Secular institute
In the Catholic Church, a secular institute is one of the forms of consecrated life recognized in Church law
(1983 Code of Canon Law Canons 710–730).
A secular institute is an institute of consecrated life in which the Christian faithful living in the
world strive for the perfection of charity and work for the sanctification of the world, especially
from within. (Canon 710)
Secular consecrated persons profess the Evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, and obedience while
living in the world,[1] as compared to members of a religious institute who belong to a particular
congregations, often with specific apostolates.
Description
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.[2]
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.[3]
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. 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 [3] As of 2018, CMIS
reported a total of 184 secular institutes worldwide.[4]
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.[4] Most of the members of secular institutes are laypeople. 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.
Notable secular institutes
Company of St. Ursula[5]
Institute of the Maids of the Poor (M.O.P.)
Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement
Secular Institute Pius X (I.S.P.X.)[6]
Servite Secular Institute (S.S.I.)
See also
Catholicism portal
Religious institute
Society of apostolic life
Vocational discernment in the Catholic Church
References
1. Larkin, Sue. United States Conference of Secular institutes (https://secularinstitutes.org/)
2. "Secular Institutes", The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of
Apostolic Life (https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccscrlife/documents/rc_co
n_ccscrlife_profile_en.html)
3. Patricia L. Skarda, The Essential Facts about Secular Institutes, Vision (https://vocationnetw
ork.org/en/articles/show/315-the-essential-facts-about-secular-institutes)
4. Conference Mondiale des Instituts Seculiers (CMIS), "Secular Institutes in the World:
Statistical Data - May 2018" (http://www.ism-regalita.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/0
1/[email protected])
5. Company of St Ursula Secular Institute of St Angela Merici - Federation (http://www.angelam
erici.it/news_schede_eng.php?testata=Company%20of%20St%20Ursula%20Secular%20In
stitute%20of%20St%20Angela%20Merici%20-%20Federation&get_id=95)
6. Pius X Secular Institute (https://ispx.org/en/en-assemblee-pour-sengager-totalement/)
External links
Concerning Secular Institutes in the Code of Canon Law (1983), can. 710–730 (https://www.
vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P2F.HTM)
Provida Mater Ecclesia (https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/apost_constitutions/docu
ments/hf_p-xii_apc_19470202_provida-mater-ecclesia_en.html) at the Vatican website
United States Conference of Secular Institutes (http://www.secularinstitutes.org/)
World Conference of Secular Institutes (http://www.cmis-int.org/en/)
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