Third Orders

Etymology

• First order: men living a full religious life under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
• Second order: women living a full religious life under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
• Third order: laity participating as much as possible in the spirituality of an order but remaining in the world.

Examples

• Dominicans
• Franciscans
• Carmelites

There is no 'Third Order' of Jesuits — nor any 'Second Order,' either.

Links

• Catholic Encyclopedia.
• Wikipedia.