What does the Church say about the formation of Oratories and what is the Oratory of St. Philip Neri all about?

May 3, 2024 at 2:09 p.m.

Following is a listing of quotes and Church resources on the Oratory of St. Philip Neri:

"Societies of apostolic life, called in the 1917 Code of Canon Law "societies of men or women who live in common without vows," are defined by can. 731.1 and 731.2 in the 1983 Code of Canon Law as follows:

"Comparable to institutes of consecrated life are societies of apostolic life whose members without religious vows pursue the particular apostolic purpose of the society, and leading a life as brothers or sisters in common according to a particular manner of life, strive for the perfection of charity through the observance of the constitutions. Among these there are societies in which the members embrace the evangelical counsels by some bond defined in the constitutions.

St. Philip Neri can be considered the father of men's Societies of Apostolic Life, as we now know them, and St. Vincent de Paul of women's Societies."

https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccscrlife/documents/rc_con_ccscrlife_profile_en.html

And

"Institutes of pontifical right are those erected or approved by the Holy See by formal decree. Institutes of diocesan right are those erected by Bishops and which have not obtained a decree of approval from the Holy See (can. 589)." https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccscrlife/documents/rc_con_ccscrlife_profile_en.html

And

 Code of Canon Law: "Can. 593 Without prejudice to the prescript of ⇒ can. 586, institutes of pontifical right are immediately and exclusively subject to the power of the Apostolic See in regards to internal governance and discipline." https://www.vatican.va/archive/cod-iuris-canonici/eng/documents/cic_lib2-cann573-606_en.html#:~:text=593%20Without%20prejudice%20to%20the,to%20internal%20governance%20and%20discipline.