in the Roman Catholic Church, are such moral counsels as are not obligatory for every Christian, but are advised in order to perfection. The name is generally applied to the three monastic vows of virginity, voluntary poverty, and obedience (to the monastic superior), but some theologians of the Church of Rome count as many as twelve "evangelical counsels." It is needless to say that Protestants admit of no such distinctions. — Herzog, Real-Encyklop. 3:119. (See SUPEREROGATION).