Explore the range of different religious orders within the Catholic Church. Examine the key differences between the orders and the roles that they play within the community.
Religious orders refer to people who have chosen to dedicate their lives to the service of God as either a monkA person who is a member of a monastic order, living under religious obedience. or a nunA member of a religious community of women, living under communal rules..
Those who join a religious order may say that they had no choice to join, but rather it was a 'calling' by God. Joining a religious order is seen as a vocationA calling to a particular job or work., through which monks and nuns are following God鈥檚 plan for their lives.
There are different types of orders that an individual can join, depending on what role they believe God has called them to carry out: