Institutes of consecrated life
Institutes of consecrated life are canonically
erected institutes in the Roman Catholic Church
whose members profess the
evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, and
obedience by vows or other sacred bonds
Constitutive elements of Consecrated Life
• Totally dedication to God.
• Profession of Evangelical counsels
• It is a stable form of living--permanence
• Following Christ more closely.
• It takes under the action of the Holy Spirit
• Commitment to God under a new and special title: SJ, Franciscan
• To God’s honour, edification of the Church and to the Salvation of the
World
• To seek perfection of Charity.
• Splendid sign in the Church.
• Foretelling the heavenly glory
List is not exhaustive.
Proper Law
• Constitution
• Statues
• Directory
• Other norms
• Traditions and customs
C.588. Clerical & non-clerical (lay)
• No difference as an institute
• Clerical institutes are governed by those who
have the Sacred Orders
• Non-clerical does not have the exercise of
sacred orders.
• Mixed ones are also there.
C.589. Pontifical & Diocesan Right
• Pontifical is established by the Apostolic See.
• Diocesan is established by the Bishop.
• Diocesan ones can grow to become pontifical
C.590. Authority of the Pope
C.591.Pope’s Prerogative
• - All institutes in general come under the Holy
See - Commitment
• -Individual members are to obey him -
Obedience
• The pope can withdraw an institute from the
governance of the bishop to his own
governance for the welfare of the institute
Special Care of the Diocesan Bishop (C. 594)
an institute of diocesan right remains under the
special care of the diocesan bishop.
Institutes of Consecrated Life
• There are 3 types of ICL:
- Religious Institute if Consecrated Life
- Secular Institute if Consecrated Life
-Society of Apostolic Life
Forms of Consecrated Life:
1. RICL
2. SICL
3. Hermits
4. Order of Virgins
5. New Forms of Consecrated Life
C.603. Hermits (Anchorites)
•
• Withdrawn from the world to praise God in
silence and solitude, prayer and penance.
• Hermits are under the Bishops. Have the 3
evangelical counsels.
C.604. Virgins
• Mystically espoused to Christ - “I am the
spouse of Christ” Christ spouse.
• Under the diocesan bishop who consecrates
them
• They can have an association for better
serving the church
C.605. New Forms Consecrated Life
•
• Approval of new forms of consecrated life is
reserved to the Apostolic See
• Bishops can promote them within the general
norms of the code regarding consecrated life.
•
What is a Religious Institute (C. 607)
• It is a society
• They have both public vows and fraternal life =
community life
• the vows are either temporary (to be
renewed before the time elapses) or
perpetual
• Witnessing through separation from the
world
Religious Institute Vs Secular Institute
•
Public profession
• Public Profession
•
Alone, family, group
• Common Life
•
In the world
• Separation from the world
•
Secular Consecration
• Religious consecration
•
Probation or Initial formation
• Novitiate
• •
Not an impediment for marriage
Impediment for marriage
• Incardination in the RI •
Incardination in the diocese, unless
Apostolic See special…
• Ownership-total or partial
• They own
• Major superior of the Clerical RI of
Pontifical right is an Ordinary • They are not Ordinaries
• Religious Habit • Habit not required
Erected House (c. 609)
• Start only with the written consent of the
Diocesan Bishop.
• If cloistered, permission of the Apostolic See.
Right Flowing from the Consent of
Diocesan Bishop (c. 611)
• Bishop’s consent gives the rights to:
(automatically included)
• 1. To exercise their Charism
• 2. Exercise the works proper to the Institute
(unless conditions attached)
• 3. If clerical, to have a church
C.612:Diversion of the House /Change in Apostolic Work
• Bishop’s consent is required to use the house
for some other works other than those for
which it was established (more than)
• Eg: formation house----school
• Formation house-formation cum school
C.681. Works entrusted to the institutes
•
• - They will be under the
direction of the Bishop
• - Written agreement between
the Bishop and competent superior Regarding
- work to be done
- members to be assigned
- financial arrangements
C.682. Ecclesiastical Office in the Diocese
•
• Conferred (appointed) by the Bishop on presentation
by the superior
• At least with the consent of the Competent Superior
• - He can be removed at the discretion of the Bishop
with prior notice given to the superior
• - or
• Called back by the superior with prior notice to the
Bishop
• In Both cases they do not require Consent
C.683. Pastoral Visitation
• - To all churches & oratories where
faithful habitually come (not must- he can)
• - public school
• - Generally done during pastoral visitation, also can
do it anytime in a case of necessity
• He cannot visit those open only to the Institute’s
own members
• - Incase of abuses, Bishop has to warn the
superior; if unheeded or in vain, he can deal with the
matter himself.
