Why are there so many religious orders? Can anybody join?
The short answer
Each order exists for its own purpose — the Franciscans' love for the poor, the Dominicans' preaching, the Benedictines' monastic life. Only priests who belong to an order are consecrated religious, but secular priests, permanent deacons and lay people can join an order's third order as tertiaries.
Different purposes
Orders differ because each has its own mission. Franciscans have a special love for and identification with the poor. Dominicans — officially the Order of Preachers — are devoted to preaching. Benedictines are monastic, rather than active in the world like Franciscans and Dominicans.
Who belongs
Not every priest is a consecrated religious; only those who belong to an order are. A secular priest can join an order as a tertiary living in the world — Pope John Paul II was a third-order Carmelite. Permanent deacons and lay people can also join the third order of their choice. A transitional deacon who is a consecrated religious belongs to his order.
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