Institute of consecrated life

Jus novum (c. 1140-1563) Jus novissimum (c. 1563-1918) Jus codicis (1918-present) Other Sacraments Sacramentals Sacred places Sacred times Supra-diocesan/eparchal structures Particular churches Juridic persons Philosophy, theology, and fundamental theory of Catholic canon law Clerics Office Juridic and physical persons Associations of the faithful Pars dynamica (trial procedure) Canonization Election of the Roman Pontiff Academic degrees Journals and Professional Societies Faculties of canon law Canonists Institute of consecrated life Society of apostolic life An institute of consecrated life is an association of faithful in the Catholic Church canonically erected by competent church authorities to enable men or women who publicly profess the evangelical counsels by religious vows or other sacred bonds "through the charity to which these counsels lead to be joined to the Church and its mystery in a special way.

[2] The more numerous form of these are religious institutes, which are characterized by the public profession of vows, life in common as brothers or sisters, and a degree of separation from the world.

Some religious institutes engage in a particular ministry such as education, healthcare, or social work; while others have as their primary apostolate contemplative prayer.

A society of apostolic life is a group of men or women within the Catholic Church who have come together for a specific purpose and live fraternally.

The Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul are a Society of Apostolic Life.

The Annuario Pontificio lists for both men and women the institutes of consecrated life that are of pontifical right (those that the Holy See has erected or approved by formal decree).

[10] The arrangement of the institutes for men of the Latin Church in this list dates back many decades.