Third Orders
What is a Third Order?
Religious Third Orders within the Catholic Church are composed of lay members associated with a particular religious order, such as Franciscan or Benedictine. They live in the secular world while following the spirituality of a particular religious order. Rather than taking vows or wearing a habit, those called to the third order make a solemn promise and often wear an emblem of the order.
Augustinian
Third Order Augustinians live their lives on a foundation of Augustin spirituality, which is centered around evangelization, charity, prayer, and community.
Benedictine
Benedictine Oblates, members of their third order, are inspired by the wisdom of St. Benedict, the founder of the monastic movement. They focus on Prayer, Works and Stability.
Carmelite
Starting as a single community of hermits, the Carmelites follow a rule written by St. Albert. Their charism includes service, contemplation, fraternity, and prayer.
Dominican
Founded by St. Dominic as the order of preachers, their charism has a foundation of preaching. The third order’s pillars include prayer, study, community, and apostolate.
Franciscan
,St. Francis founded his third order to allow lay individuals to live out the Franciscan charisms while living in the secular world. Their charism include simplicity, service, prayer and fraternity.
Why join a third order?
Third orders were created within the Catholic Church to allow individuals in the secular world to share in the calling of religious life. All of these orders are unique, but all have the same goal; to be a path leading its members to heaven. If you feel called to live in the secular world, please faithfully consider if you are called to join a third order.
Do you feel called to join a third order?
Your first steps are to continue your research to see which third order’s charism you feel most called to, and to find a spiritual director. Contact your local pastor to see if he knows anyone in your diocese he recommends. A spiritual director is very important when discerning one’s vocation as they will walk along side you through this journey.
Once you feel that you’ve found a third order that you feel attracted to, a great next step is to go to their national website, and find out when their next local meeting time and location is. Click ‘More Info’ under each third order above to get directed to their national websites.