A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Annals – A written record maintained by each local community, documenting the activities of the house and significant events in the country or world.
Animator – See “Superior.”
Aspirant – One who has entered a period of discernment to contemplate entrance into a religious congregation.
Brother – A male member of a religious congregation who is not ordained but makes vows and serves the congregation in various capacities and ministries.
Chapter – A regularly scheduled gathering that serves as the highest governing body of a congregation. It consists of delegates elected to set the direction for the congregation until the next Chapter, elect new leadership, and make changes to the constitution pending approval of the Holy See or the diocesan bishop.
Charism – A gift of the Holy Spirit given to the founder(s) which guides the spirituality, mission and/or style of life of a congregation. For example, St. Francis of Assisi renounced worldly possessions in solidarity with the poor, therefore members of Franciscan congregations embrace a life of poverty and simplicity.
Cloister – Parts of a religious house to which access is restricted to its members. May also refer to cloistered congregations whose members live exclusively within a convent or monastery, and require permission in the rare circumstances they need to leave.
Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM) – Organization of major superiors representing communities of men religious in the United States.
Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious (CMSWR) – Organization of major superiors representing communities of women religious in the United States.
Coordinator – A title some communities gave to the local superior after Vatican II. Animator, leader, or liaison might also be used.
Compline – The night-time prayer said as part of the Liturgy of the Hours or the Divine Office.
Congregation – A religious community within the Catholic Church, whose members are bound by vows and a shared mission. They may be either pontifical or papal, if recognized by the Holy See, or diocesan.
Dispensation – A formal release from temporary or perpetual religious vows.
Examen – A form of prayer, typically recited in the evening, that includes a review of the day’s events and one’s spiritual progress.
Exclaustration – Permission granted for a religious of perpetual vows to live outside the congregation for a period of time, while canonically remaining a part of it.
Friar – A male member of a mendicant religious order, such as the Carmelites, Dominicans, or Franciscans, who live according to vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Habit – The clothing customarily worn by a member of a religious congregation.
Holy Habit – A term referring to both the religious habit and the ceremony during which, in some religious congregations, a postulant receives the habit and becomes a novice.
Holy See – Refers to the governing body of the Catholic Church, located in the Vatican City State, with the Pope as its head.
Indult – A permission given by the Holy See or a diocesan bishop. In the context of religious life, it is primarily permission for exclaustration or departure from the congregation.
Lauds – Morning prayer that is part of the Liturgy of the Hours or the Divine Office.
Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) – Organization of major superiors, representing communities of women religious in the United States.
Mendicant – A religious congregation or order which is sustained by the charity of others and serves by itinerant preaching.
Mission – A term with multiple meanings: the calling of the congregation, a house or convent where members live, or an assignment to a particular house or ministry.
Ministry – The specific work undertaken by members of a congregation, such as teaching, nursing, evangelizing, or social work, as a way of living out their mission.
Monk – A male member of a monastic religious order who lives a vowed life of prayer, especially the obligation of the Divine Office, community, and work. Some monks make a vow of stability by which they promise to remain for life in a particular monastery or abbey, and their apostolate is carried out within the monastery. Other monks may minister outside of it, usually with other members of the order.
Mother General, Mother Superior, Reverend Mother – The highest leadership position in a women’s religious congregation who is elected at a general chapter. In many congregations, these titles have been changed to General Superior/Superior General, Congregational Leader, General Moderator or President.
Novice – A candidate in religious life who has completed aspirancy and postulancy, and is in the stage of formation preparing to profess religious vows.
Novitiate – An essential period of religious formation by which a novice acclimates to life in the congregation, learning its spirit and mission, and continuing to discern before taking final vows. The novitiate generally lasts two years. One canonical year is required, and another year during which the novice may experience ministry work outside the novitiate house.
Nun – A woman who has made solemn vows and typically lives a cloistered or monastic life dedicated to prayer and contemplation. She is usually addressed as “Sister.”
Order – A structured religious community within the Catholic Church, following a specific rule of life and often having a particular charism and mission. Members of an Order made solemn vows, which are defined by Canon Law as: “A vow is solemn if the Church has recognized it as such; otherwise, it is simple” (can. 1192 §2). This is in contrast to the simple vows made by members of a religious congregation.
Postulant – One who has made initial steps towards joining a congregation, but is still undergoing discernment and formation. The step between Aspirancy and the Novitiate.
Priest – An ordained member of the Roman Catholic Church who has received the sacrament of Holy Orders and serves in sacramental and ministerial roles. Priests may serve a diocese under the direction of a bishop, or may be members of a religious order or congregation.
Professed – A member of a religious congregation who has made temporary or perpetual vows.
Province – A defined geographic area that serves as an organizational subdivision of a congregation, hierarchically between a national or international community and local chapters/foundations. Related terms include:
- Provincial – The leader, hierarchically between the general superior/superior general and the local superior, of a congregation responsible for members and the spiritual and temporal needs of the communities in the province. After Vatican II, synonyms used include area leader or regional leader. Also “of” or “relating to” a province. Such as in Provincial Council, a council for the province, not a council of provincials.
- Provincialate – The headquarters of a province containing the office of the provincial.
Recreation – A designated time when members of a religious community gather to engage in conversation or activities, contrasting with periods of required silence.
Refectory – The dining room within a religious house or monastery.
Retreat – A period of several days set aside for prayer, contemplation, and spiritual renewal. Required annually for all clergy and religious.
Sacred Silence – The practice of maintaining silence during specific hours as a spiritual discipline, particularly from night prayer (Compline) until morning prayer or Lauds.
Sister – A member of a women religious congregation who devotes her life to prayer and active ministry outside of her convent. “Sister” is also used as a title before an individual’s name to denote her membership in a congregation. “Sister” is not synonymous with “nun;” all nuns are sisters but not all sisters are nuns! Nuns live a cloistered life of prayer and contemplation, whereas Sisters have an active and public role, leaving their convents to teach, minister to those in need, and serve their wider communities. “Sister” is used while addressing both, as in, “Sister Margaret.”
Superior – An appointed or elected leader at any level of the congregation’s government responsible for the members, and spiritual and temporal goods. Examples include General Superior/Superior General, Provincial Superior, etc. Since Vatican II, some congregations prefer to use other titles such as animator, coordinator, or liaison.
“Sursum Corda” – A phrase that literally means, “Lift up your hearts.” A call by the superior, in some religious houses, to signal the beginning of Sacred Silence.
Temporary Professed – A member of a congregation who has made religious vows for a specific period of time, typically one year, which are renewed every year until making final vows.
Vespers – Evening prayer that is part of the Liturgy of the Hours or the Divine Office.
Visitation – The customary practice of the Superior General or Provincial making an annual or biannual visit to each house within the congregation. This may include a meeting with each member of the community.
Vows – The sacred promises of poverty, chastity, and obedience also known as the evangelical counsels. Those who profess these vows are consecrated to God, and follow Jesus in a life of love and service, while tending toward holiness or perfect love.