Final answer:
Members of secular institutes consecrate themselves to God, typically take vows of celibacy, and do not live in a monastic community, instead living and working in the wider world.
Step-by-step explanation:
Members of secular institutes are men or women who consecrate themselves to God through the profession of vows, particularly to celibacy, but generally do not live in the community. Unlike monastic institutes, where members live in a monastery or in a community, members of secular institutes live in the world and are engaged in various professions, all the while dedicating their lives to the service of God and the Church. This lifestyle aligns with the broader historical development of monasticism, which saw early Christian ascetics adopting lives of prayer, meditation, and useful work, often within communal settings. However, secular institutes represent a form of religious life that, while still dedicated to religious and ascetic practices like celibacy, engages more directly with the world rather than withdrawing from it.