The presented article discusses the autonomy of the Christian faithful in private associations in the Code of Canon Law of 1983. The private associations are one of the types of associations in the Church beside the public ones. The author starts with the explanation of the term “autonomy”. Although this term is not new in the teaching of the Church, the legislator in the Code of Canon Law of 1917 did not use it. The article provides an analysis of the origin and aims of the private associations. The Church legislator stipulates that the Christian faithful are free, by means of a private agreement made among themselves, to establish associations to attain the certain aims. The Christian faithful are at liberty freely to found associations. The private associations are guided and directed by them according to the prescripts of their statutes. The author describes the members of the private association. Their reception is to be done in accord with the norm of law and the statute. Although private associations enjoy autonomy, they are subject to the vigilance and governance of ecclesiastical authority. The last part of the article discusses the two forms of the expiration of private associations. The legislator indicates the following means: 1) cease to exist in accord with the norm of its statute and 2) suppress by the competent authority.