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Roman Catholic religious order

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Religious orders ('Religious Institutes', cf. canons 573-746) are the major form of consecrated life in the Roman Catholic Church. They are organisations of laity and/or clergy who live a common life following a religious rule under the leadership of a religious superior. Many of these are enclosed monastic orders, others are not.

They do so for the purpose of imitating Jesus more closely, mainly but not exclusively by observing evangelical chastity, poverty and obedience, which are the three evangelical counsels of perfection (cf. canons 599-601). They bind themselves to this form of Christian living by taking public vows in accordance with the norms of church law. They may additionally profess to obey certain guidelines for living, since each order has its peculiar charism. Religious vows are to be distinguished from Holy Orders, the sacrament which bishops, priests, and deacons receive. Hence members of religious orders are not part of the hierarchy, unless they are also ordained priests or deacons (sometimes referred to as "priest-monks").

Religious orders follow one of the religious rules. For example, the majority of the religious orders in the Roman Catholic Church observe the Rule of St Benedict that is a collection of precepts for the so-called contemplative religious life, others follow the Rule of St Augustine that stresses self-denial, moderation, and care for those in need, whereas the Rule of St Basil, one of the earliest rules for Christian religious living, tends to be followed by religious orders of the Orthodox Church. In addition, the individual Orders have their own regulations for the practical living out of their chosen Rule so as to be able to serve their own Order's charism more fully.

A Religious Order is characterized by an authority structure where a superior general has jurisdiction over the order's dependent communities. An exception is the Order of St Benedict which is not a religious order in this technical sense, because it has a system of "independent houses", meaning that each abbey is autonomous.

There are two principal types of Catholic religious orders. Members of congregations (such as the Congregation of Holy Cross) take simple vows, while members of orders proper (such as the Society of Jesus) take solemn vows. The term congregation sometimes also applies to branches of an order which historically united several ones 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. Additionally, a number of generic terms, which are not always exclusively defined, exist to define groups of orders and congregations, such as mendicant orders or canons regular. 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.

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.

  1. Adorers (Adorers of the Blood of Christ) - A.S.C.
  2. Adornos (Clerics Regular Minor) - C.R.M.
  3. Adrian Dominican Sisters
  4. Albertines
  5. Alexians - C.F.A.
  6. Angelic Sisters of St. Paul - A.S.S.P. (1535)
  7. Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - A.S.C.J.
  8. Assumptionists - A.A. (1845)
  9. Little Sisters of the Assumption
  10. Religious of the Assumption
  11. Atonement, Society of the (Atonement Friars/Graymoor Friars/Sisters) - S.A. (1909)
  12. Augustinian Recollects - (Order of the Augustinians Recollects) - O.A.R. (1912)
  13. Augustinian Sisters, Servants of Jesus and Mary - A.S.J.M.
  14. Augustinians (Order of Saint Augustine) - O.S.A. (1256)
  15. Augustinians of Kansas: Society of Saint Augustine - S.S.A. (1981)
  16. Baladites (Order of Lebanese Maronite) - O.L.M.
  17. Barnabites (Clerics Regular of Saint Paul) - B., C.R.S.P. (1530)
  18. Benedictines (Order of Saint Benedict) - O.S.B. (1216)
  19. Benedictine Oblates of St Scholastica
  20. Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (1874)
  21. Bernardine Cistercian Sisters of Esquiermes
  22. Bernardines (also see Cistercians) (1098)
  23. Bon Secours Sisters - C.B.S. (1824)
  24. Brigidine Sisters
  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. Camaldolese (Camaldolese Benedictines) - O.S.B. Cam.
  33. Camaldolese Hermits of the Congregation of Monte Corona - Er.Cam.
  34. Camillians (Order of Saint Camillus) - O.S.Cam.
  35. Canonesses of St. Augustine - C.R.O.S.A.
  36. Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius - S.J.C. (2006)
  37. Canons Regular of the Holy Cross OSC
  38. Canons Regular Canons Regular of St. Augustine CRSA
  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 (Crosiers)
  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 Maronite Lebanese Missionaries - M.L.[kreimists.org]
  65. Congregation of the Mission - C.M. (1624)
  66. Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix - C.M.C.
  67. Congregation of Notre Dame - C.N.D.
  68. Congregation of Our Lady of the Missions
  69. Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary - SS.CC. (1800)
  70. Congregation of St. Basil - C.S.B. (1822)
  71. Congregation of St. Joseph - C.S.J. (1873)
  72. Congregation of St. Therese of Lisieux, Cstbrothers, Kerala, India
  73. Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy (Divine Mercy Sisters)
  74. Conventual Franciscans (Conventuals or Order of Friars Minor Conventual) - O.F.M. Conv. (1209)
  75. Daughters of Charity - D.C.
  76. Daughters of Divine Charity - F.D.C. (1868)
  77. Daughters of Divine Love
  78. Daughters of the Holy Spirit - D.H.S. (1706)
  79. Daughters of Mary of the Immaculate Conception
  80. Daughters of St. Paul - F.S.P. (1915, 2560 members)
  81. Dehonians (Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) - S.C.J.
  82. Discalced Augustinians - O.A.D. (1592)
  83. Discalced Carmelites - O.C.D.
  84. Disciples of the Lord - C.D.D. (1931)
  85. Divine Word Missionaries - S.V.D. (1875)
  86. Dominican Nuns of the Perpetual Rosary
  87. Dominicans (Order of Friars Preachers) - O.P. (1216)
  88. Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne
  89. Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception - O.P. (1861)
  90. Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia - O.P. (1860)
  91. Dottrinari (Congregazione dei Preti della Dottrina Cristiana) - D.C.
  92. Eudists (Congregation of Jesus and Mary) - C.I.M.
  93. Fathers of Mercy - (Congregatio Presbyterorum a Misericordia) - C.P.M.
  94. Felician Sisters (Congregation of the Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice) - C.S.S.F.
  95. Franciscan Apostolic Sisters - F.A.S. (1954)
  96. Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn - O.S.F.
  97. Franciscan Brothers of the Eucharist - F.B.E. (2004)
  98. Franciscan Brothers of Peace - F.B.P. (1982)
  99. Franciscan Friars (Order of Friars Minor) - O.F.M. (1209)
  100. Franciscan Friars of the Renewal - C.F.R. (1987)
  101. Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular - T.O.R.
  102. Franciscan Handmaids of Mary (1915)
  103. Franciscan Hospitaller Sisters of the Immaculate Conception - F.H.I.C. (1876)
  104. Franciscans of the Immaculate - F.I.
  105. Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood - F.M.D.M.
  106. Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word - M.F.V.A. (1987)
  107. Franciscan Missionaries of Mary - F.M.M. (1877)
  108. Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
  109. Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Infant Jesus
  110. Franciscan Servants of Jesus (1997)
  111. Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity - O.S.F.
  112. Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist - F.S.E. (1973)
  113. Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception - F.S.I.C.
  114. Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate
  115. Franciscan Sisters of Penance of the Sorrowful Mother - T.O.R.
  116. Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration - O.S.F. (1849)
  117. Fransalians (Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales) - M.S.F.S.
  118. Good Shepherd Sisters - R.G.S.
  119. Grey Nuns - G.N.S.H.
  120. Handmaids of the Blessed Sacrament and of Charity - A.A.S.C.
  121. Handmaids of the Precious Blood - H.P.B.
  122. Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - A.A.S.C.
  123. Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
  124. Holy Cross Fathers (Congregation of Holy Cross) - C.S.C. (1837)
  125. Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters (Pink Sisters) - S.Sp.S.A.P.
  126. Hospital Sisters of the Mercy of Jesus
  127. Infant Jesus Sisters (Nicolas Barre) - I.J.
  128. Institut du Clergé Patriarcal de Bzommar - I.C.P.B.
  129. Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest - I.C.R.S.S. (1990)
  130. Institute of the Incarnate Word - I.I.W. (1984)
  131. Jesuits (Society of Jesus) - S.J. (1540)
  132. Josephite Fathers (St. Joseph's Society of the Sacred Heart) - S.S.J.
  133. Legion of Christ - L.C. (founded 1941, approved 1983)
  134. Little Brothers of the Gospel - (1956)
  135. Little Brothers of Jesus - (1933)
  136. Little Brothers of St Francis - {1970) {l.b.s.f)
  137. Little Sisters of the Assumption
  138. Little Sisters of the Gospel - (1963)
  139. Little Sisters of Jesus - (1933)
  140. Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary
  141. Little Sisters of the Poor - L.S.P. (ca. 1700s)
  142. Lovers of the Holy Cross
  143. Loreto Sisters (Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary) - I.B.V.M.
  144. Marian Fathers - M.I.C.
  145. Marian Sisters (Marian Sisters of the Diocese of Lincoln) - M.S.
  146. Marianists (Society of Mary) - S.M.
  147. Marianist Sisters (Daughters of Mary Immaculate) - F.M.I.
  148. Marianites of Holy Cross - M.S.C.
  149. Marist Brothers - F.M.S. (1817)
  150. Marists (Society of Mary) - S. M.(1816)
  151. Maryknoll (Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America) - M.M. (1911)
  152. Mercedarians (Order of Our Lady of Mercy) - O. de M. (1218)
  153. Miles Christi - M.C. (1984)
  154. Mission Helpers of The Sacred Heart - M.H.S.H. (1890)
  155. Missionaries of Charity - M.C. (1950)
  156. Missionaries of La Salette - M.S. (1852)
  157. Missionaries of Mary - (2007)
  158. Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo) - C.S. (1887)
  159. Missionaries of the Gospel of Life
  160. Missionaries of the Poor - M.O.P.
  161. Missionaries of the Precious Blood (Precious Blood Fathers) - C.PP.S.
  162. Missionaries of the Sacred Heart - M.S.C.
  163. Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
  164. Missionary Society of St. Columban
  165. Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem
  166. Norbertines or Premonstratensians (Canons Regular of Prémontré) - C.R.P., O.Praem. (1120)
  167. Oblate Apostles of the Two Hearts - O.A.T.H. (1995)
  168. Oblate Sisters of Providence - O.S.P. (1829)
  169. Oblates Of Mary Immaculate - O.M.I. (1816)
  170. Oblates of St. Joseph - O.S.J. (1878)
  171. Oblates Of The Virgin Mary - O.M.V. (1827)
  172. Olivetans (Order of Our Lady of Mount Olivet) (1313)
  173. Oratorians (Oratory of St. Philip Neri) - C.O., Cong. Orat. (1500s)
  174. Order of the Imitation of Christ - O.I.C. (1930)
  175. Order of St. Elisabeth O.S.E. (1622)
  176. Pallottines (Society of the Catholic Apostolate) - S.A.C. (1835)
  177. Paris Foreign Missions Society (Missions Etrangères de Paris) - M.E.P. (1658)
  178. Passionists (Congregation of the Passion) - C.P. (1720)
  179. Passionist Sisters
  180. Patrician Brothers - F.S.P.
  181. Pauline Fathers (Order of Saint Paul the First Hermit) - O.S.P.P.E.
  182. Paulist Fathers (Missionary Society of Saint Paul the Apostle) - C.S.P.
  183. Piarists (Clerics Regulars Poors of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools) - Sch.P. (1617)
  184. Pious Disciples of the Divine Master - P.D.D.M. (1924)
  185. Poor Clares (Nuns of the Order of St. Clare/(Order of Poor Ladies) - O.S.C.
  186. Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration
  187. Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - P.B.V.M.
  188. Presentation Brothers - F.P.M.
  189. Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter - F.S.S.P. (1988)
  190. Putra Puteri Carmel
  191. Racine Dominican Sisters
  192. Redemptorists (Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer) - C.Ss.R. (1732)
  193. Les Religieuses de Notre-Dame-du-Sacre-Coeur (Dieppe, New Brunswick)
  194. Religious of the Assumption - R.A.
  195. Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary - R.S.H.M.
  196. Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan - R.S.M.
  197. Resurrectionists - C.R.
  198. Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus - R.C.J.
  199. Rosminians (Institute of Charity) - I.C.
  200. Salesians of St. John Bosco - S.D.B. (1857)
  201. Salesian Sisters (Daughters of Mary Help of Christian) - F.M.A.
  202. Salvatorians (Society of the Divine Savior) - S.D.S. (1881)
  203. School Sisters of Christ the King
  204. School Sisters of Notre Dame - S.S.N.D. (1833)
  205. School Sisters of the Third Order of St Francis
  206. Servites (Order of Friars, Servants of Mary) - O.S.M. (1233)
  207. Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters
  208. Sister Adorers of the Precious Blood - R.P.G. (1861)
  209. Sisters Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus Christ Sovereign Priest
  210. Sisters of the Apostolic Carmel
  211. Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament
  212. Sisters of the Cenacle - r.c.
  213. Sisters of Charity - S.C.
  214. Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati
  215. Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth
  216. Sisters of Charity of New York
  217. Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary - B.V.M.
  218. Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception (St. John, New Brunswick, Canada)
  219. Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word
  220. Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy (South Carolina)
  221. Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth
  222. Sisters of Charity Federation in the Vincentian-Setonian Tradition
  223. Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul - Halifax (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)
  224. Vincentian Sisters of Charity (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
  225. Sisters of the Divine Compassion
  226. Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill (Pennsylvania)
  227. Sisters of the Holy Cross - C.S.C.
  228. Sisters of Holy Cross - C.S.C.
  229. Sisters of the Holy Family
  230. Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary - S.N.J.M. (1844)
  231. Sisters of Jesus, Our Hope
  232. Sisters of Life - S.V. (1991)
  233. Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist - O.P. (1997)
  234. Sisters of Mercy - R.S.M. (1831)
  235. Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur - S.N.D., S.N.D. de N. (1803)
  236. Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy
  237. Sisters of La Retraite
  238. Sisters of Saint Agnes
  239. Sisters of Saint Elizabeth
  240. Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi
  241. Sisters of St Francis of the Martyr St George - F.S.G.M.
  242. Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity
  243. Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester, Minnesota
  244. Sisters of St Joseph (AKA Sisters of Saint Joseph of Medaille) - C.S.J. (1650)
  245. Sisters of Saint Joseph of Bourg or S.S.J. (1650)
  246. Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambéry
  247. Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace
  248. Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart - S.S.J. (1866)
  249. Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis (1901)
  250. Sisters of Saint Martha (Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada)
  251. Sisters of St Rita (1911)
  252. Sisters of St Therese of the Child Jesus (St Therese Sisters - Tanzania) - S.S.Th.
  253. Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary – I.H.M. (1845)
  254. Sisters, Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (Cresson, PA; Poland; Vatican City) - S.S.C.J.
  255. Society of the Helpers of the Holy Souls
  256. Society of the Holy Child Jesus - S.H.C.J. (1846)
  257. Society of Mary (Marists) Marist Fathers and Brothers (1916)
  258. Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity - S.O.L.T.
  259. Society of St. Edmund S.S.E. (1843)
  260. Society of Saint Paul - S.S.P. (1914)
  261. Society of the Sacred Heart - R.S.C.J. (1800)
  262. Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta (Order of Malta) - S.M.O.M. (1099)
  263. Spiritans or Holy Ghost Fathers (Congregation of the Holy Ghost) - C.S.Sp. (1703)
  264. Stigmatines (Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata) - C.S.S.
  265. Sulpician Fathers (Society of Saint Sulpice) - S.S., P.S.S. (1642)
  266. Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis - Cameroon (1700)
  267. Teutonic Order (1190)
  268. Theatines (Congregation of Clerics Regular) - C.R. (1524)
  269. Trappists (Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance) - O.C.R., O.C.S.O. (1662)
  270. Trinitarians (Order of the Most Holy Trinity) - O.SS.T. (1194)
  271. Ursulines (Ursuline Nuns of the Roman Union) - O.S.U. (1535)
  272. Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity - M.V.D.F.
  273. Viatorians (Clerics of Saint Viator) - C.S.V. (1831)
  274. Heralds of the Gospel (Virgo Flos Carmeli) - E.P. (February 22, 2001)
  275. Visitation Nuns (Second Federation of the Visitation Order)
  276. Vocationists (The Society of Divine Vocations) - S.D.V.
  277. White Fathers - M.Afr. (1868)
  278. Xaverian Brothers - C.F.X.
  279. Xaverian Missionaries (Missionary Society of St. Francis Xavier) - S.X.

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