Ways of living the faith

Religious orders and other institutions

• Monastic order

  Benedictines (Order of Saint Benedict)

  Founder

  Benedict of Nursia

  Founded

  6th century (Monte Cassino, traditionally 529)

  Place

  Monte Cassino, Italy

  Charism

  Stable community life of prayer and work under the Rule of Saint Benedict.

  Spirituality

  The Liturgy of the Hours, lectio divina, hospitality, stability.

  Motto

  ⛪Tradition

  Ora et labora (pray and work) — a traditional summary, not a phrase from the Rule; the Rule itself says that in all things God may be glorified (RB 57).

  Famous members

  • Scholastica
  • Gregory the Great (monk before becoming pope)
  • Bede the Venerable

  Where they serve today

  Independent monasteries of monks and nuns on every continent, often with schools and guest houses.

• Monastic order

  Cistercians (and Trappists)

  Founded

  1098

  Place

  Cîteaux, France

  Charism

  A return to a strict observance of the Rule of Benedict: silence, simplicity, manual labour.

  Spirituality

  Simplicity, love of God, the beauty of plain architecture.

  Famous members

  • Bernard of Clairvaux
  • Thomas Merton

  Where they serve today

  Two main branches: the Cistercians and the Trappists (Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance).

• Mendicant order

  Franciscans

  Founder

  Francis of Assisi

  Founded

  1209 (first approval)

  Place

  Assisi, Italy

  Charism

  Living the Gospel in poverty, fraternity and joy, close to the poor.

  Spirituality

  Poverty, humility, care for creation.

  Motto

  ⛪Tradition

  Pax et bonum (peace and good) — a traditional Franciscan greeting.

  Famous members

  • Clare of Assisi
  • Anthony of Padua (Lisbon)
  • Padre Pio (Capuchin)
  • Maximilian Kolbe (Conventual)

  Where they serve today

  Several branches of friars (Friars Minor, Conventuals, Capuchins), the Poor Clares, and the Secular Franciscans.

• Mendicant order

  Dominicans (Order of Preachers)

  Founder

  Dominic de Guzmán

  Founded

  1216

  Place

  Toulouse, France

  Charism

  Preaching for the salvation of souls, rooted in study and contemplation.

  Spirituality

  Study, common prayer, preaching.

  Motto

  🏛Historical context

  Veritas (truth); also contemplare et contemplata aliis tradere — to contemplate and hand on to others what has been contemplated (Thomas Aquinas).

  Famous members

  • Thomas Aquinas
  • Albert the Great
  • Catherine of Siena (lay Dominican)
  • Pope Pius V

  Where they serve today

  Friars, nuns, sisters and lay Dominicans worldwide, many in universities.

• Mendicant order

  Carmelites

  Founded

  c. 1200 (hermits on Mount Carmel); reform from 1562

  Place

  Mount Carmel (Holy Land) — Ávila

  Charism

  Contemplative prayer in the spirit of the prophet Elijah and of Mary.

  Spirituality

  Silent prayer, friendship with God, the dark night and the little way.

  Motto

  📖Scripture

  Zelo zelatus sum pro Domino Deo exercituum — I have been most zealous for the Lord God of hosts (Elijah's words).

  1 Kings 19:10

  Famous members

  • Teresa of Ávila
  • John of the Cross
  • Thérèse of Lisieux
  • Edith Stein

  Where they serve today

  Carmelites of the Ancient Observance and Discalced Carmelites: friars, cloistered nuns and lay members.

• Mendicant order

  Augustinians (Order of Saint Augustine)

  Founded

  1244–1256 (Grand Union)

  Place

  Italy

  Charism

  Community life of one mind and heart on the way to God, after the Rule of Saint Augustine.

  Spirituality

  Interiority, friendship, the search for God together.

  Famous members

  • Rita of Cascia
  • Gregor Mendel, father of genetics
  • Pope Leo XIV

  Where they serve today

  Friars in parishes, schools and missions. Pope Leo XIV is an Augustinian.

• Order of clerks regular

  Jesuits (Society of Jesus)

  Founder

  Ignatius of Loyola

  Founded

  1540

  Place

  Rome

  Charism

  Going wherever the need is greatest, for the greater glory of God; education, missions and spiritual exercises.

  Spirituality

  The Spiritual Exercises, discernment, finding God in all things.

  Motto

  🏛Historical context

  Ad maiorem Dei gloriam — for the greater glory of God.

  Famous members

  • Francis Xavier
  • Peter Canisius
  • Robert Bellarmine
  • Pope Francis

  Where they serve today

  Schools and universities, parishes, missions and refugee work across the world.

• Religious congregation

  Salesians of Don Bosco

  Founder

  Saint John Bosco

  Founded

  1859

  Place

  Turin, Italy

  Charism

  Education and care of young people, especially the poorest.

  Spirituality

  The preventive system: reason, religion and loving kindness.

  Famous members

  • Maria Troncatti (Salesian Sister)
  • Dominic Savio (a pupil of Don Bosco, not a member)

  Where they serve today

  Schools, youth centres and missions worldwide; the Salesian Sisters (Daughters of Mary Help of Christians) were founded in 1872 with Mary Mazzarello.

• Personal prelature — not a religious order

  Opus Dei

  Founded

  1928

  Place

  Madrid, Spain

  Charism

  The sanctification of ordinary work and daily life.

  Spirituality

  Holiness in the middle of the world.

  Where they serve today

  Founded by Josemaría Escrivá. Since 1982 it is a personal prelature — a jurisdictional structure of the Church, not a religious order. Most of its members are lay people.