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In theCatholic Church, asecular institute is one of the forms ofconsecrated life recognized inChurch law (1983 Code of Canon Law Canons 710–730).

A secular institute is aninstitute of consecrated life in which the Christian faithful living in the world strive for the perfection of charity and work for the sanctification of the world, especially from within. (Canon 710)

Secular consecrated persons profess theEvangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, and obedience while living in the world,^[1] as compared to members of a religious institute who belong to a particular congregations, often with specific apostolates.

"We are the newest vocation in the Catholic Church, and many say we are the vocation of the new millennium."^[2]

The historical origins of these institutes go back to the end of the sixteenth century, even though their juridic recognition as a state of consecrated life approved by the Church took place only on 2 February 1947, withPope Pius XII's Apostolic ConstitutionProvida Mater Ecclesia.^[3]

Most members of secular institutes do not live together — though some do. They lead their normal lives “in the world” in a variety of occupations. Each institute has a particular spirituality shaped by its founders and leaders.^[4]

Most members of secular institutes arelay people. Some join as diocesan priests or deacons, and some institutes are founded specifically for diocesan priests who wish to take vows and lead a consecrated life while still beingincardinated in their diocese and working in the diocesan framework. Some secular institutes even train and incardinate their own priests.

Secular institutes are recognized either by abishop (diocesan right) or by the Holy See (papal right). Most are registered with the World Conference of Secular Institutes.

The exact number of members of secular institutes worldwide is unclear. A 2018 survey by CMIS reported approximately 24,000 members, but noted that not all institutes surveyed provided data, and that some institutes provided inconsistent responses.^[5]

As of 2018, CMIS reported a total of 184 secular institutes worldwide.^[5] In the English-speaking world:

• There are nine secular institutes in the UK. These institutes belong to the National Conference of Secular Institutes (NCSI), an association for cooperation and mutual support of those secular institutes which have membership in the United Kingdom. The NCSI is affiliated with the Conference Mondiale des Instituts Seculiers (CMIS), which represents all secular institutes in the world.

• There are 30 secular institutes in the United States^[4]

• Caritas Christi
• Company of St. Paul
• Company of St. Ursula^[6]
• Institute of the Maids of the Poor (M.O.P.)
• Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement
• Secular Institute of Pius X (I.S.P.X.)^[7]
• Servite Secular Institute (S.S.I.)
• Society of Our Lady of the Way

• Religious institute
• Society of apostolic life
• Vocational discernment in the Catholic Church

• Concerning Secular Institutes in the Code of Canon Law (1983), can. 710–730
• Provida Mater Ecclesia at the Vatican website
• United States Conference of Secular Institutes
• World Conference of Secular Institutes

• Catholic lay organisations
• Secular institutes

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from February 2023