SECULAR INSTITUTES ARE A RELATIVELY NEW FORM OF CONSECRATED LIFE WHEREIN THE MEMBERS CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THE WORLD BUT ALSO TAKE VOWS OF POVERTY, CHASTITY AND OBEDIENCE SIMILAR TO TRADITIONAL ORDERS. THEY ARE SEEN AS A RESPONSE TO THE PARTICULAR NEEDS OF THE MODERN WORLD AND A MEANS OF COMBINING THE CONSECRATED LIFE OF TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS ORDERS WITH A MORE ACTIVE APOSTOLATE OPERATING FROM WITHIN THE WORLD.
ASSOCIATIONS OF CHRIST'S FAITHFUL COVERS A WIDE VARIETY OF GROUPINGS WITHIN THE CHURCH, FROM GROUPS LIVING IN COMMUNITY ON THEIR WAY TO BECOMING SECULAR OR CONSECRATED INSTITUTES TO ORGANISATIONS OF LIKE-MINDED CATHOLICS SUCH AS THE CATHOLIC HISTORICAL SOCIETY. MANY OF THE LATTER ARE 'COMMUNITIES OF THE MIND' WHO DO NOT ESTABLISH ANY PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURES AND AS SUCH ARE NOT INCLUDED HERE. OTHERS HOWEVER UNDERTAKE RELIGIOUS WORKS OR ESTABLISH FOUNDATIONS FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES. ALL SUCH ASSOCIATIONS ARE INCLUDED HERE.