In the Catholic Church, a secular institute is a form of consecrated life recognized by Church law under the 1983 Code of Canon Law (Canons 710–730). It is an institute of consecrated life where Christian faithful live in the world, striving for perfection of charity and sanctification of the world from within. Members of secular institutes profess the Evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, and obedience while remaining engaged with ordinary life, distinct from religious institutes whose members often belong to specific congregations with particular apostolates.
Description
"We are the newest vocation in the Catholic Church, and many say we are the vocation of the new millennium."2
The historical origins of these institutes go back to the end of the sixteenth century, even though their juridic recognition as a state of consecrated life approved by the Church took place only on 2 February 1947, with Pope Pius XII's Apostolic Constitution Provida Mater Ecclesia.3
Most members of secular institutes do not live together — though some do. They lead their normal lives “in the world” in a variety of occupations. Each institute has a particular spirituality shaped by its founders and leaders.4
Most members of secular institutes are lay people. Some join as diocesan priests or deacons, and some institutes are founded specifically for diocesan priests who wish to take vows and lead a consecrated life while still being incardinated in their diocese and working in the diocesan framework. Some secular institutes even train and incardinate their own priests.
Secular institutes are recognized either by a bishop (diocesan right) or by the Holy See (papal right). Most are registered with the World Conference of Secular Institutes.
The exact number of members of secular institutes worldwide is unclear. A 2018 survey by CMIS reported approximately 24,000 members, but noted that not all institutes surveyed provided data, and that some institutes provided inconsistent responses.5
As of 2018, CMIS reported a total of 184 secular institutes worldwide.6 In the English-speaking world:
- There are nine secular institutes in the UK. These institutes belong to the National Conference of Secular Institutes (NCSI), an association for cooperation and mutual support of those secular institutes which have membership in the United Kingdom. The NCSI is affiliated with the Conference Mondiale des Instituts Seculiers (CMIS), which represents all secular institutes in the world.
- There are 30 secular institutes in the United States 7
Some notable secular institutes
- Caritas Christi
- Company of St. Paul
- Company of St. Ursula8
- Institute of the Maids of the Poor (M.O.P.)
- Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement
- Secular Institute of Pius X (I.S.P.X.)9
- Servite Secular Institute (S.S.I.)
- Society of Our Lady of the Way
See also
- Catholicism portal
External links
- Concerning Secular Institutes in the Code of Canon Law (1983), can. 710–730
- Provida Mater Ecclesia at the Vatican website
- United States Conference of Secular Institutes
- World Conference of Secular Institutes
References
Larkin, Sue. United States Conference of Secular Institutes. https://secularinstitutes.org/ ↩
"Living Consecrated Life in the World". https://secularinstitutes.org/about-us/ ↩
"Secular Institutes", The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccscrlife/documents/rc_con_ccscrlife_profile_en.html ↩
Patricia L. Skarda, The Essential Facts about Secular Institutes, Vision. https://vocationnetwork.org/en/articles/show/315-the-essential-facts-about-secular-institutes ↩
Conference Mondiale des Instituts Seculiers (CMIS), "Secular Institutes in the World: Statistical Data - May 2018". http://www.ism-regalita.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/01/[email protected] ↩
Conference Mondiale des Instituts Seculiers (CMIS), "Secular Institutes in the World: Statistical Data - May 2018". http://www.ism-regalita.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/01/[email protected] ↩
Patricia L. Skarda, The Essential Facts about Secular Institutes, Vision. https://vocationnetwork.org/en/articles/show/315-the-essential-facts-about-secular-institutes ↩
"Company of St Ursula Secular Institute of St Angela Merici - Federation". www.angelamerici.it. Retrieved 16 February 2025. http://www.angelamerici.it/news_schede_eng.php?testata=Company%20of%20St%20Ursula%20Secular%20Institute%20of%20St%20Angela%20Merici%20-%20Federation&get_id=95 ↩
Caron, Marcel (27 June 2022). "An Assembly To Be Totally Committed !". ISPX. Retrieved 16 February 2025. https://ispx.org/en/en-assemblee-pour-sengager-totalement/ ↩