Society of Apostolic Life

The Society of Apostolic Life ( Latin: Societas vitae apostolicae ) is an institution in the Catholic Church that unites believers and is organized on the basis of monastic orders and congregations . Moreover, for members of the Society of Apostolic Life, the taking of monastic vows is not necessary. Previously, they were also called joint or community life societies.

According to the Code of Canon Law, members of such a society “carry out the inherent apostolic mission and, leading a joint fraternal life, strive for the perfection of Christian love” ^[1] .

Each society has its own constitution. Members of the community must live in a special monastery arranged in accordance with the norms of society and the canonical law of the Church. The management of the inner life of society is the prerogative of its leaders and the leaders of the respective divisions, while in matters of public worship, members of the apostolic society are subordinate to the diocesan bishop . The highest governing body regulating the activities of these societies is one of the congregations of the Roman Curia - the Congregation for the Affairs of the Institutes of Sacred Life and the Societies of the Apostolic Life . Canon laws relating to apostolic society are compiled in articles 731–755 of the Code of Canon Law .

Societies of apostolic life began to emerge in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries , as an institution capable of uniting both monks and laity for a specific ministry within the Church. The most famous societies are oratorians , lazarists , daughters of mercy , sulpicians , pallotins , etc.