Michael Brooks
Nuns are women who devote their lives to the service of their religion. While nuns in the United States are typically Catholic, other faiths such as Buddhism and Orthodox Christianity also have nuns. To become a Catholic nun, a woman must be at least 18 years old, single, without dependent children, and debt-free. The process of becoming a nun typically involves a period of discernment, where one speaks with nuns, visits convents, attends retreats, and prays to determine their calling and the order they wish to join. Once decided, one must apply to join a specific order, undergoing an aspirancy, pre-candidacy, and candidacy phase, before becoming a nun.
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What You'll Learn
Requirements for becoming a nun
The process of becoming a nun can take 9 to 12 years, and there are several stages to pass through.
Firstly, you must be a single, Catholic woman. While in the past, aspiring nuns were required to be between the ages of 18 and 25, older aspirants are now being accepted. You must also be physically and psychologically able to engage in the mission of the religious community.
The first stage is the aspirancy, which is a period of two to four weeks in which you live with the other nuns of your order. If you are deemed a good fit, you will be accepted into a postulancy. After several months of living in the order and taking classes, you then enter a novitiate. At this time, you will be assigned a new name.
The next stage is the initial inquiry phase, which is a time for deep reflection, growth, and grace. During this time, you will learn about prayer, live in community, and study theology. You will also minister alongside sisters. Once you and a vocation minister agree that you have a strong calling, you will start the application phase. At this point, you will meet regularly with a spiritual director.
After your application is complete, you become a pre-candidate. During this time, you will meet the community with whom you will live. This is a simple ritual celebration of prayer that marks the beginning of your journey.
The next stage is a two-year candidacy phase. The first year focuses on the transition to religious life, and the second year focuses on ministry, study in theology, and preparation for the novitiate. After candidacy, you transition into the novitiate. Your first year is an intense period of reflection.
After two years as a novice, you take your first vows, and then after three more years, you take your final vows. These vows are lifelong commitments to Christ, involving poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Each faith and order set their own requirements for those who want to become nuns, and the duties of nuns vary by faith and order. However, nuns in the United States are typically Catholic, and they all live a life consecrated to God.
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The process of joining an order
The process of becoming a nun and joining a religious order is a long and thoughtful journey. It involves several stages and can take up to 9–12 years before a lifelong commitment is made. Here is a step-by-step guide to the process:
Exploration and discernment:
- Explore different religious communities and their websites to understand their missions, rules, and the lives of their members.
- Consider using resources like VISION Vocation Network, which offers a directory of Catholic religious communities and a Vocation Match feature to help find the right order.
- Reach out to Vocation Directors, who are members of the community that can guide you in discerning God's call and navigating the formal steps of joining.
Aspirancy:
- During this initial inquiry phase, you'll have ongoing correspondence and visits with the community to ask questions and get acquainted.
- This stage can be structured with flexibility, allowing you to continue living in the world while gradually transitioning to the monastic life.
Pre-candidacy and candidacy:
- After submitting your application and receiving affirmation, you become a pre-candidate. You'll meet the community with whom you'll live and begin to develop relationships.
- The candidacy phase typically lasts for two years. The first year focuses on the transition to religious life, and the second year focuses on ministry, theology studies, and preparation for the novitiate.
Novitiate:
- After the candidacy phase, you'll enter the novitiate, an intense period of reflection and deeper spiritual formation.
- During this stage, you'll receive a new name and begin to live by the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience.
First vows:
- After two years as a novice, you'll take your first vows, marking your temporary profession of the vows.
- You'll wear a symbol of your commitment, such as an emblem or a ring, and continue your spiritual and practical formation.
Final vows:
After at least three more years, you'll take your final vows, making a lifelong commitment to Christ and your chosen order.
It's important to note that the timing and specifics of each stage may vary depending on the order and your personal journey. Additionally, as a nun, you will devote yourself to a life of service, prayer, simplicity, and community.
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The role of a vocation director
Vocation directors help individuals to understand God's call in their life and discern whether they are being called to a particular religious community. They are responsible for helping individuals get to know the community and vice versa. They will lead individuals through the formal steps of joining a particular religious community, such as a nunnery.
Vocation directors can be found through the National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC) or by contacting individual religious communities. They are also listed in the Religious Communities for Women section of the Religious Ministries website. Additionally, VISION Vocation Network provides a directory of Catholic religious communities and their contact information for vocation directors.
It is important to remember that while seeking guidance from a vocation director, there is no obligation to commit to a particular community. Individuals are encouraged to explore different communities and discern which one aligns with their calling. The vocation director will provide support and resources to help individuals make informed decisions about their vocation.
Vocation directors play a crucial role in helping individuals navigate the formal processes and discernment journey as they seek to answer God's call in their lives and find their place within a religious community.
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The difference between nuns and sisters
To become a Catholic nun, you must first ensure that you are not married in the eyes of the Church. If you are, you must obtain an annulment. Widows are permitted to become nuns, and many women who have children become nuns, but their children must no longer be dependent. You should also ensure that you are physically and psychologically able to engage in the mission of the religious community.
You should then get in touch with a Vocation Director, who will help you to get to know the community and discern God's call in your life. The Vocation Director is a member of the community that you are considering joining, and she will help you to get to know the community and vice versa. She will lead you through all the formal steps of becoming a nun within that particular religious community.
Now, while the terms "nun" and "sister" are often used interchangeably, there are some differences between the two. In general, nuns are cloistered, meaning they rarely leave their convent or monastery, while sisters are active in the world. Both nuns and sisters live a life consecrated to God and profess the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. However, nuns take solemn vows, while sisters take simple vows. The solemn vows of nuns are perpetual and are taken in a public setting, and nuns must give up all of their worldly possessions, including property and inheritances. Sisters, on the other hand, renounce ownership of all property except inheritances and trusts, and they are not allowed to use the income from those assets.
The life of a nun is typically contemplative and centred around the monastery, while a sister's life is often called "active" or "apostolic" as she engages in works of mercy and other ministries that take the Gospel to others in the world. A sister's ministry is often determined by the needs of the poor and marginalised. While prayer is an important component of a sister's life, it is not her primary work.
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The vows of a nun
To become a nun in the Catholic Church, you must dedicate your life to religious service and contemplation, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent. The term "nun" is used for women who have taken "solemn" vows, while "sister" refers to those who have taken "simple" vows.
Vow of Poverty
The vow of poverty means that a nun gives up the right to control or benefit from personal property and commits herself to living interdependently within a community. They live a life of labor and moderation, often serving in communities experiencing poverty and sharing the same living conditions. This vow signifies a radical dependence on Christ for their material needs.
Vow of Chastity
The vow of chastity, or celibacy, means that nuns do not marry or engage in romantic or sexual relationships. This frees them from exclusive human attachments, allowing them to devote all their love to God and, through God, to all people. By taking this vow, nuns testify that their lives are not defined by sex, and they give themselves wholly to God. This freedom from earthly ties enables them to go wherever God and their community call them.
Vow of Obedience
The vow of obedience means that nuns obey their lawful superiors according to the constitutions of their particular group or congregation. They seek God's will through prayerful reflection and dialogue with others, imitating the obedience of Jesus Christ. This vow enables nuns to sacrifice their own will to become God's instruments in the world.
Some Catholic orders may also take a fourth vow, which is specific to their order.
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Frequently asked questions
You must be a single Catholic woman, typically between the ages of 20 and 45. You must also be physically and psychologically able to engage in the mission of the religious community.
First, you must apply to join a specific order by undergoing an aspirancy, which is a period of two to four weeks in which you live with the other nuns of your order. If they determine you are a good fit, you will be accepted into a postulancy. After several months of living in the order and taking classes, you enter a novitiate and are assigned a new name. After two years as a novice, you take your first vows, and then after three more years, you take your final vows.
Nuns devote themselves to lives of poverty and simplicity, dedicating their lives to the service of their religion. They may devote themselves to prayer or serve their community by helping the poor, teaching in schools, or providing healthcare.
