A postulant (from , "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 Monasticism, monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in Cenobitic monasticism, communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a ...

or a

religious order A religious order is a subgroup within a larger confessional community with a distinctive high-religiosity lifestyle and clear membership. Religious orders often trace their lineage from revered teachers, venerate their Organizational founder, ...

for the period 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 List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

, Lutheran Churches, and the

Anglican Communion The Anglican Communion is a Christian Full communion, communion consisting of the Church of England and other autocephalous national and regional churches in full communion. The archbishop of Canterbury in England acts as a focus of unity, ...

(which includes the Episcopal Church) 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 (for

ordination Ordination is the process by which individuals are Consecration in Christianity, consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the religious denomination, denominationa ...

) and ordination. The

Eastern Orthodox Church The Eastern Orthodox Church, officially the Orthodox Catholic Church, and also called the Greek Orthodox Church or simply the Orthodox Church, is List of Christian denominations by number of members, one of the three major doctrinal and ...

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 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 List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

, 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 '' Perfectae Caritatis'', the decree on the adaptation and renewal of religious life, in 1965), in other communities, they wear their 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 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 the diaconate and has received parish and diocesan endorsement. The candidate retains postulant status throughout

seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture and theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as cle ...

, until

to the transitional diaconate 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

* This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Porter, Noah, ed. (1913). Webster's Dictionary. Springfield, Massachusetts: C. & G. Merriam Co. * {{RC consecrated life Beginners and newcomers Ecclesiastical titles Organisation of Catholic religious orders Fraternity and sorority culture