This article clears doubts on when and for whom the formation period called “postulancy” is obligatory. Active and contemplative orders have different rules on this.
“My name is Sr Sudha. After graduation, I joined a religious institute of pontifical right. In the same month, my elder sister joined a cloistered monastery after acquiring a post-graduation degree. After one year of training, I was promoted straight away to novitiate. But my elder sister, though a post-graduate, had to undergo postulancy after six months of Aspirancy. Even though we joined at the same time, she is not yet a novice, while I am completing my canonical novitiate. My maternal aunt also was a postulant in my congregation before she became a novice. Is my novitiate valid without undergoing the postulancy programme?”
A very reasonable question. Let us clarify matters.
Active Religious Institutes
As for your aunt doing the postulancy, this was a canonical requirement for religious in the 1917 Code. “All women in religious institutes of perpetual vows and, if it concerns religious [institutes] of men, lay brothers, before being admitted to the novitiate, must perform a postulancy of at least six integral months …; the major superiors can extend the prescribed time of postulancy, but not beyond another six months” [c. 539 §1, 1917]. It was to be performed either in the novitiate house or in another house of the congregation. They had to wear some modest attire different from that of the novices [c. 540 §§1-2, 1917].
The 1983 Code of Canon Law makes no mention of postulancy, nor does the 1990 Code deal with it. The CIC (1983) leaves the pre-novitiate programmes—“Come and See,” aspirancy, postulancy, etc.—totally to the competence of each religious institute. CIC c. 641 begins with the novitiate. CIC c. 642 insists that only worthy candidates should be admitted to the novitiate. CIC c. 597 §2 specifies that religious institutes should not admit anyone without sufficient preparation; CCEO c. 449 stipulates, “Before being admitted to the novitiate, a candidate must live in the monastery under the special care of an experienced member, for a period of time determined in the typicon.” [The term ‘typicon’ is used to mean ‘constitution’ in the Oriental Code.]
Contemplative Orders
The rules for contemplative orders, however, are quite different. For them, postulancy is a necessary stage of preparation for the novitiate. Cor Orans (the instruction on women’s contemplative life) issued on April 1, 2018, by Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life deal with it in detail (articles 269-276). Accordingly, it is a period during which the candidate confirms her determination to be “converted” through a progressive passage from secular life to contemplative monastic life. During this time, a postulant is gradually introduced to the process of assimilation of the fundamental elements of contemplative life. Besides, it offers a more direct and concrete experience of community life according to the specific charism of the Institute.
The postulancy has a minimum duration of twelve months. If needed, this period can be extended by the major superior after consulting her council. However, it is not to exceed two years. Before admitting a candidate to postulancy, the major superior is to examine whether she aspires to monastic life with a sincere intention, possesses the suitable disposition, is solid in Christian doctrine and practice, is healthy, has appropriate maturity required for her age, and seeks the face of God at all times.
The directress must be a solemnly professed nun to whom the postulant can open herself with full trust and who is capable of discerning whether there is a real call to contemplative monastic life or not. She is to help the postulants to dedicate themselves to human and spiritual formation and deepen their baptismal commitment. During this period of formation, the postulants are to follow the community life and be aware of their capacity for monastic life. They are encouraged to learn a skill according to the needs of the community, such as, host-baking, stitching vestments and other sacred linens, making candles and so on.
Now, to answer your query, your novitiate is certainly valid since you have gone through one year of pre-novitiate as per your Constitutions and the Codes of Canon Law. Your sister has to go through postulancy as per the Constitution of her institute. As for your aunt, she might have undergone formation before 1983, when postulancy was mandatory.
Sr Licia SMI
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