Third Order

American  

noun

Roman Catholic Church.

1. a branch of a religious order whose members are lay people following the avocations of a secular life.

2. a member of a Third Order who follows its rule in the community under ordinary simple vows.

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Third Order British  

noun

1. RC Church a religious society of laymen affiliated to one of the religious orders and following a mitigated form of religious rule

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Third Order

Paolo Benanti, a Franciscan Friar of the Third Order and a Catholic priest, teaches moral philosophy at Luiss Guido Carli University and is a professor of ethics of technology at Seattle University.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026

It formed a related group for women, called the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará, and an organization for lay people called Third Order.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 16, 2020

Thomas Farrell, who represents the Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular, Province of the Immaculate Conception, also didn't return a call.

From US News ● Mar. 17, 2016

Formerly known as the Third Order of St. Francis, it is an order within the Catholic Church for men and women, single and married, dedicated to the Franciscan way of life.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 30, 2015

And if the Third Order was wanting, the First Order was at least less prominent than it was in other lands.

From Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 15 by Various

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