A postulant (from la, postulare, to ask) was originally one who makes a request or demand; hence, a candidate. The use of the term is now generally restricted to those asking for admission into a Christian
monastery
A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which ...
or a
religious order for the period of time preceding their admission into the
novitiate.
The term is most commonly used in the
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
,
Lutheran Churches, and the
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is the third largest Christian communion after the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. Founded in 1867 in London, the communion has more than 85 million members within the Church of England and other ...
(which includes the
Episcopal Church, which uses the term to designate those who are seeking ordination to the diaconate or priesthood. In this respect, postulancy is generally considered the first formal step leading to
candidacy and ordination). The
Eastern Orthodox Churches uses this term less frequently.
Purpose, duration and formation
Nuns at a procession in 1915. The postulants in their garbs are walking in front of the professed nuns.
The length of time that a prospective candidate remains a postulant may vary depending on the institution, or the postulant's individual situation. Among active religious institutions, it typically lasted 4–6 months. At present, many monasteries have a candidate spend 1–2 years in this stage. In the
Catholic church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
the implementing instruction ''
Cor orans'' determines that a postulancy in a contemplative community has a minimum duration of twelve months but it must not exceed two years. During this time, the postulant generally participates as fully as possible in the life of the community, joining the novices and professed members and living with the community. Usually, the postulant joins the formal education that is given to the novices. Some communities prefer the postulants to wear a specific garb (as this was rather common until the release of the
Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life) in 1963, in other communities they wear own plain clothes until the formal investiture ceremony.
Since postulants, as novices, are not members of the institution at this stage, it is easier for a man or woman not fully certain about
religious life
Consecrated life (also known as religious life) is a state of life in the Catholic Church lived by those faithful who are called to follow Jesus Christ in a more exacting way. It includes those in institutes of consecrated life (religious and se ...
to re-examine his or her intentions and commitment before making any vows. Likewise, should the person be determined to be unsuited to the life, he or she can be dismissed by an institution without the need for a formal procedure.
The term is also sometimes used to describe the ecclesiastical status of a person who has discerned a call to the
priesthood or to the diaconate and has received parish and diocesan endorsement. The candidate retains postulant status throughout
seminary
A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy ...
, until
ordination
Ordination is the process by which individuals are Consecration, consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorization, authorized (usually by the religious denomination, denominational ...
to the transitional
diaconate
A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian churches, such as the Catholic Chur ...
takes place. The postulant who will not pursue ordination into the priesthood is ordained into the vocational diaconate.
College fraternities
In college fraternities, the term ''postulant'' is also used to describe those who have yet to be initiated into the fraternity, while they are going through the process of becoming a brother or a sister.
Notes
References
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{{Orders
Beginners and newcomers
Ecclesiastical titles
Organisation of Catholic religious orders