Catholic News Agency and women who Year-long MAJOR ORDERS TYPES OF RELIGIOUS ORDERS dedicate their lives celebrations AND THEIR CHARISMS to prayer, service The Roman Catholic Church recognizes different types of religious orders: and devotion. Year of Marriage, A religious order or congregation is Many also live as Nov. 2014- distinguished by a charism, or particular • Monastic: Monks or nuns live and work in a monastery; the largest monastic order, part of a commu- Dec. 2015 grace granted by God to the institute’s which dates back to the 6th century, is the Benedictines. nity that follows a founder or the institute itself. Here • Mendicant: Friars or nuns who live from alms and actively participate in apostolic work; specific religious Year of Faith, are just a few religious orders and the Dominicans and Franciscans are two of the most well-known mendicant orders. rule. They can Year of Prayer, congregations with their charisms: • Canons Regular: Priests living in a community and active in a particular parish. include both Oct. 2012- • Clerks Regular: Priests who are also religious men with vows and who actively clergy and laity. Nov. 2013 Order/ participate in apostolic work. Most make public Congregation: Charism: vows of poverty, Year for Priests, obedience and June 2009- Dominicans Preaching and chastity. Priests June 2010 teaching who are religious Benedictines Liturgical are different from Year of St. Paul, prayer and diocesan priests, June 2008- monasticism who do not take June 2009 Missionaries Serving God vows. of Charity among the Religious congregations differ from reli- “poorest of the gious orders mainly in terms of the vows poor” that are taken. Religious orders take sol- emn vows, while religious congregations Franciscans Poverty Religious sisters take simple vows. While the distinction Poor Clares Poverty and A Trappist Monk at World Youth Day between the two types of vows is at times action through in Madrid in 2011 walks to midday unclear, an example would be that simple contemplation prayers at Saint vows might permit ownership of prop- Jesuits Education and Joseph’s Abbey erty, while solemn vows do not. Religious missionary work in Spencer, Announcing the women who make simple vows are called Massachusetts Sisters of Deep experience Reuters sisters (examples include the Redemptor- Notre Dame of God’s goodness ists and Marists), while those who take YEAR OF CONSECRATED LIFE and care THE EVANGELICAL COUNSELS solemn vows are called nuns (examples include the Benedictines, Franciscans and Carmelites Contemplative Most religious institutes require the profession of the three evangelical counsels, or n Nov. 29, 2013, Pope Francis revealed to 120 superiors Dominicans). prayer rules of life. These counsels are for those who desire the surest way to perfection. general of men’s religious orders that consecrated life Augustinians Genuine Canon law (c.599-c.601) explains the three counsels as follows: would be the Church’s focus for 2015. During the closed- The importance of consecrated community life 1. Vow of Chastity entails the obligation of perfect self-restraint in celibacy for the door meeting, Pope Francis reportedly asked the Church’s life for the Church today Maryknoll Missionary work religiousO sisters, brothers and priests to “wake up the world” with their sake of the kingdom of heaven. Vincentians Champion needs testimony of faith, holiness and hope, according to Catholic News Service. Pope Francis eloquently summarized 2. Vow of Poverty refers to a life poor in both fact and spirit that requires both the importance of consecrated life for of the poor dependence and limitation in the “use and disposition” of goods according to the the Church today in his Angelus address Salesians Pastoral charity rules of the religious order. The focus was made official during a According to Catholic News Service, on Feb. 2, 2014. The day is significant in missionary 3. Vow of Obedience requires the submission of the person to the will of the legiti- Jan. 31, 2014, news conference during the cardinal went on to say, ““We are also because it not only marks the feast of the expansion mate superior as to his or her place of living, schedule and rules of the order. which the prefect of the Congregation convinced that in these 50 years, conse- Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, but it for Institutes of Consecrated Life and crated life has followed a fruitful path of is also the Day for Consecrated Life. Societies of Apostolic Life, Cardinal renewal – certainly not without difficul- 1. Rule of St. Basil is one of the earliest rules for Christian Joao Braz de Aviz, outlined plans for ties and struggles. In this year, we want The consecrated are a sign of God living, generally followed by monastic communities of the the year-long celebration. The cardinal to recognize and confess our weaknesses, in the different areas of life, they are Orthodox Church. This rule stresses that fasting should not expressed the hope that Pope Francis but we also want to show the world with leaven for the growth of a more just and interfere with prayer or work, and that work should be an will celebrate the year’s opening Mass strength and joy the holiness and vitality fraternal society, they are the prophecy integral part of monastic life on Nov. 21, 2014, because it is the day that are present in consecrated life.” of sharing with the least and the poor. 2. Rule of St. Benedict organizes the monastic day into regular the Church designates a day of prayer Basil Benedict Augustine Francis periods of private and communal prayer, spiritual reading, work for cloistered religious. In addition, he Religious orders Thus understood and lived, con- and sleep. The rule is followed by the Benedictines, Trappists expected the year would conclude on the and religious congregations secrated life appears as what it really GREAT RELIGIOUS RULES and Cistercians, among others 50th anniversary of the promulgation is: a gift from God, a gift of God to the 3. Rule of St. Augustine stresses self-denial, moderation and of the Second Vatican Council decree In the Roman Catholic Church, religious Church, a gift of God to his people! Every Religious communities are governed by a set of precepts care for the needy on the renewal of religious life, Perfectae orders and congregations, sometimes consecrated person is a gift for the people known as the community’s rule. Four of the great religious rules 4. Rule of St. Francis places emphasis on poverty and humil- Caritatis. called institutes, are associations of men of God on its journey. guiding religious orders are: ity as one serves the Lord

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