Definition of "religious order" [religious order]

• An organized community of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of the founder's religious practice. (noun)

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• "Inflamed with a desire for God's glory he formed the idea of instituting a religious order in of the Passion."
• "In accordance with the privilege granted to the Society of Jesus, the provincial of a religious order is authorized to approve of oratories set apart for the celebration of Mass in the convents of his order; these oratories may receive the blessing usually given to public oratories, and may not be permanently diverted from their sacred uses except for good reason and with the approval of the provincial."
• "My mother, effusive and charming in French and English, and wickedly funny in her native Hungarian, loved to bring visiting foreigners into our bedroom to hear us say our prayers, “En Istenem, Jo Istenem …,” taught to us by the fanatical Catholic nun who lived downstairs and— after her religious order was disbanded by the Communists—was employed as nanny to two of our playmates, Peter and Balint."