teritary
Secular orders, commonly called third orders, are societies of people who wish to deepen their Christian life and apostolic commitment in assocation with and according to the spirit of various religious institutes, but without withdrawing from the world like monks or nuns. A member of a third order is called a tertiary. The orders are called “third” because their foundation usually follows the establishment of the first and second religious orders with which they are associated.
Recognized third orders are:
- Dominican Laity
- Lay Carmelites (Third Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel)
- Oblates of Saint Benedict
- Secular Franciscan Order
- Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites
- Secular Order of Servants of Mary (Servites)
- Secular Third Order of Our Lady of Mercy (Mercedarians)
- Third Order Secular of the Most Holy Trinity
- Third Order of Mary
- Third Order of Saint Norbert
- Third Secular Order of Saint Augustine