Prerequisites for Becoming a Canoness Nun

Prerequisites for Becoming a Canoness Nun

a. You must be a Catholic woman.

You should be baptized. Received the confirmation. In a full communion with the catholic church.

b. You must be single.

You are not married.

c. You must not have any debts upon entrance to the novitiate.

Novitiate is usually a year or two into the formal process of becoming a nun. If you do have debts, work to eliminate them. Don't stop looking into a religious community because of a student loan or something similar. Talk with the vocation director about how to proceed.

d. You must be healthy.

It's important that you be physically and psychologically able to engage in the mission of the religious community. However "healthy" is a relative term and doesn't automatically exclude people with managed illnesses or disabilities. This is an important thing to discuss with the vocation director.

e. You must have 18 to 35  years old.

Although the age limit used to be confined to 18-25, communities accept women up to age 35.

g. Other considerations

A college degree is not an absolute prerequisite; however, many religious communities do encourage that you have at least a bachelor's degree prior to entering. 

In many cases, it should treated according to the circumstances and the degree of the vehement desire to consecrate oneself to God.

How to become a Catholic Religious Nun

How to become a Catholic Nun?

Did you ever wonder  how to follow the call of God in becoming a Canoness Nun?

Do you know where to begin and how to begin in entering religious life?

Our intentions here is to help you in your desire to follow the call of God calling you from the deepest chamber of your heart. As you move forward in searching religious communities, ask spiritual direction from a catholic priest who can give you some specific idea about the peculiar charism of the communities.

How to become a Religious Nun?

1. Pray

The most important thing you need is PRAY. Pray that God is the very center of your desire and there’s no other  intersts except to  serve Him and to be a co savior of saving souls.

Pray that God’s invitation will be your innermost  desire in entering a deepest and intimate relationship you wanted to discover in your quest in following His call.

God calls you. You are called right here, right now to draw more closer to God everyday of your life.

Be open to the voice of the Lord, no matter how you feel difficult to leave everything to follow Him, even the difficulty to left behind your family, Friends, works, ect.

Be faithful in praying. Let the will of God be done in your life no matter what you encounter on the way. Review your day and ask the Lord’s grace and strength to help you do His Will in your daily activities. Pray the Holy Rosary, that the Blessed Virgin Mary guides you towards following and imitating Her Only Begotten Son.

Read the Scripture. Here are some Biblical stories how God called them and how they responded:

·         Mary (Luke 1: 26 – 38)

·         Ruth (Ruth 1: 15- 18)

·         Samuel (1 Samuel 3: 1- 21)

·         Isaiah (Isaiah 6: 1- 10; 49: 1- 6)

·         Paul ( Acts of the Apostles 9: 1-19)

Look at yourself in the story: How God called you? How would like to respond? How God speaking in you?

2. Meet Nuns

Do you know some of the nuns? Do you know us? Getting to know the nuns personally is a very important step in becoming a nun because each one is an example of how to live religious life "for real".

What are some ways you can interact with nuns?

·         attend Mass or a prayer service at a religious community's  convent

·         go on retreat held by or led by nuns

·         get a spiritual director who is a nun

·         attend an event at which there is likely to be a high population of nuns

3. Talk with a Mentor

There's nothing like saying something out loud to make it really real! So start talking to trusted people about your attraction to religious life. These mentors could be family or friends. You might have a dear aunt or a close cousin that you can share you thoughts without fear of being discouraged. Talk with friends whom you know that will be supportive of you while you explore religious life and this feeling of being called to become a nun.

You may also consider talking with someone like a nun or a priest or a chaplain. There are many leaders in parishes and schools that are there to listen and encourage you on your spiritual journey. A more intense way of doing this is by looking into spiritual direction. A spiritual director is someone who is trained to help you discern, think, and pray about how God is moving in your life. Most are familiar with religious life (many in fact are religious) and can be great mentors and sounding boards as you consider where you are and where you are going.

4. Contact a Religious Community

You'll know when it's the right time for you to move from learning about nuns and religious life to formally exploring religious life with a specific community. It can be a leap of faith making this transition, but remember, just because you contact a religious community doesn't mean you are signed up for life. Religious communities know that it can take a while for people to get to know them and religious life in general. They welcome you where you are at and are there to help you discern if God is calling you to their particular community.

So how do you do contact a religious community? If you know a nun in the community you are attracted to, ask her. She'll be a good companion (if you want her to) along the way and will introduce you to the Vocation Director and other sisters if you so desire. If you don't know a nun personally in the community, contact the Vocation Directress of the community directly. You can find her name and contact info on the community's website. You can also contact the Vocations Office in your diocese.

5. Work with the Vocation Director

The vocation director of a particular religious community is the official person who helps you to get to  know the community and to discern God's call in your life. The Vocation Director is a member of the community that you are considering joining. Her job is to help you get to know the community and to help the community get to know you. She'll be the one that leads you through all the formal steps of becoming a nun within that particular religious community. While you are relating with the vocation director, you are not under any obligation to stay with that community. You may decide to look into other communities or to date someone. Don't be afraid to do this. Explore and experience the things you need to in order to find out if religious life with a particular community is for you. Vocation directors are very understanding of this and know that it is a normal part of discerning.

Some things that you might do as you work with a vocation director:

·         meet regularly in person or by phone

·         attend a vocation retreat with other women that the vocation director is working with

·         go to the sisters' community events such as Mass, particular meetings or workshops just for the sisters, etc.

·         learn about the community's charism, spirituality, history, and mission

·         visit organizations and ministries sponsored by the community

·         attend vocation-oriented events within the diocese

·         help her get to know you by having her visit your school or job or taking her to your favorite hang-outs

·         discuss religious life and the vows

When you and the vocation director are ready to officially move forward with your desire to join the community, you'll probably move more into working on the formal steps for joining the community:

·         address the practical requirements to enter the community (Canon Law, finances, property, psychological and physical assessments, etc.)

·         envision your transition into the community (when, where, how)

·         formally meet with other members of the vocation team and with the congregational leader

The vocation director will lead you through all of these things and is there as your advocate. She's there to encourage you, challenge you, and pray with you. Although she is the official link to the community, you are encouraged to befriend others in the community.

6. Join the Community

Once you and the community have discerned that yes, in fact, God is calling you to one another, you go through the formal steps of joining. These include:

·         Aspirancy

·         Postulancy

·         Investiture/Novitiate

·         Profession of Temporal Vows

·         Profession of Solemn Vows