Secular institutes are forms of consecrated life where members live in the world rather than in a religious community, but still profess the evangelical counsels and work to sanctify the world from within society. Which option is correct?

• A. Members live in the world and profess the evangelical counsels.
• B. Members live in monasteries.
• C. They do not take vows.
• D. They are lay associations with no vows.

Answer: (A)

Secular institutes are forms of consecrated life in which members live in the world rather than in a religious community, yet profess the evangelical counsels and work to sanctify the world from within society. They are not cloistered in monasteries; instead, members continue ordinary life—work, family, and social roles—while committing publicly to poverty, chastity, and obedience through their institute's rule. They are not lay associations with no vows, since their distinctive feature is the consecrated state with vows, even though lived outside a traditional monastery. Therefore, the statement that members live in the world and profess the evangelical counsels is the correct one.