Catholic Spiritualities

This year we are going to spend most of our time learning about the different religious orders in the church through the centuries. For each one, we will take a look at how they came to be, why they came to be, and some of the ways in which they were distinctive. And then we will talk about the spirituality of each of these groups and take a look at some of the heroes or representatives of these groups. Finally we will consider how the spirituality of each group can be useful in our own spiritual lives, or perhaps how it is reflected in our spiritual lives.

We are going to try to hit some of the major groups. Some of them will be familiar to you, their names you will have heard. Some of them are a little bit less popular, for lack of a better word. We got the idea of doing this because of the election of Pope Leo the 13th, who is a member of the order of St. Augustine. He is an Augustinian monk and priest. The more familiar groups are the Jesuits, the Franciscans, the Dominicans, and the Benedictines. But there are other famous groups, such as the Cistercians, the Carmelites, the Redemptorists, the Salesians, and some newer groups such as the Paulists and the Passionists and Oratorians.

If you think we’ve left out somebody important, make sure to let me know and we’ll see what we can do about that. One of the signs of the fruitfulness of the Holy Spirit’s guarding of the Catholic Church is the renewal of consecrated men and women who dedicate their lives to the contemplative life, sometimes in a cloister where they don’t interact much with the outside world, and sometimes in a more active apostolate where they are walking around and ministering to the people.

Type of Religious Orders

The first thing to try to get understand is what we mean by a religious order. And we generally mean that they have made three public vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience. So they are publicly renouncing the goods of material assets, marriage, and independence. These three vows are also known as the evangelical counsels.

Within the general description of religious orders who are governed by the evangelical counsels, we find different structures. And so let’s get a handle on the terminology.

Monastic Orders

In the first place you have monastic orders. These are groups that were founded by men or women so monks or nuns who have their life centered around a monastery or a convent, and they are if not primarily at least significantly composed of laypeople, and finally their daily life is ordered around the recitation in choir — that is as a group — the recitation of the breviary. The brief reads another name for the liturgy of the hours or sometimes it’s known as the divine office. So these are people who are mostly not priests who have withdrawn from the active life of the world to some kind of a cloister where they will spend their waking hours praying for the world. The most famous group of early monks is the Benedictines, and St. Benedict encapsulated the life of his monks with the phrase: pray and work. In Latin that is ora et labora. You will see this Latin slogan somewhere when you encounter Benedictines.

Mendicant Orders

The second group are mendicant orders. These are also most likely friars — that is brothers — or nuns — that is sisters — who live from alms. So they are begging for their sustenance. They recite the divine office, but they are active outside of cloister they are participating in what are known as apostolic endeavors. They are sent out among the people for some purpose. The well-known mendicant orders are the Franciscans, who have a particular focus on poverty, and the Dominicans, who have a particular focus on teaching and preaching.

Canons Regular

The third group are called canons regular, who are a mix of ordained and lay people, a mix of men and women, which is why we call them canons and canonnesses, who lived by a rule, which is why we use the word regular. These canons and cannonesses who live by rule recite the divine office, and generally they are in charge of a parish.

Clerks Regular

The final group is called clerks regular, and the difference is to focus on the fact of there being clerks. Clerks is connected to the word clerical, and it indicates that these are most likely all priests. So these are priests who are also religious men with vows — some kind of a rule of life — who have an active apostolic life.

What they have in common

We can spend a lot of time trying to figure out whether one is a mendicant canon or a clerk, but it’s more important that you understand that some are centered around a cloister and somewhat withdrawn from the active life while others are out and about in an active, apostolic ministry. And generally they are attached to a place where they are wondering about. In the modern age, even the mendicant orders who are theoretically wandering about end up generally being attached to something. The Dominicans, for example, frequently help a local bishop by leading a parish. In the archdiocese of Atlanta, the Dominicans run Our Lady of Lourdes parish downtown. But they are not directed by our local Bishop the way our pastor is; they are told what to do by their Abbott.

All of these groups share certain common aspects:

Their intention is to imitate Jesus more closely, mainly, but not exclusively, by observing evangelical chastity, poverty, and obedience, which are the three evangelical counsels of perfection.

They bind themselves to this form of 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.

Religious orders only differ from religious congregations in the nature of their vows (solemn vs. simple), since today much of their way of live and apostolates don’t differ much.

Major Differences

A major point of difference is whether or not the community is primarily lay people or primarily priests.

Another major point of difference is whether the community is wandering around the world or tied to a particular location.

Another distinction is how much of their day is governed by reciting the Breviary.

You can mix these in ways such that you have a group of priests who recite the Breviary as a key part of their day or a group of lay people who do not pray the Breviary and are active in the world. We use the word “regular” to mean they have a rule of life. We use the word “canons” and “clerks” to indicate they are clergy, but “canons” are tied to a place while “clerks” are out and about.

So when you hear canons regular or clerks regular, you can assume they are probably priests. When you hear mendicant orders of monastic orders, you can assume they’re probably laypeople though some might be ordained. When you hear they recite the bravery, you’ll know they are canons regular or they’re the mendicant orders or monastic orders. If you hear they are attached to a parish or church, there probably canons regular if they’re relatively new. If you hear they are attached to a monastery or convent, then you can conclude they’re most likely monastic orders. And if they seem to have an active apostolic life among the people and they are priests, then you can assume they are clerks regular. Now there are no tests on any of this. We covered this just to try to help you get organized a bit.

Examples of Each

St. Benedict founded the biggest early order of monks, and his rule is very focused on the life of a monastery. The Carmelites are contemplatives who rarely leave their monasteries.

The Franciscans and Dominicans were founded specifically to renew and protect the Church by being out among the faithful rather than inside a convent or monastery.

The Canons Regular of St. John Cantius are tied to church in Chicago where they promote beauty in sacred liturgy with an emphasis on liturgical music (chant).

The Somascan Fathers and Brothers are active in caring for orphans and the poor and operate orphanages, schools, and rehab centers.

The Jesuits are a great example of mostly priests who are active in the world and do not recite the Breviary as part of their rule of life.

Religious Rules

Augustinian Rule

The Augustinian Rule is broad and allows for significant leeway in daily practices, focusing on shared possessions and fraternal charity. 

Augustinians historically function as canons or friars, often living in towns and engaging in active ministry, education, and pastoral work outside the monastery. 

The Augustinian Rule is the oldest monastic rule in the Western Church, serving as a foundation for later mendicant orders like the Dominicans.

Augustinians (especially Friars) are generally itinerant or active, moving to where the need is (parishes, schools, missions) and relying on alms or work

Centralized management – move to where the work is rather than tied to a place

Major Augustinians

Augustinian Friars (Order of Saint Augustine – O.S.A.)

Known as the Augustinian Hermits historically, this is the largest group. They are a mendicant order similar to Franciscans and Dominicans, focusing on active ministry, education, and parish work while living in community. 

Augustinian Recollects (O.A.R.): A reformed branch known for stricter observance, active in missions and education. 

Discalced Augustinians: A contemplative branch emphasizing austerity.

Canons Regular of Saint Augustine (C.R.S.A.)

Often called Augustinian Canons or “Black Canons” due to their habits, these are priests living in community under the Rule but serving diocesan needs (parishes, cathedrals) rather than being a separate mendicant order. 

Premonstratensians (Norbertines): A prominent order of Canons Regular founded by Saint Norbert, combining monastic life with active pastoral care. 

Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius: A newer community focusing on liturgy and sacred arts. 

Congregation of Windesheim: A historical and influential federation of Canons

Other Augustinian Families

Many other orders adopt the Rule as a foundational guide alongside their own constitutions:

Dominicans: While having their own constitutions, they are spiritually rooted in the Augustinian tradition. 

Ursulines: An order of women religious dedicated to education. 

Assumptionists: Focused on media, education, and ecumenism.

Sisters of Charity and various hospital orders (e.g., Alexian Brothers).

Benedictine Rule

The Benedictine Rule is highly detailed, providing precise instructions for the Divine Office, manual labor, and hierarchical obedience to the abbot. 

Benedictines are traditionally monks who live in self-sustaining, geographically distant monasteries, prioritizing stability and a closed community life. 

The Benedictine Rule became the dominant form of monastic life in Europe from the 7th to the 11th centuries, shaping medieval culture through its emphasis on liturgy and manual labor. 

Benedictines vow stability to a specific place, living in a self-sustaining monastery where prayer, work, and study happen within the enclosure.

Decentralized management – obedience to the local abbot

Two Major Family Trees

Major Benedictines

Subiaco Cassinese Congregation: The largest Benedictine congregation globally. 

English Benedictine Congregation: The oldest continuous Benedictine congregation.

American Cassinese Congregation: A major grouping of monasteries in the United States.

Solesmes Congregation: Renowned for its leadership in the restoration of Gregorian Chant.

Benedictine Offshoots and Others

Cistercians (Order of Cistercians – O. Cist.), stricter observance focusing on manual labor and simplicity

Trappists (Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance – O.C.S.O.): A later reform of the Cistercians emphasizing silence, contemplation, and rigorous manual labor.

Several distinct orders follow the Rule while maintaining unique charisms:

• Camaldolese: Combines cenobitic (community) life with eremitical (hermit) life.
• Olivetans: Known for their liturgical solemnity and white habits.
• Sylvestrines: Focused on intellectual work and teaching.
• Mechitarists: An Armenian Catholic Benedictine congregation dedicated to scholarship and culture.