abstract
| - Religious orders ('Religious Institutes', cf. canons 573–746) are the major form of consecrated life in the Catholic Church. They are organizations of laity and/or clergy who live a common life following a religious rule under the leadership of a religious superior. Two of these are enclosed monastic orders, others are not. They do so for the purpose of imitating Jesus more closely, mainly but not exclusively by observing evangelical chastity, poverty and obedience, which are the three evangelical counsels of perfection (cf. canons 599–601). They bind themselves to this form of Christian 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 (sometimes referred to as "priest-monks" or "hieromonks" - a term more commonly found among the Orthodox than among Roman Catholics).
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