some way with a religious institute but are not part of the institute are called third orders or some other appropriate name. By the constitution Inter cetera of 20 January 1521, Pope Leo XPope Leo X
Pope Leo X , born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, was the Pope from 1513 to his death in 1521. He was the last non-priest to be elected Pope. He is known for granting indulgences for those who donated to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica and his challenging of Martin Luther's 95 Theses...
appointed a rule for communities of such people who accepted to live in an enclosed community. Their vows were not to be solemn vow
Solemn vow
In Roman Catholic canon law, a solemn vow is a vow that the Church has recognized as such....
s, at that time considered indissoluble, but simple. Though institutes of this kind were soon excluded by Pope Pius V
Pope Pius V
Pope Saint Pius V , born Antonio Ghislieri , was Pope from 1566 to 1572 and is a saint of the Catholic Church. He is chiefly notable for his role in the Council of Trent, the Counter-Reformation, and the standardization of the Roman liturgy within the Latin Church...
, they continued to exist and then gained approval, at first only on the part of local bishops but later of the Holy See, which finally on 8 December 1900 granted their members recognition as religious. Their lives were oriented not to the ancient monastic way of life, but more to social service and to evangelization
Evangelization
Evangelization is that process in the Christian religion which seeks to spread the Gospel and the knowledge of the Gospel throughout the world. It can be defined as so:-The birth of Christian evangelization:...
, both in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and in mission areas.Their number increased further in the upheavals brought by the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
and subsequent Napoleonic invasions of other Catholic countries, depriving thousands of monks and nuns of the income that their communities held because of inheritances and forcing them to find a new way of living their religious life.
Examples of such institutes are the Claretians
Claretians
The Claretians, a community of Roman Catholic priests and brothers, were founded by Saint Anthony Claret in 1849. They strive to follow their founder's “on fire” example and help wherever they are needed. Their ministries are highly diverse and vary depending on the needs of the area. They focus...
, La Salle Brothers, Passionists, Redemptorists, and Vincentians.
Twentieth century
The 1917 Code of Canon Law reserved the name "religious order" for institutes in which the vows were solemn, and used the term "religious congregation" or simply "congregation" for those with simple vows. The members of a religious order for men were called "regulars", those belonging to a religious congregation were simply "religious", a term that applied also to regulars. For women, those with simple vows were simply "sisters", with the term "nunNun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
" reserved in canon law for those who belonged to an institute of solemn vows, even if in some localities they were allowed to take simple vows instead.
The same Code also abolished the distinction according to which solemn vows, unlike simple vows, were indissoluble. It recognized no totally indispensable religious vows and thereby abrogated for the Latin Church
Latin Church
The Latin Church is the largest particular church within the Catholic Church. It is a particular church not on the level of the local particular churches known as dioceses or eparchies, but on the level of autonomous ritual churches, of which there are 23, the remaining 22 of which are Eastern...
the special consecration that distinguished "orders" (institutes with solemn vows) from "congregations" (institutes with simple vows), while keeping some juridical distinctions between the two classes.
Even these remaining juridical distinctions were abolished by the 1983 Code of Canon Law, which distinguishes solemn from simple vows but does not divide religious into categories on that basis.
By then secular institute
Secular institute
In the Roman Catholic Church, a secular institute is an organization of individuals who are consecrated persons – professing the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience – while living in the world, unlike members of a religious order who live in community. It is one of the...
s had emerged as a new form of institutes of consecrated life
Institute of Consecrated Life
Institutes of consecrated life are canonically erected institutes in the Roman Catholic Church whose members profess the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, and obedience by vows or other sacred bonds...
, alongside religious institutes.
List of some religious institutes
The following is a dynamic list of a selection of religious institutes and other associations. It makes no distinction between those of pontifical right or only of diocesan right, and includes even some associations formed with a view to becoming religious institutes but not yet canonically erected even on the diocesan level. It also makes no distinction between those that before 1983 would be classified either as "orders" or as "congregations".It makes no attempt to include all religious institutes. The Annuario Pontificio
Annuario Pontificio
The Annuario Pontificio is the annual directory of the Holy See. It lists all the popes to date and all officials of the Holy See's departments...
lists for both men and women the institutes of consecrated life and the like that are "of pontifical right" (those that the Holy See has erected or approved by formal decree). The list of pontifical-right religious institutes of women takes up 216 pages of the publication, with 6 or 7 institutes (mostly 7) on each page.
| Name | Initials | Founder | Date(s) of founding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adorers of the Blood of Christ Adorers of the Blood of Christ The Adorers of the Blood of Christ are a Catholic religious order founded by St. Maria De Mattias in 1834, their post-nominal letters are A.S.C.The order operates Newman University in Wichita, Kansas.... |
A.S.C. | Maria De Mattias Maria De Mattias Maria Matilda De Mattias, A.S.C., is a saint from Italy in the Roman Catholic Church and was the founder of the religious congregation of the Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ.-Early years:... |
1834 |
| Adrian Dominican Sisters Adrian Dominican Sisters The Adrian Dominican Sisters are a Catholic religious order of Dominican sisters in the United States. Their motherhouse is in Adrian, Michigan. Their official title is the Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary.-Current mission:... |
O.P. | 1923 (1233) | |
| Albertines Albertines The Albertine Brothers are a Catholic religious order founded in 1888 by Adam Chmielowski in Cracow, Poland.-External links:*... |
1888 | ||
| Alexians Alexians The Alexians, Alexian Brothers or Cellites are a Catholic religious institute or congregation specifically devoted to caring for the sick which has its origin in Europe at the time of the Black Death... |
C.F.A. | 1469 | |
| Angelic Sisters of St. Paul Angelic Sisters of St. Paul The Angelic Sisters of St. Paul are a Roman Catholic religious order founded by St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria in Milan in 1535. The order is a female branch of uncloistered nuns of the Barnabite order.... |
A.S.S.P. | Anthony Maria Zaccaria Anthony Maria Zaccaria Saint Anthony Maria Zaccaria is an Italian saint.Anthony was born in the city of Cremona, Italy in 1502 to noble parents. When he was two his father died and he was brought up as an only child by his mother. At an early age, he took a private vow of chastity... |
1535 |
| Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus The Catholic Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus were founded in Viareggio, Italy in 1894 by Clelia Merloni. The congregation has grown to over 1,500 sisters on five continents.-External links:**... |
A.S.C.J. | 1894 | |
| Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate | A.S.M.I. | 1949 | |
| Assumptionists Assumptionists The Augustinians of the Assumption constitute a congregation of Catholic religious , founded in Nîmes, southern France, by Fr. Emmanuel d'Alzon in 1845, initially approved by Rome in 1857 and definitively approved in 1864 . The current Rule of Life of the congregation draws its inspiration from... |
A.A. | 1845 | |
| Little Sisters of the Assumption Little Sisters of the Assumption The Little Sisters of the Assumption is a Roman Catholic religious order founded in France in 1865 by Antoinette Fage and Father Etienne Pernet.... |
L.S.A. | Étienne Pernet | 1865 |
| Religious of the Assumption Religious of the Assumption The Religious of the Assumption were founded by Saint Marie Eugénie Milleret in Paris in 1839. Her vision was of transforming society through education... |
1839 | ||
| Society of the Atonement Society of the Atonement The Society of the Atonement, also known as the Friars and Sisters of the Atonement or Graymoor Friars and Sisters is a Franciscan religious congregation in the Latin Rite branch of the Catholic Church... (Atonement Friars, Graymoor Friars/Sisters) |
S.A. | 1909 | |
| Augustinian Sisters, Servants of Jesus and Mary Augustinian Sisters, Servants of Jesus and Mary The Augustinian Sisters, Servants of Jesus and Mary was founded in Frosinone in 1827 by Maria Teresa Spinelli. They follow the Rule of St. Augustine.-External links:***... |
A.S.J.M. | 1827 | |
| Society of Saint Augustine Society of Saint Augustine The Society of Saint Augustine , also known as the "Augustinians of Kansas" is a Roman Catholic Institute of Consecrated Life which takes as its pattern of living, the way of life delineated in the Rule of Saint Augustine of Hippo... (Augustinians of Kansas) |
S.S.A. | 1981 | |
| Benedictine Oblates of St Scholastica | O.S.B. | 1984 | |
| Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration The Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration are a congregation of nuns within the Benedictine Confederation. The original monastery was founded in 1874 by a group of five nuns, led by Sister Mary Anselma Felber, O.S.B., who came from the young monastery of Maria-Rickenbach in Switzerland... |
1874 | ||
| Bernardine Cistercians of Esquermes Bernardine Cistercians of Esquermes The Bernardine Cistercians of Equermes are a small branch of the Cistercian Order. They follow the Rule of St Benedict, and co-operate with the apostolic mission of the Church through educational activities and hospitality... |
Hippolyte Lecouvreur | 1827 | |
| Bernardines (also see Cistercians) | 1098 | ||
| Bon Secours Sisters Bon Secours Sisters Congregation of the Sisters of Bon Secours is a Roman Catholic religious congregation for nursing , whose object is to care for patients from all socio-economic groups... |
C.B.S. | 1824 | |
| Brigidine Sisters Brigidine Sisters The Brigidine Sisters are a global Roman Catholic congregation, founded by Bishop Daniel Delany in Ireland on February 1, 1807... |
1807 | ||
| Brotherhood of Hope Brotherhood of Hope - History :Founded in 1980 by Fr. Phillip Merdinger a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey. Recognized as a Public Association of Christ's Faithful in 1998.- Lifestyle :... |
B.H. | 1980 | |
| Brothers of Charity Brothers of Charity The Brothers of Charity are a Catholic institute of religious brothers and associate members at the service of the people most in need in the field of education and health care. The institute was founded in 1807 by Canon Peter Joseph Triest in Ghent, Belgium, who also founded three other religious... |
F.C. | 1807 | |
| Brothers of Christian Instruction of St Gabriel Brothers of Christian Instruction of St Gabriel The Brothers of Christian Instruction of St Gabriel, otherwise Gabrielite Brothers or FSG, is a secular Catholic order. Its roots go back to Saint Louis de Montfort, who opened a few schools for poor children in La Rochelle, France, in about 1711.... |
F.S.G. | 1711 | |
| Brothers of Mercy of Our Lady of Perpetual Help | F.M.M. | 1839 | |
| Brothers of the Christian Schools (Lasallian Brothers or Christian Brothers) | F.S.C. | John Baptist de La Salle | 1680 |
| Brothers of the Poor of St. Francis Poor Brothers of St. Francis The Poor Brothers of St. Francis Seraphicus are a congregation of lay brothers of the Third Order of St. Francis, instituted for charitable work among orphan boys and for youth education.-Foundation:... |
C.F.P. | Johannes Hoever | 1861 |
| Brothers of the Sacred Heart Brothers of the Sacred Heart The Brothers of the Sacred Heart are a Catholic religious congregation founded in 1821 by the Reverend André Coindre . Its Constitutions were modeled upon those of the Jesuits, while its Rule of Life was based upon the Rule of Saint Augustine. Its members bind themselves for life by simple vows of... |
S.C. | 1821 | |
| Brothers of Christian Instruction Brothers of Christian Instruction The Brothers of Christian Instruction also known as the De la Mennais Brothers is a Christian educational organization founded in 1819 by Gabriel Deshayes and Jean-Marie de la Mennais for the instruction of youth. Their aim remains that of their Founder :"to educate the young and to make Jesus... (De la Mennais Brothers, FIC Brothers) |
F.I.C. | Gabriel Deshayes Jean-Marie de Lamennais Jean-Marie de Lamennais Jean-Marie Robert de Lamennais was a French Roman-Catholic priest, brother of the philosopher Hughes Felicité Robert de Lamennais, whom he influenced in their youth.... |
1819 |
| Camaldolese Hermits of the Congregation of Monte Corona | Er.Cam. | Paul Giustiniani | 1525 |
| Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius The Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius is a clerical Institute of Consecrated Life in the Catholic Church, founded in 1998 in the Archdiocese of Chicago as the Society of St. John Cantius by Fr. C. Frank Phillips, C.R., the pastor of St. John Cantius Church in Chicago... |
S.J.C. | 2006 | |
| Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception The Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception is an Institute of Consecrated Life which follows the Augustinian Rule, and is part of the Canonical Order of the Canons Regular of St... |
1871 | ||
| Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem The Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem is a clerical Institute of Consecrated Life in the Catholic Church, founded in 2002 in the Diocese of La Crosse, and currently located in Chesterfield, Missouri, in the Archdiocese of Saint Louis... |
C.R.N.J. | 2002 | |
| Canossians Canossians The Canossians is a family of five Catholic religious institutions tracing their origin or inspiration to Magdalen of Canossa who was declared a saint by the Roman Catholic Church in 1988.-Canossian Family:1... (Canossian Daughters and Sons of Charity) |
F.D.D.C. | 1808 | |
| Carmelites of Saint Elijah Carmelitae Sancti Eliae |
C.S.E. | 1986 | |
| Carmelites of Mary Immaculate Carmelites of Mary Immaculate The Carmelites of Mary Immaculate is an religious order for men in the Syro-Malabar Church. It is the first Catholic religious congregation founded in India. The first monastery of the order was established on 11 May 1831 at Mannanam, Kerala, India... |
C.M.I. | 1831 | |
| Carmelite Daughters of the Divine Heart of Jesus Carmelite Daughters of the Divine Heart of Jesus The Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus is a Roman Catholic religious order founded by Maria Teresa of St. Joseph on July 2, 1891. Mother Mary Teresa traveled to the U.S. in 1912 to establish a congregation... |
D.C.J. | 1891 | |
| Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm | 1929 | ||
| Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles The Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles is a religious community of the Carmelite Order founded by Venerable Mother Maria Luisa Josefa of the Most Blessed Sacrament.-Patrons of the Order:* Saint Teresa of Avila* Saint John of the Cross... |
1904 | ||
| Claretians (Claretian Missionaries) | C.M.F. | 1849 | |
| Claretian Sisters Claretian Sisters The Claretian Sisters Were founded in 1855 Venerable María Antonia París and St. Anthony Mary Claret.-Ministry of the Order:Christian formation of children, young people, and adultssocial servicesHispanic and migrant ministryliturgical ministry... |
1876 | ||
| Comboni Missionaries | 1867 | ||
| Community of Betania | |||
| Companions of the Cross Companions of the Cross The Companions of the Cross is a Society of Apostolic Life based in Ottawa, Ontario. It is a community of Roman Catholic priests, which is Eucharistic, Charismatic, Marian and Magisterial... |
C.C. | 1988 | |
| Company of Mary Our Lady | O.D.N. | 1607 | |
| Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Scheutists) Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae |
C.I.C.M. | 1862 | |
| Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament The Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament is a Catholic religious congregation of priests, deacons, and Brothers whose ideal of life is to become living witnesses of the Eucharist, the source and summit of Christian life. By their life and activities, they assist the Church in her efforts to form... |
S.S.S. | 1659 | |
| Congregation of Christian Brothers Congregation of Christian Brothers The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with... (Christian Brothers of Ireland) |
C.F.C. | 1802 | |
| Congregation of the Disciples of the Lord Congregatio Discipulorum Domini |
C.D.D. | 1931 | |
| Congregation of Divine Providence Congregation of Divine Providence The Congregation of Divine Providence was founded by Father Jean-Martin Moye, a French priest who saw the lack of educational opportunities for females in his parish in Lorraine, France.... |
C.D.P. | 1827 | |
| Congregation of Holy Cross Congregation of Holy Cross The Congregation of Holy Cross or Congregatio a Sancta Cruce is a Catholic congregation of priests and brothers founded in 1837 by Blessed Father Basil Anthony-Marie Moreau, CSC, in Le Mans, France.... |
C.S.C. | Blessed Fr. Basil Anthony Marie Patrice Moreau, CSC | 1837 |
| Congregation of Maronite Lebanese Missionaries Congregation of Maronite Lebanese Missionaries The Congregation of Maronite Lebanese Missionaries was founded at the monastery of Kreim - Ghosta , in the year 1865. This formation was the result of the relentless efforts of Father John Habib and numerous dedicated priests... |
M.L. | 1865 | |
| Congregation of the Mission | C.M. | 1624 | |
| Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix The Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix is a religious order within the Roman Catholic Church. The order is dominated by men of Vietnamese extraction. The unofficial title Co-Redemptrix in its name refers to the Blessed Virgin Mary... |
C.M.C. | 1909 | |
| Congregation of Notre Dame Congregation of Notre Dame The Congregation of Notre Dame was founded in 1653 by Marguerite Bourgeoys in Montreal, Canada. This was one of the first non-cloistered communities. The community's motherhouse has continued to be based in Montreal... |
C.N.D. | 1653 | |
| Congregation of Our Lady of Fidelity Sisters of the Faithful Virgin The Congregation of Our Lady of Fidelity is a Roman-Catholic female congregation founded in 1831 a La Délivrande by Henriette le Forestier d'Osseville and having for its primary object the sheltering and education of orphan girls.... |
N.D.F. | Henriette le Forestier d'Osseville | 1831 |
| Congregation of Our Lady of the Missions Congregation of Our Lady of the Missions The Congregation of Our Lady of the Missions is a Roman Catholic religious congregation of women. They were founded in Lyons, France in 1861 by Euphrasie Barbier. The Congregation's presence is felt worldwide... |
1861 | ||
| Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth | C.S.N. | 1948 | |
| Congregation of the Sisters of the Resurrection | 1891 | ||
| Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary The Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and of the Perpetual Adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar is a Roman Catholic religious order of brothers, priests, and nuns... |
SS.CC. | 1800 | |
| Congregation of St. Basil Congregation of St. Basil The Basilian Fathers, also known as The Congregation of Saint Basil, is an international order of Catholic priests and students studying for the priesthood, who focus on education and ministering through oratories.... |
C.S.B. | 1822 | |
| Congregation of St. Joseph | C.S.J. | 1873 | |
| Congregation of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux Congregation of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux The Congregation of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux is the first religious brothers congregation founded in the Syro-Malabar Church in India and the first congregation in the name of St. Thérèse of Lisieux in India... |
C.S.T. | 1931 / 1945 | |
| Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy The Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy , - was founded by Mother Teresa Eva Potocka in Warsaw, Poland on November 1, 1862.This was the first "Mercy House"... (Divine Mercy Sisters) |
O.L.M. | 1862 | |
| Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul | D.C. | 1633 | |
| Daughters of Divine Charity Daughters of Divine Charity The Daughters of Divine Charity are an order of Roman Catholic religious sisters with a mother house in Vienna.-History:Mother Franziska Lechner began her work in 1868 in Vienna, Austria by opening St. Mary's Homes for working girls during the European Industrial Revolution... |
F.D.C. | 1868 | |
| Daughters of Divine Love Daughters of Divine Love The Daughters of Divine Love was founded by Godfrey Mary Paul Okoye on July 16, 1969, at Ukpor, Nigeria. Its Mother House is in Nigeria.-External links:* [/ Daughters of Divine Love]... |
1969 | ||
| Daughters of the Holy Spirit Daughters of the Holy Spirit The Daughters of the Holy Spirit or White Sisters are a Roman Catholic religious order of women.The congregation was founded in Brittany on December 8, 1706 by Marie Balavenne and Renée Burel committed themselves to live together and to devote themselves to the service of the poor, the sick and... |
D.H.S. | 1706 | |
| Daughters of Mary of the Immaculate Conception Daughters of Mary of the Immaculate Conception The Daughters of Mary of the Immaculate Conception was founded in 1904 by the Right Reverend Lucian Bojnowski. They are located in New Britain, Connecticut.... |
1904 | ||
| Daughters of Our Lady of Compassion | D.O.L.C. | 1892 | |
| Daughters of St. Francis of Assisi | 1894 | ||
| Daughters of St. Paul Daughters of St. Paul The Daughters of St Paul is a Roman Catholic international religious congregation founded in 1915 in Italy.The congregation is part of the worldwide Pauline family, consisting of ten orders and lay institutes, all founded by Blessed Giacomo Alberione, and operates in 50 countries around the world.... |
F.S.P. | 1915 | |
| Daughters of Wisdom Daughters of Wisdom Daughters of Wisdom is a Catholic contemplative organization founded by Saint Louis de Montfort and Blessed Marie Louise Trichet.While he was temporary chaplain of the hospital of Poitiers in 1707, he associated into a little community some pious but afflicted girls, and gave them a rule of life,... |
1707 | ||
| Dehonians (Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) | S.C.J. | Leon Dehon Leon Dehon Leon Gustav Dehon was a Catholic clergyman.Born in La Capelle , France, Dehon was raised in a pious family, Leo Dehon's mother was especially devoted to the Sacred Heart, and passed this on to Leo. As a young man he felt a call to the priesthood, but his father had other plans for him, and sent... |
1878 |
| Divine Word Missionaries Divine Word Missionaries The Society of the Divine Word , popularly called the Divine Word Missionaries, and sometimes the Steyler Missionaries, is a missionary religious congregation in the Latin Church, one of the 23 sui iuris churches which make up the Catholic Church. As of 2006 it consisted of 6,102 members composed... |
S.V.D. | Arnold Janssen Arnold Janssen Saint Arnold Janssen, S.V.D., was a Roman Catholic priest and missionary, and is venerated as a saint. He is best known for founding the Society of the Divine Word, a Roman Catholic missionary religious congregation, also known as the Divine Word Missionaries, as well as two congregations for... |
1875 |
| Dominican Missionaries for the Deaf Apostolate | O.P. Miss. | 2004 | |
| Dominican Nuns of the Perpetual Rosary Dominican Nuns of the Perpetual Rosary The Dominican Nuns of the Perpetual Rosary were founded in 1880 in Calais, France, by Fr. Damien-Marie Saintourens, O.P., and Mother Rose of Saint Mary Werhle, O.P. Mother Mary Imelda Gauthier, O.P.... |
1880 | ||
| Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin | 1856 | ||
| Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne are a Roman Catholic congregation of Religious Sisters, who are a part of the Third Order of St. Dominic. They specialize in caring for those suffering from terminal cancer and have no financial resources.-History:... |
1900 | ||
| Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception The Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception are a religious community of women consecrated to Christ in the Dominican charism with the mission of living the Word of God through teaching, evangelization and health care... |
O.P. | 1861 | |
| Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia The Congregation of St. Cecilia, commonly known as the Nashville Dominicans, is a religious order within the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church located in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a member of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, one of the two organizations which represent women... |
O.P. | 1860 | |
| Christian Doctrine Fathers (Doctrinaries) Congregatio Patrum Doctrinae Christianae |
D.C. | 1592 | |
| Eudists Eudists The Congregation of Jesus and Mary , commonly referred to as the Eudists is a Society of Apostolic Life in the Roman Catholic Church.-History:... (Congregation of Jesus and Mary) |
C.I.M. | 1643 | |
| Fathers of Mercy Fathers of Mercy The Fathers of Mercy is a Catholic religious order of missionary priests, founded by the Very Rev. Jean-Baptiste Rauzan in early 19th century France.-Foundation:... Congregatio Presbyterorum a Misericordia |
C.P.M. | 1808 | |
| Felician Sisters Felician Sisters The Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice, or Felician Sisters, are one branch of the Third Order of St. Francis. The active-contemplative order was founded in Warsaw, Poland, in 1855, by Sophia Truszkowska, and named for a shrine of St. Felix, a 16th century Franciscan saint especially devoted to... (Congregation of the Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice) |
C.S.S.F. | 1855 | |
| Franciscan Apostolic Sisters Franciscan Apostolic Sisters The Franciscan Apostolic Sisters is a Roman Catholic religious congregation that was founded in the Philippines in 1953 by Father Gerardo Z. Filippeto, O.F.M.. Father Gerardo was a missionary in the remote Northeastern region of the nation... |
F.A.S. | 1954 | |
| Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn The Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, also known as "Congregation of the Religious Brothers of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis,"arrived from Ireland in 1858, responding to the invitation of Bishop Loughlin. They began serving the Diocese of Brooklyn in child care, primarily as educators,... |
O.S.F. | 1858 | |
| Franciscan Brothers of the Eucharist Franciscan Brothers of the Eucharist The Franciscan Brothers of the Eucharist is a Roman Catholic, Franciscan religious order for men.The religious order was founded in 2002 as a complement to the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. The mother house of the order is in Meriden, Connecticut in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of... |
F.B.E. | 2004 | |
| Franciscan Brothers of Peace Franciscan Brothers of Peace The Franciscan Brothers of Peace is a Roman Catholic, Franciscan religious order for men. It was founded in 1982 by Michael Gaworski. The mother house of the order is in Saint Paul, Minnesota in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.... |
F.B.P. | 1982 | |
| Franciscan Clarist Congregation | |||
| Franciscan Friars of the Renewal Franciscan Friars of the Renewal The Community of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal is a mendicant congregation in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church... |
C.F.R. | 1987 | |
| Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate The Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate is a Roman Catholic Institute of Religious Life with Pontifical Right established by Pope John Paul II on 1 January 1998. The F.F.I. was founded by two Franciscan Conventual priests on 2 August 1970 and is a reformed Franciscan Conventual religious institute... |
F.I. | Fr. Stefano Maria Manelli Fr. Gabriel Maria Pellettieri |
1970 |
| Franciscan Handmaids of Mary Franciscan Handmaids of Mary The Franciscan Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary are a predominantly African-American religious congregation of Roman Catholic women who follow the Rule of the Third Order of St. Francis of Assisi. Their primary mission has always been education, primarily of the children of the... |
1915 | ||
| Franciscan Hospitaller Sisters of the Immaculate Conception | F.H.I.C. | 1876 | |
| Franciscan Minims of the Perpetual Help of Mary Franciscan Minims of the Perpetual Help of Mary The Franciscan Minims of the Perpetual Help of Mary is a Roman Catholic contemplative religious order for women. It was founded on June 24, 1942 in Zamora, Michoacan, Mexico by Reverend Mother María Concepción of the Nativity of Perpetual Help. Nicknamed as the Order of Atonement/Work of... |
F.M. | 1942 | |
| Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood The Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood , founded in 1947, is an international congregation which serves in 11 countries, both in the developed and developing world. It serves in various schools, prisons, and hospitals.-History:... |
F.M.D.M. | 1887 | |
| Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word The Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word is a Public Clerical Association of the Faithful, located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama... |
M.F.V.A. | 1987 | |
| Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, or the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary is a Roman Catholic order founded by Sister Mary of the Passion, Helene de Chappotin, in 1877 at Ootacamund, India.... |
F.M.M. | 1877 | |
| Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary The Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary were founded by Blessed Mary Catherine Troiani, O.S.F., in 1868 in Cairo, Egypt.-Early life in the monastery:... |
1859 | ||
| Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Infant Jesus | 1879 | ||
| Franciscan Servants of Jesus Franciscan Servants of Jesus The Franciscan Servants of Jesus was a Roman Catholic, Franciscan religious congregation for women. The congregation was founded in 1997 with the approval of Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, while he was the Bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse... |
1997 | ||
| Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity are a Congregation of Roman Catholic apostolic religious women. The congregation was founded in 1869 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee--later part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay. They follow St... |
O.S.F. | 1869 | |
| Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist is a Roman Catholic religious congregation for women. The motherhouse is in Meriden, Connecticut in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford.... |
F.S.E. | 1973 | |
| Franciscan Sisters of the Family of Mary Franciscan Sisters of the Family of Mary The Franciscan Sisters of the Family of Mary, , also known as Siostry Rodziny Maryi, RM, is a Polish female Catholic order. The congregation was established in St. Petersburg during the Partitions of Poland with the mission to help Polish children stricken by hunger in the Russian Empire, and to... |
Zygmunt Szczęsny Feliński Zygmunt Szczęsny Feliński Saint Zygmunt Szczęsny Feliński, SFO was Archbishop of Warsaw and founder of the Franciscan Sisters of the Family of Mary. He was canonized on 11 October 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI.-Early life:... |
1857 | |
| Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception | F.S.I.C. | Refugio Morales | 1874 |
| Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate The Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate were founded by Blessed Mother Caritas Brader, in Tuquerres, Colombia in 1893. The Congregation was first made up of young women from Switzerland and then immediately joined by Colombian vocations that allowed the new Congregation to spread to several... |
1893 | ||
| Franciscan Sisters of Penance of the Sorrowful Mother Franciscan Sisters of Penance of the Sorrowful Mother The Franciscan Sisters of Penance of the Sorrowful Mother are a Roman Catholic religious congregation founded on August 15, 1988 in the Diocese of Steubenville by Bishop Albert Henry Ottenweller. The Sisters work with the poor and needy of the diocese, running a soup kitchen and a thrift store, as... |
T.O.R. | 1988 | |
| Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration is a Roman Catholic religious congregation for women whose motherhouse, St. Rose of Viterbo Convent, is in La Crosse, Wisconsin in the Diocese of La Crosse. The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration founded Viterbo University and staffed Aquinas... |
O.S.F. | 1849 | |
| Fransalians Fransalians The Fransalians was founded in France in 1838 by Pierre Mermier under the patronage of St. Francis de Sales.... (Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales) |
M.S.F.S. | 1838 | |
| Friars of St. Francis | F.S.F. | 1993 | |
| Good Shepherd Sisters Good Shepherd Sisters The Good Shepherd Sisters is a Roman Catholic order of women religious. In addition to the standard vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, the Good Shepherd Sisters take the following fourth vow of zeal for souls [to save souls], particularly of women and girls."I bind myself to the labor for... |
R.G.S. | 1641 | |
| Grey Nuns Grey Nuns The Order of Sisters of Charity of Montreal, formerly called The Order of Sisters of Charity of the Hôpital Général of Montreal and more commonly known as the Grey Nuns of Montreal, is a Canadian order of Roman Catholic religious sisters... |
G.N.S.H. | 1738 | |
| Handmaids of the Blessed Sacrament and of Charity | A.A.S.C. | 1950 | |
| Handmaids of the Precious Blood | H.P.B. | 1947 | |
| Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus The Institute of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a Roman Catholic religious order that was founded in Madrid in 1877 by two sisters, Pilar and Raphaela Maria Porras y Ayllon. Rafaela Maria became its first Superior General in 1877 and in the same year, the congregation received papal... |
A.C.J | 1877 | |
| Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mary and Joseph | 1978 | ||
| Hermits of Saint Bruno | H.S.B. | 2001 | |
| Holy Cross Fathers (Congregation of Holy Cross) | C.S.C. | 1837 | |
| Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters The Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters are a Roman Catholic religious order of cloistered nuns.The nuns live a contemplative life, focused on perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, offering intercessory prayers for the world. Inside the cloister the nuns wear rose-colored habits in honor of the... (Pink Sisters) |
S.Sp.S.A.P. | Arnold Janssen Arnold Janssen Saint Arnold Janssen, S.V.D., was a Roman Catholic priest and missionary, and is venerated as a saint. He is best known for founding the Society of the Divine Word, a Roman Catholic missionary religious congregation, also known as the Divine Word Missionaries, as well as two congregations for... |
1896 |
| Hospital Sisters of the Mercy of Jesus | 13th century | ||
| Infant Jesus Sisters Infant Jesus Sisters -Countries where the order works:* Czech Republic* England* France* Ireland* Italy* Spain* Cameroun* Nigeria* Japan* Malaysia* Singapore* Thailand* Bolivia* Peru-External links:* *... |
I.J. | Nicolas Barré | 1666 |
| Institut du Clergé Patriarcal de Bzommar Institut du Clergé Patriarcal de Bzommar The Institut du Clergé Patriarcal de Bzommar is a Catholic religious order and an Institute of Consecrated Life and was founded in 1749. Jean Pierre XVIII Kasparian, who was a member of the religious order, was Patriarch of Cilicia from 1982-1998.... |
I.C.P.B. | 1749 | |
| Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest is a society of priests in the Catholic Church that celebrates the Liturgy in Latin in accordance with its constitutions and founding documents. Its goals are to preserve and patronize traditional Latin Rite liturgical art and music... |
I.C.R.S.S. | 1990 | |
| Institute of the Incarnate Word Institute of the Incarnate Word The Institute of the Incarnate Word, also called the "IVE" from the is a Roman Catholic religious institute founded in Argentina on March 25, 1984.... |
I.V.E. | 1984 | |
| Josephite Fathers Josephite Fathers The Josephite Fathers and Brothers or, more properly, Saint Joseph's Society of the Sacred Heart, Inc. are a society of Catholic priests and brothers, based in the United States. It was formed in 1871 by a group of priests from the English Foreign Mission Society of Saint Joseph, also known as... (St. Joseph's Society of the Sacred Heart) |
S.S.J. | 1893 | |
| Legion of Christ Legion of Christ The Legion of Christ is a Roman Catholic congregation of pontifical right, made up of priests and seminarians studying for the priesthood. It was founded in Mexico in 1941, by Fr. Marcial Maciel, who directed the congregation as its General Superior until January 2005... |
L.C. | 1941 | |
| Little Brothers of the Gospel Little Brothers of the Gospel Little Brothers of the Gospel - a Roman Catholic congregation of religious brothers inspired by the life and writings of Charles de Foucauld.It is one of a family of Jesus' at Nazareth communities, build on the original inspiration of Brother Charles of the Desert, which includes the Little Sisters... |
1956 | ||
| Little Brothers of Jesus Little Brothers of Jesus The Little Brothers of Jesus is a religious congregation of brothers within the Catholic Church; it is inspired by the life and writings of Blessed Charles de Foucauld... |
1933 | ||
| Little Brothers of St Francis Little Brothers of St Francis The Little Brothers of St Francis were founded in the Archdiocese of Boston in 1970. They follow an adaptation of the Rule for Hermits written by Saint Francis of Assisi and live the contemplative life among the poorest of the poor... |
L.B.S.F. | 1970 | |
| Little Sisters of the Assumption Little Sisters of the Assumption The Little Sisters of the Assumption is a Roman Catholic religious order founded in France in 1865 by Antoinette Fage and Father Etienne Pernet.... |
1865 | ||
| Little Sisters of the Gospel | 1963 | ||
| Little Sisters of Jesus Little Sisters of Jesus The Little Sisters of Jesus are a Roman Catholic community of religious sisters inspired by the life and writings of Charles de Foucauld, founded by Little Sister Magdeleine of Jesus .-Little Sister Magdeleine of Jesus 1898 - 1989:... |
1933 | ||
| Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary | 1974 | ||
| Little Sisters of the Poor Little Sisters of the Poor The Little Sisters of the Poor is a Roman Catholic religious order for women. It was founded in the 19th century by Saint Jeanne Jugan near Rennes, France. Jugan felt the need to care for the many impoverished elderly who lined the streets of French towns and cities.This led her to welcome an... |
L.S.P. | 19th century | |
| Lovers of the Holy Cross Lovers of the Holy Cross The Lovers of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic female congregation, founded in 1670 by the first vicar Apostolic in Tong-king and Cochin China Pierre Lambert de la Motte... |
1670 | ||
| Loreto Sisters Sisters of Loreto The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, more commonly known as the Loreto Sisters , is a women's Catholic religious order founded by an Englishwoman, Mary Ward, in 1609 at Saint-Omer in northern France... (Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary) |
I.B.V.M. | 1609 | |
| Marian Fathers Congregation of Marian Fathers The Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic male clerical religious congregation founded, 1673, in Poland... |
M.I.C. | 1673 | |
| Marian Sisters (Marian Sisters of the Diocese of Lincoln) | M.S. | 1952 | |
| Marianists (Society of Mary) | S.M. | 1817 | |
| Marianist Sisters (Daughters of Mary Immaculate) | F.M.I. | 1816 | |
| Marianites of Holy Cross Marianites of Holy Cross The Marianites of Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic congregation of nuns, founded in Le Mans, France, in 1841, by the Blessed Father Basil Anthony-Marie Moreau, CSC... |
M.S.C. | 1841 | |
| Marist Brothers Marist Brothers The Marist Brothers, or Little Brothers of Mary, are a Catholic religious order of brothers and affiliated lay people. The order was founded in France, at La Valla-en-Gier near Lyon in 1817 by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a young French priest of the Society of Mary... |
F.M.S. | 1817 | |
| Marists Society of Mary (Marists) The Society of Mary , is a Roman Catholic religious congregation or order, founded by Father Jean-Claude Colin and a group of other seminarians in France in 1816... (Society of Mary) |
S.M. | 1816 | |
| Maryknoll Maryknoll Maryknoll is a name shared by three organizations that are part of the Roman Catholic Church and whose joint focus is on the overseas mission activity of the Catholic Church in the United States... (Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America) |
M.M. | 1911 | |
| Miles Christi Miles Christi Miles Christi is Latin for Soldier of Christ; it may refer to:* Soldiers involved in the Crusades* Members of the Iona Community* A Catholic founded in 1984 by Fr. Roberto Juan Yannuzzi in Argentina.... |
M.C. | 1984 | |
| Mission Helpers of The Sacred Heart | M.H.S.H. | 1890 | |
| Missionaries of Charity Missionaries of Charity Missionaries of Charity is a Roman Catholic religious congregation established in 1950 by Mother Teresa of Calcutta, which consists of over 4,500 sisters and is active in 133 countries... |
M.C. | 1950 | |
| Missionaries of La Salette Missionaries of La Salette The Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette are a religious congregation of priests and brothers in the Latin Church one of the 23 sui iuris churches which make up the Catholic Church which is led by the Bishop of Rome. They are named after the apparition of Our Lady of La Salette in France La... |
M.S. | 1852 | |
| Missionaries of Mary Missionaries of Mary The Missionaries of Mary is a new community of apostolate established as a Public Association of the Faithful in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga in Bataan, Philippines... |
2007 | ||
| Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo The Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo or Scalabrinian Missionaries are a Roman Catholic religious order of brothers and priests founded by Giovanni Battista Scalabrini, Bishop of Piacenza in Italy, in 1887... ) |
C.S. | 1887 | |
| Missionaries of the Gospel of Life Missionaries of the Gospel of Life The Missionaries of the Gospel of Life is a lay Catholic association affiliated with Priests for Life.On December 12, 2005 Bishop John Yanta of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Amarillo, in Texas, United States approved a religious order that was founded by Fr... |
2005 | ||
| Missionaries of the Poor Missionaries of the Poor The Missionaries of the Poor is an international Roman Catholic monastic order of Brothers dedicated to "Joyful Service with Christ on the Cross" to serve the poorest of the poor... |
M.O.P. | 1981 | |
| Missionaries of the Precious Blood Missionaries of the Precious Blood The Missionaries of the Precious Blood form a community of priests and brothers within the Latin Church, one of the 23 sui iuris churches which make up the universal Catholic Church. The Society was founded by Saint Gaspar del Bufalo in 1815... (Precious Blood Fathers) |
C.PP.S. | Saint Saint A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth... Gaspar del Bufalo |
1815 |
| Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Missionaries of the Sacred Heart The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart is a missionary congregation in the Latin Church,one of the 23 sui iuris churches which make up the Catholic Church led by the Bishop of Rome... |
M.S.C. | Jules Chevalier Jules Chevalier Jules Chevalier , was a French Roman Catholic priest and founder of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic orders, and the inspiration for the members of the Chevalier Family.Born in Richelieu, France, he was initially apprenticed as a shoemaker... |
1854 |
| Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary was founded by Saint Gaetano Errico in 1836 in Secondigliano, Italy. The Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, are a religious congregation of priests and brothers, dedicated to serving the needs of God's family while witnessing... |
1836 | ||
| Missionary Congregation for the Blessed Sacrament | 1933 | ||
| Missionary Society of St. Columban Missionary Society of St. Columban The Missionary Society of St. Columban , also known as "The Columbans", is a missionary, Catholic religious order, founded in Ireland in 1916 and approved by the Vatican in 1918. Initially it was known as the Maynooth Mission to China... (Columbans) |
S.S.C. | 1916 | |
| Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem The Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem were founded in 1975 by Brother Pierre-Marie Delfieux with the aim of promoting the spirit of the monastic desert The Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem were founded in 1975 by Brother Pierre-Marie Delfieux (currently prior general) with the aim of promoting... |
1975 | ||
| Montfort Missionaries Company of Mary The Missionaries of the Company of Mary is a missionary religious congregation within the Latin Church one of the 23 sui iuris churches which compose the universal Catholic Church. The community was founded by Saint Louis de Montfort in 1705 with the recruitment of his first missionary disciple,... (Company of Mary) |
S.M.M. | 1705 | |
| Oblate Apostles of the Two Hearts | O.A.T.H. | 1995 | |
| Oblate Sisters of Providence Oblate Sisters of Providence The Oblate Sisters of Providence is a Roman Catholic women religious order, founded by Mother Mary Lange, OSP]], and Rev. James Nicholas Joubert, SS in 1829 in Baltimore, Maryland for the education of girls of color. It has the distinction of being the first Roman Catholic religious order began for... |
O.S.P. | 1829 | |
| Oblates of Mary Immaculate | O.M.I. | 1816 | |
| Oblates of St. Joseph Oblates of St. Joseph The Oblates of St. Joseph is a Catholic religious order founded in 1878 by St. Joseph Marello. In 1999 their Shrine of Saint Joseph the Guardian of the Redeemer was named after the Apostolic exhortation Redemptoris Custos.-External links:* *... |
O.S.J. | 1878 | |
| Oblates of the Virgin Mary Oblates Of The Virgin Mary The Oblates of the Virgin Mary is a religious order founded by the Venerable Bruno Lanteri, who was born on 12 May 1759 in Northern Italy and died 5 August 1830.... |
O.M.V. | 1827 | |
| Oratorians Oratory of Saint Philip Neri The Oratory of Saint Philip Neri is a congregation of Catholic priests and lay-brothers who live together in a community bound together by no formal vows but only with the bond of charity. They are commonly referred to as Oratorians... (Oratory of St. Philip Neri) |
C.O. or Cong. Orat. | Philip Neri Philip Neri Saint Philip Romolo Neri , also known as Apostle of Rome, was an Italian priest, noted for founding a society of secular priests called the "Congregation of the Oratory".-Early life:... |
16th century |
| Pallottines Pallottines The Society of the Catholic Apostolate , better known as the Pallottines, are a Society of Apostolic Life within the Roman Catholic Church, founded in 1835 by the Roman priest Saint Vincent Pallotti. Pallottines are part of the Union of Catholic Apostolate and are present in 45 countries on six... (Society of the Catholic Apostolate) |
S.A.C. | 1835 | |
| Paris Foreign Missions Society Paris Foreign Missions Society The Society of Foreign Missions of Paris is a Roman Catholic missionary organization. It is not a religious order, but an organization of secular priests and lay persons dedicated to missionary work in foreign lands.... |
M.E.P. | 1658 | |
| Passionists (Congregation of the Passion) | C.P. | 1720 | |
| Passionist Sisters Passionist Sisters The Passionist Sisters are a Roman Catholic order of women founded in the 1850s by Elizabeth Prout, and Father Gaudentius Rossi.... |
1850s | ||
| Patrician Brothers Patrician Brothers The Patrician Brothers, or Brothers of Saint Patrick, are a Roman Catholic congregation for the religious and literary education of youth and the instruction of the faithful in Christian piety.-History:This Brotherhood was founded by the Right Rev. Dr... |
F.S.P. | 1808 | |
| Paulist Fathers Paulist Fathers The Missionary Society of Saint Paul the Apostle, better known as the Paulist Fathers, is a Roman Catholic religious society for men founded in New York City in 1858 by Servant of God Fr. Isaac Thomas Hecker in collaboration with Fr. George Deshon, Fr. Augustine Hewit, and Fr. Francis A. Baker.... (Missionary Society of Saint Paul the Apostle) |
C.S.P. | 1858 | |
| Pious Disciples of the Divine Master | P.D.D.M. | 1924 | |
| Sisters of the Reparation of the Holy Face Sisters of the Reparation of the Holy Face The Pontifical Congregation of the Benedictine Sisters of the Reparation of the Holy Face is a Roman Catholic order whose focus is providing Acts of Reparation to Jesus Christ.... |
1950 | ||
| Poor Clares Ordo Sanctae Clarae |
O.S.C. | Clare of Assisi Clare of Assisi Clare of Assisi , born Chiara Offreduccio, is an Italian saint and one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi... |
1212 |
| Poor Clare Colettines Clarisses |
P.C.C. | Colette of Corbie | 1406 |
| Poor Clares of Santa Barbara | |||
| Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration The Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration are a branch of the Poor Clares, a contemplative order of nuns in the Franciscan tradition. Founded in France in 1854 by Marie Claire Bouillevaux, the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration are cloistered nuns dedicated to the Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed... |
1854 | ||
| Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon Pauperes commilitones Christi Templique Solomonici |
1129–1312 | ||
| Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary | P.B.V.M. | 1775 | |
| Presentation Brothers Presentation Brothers The Congregation of Presentation Brothers is an international Catholic congregation of laymen founded in 1802 in Waterford, Ireland, by a local businessman, Edmund Ignatius Rice, now Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice.... |
F.P.M. | 1802 | |
| Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Priests of the Sacred Heart The Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus constitute a Roman Catholic religious order of priests, founded by Leon Dehon in 1878.The order runs the Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin.... (Dehonians) |
S.C.J. | Leon Dehon Leon Dehon Leon Gustav Dehon was a Catholic clergyman.Born in La Capelle , France, Dehon was raised in a pious family, Leo Dehon's mother was especially devoted to the Sacred Heart, and passed this on to Leo. As a young man he felt a call to the priesthood, but his father had other plans for him, and sent... |
1878 |
| Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter is a traditionalist Catholic Society of Apostolic Life of priests and seminarians in good standing with the Holy See.-Canonical status:... Fraternitas Sacerdotalis Sancti Petri |
F.S.S.P. | 1988 | |
| Putri Karmel | 1982 | ||
| Racine Dominican Sisters Racine Dominican Sisters The Congregation of Sisters of St. Dominic of St. Catherine of Siena is a Catholic religious order for women.The order was founded in 1862 in Racine, Wisconsin in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.The mother house is in Racine... |
1862 | ||
| Redemptorists (Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer) | C.Ss.R. | 1732 | |
| Les Religieuses de Notre-Dame-du-Sacre-Coeur | 1924 | ||
| Religious of the Assumption Religious of the Assumption The Religious of the Assumption were founded by Saint Marie Eugénie Milleret in Paris in 1839. Her vision was of transforming society through education... |
R.A. | 1839 | |
| Religious of Christian Education Religious of Christian Education The religious congregation of Religious Sisters of Christian Education is a Roman Catholic institute founded for the education of girls by the Abbé Louis Lafosse and four women on 21 November 1817 in Échauffour, Normandy.-Bibliography:... |
1817 | ||
| Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary are a global Roman Catholic community of about 900 apostolic religious women, connected by personal contact, local, provincial and general meetings, telephone, e-mail and many websites to one another with a hope of promoting the integral development and... |
R.S.H.M. | 1849 | |
| Religious of the Virgin Mary Religious of the Virgin Mary The Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary is a ecclesiastical community of vowed religious Roman Catholic women of pontifical right and approval founded in Manila, Philippines. The community was founded in 1684 by Venerable Mother Ignacia del Espíritu Santo, a Filipino Roman Catholic... |
R.V.M. | 1684 | |
| Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan | R.S.M. | 1973 | |
| Religious Sisters of Charity Religious Sisters of Charity The Religious Sisters of Charity or Irish Sisters of Charity is a Roman Catholic religious order founded by Mary Aikenhead in Ireland in 1815.Its motto is "Caritas Christi urget nos" .... |
1815 | ||
| Resurrectionists Resurrectionist Order The Congregation of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ is an international Institute of Consecrated Life of men within the Roman Catholic Church, founded in 1836 by three men, Bogdan Jański, Peter Semenenko and Hieronim Kajsiewicz in Paris on the heels of the Polish Great Emigration... |
C.R. | 1836 | |
| Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus | R.C.J. | 1897 | |
| Rosminians Rosminians The Rosminians, officially the Institute of Charity or Societas a charitate nuncupata, are a Roman Catholic religious congregation founded by Antonio Rosmini and first organised in 1828.... (Institute of Charity) |
I.C. | 1828 | |
| Salesians of St. John Bosco Salesians of Don Bosco The Salesians of Don Bosco is a Roman Catholic religious order founded in the late nineteenth century by Saint John Bosco in an attempt, through works of charity, to care for the young and poor children of the industrial revolution... |
S.D.B. | 1857 | |
| Salesian Sisters Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco The Salesian Sisters of St John Bosco or Daughters of Mary Help of Christians are the sister order of the Salesians of Don Bosco. They were founded by Saint Maria Mazzarello in 1872 to work alongside Saint John Bosco in his teaching projects in Turin and continue to be a teaching order worldwide.On... (Daughters of Mary Help of Christians) |
F.M.A. | 1872 | |
| Salvatorians (Society of the Divine Savior) | S.D.S. | 1881 | |
| School Sisters of Christ the King | 1976 | ||
| School Sisters of Notre Dame School Sisters of Notre Dame School Sisters of Notre Dame is a worldwide order of Roman Catholic nuns devoted to primary, secondary, and post-secondary education. Their life in mission centers on prayer, community life and ministry... |
S.S.N.D. | 1833 | |
| School Sisters of the Third Order of St Francis School Sisters of the Third Order of St Francis The School Sisters of St. Francis are an international community of Catholic sisters who unite with others to build a just and peaceful world. Founded in 1874, the community now has sisters, associates, staff, donors and volunteers working to address the needs of those who are poor and marginalized... |
1873 | ||
| Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary of the Order of Preachers is a Catholic religious order for women. The mother house is located in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin in the Diocese of Madison.-Overview:... |
1847 | ||
| Sister Adorers of the Precious Blood | R.P.G. | 1861 | |
| Sisters Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus Christ Sovereign Priest Sisters Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus Christ Sovereign Priest The Sisters Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus Christ Sovereign Priest is a consecrated lay group of women in the Roman Catholic Church, associated with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. The Sisters are based in Gricigliano, Italy, along with the Institute. Their life is... |
2004 | ||
| Sisters of Adoration, Slaves of the Blessed Sacrament and of Charity Sisters of Adoration, Slaves of the Blessed Sacrament and of Charity Sisters of Adoration, Slaves of the Blessed Sacrament and of Charity - is a Roman Catholic Order founded in 1850 by Saint María Micaela of the Blessed Sacrament. She founded the organization to assist former prostitutes, who suffered from abuse, alienation and social exclusion in mid-19th century... |
1850 | ||
| Sisters of the Apostolic Carmel Sisters of the Apostolic Carmel The Sisters of the Apostolic Carmel is a Carmelite religious order dedicated to lay education founded in the latter part of the 19th century by Mother Veronica of the Passion, the Foundress of the Apostolic Carmel with her Mentor Bishop Marie Ephrem, envisioned the birth of a "Carmel for the... |
1870 | ||
| Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament was founded in 1891 by Saint Katharine Drexel. Originally called the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People, the religious order is commonly known today as the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.-History:The Third Plenary Council of... |
1891 | ||
| Sisters of the Cenacle Sisters of the Cenacle The Sisters of the Cenacle is a Roman Catholic Congregation founded in 1826 in the village of Lalouvesc , France... |
R.C. | 1826 | |
| Sisters of Charity Sisters of Charity Many religious communities have the term Sisters of Charity as part of their name. The rule of Saint Vincent for the Daughters of Charity has been adopted and adapted by at least sixty founders of religious orders around the world in the subsequent centuries.... |
S.C. | 1633 | |
| Sisters of Charity of Saints Bartolomaea Capitanio & Vincenza Gerosa | S.C.C.G. | 1832 | |
| Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati The Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati were founded in October 1829 on a model of Elizabeth Ann Seton, who founded the first community of religious women, native to the United States... |
1829 | ||
| Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth operate the University of Saint Mary . They also founded and operate Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, and St. Francis Health Center in Topeka, Kansas... |
1858 | ||
| Sisters of Charity of New York Sisters of Charity of New York The Sisters of Charity of New York is a religious congregation of women in the Catholic Church whose primary missions are education and nursing and who are dedicated in particular to the service of the poor.-History:... |
1846 | ||
| Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known by their initials BVM, is a Roman Catholic religious order founded in the United States by Mother Mary Frances Clarke. BVM Sisters work in twenty-five U.S... |
B.V.M. | 1831 | |
| Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception The Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception are located in Canada and Peru.-External links:* *... |
1854 | ||
| Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word The Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word is the name of two Roman Catholic religious orders based in the state of Texas.- Houston Order :... |
CCVI | 1866 | |
| Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary The Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary is a Roman Catholic religious order founded in Ghent, Belgium on November 4, 1803 by Father Peter Joseph Triest, the parish priest of Lovendegem that time. Father Peter recruited a group of young women, from which the co-foundress Mother... |
1803 | ||
| Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy Bishop John England founded the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in 1829. As the congregation grew and moved into the states of Georgia and North Carolina, shortly after doing so changing its name in 1949 to the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy. The congregation lives by the rule of St. Vincent... |
1829 | ||
| Sisters of Charity of Providence | S.P. | 1844 | |
| Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth The Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth are a Roman Catholic apostolic congregation of pontifical right, based in the Convent Station area of Morris Township, New Jersey. The stated purpose of the order is to show the love of Jesus Christ in serving those in need, especially the poor... |
1859 | ||
| Sisters of Charity Federation in the Vincentian-Setonian Tradition Sisters of Charity Federation in the Vincentian-Setonian Tradition The Sisters of Charity Federation in the Vincentian-Setonian Tradition is an organization of 13 congregations of religious women in the Catholic Church who trace their lineage to Saint Elizabeth Seton, Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Louise de Marillac.... |
1947 | ||
| Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul The Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul were founded on May 11, 1849, when the four founding Sisters of Charity, arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia from New York. They came in response to a request by then Halifax Archbishop William Walsh. By 1856 the order, in Halifax, was accepted as a... |
1849 | ||
| Vincentian Sisters of Charity Vincentian Sisters of Charity -External links:*... |
V.S.C. | 1902 | |
| Sisters of the Destitute Sisters of the Destitute Sisters of the Destitute is a Syro-Malabar Catholic women's order.-History:The Congregation of the Sisters of the Destitute was founded by Servant of God Varghese Payapilly Palakkappilly in Chunangamvely, Kerala on 19 March 1927.... |
1927 | ||
| Sisters of the Divine Compassion Sisters of the Divine Compassion The Sisters of the Divine Compassion are a Roman Catholic religious order founded in New York City in 1886 by Mother Mary Veronica – formerly Mary Dannat Starr – Msgr... |
1886 | ||
| Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill The Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill were founded by Sister Aloysia Lowe. She was accompanied by Sisters Blanche O'Keefe, Maria Theresa O'Donnell and Maria Kavanaugh and two novices.-See also:... |
1870 | ||
| Sisters of the Holy Cross Sisters of the Holy Cross The Sisters of the Holy Cross headquartered on the same grounds as Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana, is one of three Catholic congregations of religious sisters which trace their origins to the foundation of the Congregation of Holy Cross by the Blessed Father Basil Anthony-Marie Moreau,... |
C.S.C. | 1837 | |
| Sisters of the Holy Family Sisters of the Holy Family The Sisters of the Holy Family is the name for a French and two different American orders of nuns.*The Sisters of the Holy Family-France were founded in Paris in 1806 by Jeanne-Claude Jacoulet, in a revival of the Canonesses of Ste... |
1837 | ||
| Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth The Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth are a Roman Catholic religious order which was founded in Rome in 1875 by Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd . The Sisters of the Holy Family are an apostolic, international congregation, located on four continents and in thirteen countries. There are... |
1875 | ||
| Sisters of the Holy Childhood of Jesus and Mary Sisters of the Holy Childhood of Jesus and Mary The Sisters of the Holy Childhood of Jesus and Mary, known also as Sisters of Ste-Chrétienne, are a Roman Catholic congregation founded in 1807 by Mme Anne-Victoire Méjanes, née Tailleux, for the education of girls and the care of the sick poor.... |
S.S.CH. | Anne-Victoire Méjanes | 1807 |
| Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary is a teaching order founded at Longueuil, Québec, Canada in 1843 by Blessed Mother Marie-Rose for the Christian education of young girls.Their motto is: "Jésus et Marie, Ma Force et Ma Gloire" .Since 1843, the... |
S.N.J.M. | 1844 | |
| Sisters of the Holy Union of the Sacred Hearts Holy Union Sisters The Sisters of the Holy Union of the Sacred Hearts are a congregation of the Roman-Catholic church founded at Douai, France, in 1828, by father John Baptist Debrabant.The congregation was approved by the Holy See in 1877.... |
S.U.S.C. | John Baptist Debrabant | 1828 |
| Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of Castres | Émilie de Villeneuve | 19th century | |
| Sisters of Jesus, Our Hope | S.J.H. | ||
| Sisters of Life Sisters of Life Sisters of Life is a female Roman Catholic religious order, following the Augustinian rule, that was founded in 1991 by John Cardinal O'Connor, Archbishop of New York, after much prayer and a visit to the remains of the Dachau concentration camp. It is both a contemplative and active religious... |
S.V. | 1991 | |
| Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist is a Roman Catholic religious order founded in 1997 by four members of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, it has, as of 2010, approximately 100 Sisters.-History:... |
O.P. | 1997 | |
| Sisters of Mercy Sisters of Mercy The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations.... |
R.S.M. | 1831 | |
| Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, is the name of a Roman Catholic order of religious sisters, dedicated to providing education to the poor.The order was founded in Amiens in 1803, but the opposition of the local bishop to missions outside his diocese led to the moving of headquarters to then... |
S.N.D. or S.N.D. de N. | 1803 | |
| Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy | 1862 | ||
| Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are an apostolic congregation of Catholic women founded by Saint Theodora Guerin at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, in 1840... |
S.P. | 1840 | |
| Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul The Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul are a congregation of Roman Catholic religious sisters with their motherhouse in Kingston, Ontario. On December 13, 1861, the Sisters of Charity from Montreal sent sisters to Kingston to begin a new religious congregation at the request of the bishop... |
S.P. | 1861 | |
| Sisters of La Retraite | Catherine de Francheville | 1674 | |
| Sisters of Saint Agnes Sisters of Saint Agnes The Congregation of Sisters of Saint Agnes is a Catholic religious order for women. The order was founded in 1858 and named in honor of Saint Agnes. The Motherhouse is located in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin within the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.-History:... |
1858 | ||
| Sisters of Saint Dorothy (Dorotheans) | S.S.D. | Paula Frassinetti Paula Frassinetti St. Paula Frassinetti is an Italian saint in the Roman Catholic Church and foundress of the Congregation St. Dorothea. Frassinetti began her religious work by joining her brother, who was a priest, in teaching and caring for the less fortunate in Quinto, Italy... |
1834 |
| Sisters of Saint Elizabeth Sisters of Saint Elizabeth Sisters of Saint Elizabeth - a Roman Catholic religious order. Generally styled "Grey Nuns".The order was founded by an association of young ladies established by Dorothea Klara Wolff, in connection with the sisters, Mathilde and Maria Merkert, and Franziska Werner, 1842, in Neisse , to tend in... |
1842 | ||
| Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi The Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi is a Roman Catholic religious congregation for women. The motherhouse is in St. Francis, Wisconsin, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The Sisters of St... |
1849 | ||
| Sisters of St Francis of the Martyr St George Sisters of St Francis of the Martyr St George The Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George is a Roman Catholic religious order for women. The order's mother house is in Germany and the American provincial mother house is in Alton, Illinois, with convents in the Diocese of La Crosse, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the Archdiocese of... |
F.S.G.M. | 1869 | |
| Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity The Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity is a Roman Catholic religious congregation for women.-History:The international congregation was founded in 1835 in the Netherlands by Mother Magdalen Damen . In 1874, the first three missionary sisters, accompanied by General Superior... |
1835 | ||
| Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester, Minnesota Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester, Minnesota The Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester, Minnesota is a Roman Catholic religious congregation for women. The congregation was founded in 1877 by Mother Mary Alfred Moes in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona... |
1877 | ||
| Sisters of St Joseph (Sisters of Saint Joseph of Medaille Sisters of Saint Joseph of Medaille The Sisters of Saint Joseph of Medaille aka Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Bourg is a Roman Catholic congregation of women.Its forebearer, the The Congregation of Sisters of Saint Joseph was started in Le Puy, France by the Jesuit Jean Paul Médaille and accepted by the bishop, Mgr.... ) |
C.S.J. | 1650 | |
| Sisters of Saint Joseph of Bourg Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Bourg - History :The Congregation of Saint Joseph is a Roman Catholic order of women founded in Le Puy, France by the Jesuit Jean-Pierre Médaille and accepted by the bishop, Mgr. de Maupas, on October 15, 1650. The Congregation of Saint Joseph was disbanded during the French Revolution... |
S.S.J. | 1650 | |
| Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambéry | 1812 | ||
| Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace | 1884 | ||
| Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart | S.S.J. | 1866 | |
| Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis The Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis is a Roman Catholic Franciscan religious congregation for women. The Congregation was established in 1901. Their motherhouse is in Stevens Point, Wisconsin in the Diocese of La Crosse.... |
1901 | ||
| Sisters of Saint Martha Sisters of Saint Martha The Sisters of St. Martha were founded as a religious congregation in 1900 at Antigonish, Nova Scotia.The Sisters of St. Martha are members of the Sisters of Charity Federation.... |
1900 | ||
| Sisters of St Rita Sisters of St Rita The Sisters of Saint Rita are a Roman Catholic religious order. They were founded in 1911 by Father Hugolinus Dach, an Augustinian priest from Würzburg, Germany.... |
1911 | ||
| Sisters of St Therese of the Child Jesus (St Therese Sisters) | S.S.Th. | Maria Crocifissa Curcio | 20th century |
| Sisters of Social Service Sisters of Social Service The Sisters of Social Service are a Roman Catholic order of women founded in Hungary in 1923 by Margaret Slachta. The sisters adopted the social mission of the Catholic Church and Benedictine spirituality with a special devotion to the Holy Spirit.- Founder :... |
S.S.S. | 1926 | |
| Sisters of the Visitation | 1610 | ||
| Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary are a Catholic teaching order for women. It is divided among three separate congregations. The original community of the order is headquartered in Monroe, Michigan. The Mother house currently houses more than 400 sisters, more than 100 of which... – |
I.H.M. | 1845 | |
| Sisters, Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará | S.S.V.M. | 1988 | |
| Sisters, Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus | S.S.C.J. | 1894 | |
| Society of African Missions Society of African Missions The Society of African Missions is a Roman Catholic missionary organization. Its members come from around the world with a commitment to serve the people of Africa and those of African descent.... Societas Missionum ad Afros |
S.M.A. | 1850 | |
| Society of the Helpers of the Holy Souls Society of the Helpers of the Holy Souls The Society of Helpers, formerly known as the Society of the Helpers of the Holy Souls, is a Roman Catholic religious congregation of women founded in Paris, France in 1856, with the objective of assisting the souls in Purgatory through their service to the needy of the world... |
1856 | ||
| Society of the Holy Child Jesus Society of the Holy Child Jesus The Society of the Holy Child Jesus is an international community of nuns that was founded in England in 1846 by Philadelphia-born Cornelia Connelly. Cornelia converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1835. The Society was approved in 1887 by Pope Leo XIII, and the rules and constitutions were... |
S.H.C.J. | 1846 | |
| Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity The Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity is a Society of Apostolic Life within the Latin Rite branch of the Catholic Church. It was founded in 1958 by James Flanagan, a priest from the United States... |
S.O.L.T. | 1958 | |
| Society of the Precious Blood | C.P.P.S. | Saint Saint A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth... Gaspar del Bufalo |
1815 |
| Society of St. Edmund Society of Saint Edmund The Society of Saint Edmund is a religious congregation of the Catholic Church founded in 1843, in Pontigny, France by Rev. Jean Baptiste Muard. They adhere to vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. The order is named after Saint Edmund.... |
S.S.E. | 1843 | |
| Society of Saint Paul Society of St. Paul The Society of St. Paul is a religious congregation founded on 20 August 1914 at Alba in Italy by Fr. Giacomo Alberione and officially approved by the Holy See on 27 June 1949.Its members are known as the Paulines... |
S.S.P. | 1914 | |
| Society of the Sacred Heart Society of the Sacred Heart The Society of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic religious congregation established in France by St. Madeleine Sophie Barat in 1800. It has presence in 45 countries. Membership to the Society is restricted to women only. Its members do many works, but focus on education, particularly girls'... |
R.S.C.J. | 1800 | |
| Sons of the Holy Family Sons of the Holy Family The Congregation of the Sons of the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph is an Institute of Consecrated Life for priests in the Catholic Church. The congregation is dedicated to educating the young and strengthening Catholic family life.-Foundation:... |
S.F. | Josep Manyanet i Vives | 1864 |
| Sovereign Military Order of Malta (Order of Malta) | S.M.O.M. | 1099 | |
| Spiritans Holy Ghost Fathers The Congregation of the Holy Spirit is a Roman Catholic congregation of priests, lay brothers, and since Vatican II, lay associates... (Congregation of the Holy Ghost) Congregatio Sancti Spiritus |
C.S.Sp. | Claude Poullart des Places Claude Poullart des Places Claude-François Poullart des Places, C.S.Sp. was a French Catholic priest who founded the Holy Ghost Fathers in 1703 at the age of 24... |
1703 |
| Stigmatines Stigmatines The Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata was founded by St. Gaspar Bertoni in Verona, Italy, in 1816.The first written Constitutions for the Congregation was based on the Constitutions of St... (Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata) |
C.S.S. | 1816 | |
| Sulpician Fathers (Society of Saint Sulpice) | S.S. or P.S.S. | 1642 | |
| Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis, Cameroon | 1700 | ||
| Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity The Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity is a Roman Catholic contemplative-active missionary community. It was founded on 17 January 1963, in the Spanish island of Majorca, by Jaime Bonet. The community was ecclesiastically approved as an Institute of Consecrated Life, by Pope John Paul II on 15 April... |
M.V.D.F. | 1963 | |
| Viatorians (Clerics of Saint Viator) | C.S.V. | 1831 | |
| Heralds of the Gospel Heralds of the Gospel ]The Heralds of the Gospel is a Roman Catholic International Association of Pontifical Right based in Brazil. Founded by Msgr... |
John Scognamiglio Clá Dias | 1970 | |
| Virgo Flos Carmeli (Regina Virginum) | E.P. | 2001 | |
| Vincentian Congregation | V.C. | 1904 | |
| Vocationists (The Society of Divine Vocations) | S.D.V. | 1927 | |
| White Fathers White Fathers The missionary society known as "White Fathers" , after their dress, is a Roman Catholic Society of Apostolic Life founded in 1868 by the first Archbishop of Algiers, later Cardinal Lavigerie, as the Missionaries of Our Lady of Africa of Algeria, and is also now known as the Society of the... |
M.Afr. | 1868 | |
| Xaverian Brothers Xaverian Brothers The Xaverian Brothers or Congregation of St. Francis Xavier are a religious order founded by Theodore James Ryken in Bruges, Belgium in 1839 and named after Saint Francis Xavier... |
C.F.X. | 1839 | |
| Xaverian Missionaries (Missionary Society of St. Francis Xavier) | S.X. | 1895 |
External links
- Concerning 'Religious Institutes' in The Code of Canon Law 1983
- The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
- VISION Vocation Guide comprehensive directory of men's and women's religious communities in the U.S. and Canada with links and vocation opportunities]
- Institute on Religious Life links to many Catholic religious communities
- VocationMatch.com match service to assist men and women to find a Catholic religious community
- Vocation Network searchable directory of men's and women's Catholic religious communities in English and Spanish
- Vocations Online directory of men's and women's Catholic religious communities in the USA
- Differences Between Religious Orders A comparison of the differences between religious orders