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Catholic religious orders ('Religious Institutes', cf. canons 573-746) are the major form of Consecrated life in the Roman Catholic Church. They are organizations of laity and/or clergy who live a common life following a religious rule under the leadership of a religious superior. They do so for the purpose of imitating Jesus of Nazareth more closely, mainly but not exclusively (for every order has also its peculiar charism) by observing evangelical chastity, poverty and obedience, which are the three evangelical counsels of perfection (cf. canons 599-601). They bind themselves in Church Law to this form of Christian living by taking public vows. They may additionally profess to obey certain guidelines for living. Vows are to be distinguished from Holy Orders, the sacrament which bishops, priests and deacons receive, and thus religious are not members of the hierarchy.