The Apostolic Union of Secular Priests is an association of Roman Catholic secular priests (i.e. priests who are not monastics and do not belong to any religious institute). It was founded in the seventeenth century by the German communitarian priest Bartholomew Holzhauser.[1] The organization's function "was partly to ease, through 'a uniform rule of life', the crippling loneliness which was often felt by priests ... 'who are scattered far apart'."[2]
In 1903, Pope Pius X placed the union under his special protection.[3] In 1913, it was reorganized in France by Canon Lebeurier.[3]