Consecrated Life Vocabulary: a vocabulary for describing consecrated life groups in the Roman Catholic Church, but which may also describe aspects of consecrated life groups in Sister Churches. This document is on the way to being a full-blown ontology of Consecrated Life, but at this early stage would be better described as a 'vocabulary' and is in fact largely presented in terms of the Simple Knowledge Organization System or SKOS, which allows for simpler semantics and more complete human readable information. The division into 'classes' and 'properties' does not belong to the SKOS model, but it is made here to indicate that we wish to eventually model this vocabulary as an ontology. There are also occasional references to properties belonging to the RDF Schema form of modelling (e.g. rdfs:seeAlso).
There is an essential difference between a simple taxonomy or dictionary of terms, and a 'vocabulary' which is at least heading in the direction of being an ontology. The former would be a simple list of terms. The latter seeks concepts, rather than terms.
One of the recommendations for creating semantic web vocabularies is to re-use existing vocabularies or at least some terms from them where possible. It is not so easy to accomplish this in the current instance since many of the categories in this domain are markedly distinct from existing category definitions, many of which have to do with commercial interests or organizational factors alone, or may otherwise be too generic. Nevertheless it is possible to associate some classes and properties with existing classes and properties defined elsewhere.
It is also assumed that particular consecrated life groups may wish to develop a vocabulary based on this one, thus extending certain classes and adding additional properties as required.
The URI for this vocabulary is: https://sdl.sdb.org:9343/greenstone3/library/collection/glossari/document/HASH0190cbf803cc65d15afb7503
When abbreviating terms the suggested prefix is clv.
Editors: Salesian Social Communications Sector: mailto:roma83537@gmail.com Contributor: jbf
This document is open for review by webmasters and other interested parties from consecrated life groups (Orders, Congregations, Secular Institutes, Societies of Apostolic Life, other groups or individuals recognised as 'consecrated' by the Church's authority and including Public Associations of the Faithful pursuing such recognition). The objective is to enhance the witness and effectiveness of websites belonging to such groups in the overall context of the Web, by promoting open data where it is possible and desirable to do so and the means to link such data. This approach can enhance interoperability in many instances where it is particularly desirable, e.g. linking data amongst not-for-profit organizations and activities managed by and/or in the name of consecrated life groups
This is one document in a set of several yet to come, with a view to helping webmasters. Other documents will be found in this same namespace and will provide explanation of the semantic web, the advantages of linked data for consecrated life groups, and how to go about it.
The intended public is invited to send comments to mailto:admin@sdb.org
This section describes the status of this document at the time of its publication. Other documents may supersede this document.
This vocabulary by no means pretends to be complete, so it would be helpful to receive ideas as to how to develop it further, bearing in mind the difference stated earlier between a simple dictionary list of terms, and a vocabulary which is more at the level of the essential concepts to be covered.
Do we need a core for the institutional aspect and another core for persons?
FOAF offers a some classes and properties that we could employ: Agent (things that do stuff) as a superclass for the 'doing' part of consecrated life,maybe, but we also need something for the 'being' part, currently presented as ConsecratedState. Person, Organization, Group are all FOAF possibilities; title, member are property possibilities, though covered below by others such as honorificPrefix and member from the W3C set. Core Organization Ontology.
A useful glossary of terms on 'Religious Life' has been compiled on the basis of Fr John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, and can be found at http://www.religiouslife.com/glossary.html.
The Salesians of Don Bosco have begun to develop a term base along semantic web lines, as an initial step in this direction. It can be found at https://sdl.sdb.org:9343/greenstone3/library/collection/glossari/document/HASHa526674607563b48e54791.
Nota bene: All URIs below are given in full. Where they appear as hyperlinks, they will produce a 404 if clicked within this html file in its online location (sdl.sdb.org), but will function if the document is downloaded to your computer.admitted alternative title apostolic Assembly Charism Church Circumscription clerical Common Life Consecrated Person Consecrated State contemplative deceased department of designatory prefix Dimension Discipline Evangelical Counsel Formation formative phase founder Fraternal Communion governed by has department honorific prefix House Institute linked to member of location Membership Mission perpetual vows preferred title professed Proper Law public Religious Family Sacred Bond saintly cause saintly prefix Sector Service of Authority simple vows site address solemn vows sponsorship Spirituality superior Temporal Goods temporary vows Tradition Universal Law Vocation
URI
skos:prefLabel
Church
skos:definition
Church as communion: vertical - from God; horizontal - extending out to all mankind, and Church's life as a striving for holiness.
skos:scopeNote
Since all of consecrated life comes within the ecclesial (Church) domain, this has to be regarded as a superclass or top concept in SKOS terms. The Church as organization might well be handled by existing vocabularies or ontologies. Where there is something quite specific to Church which overlaps with the 'communion' dimension expressed here, it is included in this vocabulary.
URI
skos:prefLabel
Consecrated state
skos:definition
The ontological state of being resulting from the profession of the evangelical counsels in the Church.
skos:example Example terms used: Religious, Religious Life, Consecrated Virgin, Hermit, Eremitical life…
skos:broader
URI
skos:prefLabel
Sacred Bond
skos:altLabel
Vows
skos:definition
Vow or at least promise accepted by a superior in the context of an association approved by the Church.
skos:scopeNote
This would usually be a consecrated life group, but it is possible in some instances that the sacred bond is directly with the Church and accepted by the Bishop (as in the case, for example of a Consecrated Virgin).
skos:broader
skos:broader
URI
skos:prefLabel
Evangelical Counsel
skos:altLabel
Evangelical Counsels
skos:definition
The Gospel counsels. The consecrated life is constituted by the profession of the evangelical counsels.
skos:noteScope
They are more often than not referred to in the plural, but can be named separately. Although not part of the Church's hierarchy, the profession of the evangelical counsels by consecrated persons belongs to the Church's life and holiness.
skos:example
Traditionally known as poverty, chastity and obedience.
skos:broader
URI
skos:preLabel
Institute
skos:definition
A religious society in which, in accordance with their own law, the members pronounce public vows and live a fraternal life in common.
As an organization, in secular terms, it represents a collection of people organized together into a community or other social, commercial or political structure. The group has some common purpose or reason for existence which goes beyond the set of people belonging to it and can act as an Agent.
skos:scopeNote
skos:altLabel may be added for alternative names (trading names, colloquial names).
skos:broader
org:organization
URI
skos:prefLabel
Charism
skos:definition
Descriptive of the spiritual orientation and characteristics specific to a Religious Institute. Normally understood to be the gifts of the Holy Spirit as represented in the Founder or Founders and passed on to the Institute to be preserved and developed. In purely secular terms this might be understood as the purpose of the organization.
skos:broader
skos:Concept;
skos:broader
org:Organization
skos:related
URI
skos:prefLabel
Spirituality
skos:definition
To be understood in this context as a particular spirituality representative of the charism of the Religious Institute.
skos:example
e.g. Salesian spirituality, Dominican spiritualtiy.
skos:broader
skos:broader
URI
skos:prefLabel
Mission
skos:definition
Mission is of the Spirit, hence a theological concept, rather than of a particular group (for which we might speak of charism or spirituality).
skos:scopeNote
Mission is a fundamental principle of consecrated life, not to be confused with 'missions' or 'the missions' which are specific sectors.
URI
https://sdl.sdb.org:9343/greenstone3/library/collection/glossari/document/HASH0190cbf803cc65d15afb7503#ReligiousFamily skos:prefLabel
Religious Family
skos:definition
Religious Family is a term that stands for the bond (of varying strengths) that links groups under the one charism. It is an institutional expression of an inner, charismatic and spiritual communion.
skos:broader
URI
skos:prefLabel
Service of Authority
skos:definition
Service of authority indicates a role a person or other agent plays in the consecrated life group. Usually a person is established as a sign of unity and a guide in discerning God's will, which is the role of the Superior, or Rector.
skos:scopeNote
The instances of this class remain in the abstract, denoting the 'role' of Rector or Superior (or Abbot or…) rather than the particular instance of this in a community - for this latter, cf. superior.
URI
skos:prefLabel
Universal Law
skos:definition
That which is promulgated for the whole Church
skos:scopeNote
We are interested in the universal law of the Church as it applies to the consecrated state or to consecrated persons.
skos:broader
URI
skos:prefLabel
Proper Law
skos:definition
The Proper law defines rules in observance of the patrimony of the institute composed of the mind and designs of the founders regarding the nature, purpose, spirit and character of the institute in keeping with sound traditions.
skos:example
The Proper Law of the Institute covers such terms as 'Constitutions', 'Regulations', 'Statutes', 'Chapter deliberations', 'Directory' etc.
skos:broader
URI
skos:prefLabel
Formation
skos:definition
The personal accompaniment of an individual, the stages reached in the process of personal growth towards completeness as a human being.
skos:scopeNote
Includes terms such as 'initial formation', 'ongoing formation', 'special formation', 'quinquennium' etc.
skos:broader
URI
skos:prefLabel
Consecrated person
skos:definition
The consecrated person is one who has taken on the obligations of the evangelical counsels and has made 'profession'.
skos:related
URI
skos:prefLabel
Membership
skos:definition
Indicates the nature of the Membership of an individual (e.g. incorporated in an Institute, radical membership of a Province etc.) or of a group to a Religious Family. In this latter case there will be varying degrees. For example a group may have been additionally founded by the founder, so has a level of membership at the core level, or it may have been founded by a member of the group the founder founded, so at a secondary level of Membership of the Family; or it may have sprung into existence inspired by the founder's charism, hence a tertiary level of Membership.
skos:broader
skos:broader
URI
skos:prefLabel
Circumscription
skos:definition
A broadly understood delimitation which may be territorial (as in a province or diocese) or personal (as in a personal prelature, ordinariate or other).
skos:scopeNote
In almost every case for consecrated life groups the notion of ecclesiastical circumscription is that of a legally constituted extension, normally consisting of more than one legally constituted house under a duly appointed superior.
skos:example
It may be represented by terms such as 'province', 'vice province', 'district', 'delegation', 'region', 'custody', 'mission', 'conference' or other similar.
skos:related
URI
skos:prefLabel
Fraternal Communion
skos:altLabel
Community Life
skos:definition
A dimension of Religious community, which may be expressed in concrete terms as 'fraternal life' or 'community life' or similar.
skos:broader
URI
skos:prefLabel
Common Life
skos:definition
A condition of consecrated life in an Institute, in contrast to private, individual living of the secular clergy or to the eremetical solitary life. Means living in community, with submission to a superior and a common rule, with community of goods such as food, clothing, and shelter.
skos:broader
URI
skos:prefLabel
House
skos:definition
A lawfully constituted community under the authority of a Superior designated by law.
skos:scopeNote
The term interprets 'lawfully constituted' broadly here to include a presence set up by due religious authority but not canonically constituted.
skos:broader
skos:broader
URI
skos:prefLabel
Apostolic Work
skos:definition
An Apostolic Work is essentially a work of charity, but it may take precise concrete and indeed institutional form as a work of 'education' or 'health care' or other of the kind.
skos:scopeNote
It is intended to cover the superior level of designation (education, health care etc) rather than the more precise 'school' or 'hospital' or similar, or could apply to all 'works'. Where it is a case of a work taking particular institutional form one could call on an organization vocabulary.
skos:broader
rdfs:seeAlso
http://schema.org/School or http://schema.org/Hospital or similar
URI
skos:prefLabel
Assembly
skos:definition
Any formal moment of gathering in consecrated life (be it in community at local level, or in a province, or worldwide, or across different rgoups of consecrated life…)
skos:scopeNote
The term covers the full range of religious assembly in consecrated life.
skos:example
Examples of instances 'Chapter', 'community assembly'.
skos:broader
URI
skos:prefLabel
Sector
skos:definition
A unit of organization which is of the very nature (charismatic) of the consecrated life group in question, so only has full recognition within the context of that group. It is not a Legal Entity in its own right. Units can be large and complex containing other units. Groups may have a variety of names for this kind of unit.
skos:broader
org:Organization
URI
skos:prefLabel
Temporal Goods
skos:definition
Wordly goods as distinct from spiritual goods.
URI
skos:prefLabel
Discipline
skos:definition
Refers to the autonomy of a consecrated life group and the way it preserves its patrimony.
skos:scopeNote
The term can therefore cover the concept of 'governance'.
skos:broader
URI
skos:prefLabel
Vocation
skos:definition
Calling; the fundamental calling is to holiness.
skos:scopeNote
The term is often applied in the plural, 'vocations', implying people who are attracted to this form of life, or in reference to ones 'vocation' or calling (to this or that other Institute).
URI
skos:prefLabel
Dimension
skos:definition
An aspect or an element of the consecrated state.
skos:scopeNote
May be qualified by terms such as 'prophetic', 'charismatic'.
skos:broader
URI
skos:prefLabel
Patrimony
skos:definition
Patrimony is an extensive class including such things as the 'intentions of the Founder', the 'spirit' and 'charism' of the Institute, its wholesome 'traditions', the 'Constitutions' and other 'norms', 'discipline', 'incorporation', 'formation' and proper object of the 'sacred bond'.
URI
skos:prefLabel
preferred title
skos:definition
The primary name or title (e.g. legally recognized name or title) for a consecrated life group.
skos:example
An example is 'Society of St Francis de Sales' or 'Salesian Society' as formal titles where instead 'Salesians' or 'Salesians of Don Bosco' are in fact alternative labels.
skos:broader sub-property of rdfs:label
URI
skos:prefLabel
alternative title
skos:definition
Alternative name, perhaps a colloquial name, for a consecrated life group.
skos:example
An example could be 'Salesians of Don Bosco' as an alternative to the formal 'Society of St Francis de Sales'. In this case the alternative label is the more widely known one.
skos:broader sub-property of rdfs:label
skos:prefLabel founder
skos:definition Person who has founded or established a group.
skos:prefLabel superior
skos:definition The superior is a role of organizing life for the good of the the institute and its members according to the vocation. It is a pastoral service limited by law. Leader of a community or indeed of a group.
skos:scopeNote
Intended to cover a wide range of concrete situations within the Service of Authority, from the 'Major Superior' ('Provincial', 'Abbot', 'Moderator', 'Coordinator' or other designation or one who stands in their stead) to a local superior (again covering a wide variety of possible designations).
skos:prefLabel honorific prefix
skos:definition
Complete term or abbreviated version of a variety of forms of address for persons used in the Church and consecrated life.
skos:example
Father (Fr), Brother (Br, Bro.), Sister (Sr), Abbot, Mother are some examples.
skos:prefLabel
designatory prefix
skos:definition
The initials that usually follow the name of a person who is a member of a consecrated life group: sdb, sj, op etc.
skos:prefLabel
saintly prefix
skos:definition
Candidates for canonisation will be called one of 'Servant of God' (not abbreviated), Venerable (Ven.), Blessed (Bl.), Saint (st).
skos:prefLabel
public
skos:definition
In reference to profession, which is by nature 'public', that is made into the hands of one who receives the profession of the evangelical counsels in the name of the Church.
skos:prefLabel
clerical
skos:definition
Used in relation to Religious Institutes which exercise sacred orders by tradition and therefore are governed by a cleric. May also be applied to a person who exercises a role associated with Sacred Orders or is at least a candidate for such.
skos:prefLabel
lay
skos:definition
In reference to a Religious Institute that by tradition does not include the exercise of Sacred Orders. May also be applied to a person who is not ordained or is not a candidate for ordination.
skos:prefLabel
of pontifical right
skos:definition
An Institute established by authority of the Holy See.
skos:prefLabel
of diocesan right
skos:definition
An Institute established by authority of a Diocesan Bishop.
skos:prefLabel
gender
skos:definition
A property of the majority of groups of consecrated life (some newer forms include male and female members).
skos:scopeNote
While it may seem politically incorrect to some in today's context the fact is there are male and female Institutes. FOAF gender applies only to person not to groups.
skos:prefLabel
separated from the world
skos:definition
The most well-known form of consecrated life is that of religious institutes, which are characterized by the public profession of vows, life in common as brothers or sisters, and separation from the world.
skos:prefLabel
living in the world
skos:definition
In a secular institute, the faithful live in the world and work for its sanctification from within. They are a "leaven in the world," trying to order temporal things according to God's plan. They commit themselves to the evangelical counsels and to a fellowship appropriate to their "particular secular way of life" (Canon 713).
skos:prefLabel
member of
skos:definition
Indicates that a person or group is a member though with no indication of the nature of that membership or the role played. Note that the choice of property name is not meant to limit the property to only formal membership arrangements.
skos:scopeNote
It is also intended to cover related concepts such as affiliation or other involvement in the group. Extensions can specialize this relationship to indicate particular roles within the group or more nuanced relationships to the group.
skos:broader
Sub property of foaf:Agent -> org:Organization
skos:prefLabel
governed by
skos:definition
A property of the service of authority
skos:prefLabel
professed
skos:definition
Those persons in a religious community who have been admitted to the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
skos:scopeNote
In some groups the term is reserved for those religious who have lived in their communities for a definite period of time after the taking of vows. The term may also apply exclusively to those who have taken final vows. But generally they are said to be “finally professed,” as distinct from those who are “temporarily professed” or “first professed” or “junior professed.”
skos:prefLabel
temporary vows
skos:definition
A commitment made to God to practice poverty, chastity or some other virtue for a specified length in time. They are canonically temporary, so that after they expire the one who made them is free to live the institute of Christian perfection. But intentionally, even the person who takes only temporary vows should have the desire to persevere in the vowed commitment until death
skos:prefLabel
perpetual vows
skos:definition
Ordinarily the final vows a person takes in an institute of Christian perfection, mainly poverty, chastity and obedience. Other vows may be added, according to the constitutions of the institute.
skos:prefLabel
simple vows
skos:definition
Every vow, whether private or public, that is not expressly acknowledged by the Church as solemn
skos:historyNote
The term came into use with the Church's recognition that religious congregations are authentic institutes of Christian perfection, as distinct from religious orders. Simple vows render actions committed against the vows illicit, unlike solemn vows that make such actions invalid.
skos:prefLabel
solemn vows
skos:definition
Public vows pronounced in a consecrated life group (known in this case as an 'Order') and recognized as such by the Church.
skos:prefLabel
formative phase
skos:definition
A defined phase in the formation process, which may receive various designations, but the most common would be: 'initial' 'ongoing', 'specific'
skos:scopeNote
Could involve a pre-phase such as aspirantate or prenovitiate, then novitiate and postnovitiate or other phase including special formation, ongoing formation, quinquennium
skos:prefLabel
contemplative
skos:definition
Human life insofar as it is occupied with God and things of the spirit. Compared with the active life, its stresses prayer and self-denial as a means of growing in the knowledge and love of God. As a form of consecrated life, it identifies “institutes which are entirely ordered towards contemplation, in such wise that their members give themselves over to God alone in solitude and silence, in constant prayer and willing penance”.
skos:prefLabel
apostolic
skos:altLabel
active
skos:definition
A property belonging to consecrated life groups who bring "anew to their own times the living presence of Jesus, the Consecrated One par excellence, the One sent by the Father". In simple terms it means service in a particular active way by means of works of charity.
skos:prefLabel
admitted
skos:definition
According to conditions laid down by Universal Law and Proper Law pertaining to each Institute, a candidate may be 'admitted' to novitiate, vows, sacred orders.
skos:prefLabel
separated
skos:definition
A member may leave a consecrated life group by 'transfer' to another group/Institute, by departure (by consent of the Major Superior and Council, or by indult), or by dismissal.
URI
skos:prefLabel
deceased
skos:definition
A deceased member of a consecrated life group who remains part of the Church understood as communion (the communion of saints).
URI
skos:prefLabel
saintly cause
skos:definition
A Cause of canonization is introduced with regard to a deceased member of a consecrated life group (but not only - the Cause can be introduced for any deceased member of the Roman Catholic Church) with a reputation for holiness and under certain conditions. At an initial stage, if the Cause is officially recognized, the person will be declared a 'Servant of God', then 'Venerable', then 'Blessed', then 'Saint' (cf saintly prefix).
skos:scopeNote
This property describes the process rather than the person.
skos:prefLabel
location
skos:definition
The relation between something and the point, or other geometrical thing in space, where it is. May involve geolocation coordinates and therefore use of an appropriate vocabulary such as URI http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#location
URI
skos:prefLabel
department of
skos:definition
Indicates a unit which is a sub-part or child of a Sector. It is organizational in nature rather than charismatic (if this latter, then it would belong to the class of Sectors).
skos:prefLabel
sponsorship
skos:definition
A reservation of canonical control by the juridic person that founded and/or sustains an incorporated apostolate that remains canonically a part of the church entity. This retention of control need not be such as to create civil law liability on the part of the sponsor for corporate acts or omissions but should be enough for the canonical stewards of the sponsoring organization to meet their canonical obligations of faith and administration regarding the activities of the incorporated apostolate.” (Rev. Jordan Hite, T.O.R., J.D., A Primer on Public and Private Juridic Persons: Applications to Catholic Healthcare Ministry, Catholic Health Association, St. Louis, MO, 2000, p. 37.).
skos:scopeNote
The term “sponsorship” is not formally defined in theology, canon law or civil law. It has developed in recent years and is often used currently to describe the official relationship between an apostolic work and the ecclesial entity under whose auspices the apostolic work is being conducted.
URI
skos:prefLabel
has department
skos:definition
Indicates a sub unit which is part of this consecrated life group, e.g. a Department within a Sector. It is organizational in nature rather than charismatic (if this latter, then it would belong to the class of Sectors).
skos:broader
Sub property of org:hasSubOrganization
URI
skos:prefLabel
linked to
skos:definition
An organizational relationship between two groups.
skos:scopeNote
Indicates an arbitrary relationship between two groups, either between two or more consecrated life groups where they are working in common on a project. Or it may be especially useful where there is a sub unit of the group, perhaps operating as an NGO but the relationships are not formalized, or are formalized outside the scope of this vocabulary which deals especially with relationships within the ecclesial community.
URI
skos:prefLabel
site address
skos:definition
Indicates a VCard (using the http://www.w3.org/TR/vcard-rdf/ vocabulary) for the site. This can include email, telephone, and geo-location details as well as an address.
