Roman Catholic religious order

See also: Consecrated life (Catholic Church)

Catholic religious orders ('Religious Institutes', cf. canons 573-746) are the major form of Consecrated life in the Roman Catholic Church. They are organizations of laity and/or clergy who live a common life following a religious rule under the leadership of a religious superior. They do so for the purpose of imitating Jesus of Nazareth more closely, mainly but not exclusively (for every order has also its peculiar charism) by observing evangelical chastity, poverty and obedience, which are the three evangelical counsels of perfection (cf. canons 599-601). They bind themselves in Church Law to this form of Christian living by taking public vows. They may additionally profess to obey certain guidelines for living. Vows are to be distinguished from Holy Orders, the sacrament which bishops, priests and deacons receive, and thus religious are not members of the hierarchy.

There are two basic types of Catholic religious orders: congregations, which take simple vows (e.g. the Congregation of Holy Cross), and orders proper, which take solemn vows (for example, the Society of Jesus) but the term congregation sometimes also applies to branches of an order which historically united several ones and/or was extended with one or more branches of a different kind, such as for women in addition to the pre-existing one for men, or tertiaries.

A number of generic terms exist to define groups of orders and congregations, but they are not always exclusively defined. These include Mendicant orders, Canons regular, etc. As well particular or familiar names exist for religious such as Brother and Sister, whereas older terms including Mother and Nun are now more infrequently used. Technically Nuns are religious women who profess solemn vows rather than simple vows.

One of the oldest guides for religious life was written by St Augustine of Hippo, who stressed self-denial, moderation, and care for those in need.

List of Roman Catholic religious institutes

The following list refers to some of the major religious institutes of the Catholic Church, both orders and others; it should be understood that communities using the same name may exist in Anglican or Eastern Orthodox traditions as well, as well as more than one Catholic order with the same name. Each is accompanied by its official name in English as well as the acronym (or "post-nominal initials") commonly used to identify its members. In many cases name variations and/or alternative names are also in use. In parentheses is the year it was established and the number of members, if known.

1. Adorers (Adorers of the Blood of Christ) - A.S.C.
2. Adornos (Clerics Regular Minor) - C.R.M.
3. Adrian Dominican Sisters
4. Alexians - C.F.A.
5. Angelic Sisters of St. Paul - A.S.S.P. (1535)
6. Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - A.S.C.J.
7. Assumptionists - A.A. (1845)
8. Little Sisters of the Assumption
9. Oblates of the Assumption
10. Orantes of the Assumption
11. Religious of the Assumption
12. Atonement, Society of the (Atonement Friars/Graymoor Friars/Sisters) - S.A. (1909)
13. Augustinian Recollects - (Order of the Augustinians Recollects) - O.A.R. (1912)
14. Augustinian Sisters, Servants of Jesus and Mary - A.S.J.M.
15. Augustinians (Order of Saint Augustine) - O.S.A. (1256)
16. Augustinians of Kansas: Society of Saint Augustine - S.S.A. (1981)
17. Baladites (Order of Lebanese Maronite) - O.L.M.
18. Barnabites (Clerics Regular of Saint Paul) - B., C.R.S.P. (1530)
19. Benedictines (Order of Saint Benedict) - O.S.B. (1216)
20. Benedictine Oblates of St Scholastica
21. Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (1874)
22. Bernardine Cistercian Sisters of Esquiermes
23. Bernardines (also see Cistercians) (1098)
24. Bon Secours Sisters[1] - C.B.S. (1824)
25. Bridgettines (Order of Our Savior) - O.Ss.S. (1350)
26. Brotherhood of Hope - B.H. (1980)
27. Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God (Order of Hospitallers) - O.H. (1572)
28. Brothers of Christian Instruction of St Gabriel - S.G. (1711)
29. Brothers of Mercy of Our Lady of Perpetual Help - f.m.m.
30. Brothers of the Christian Schools (Lasallian Brothers or Christian Brothers) - F.S.C. (1680)
31. Brothers of the Poor of St. Francis of Assisi (Brothers CFP located in the United States, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Brazil, Regular Third Order)
32. Catholics of the Buffalo - C.B. (1390)
33. Camaldolese (Camaldolese Benedictines) - O.S.B. Cam.
34. Camaldolese Hermits of the Congregation of Monte Corona - Er.Cam.
35. Camillians (Order of Saint Camillus) - O.S.Cam.
36. Canonesses of St. Augustine - C.R.O.S.A.
37. Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius - S.J.C. (2006)
38. Canons Regular of the Holy Cross OSC
39. Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception
40. Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem - C.R.N.J. (2002)
41. Canons Regular of the Order of the Holy Cross
42. Canossians (Canossian Daughters and Sons of Charity) - F.D.D.C.
43. Capuchins (Order of Friars Minor Capuchin) - O.F.M. Cap. (1520)
44. Capuchin Poor Clares
45. Carmelites (Order of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel) - O.Carm., O.C.D., O.C.D.S. (1209)
46. Carmelites of Mary Immaculate - C.M.I. (1831)
47. Carmelite Daughters of the Divine Heart of Jesus - D.C.J. (1891)
48. Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm
49. Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles
50. Carthusians - O.Cart. (1084)
51. Celestines (defunct) (1244)
52. Christian Brothers of Ireland - C.F.C. (1802)
53. Cistercians (Cistercians of the Ancient Observance)- O.Cist./S.O.Cist
54. Claretians (Claretian Missionaries) - C.M.F.
55. Claretian Sisters
56. Columbans (Missionary Society of St. Columban) - S.S.C.
57. Community of Betania
58. Companions of the Cross - C.C.
59. Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae - C.I.C.M. (1862)
60. Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament - S.S.S.
61. Congregation of the Disciples of the Lord - C.D.D.
62. Congregation of Divine Providence - C.D.P.
63. Congregation of Holy Cross - C.S.C.
64. Congregation of the Mission - C.M. (1624)
65. Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix - C.M.C.
66. Congregation of Notre Dame - C.N.D.
67. Congregation of Our Lady of the Missions
68. Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary - SS.CC. (1800)
69. Congregation of St. Basil - C.S.B. (1822)
70. Congregation of St. Joseph - C.S.J. (1873)
71. Congregation of St. Therese of Lisieux, Cstbrothers, Kerala, India
72. Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy (Divine Mercy Sisters)
73. Conventual Franciscans (Conventuals or Order of Friars Minor Conventual) - O.F.M. Conv. (1209)
74. Daughters of Charity - D.C.
75. Daughters of Divine Charity - F.D.C. (1868)
76. Daughters of Divine Love
77. Daughters of the Holy Spirit - D.H.S. (1706)
78. Daughters of Mary of the Immaculate Conception
79. Daughters of St. Paul - F.S.P. (1915, 2560 members)
80. Dehonians (Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) - S.C.J.
81. Discalced Augustinians - O.A.D. (1592)
82. Discalced Carmelites - O.C.D.
83. Disciples of the Lord - C.D.D. (1931)
84. Divine Word Missionaries - S.V.D. (1875)
85. Dominican Nuns of the Perpetual Rosary
86. Dominicans (Order of Friars Preachers) - O.P. (1216)
87. Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne
88. Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception - O.P. (1861)
89. Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia - O.P. (1860)
90. Dottrinari (Congregazione dei Preti della Dottrina Cristiana) - D.C.
91. Eudists (Congregation of Jesus and Mary) - C.I.M.
92. Fathers of Mercy - (Congregatio Presbyterorum a Misericordia) - C.P.M.
93. Felician Sisters (Congregation of the Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice) - C.S.S.F.
94. Franciscan Apostolic Sisters - F.A.S. (1954)
95. Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn - O.S.F.
96. Franciscan Brothers of the Eucharist - F.B.E. (2004)
97. Franciscan Brothers of Peace - F.B.P. (1982)
98. Franciscan Friars (Order of Friars Minor) - O.F.M. (1209)
99. Franciscan Friars of the Renewal - C.F.R. (1987)
100. Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular - T.O.R.
101. Franciscan Handmaids of Mary (1915)
102. Franciscan Hospitaller Sisters of the Immaculate Conception - F.H.I.C. (1876)
103. Franciscans of the Immaculate - F.I.
104. Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood - F.M.D.M.
105. Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word - M.F.V.A. (1987)
106. Franciscan Missionaries of Mary - F.M.M. (1877)
107. Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
108. Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Infant Jesus
109. Franciscan Servants of Jesus (1997)
110. Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity - O.S.F.
111. Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist - O.S.F. (1973)
112. Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception - F.S.I.C.
113. Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate
114. Franciscan Sisters of Penance of the Sorrowful Mother - T.O.R.
115. Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration - O.S.F. (1849)
116. Fransalians (Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales) - M.S.F.S.
117. Good Shepherd Sisters - R.G.S.
118. Grey Nuns - G.N.S.H.
119. Handmaids of the Blessed Sacrament and of Charity - A.A.S.C.
120. Handmaids of the Precious Blood - H.P.B.
121. Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - A.A.S.C.
122. Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
123. Holy Cross Fathers (Congregation of Holy Cross) - C.S.C. (1837)
124. Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters (Pink Sisters) - S.Sp.S.A.P.
125. Hospital Sisters of the Mercy of Jesus
126. Infant Jesus Sisters (Nicolas Barre) - I.J.
127. Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest - I.C.R.S.S. (1990)
128. Institute of the Incarnate Word - I.I.W. (1984)
129. Jesuits (Society of Jesus) - S.J. (1534)
130. Josephite Fathers (St. Joseph's Society of the Sacred Heart) - S.S.J.
131. Legion of Christ - L.C. (founded 1941, approved 1983)
132. Little Brothers of the Gospel - (1956)
133. Little Brothers of Jesus - (1933)
134. Little Brothers of St Francis - {1970) {l.b.s.f)
135. Little Sisters of the Assumption
136. Little Sisters of the Gospel - (1963)
137. Little Sisters of Jesus - (1933)
138. Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary
139. Little Sisters of the Poor - L.S.P. (ca. 1700s)
140. Loreto Sisters (Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary) - I.B.V.M.
141. Marian Fathers - M.I.C.
142. Marian Sisters (Marian Sisters of the Diocese of Lincoln) - M.S.
143. Marianists (Society of Mary) - S.M.
144. Marianist Sisters (Daughters of Mary Immaculate) - F.M.I.
145. Marianites of Holy Cross - M.S.C.
146. Marist Brothers - F.M.S. (1817)
147. Marists (Society of Mary) - S. M.(1816)
148. Maryknoll (Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America) - M.M. (1911)
149. Mercedarians (Order of Our Lady of Mercy) - O. de M. (1218)
150. Miles Christi - M.C. (1984)
151. Missionaries of Charity - M.C. (1950)
152. Missionaries of the Gospel of Life
153. Missionaries of the Poor - M.O.P.
154. Missionaries of the Precious Blood (Precious Blood Fathers) - C.PP.S.
155. Missionaries of the Sacred Heart - M.S.C.
156. Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo) - C.S. (1887)
157. Missionaries of La Salette - M.S. (1852)
158. Missionary Society of St. Columban
159. Mission Helpers of The Sacred Heart - M.H.S.H. (1890)
160. Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem
161. Norbertines or Premonstratensians (Canons Regular of Prémontré) - C.R.P., O.Praem. (1120)
162. Oblate Apostles of the Two Hearts - O.A.T.H.
163. Oblate Sisters of Providence - O.S.P. (1829)
164. Oblates Of Mary Immaculate - O.M.I. (1816)
165. Oblates of St. Joseph - O.S.J. (1878)
166. Oblates Of The Virgin Mary - O.M.V. (1827)
167. Olivetans (Order of Our Lady of Mount Olivet) (1313)
168. Oratorians (Oratory of St. Philip Neri) - C.O., Cong. Orat. (1500s)
169. Order of the Imitation of Christ - O.I.C. (1930)
170. Order of St. Elisabeth O.S.E. (1622)
171. Pallottines (Society of the Catholic Apostolate) - S.A.C. (1835)
172. Paris Foreign Missions Society (Missions Etrangères de Paris) - M.E.P. (1658)
173. Passionists (Congregation of the Passion) - C.P. (1720)
174. Passionist Sisters
175. Patrician Brothers - F.S.P.
176. Pauline Fathers (Order of Saint Paul the First Hermit) - O.S.P.P.E.
177. Paulist Fathers (Missionary Society of Saint Paul the Apostle) - C.S.P.
178. Piarists (Clerics Regulars Poors of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools) - Sch.P. (1617)
179. Pious Disciples of the Divine Master - P.D.D.M. (1924)
180. Poor Clares (Nuns of the Order of St. Clare/(Order of Poor Ladies) - O.S.C.
181. Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration
182. Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - P.B.V.M.
183. Presentation Brothers - F.P.M.
184. Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter - F.S.S.P. (1988)
185. Putra Puteri Carmel
186. Racine Dominican Sisters
187. Redemptorists (Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer) - C.Ss.R. (1732)
188. Les Religieuses de Notre-Dame-du-Sacre-Coeur (Dieppe, New Brunswick)
189. Religious of the Assumption - R.A.
190. Religious of the Cenacle - R.C.
191. Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary - R.S.H.M.
192. Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan - R.S.M.
193. Resurrectionists - C.R.
194. Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus - R.C.J.
195. Rosminians (Institute of Charity) - I.C.
196. Salesians of St. John Bosco - S.D.B. (1857)
197. Salesian Sisters (Daughters of Mary Help of Christian) - F.M.A.
198. Salvatorians (Society of the Divine Savior) - S.D.S. (1881)
199. School Sisters of Christ the King
200. School Sisters of Notre Dame - S.S.N.D. (1833)
201. School Sisters of the Third Order of St Francis
202. Servites (Order of Friars, Servants of Mary) - O.S.M. (1233)
203. Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters
204. Sister Adorers of the Precious Blood - R.P.G. (1861)
205. Sisters Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus Christ Sovereign Priest
206. Sisters of the Apostolic Carmel
207. Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament
208. Sisters of Charity - S.C.
209. Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati
210. Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth
211. Sisters of Charity of New York
212. Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary - B.V.M.
213. Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception (St. John, New Brunswick, Canada)
214. Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word
215. Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy (South Carolina)
216. Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth
217. Sisters of Charity Federation in the Vincentian-Setonian Tradition
218. Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul - Halifax (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)
219. Vincentian Sisters of Charity (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
220. Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill (Pennsylvania)
221. Sisters of the Holy Cross - C.S.C.
222. Sisters of Holy Cross - C.S.C.
223. Sisters of the Holy Family
224. Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary - S.N.J.M. (1844)
225. Sisters of Jesus, Our Hope
226. Sisters of Life - S.V. (1991)
227. Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist - O.P. (1997)
228. Sisters of Mercy - R.S.M. (1831)
229. Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur - S.N.D., S.N.D. de N. (1803)
230. Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy
231. Sisters of La Retraite
232. Sisters of Saint Agnes
233. Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi
234. Sisters of St Francis of the Martyr St George - F.S.G.M.
235. Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity
236. Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester, Minnesota
237. Sisters of St Joseph - C.S.J.
238. Sisters of Saint Joseph of Bourg or S.S.J. (1650)
239. Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambéry
240. Sisters of Saint Joseph of Medaille
241. Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace
242. Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart - S.S.J. (1866)
243. Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis (1901)
244. Sisters of Saint Martha (Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada)
245. Sisters of St Rita (1911)
246. Sisters of St Therese of the Child Jesus (St Therese Sisters - Tanzania) - S.S.Th.
247. Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary – I.H.M. (1845)
248. Sisters, Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (Cresson, PA; Poland; Vatican City) - S.S.C.J.
249. Society of the Helpers of the Holy Souls
250. Society of the Holy Child Jesus - S.H.C.J. (1846)
251. Society of Mary (Marists) Marist Fathers and Brothers (1916)
252. Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity - S.O.L.T.
253. Society of St. Edmund S.S.E. (1843)
254. Society of Saint Paul - S.S.P. (1914)
255. Society of the Sacred Heart - R.S.C.J. (1800)
256. Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta (Order of Malta) - S.M.O.M. (1099)
257. Spiritans or Holy Ghost Fathers (Congregation of the Holy Ghost) - C.S.Sp. (1703)
258. Stigmatines (Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata) - C.S.S.
259. Sulpician Fathers (Society of Saint Sulpice) - S.S., P.S.S. (1642)
260. Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis - Cameroon (1700)
261. Teutonic Order (1190)
262. Theatines (Congregation of Clerics Regular) - C.R. (1524)
263. Trappists (Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance) - O.C.R., O.C.S.O. (1662)
264. Trinitarians (Order of the Most Holy Trinity) - O.SS.T. (1194)
265. Ursulines (Ursuline Nuns of the Roman Union) - O.S.U. (1535)
266. Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity - M.V.D.F.
267. Viatorians (Clerics of Saint Viator) - C.S.V. (1831)
268. Heralds of the Gospel (Virgo Flos Carmeli) - E.P. (February 22, 2001)
269. Visitation Nuns (Second Federation of the Visitation Order)
270. Vocationists (The Society of Divine Vocations) - S.D.V.
271. White Fathers - M.Afr. (1868)
272. Xaverian Brothers - C.F.X.
273. Xaverian Missionaries (Missionary Society of St. Francis Xavier) - S.X.

Sources, references and external links

• Concerning 'Religious Institutes' in The Code of Canon Law 1983
• The Congregation for Insititutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
• Chart showing the place of members of Religious Institutes among the People of God
• Institute on Religious Life - links to many Catholic religious communities
• Directory of Catholic Religious Orders on the Internet (men and women)
• Open Directory links to Catholic orders' websites
• Vocations Online - directory of men's and women's Catholic religious communities in the USA
• Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious - religious congregations of women
• Leadership Conference of Women Religious - religious congregations of women
• Legal Information for Religious Orders in the USA
• The Brothers of the Poor of St. Francis of Assisi, CFP located in the United States, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Brazil, Regular Third Order, official website
• Franciscans of the Immaculate - official website of the F.I.
• Website of the Immaculate- Website of the Franciscans of the Immaculate

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