Lay Religious Institute

Disciplinary status: Church discipline
Theological status: Theological synthesis
Evidence type: Historical account
GuideCanonical form, vows, governance, and ecclesial status are governed by Church law; charism and spirituality require theological description, while origins and development are historical.
Contents

Lay Religious Institute is a religious institute recognized by Church authority whose proper character does not include the exercise of sacred orders.

Canonical character

Canon 588 describes an institute as lay when its nature, character, and purpose have a proper function defined by its founder or legitimate tradition that does not include the exercise of sacred orders. Many institutes of brothers and almost all women's religious institutes fall within this category.[1]

Lay here is a technical classification. Religious life itself is neither clerical nor lay by nature, and professed members occupy the consecrated state even when they are not clerics.[2]

Mission and government

Lay institutes may exercise extensive educational, medical, missionary, contemplative, and charitable apostolates. Their members and superiors govern the institute according to law; sacramental ministries requiring ordination are provided by clerics without converting the institute into a clerical one.

References

  1. 1.Vita consecrata, 60 — John Paul II on the identity and mission of religious brothers
  2. 2.Code of Canon Law, canons 573–606 — Latin Church norms on consecrated life and its forms