Secolari

Secolari (plural) is an Italian term that derives from secolare, meaning "secular" or "worldly." In general usage, secolari can describe people or things related to the non-religious sphere, or attributes associated with the laity, as opposed to those of the religious orders.

In ecclesiastical contexts, secolari often refers to members of secular institutes, a form of lay religious life approved by the Catholic Church in which individuals profess vows while living in ordinary society. In contrast to the regular or cloistered clergy (clero regolare), secular institute members aim to live under evangelical counsels while remaining in secular professions. The term can thus denote both the concept of secular life and the specific group within Church structure.

In modern Italian, the adjective secolare is also used to describe long-standing or historical things (e.g., traditions, institutions) and to distinguish from religious life in areas such as education, politics, and culture. The plural secolari appears most often in ecclesial discussions, but may also appear in discourse related to secularity.

Notable related concepts include secularism, secular institute, and secular clergy. The term’s precise sense is highly dependent on context, particularly in religious versus civil usage.