A postulant (from Latin: 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 or a religious order for the period of time preceding their admission into the novitiate.[1]
The term is most commonly used in the Catholic Church, Lutheran Churches, and the Anglican Communion (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.
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 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.[2] 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 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, until ordination 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.[3]
Notes
^Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Postulant" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
^Cor orans, Implementing Instruction of the apostolic constitution Vultum Dei quaerere on women's contemplative life, No. 275
^"Home - Alpha Chi Rho National Fraternity". Alpha Chi Rho National Fraternity. Retrieved 2018-10-16.
postulant, postulant, from, latin, postulare, originally, makes, request, demand, hence, candidate, term, generally, restricted, those, asking, admission, into, christian, monastery, religious, order, period, time, preceding, their, admission, into, novitiate,. A postulant from Latin 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 or a religious order for the period of time preceding their admission into the novitiate 1 The term is most commonly used in the Catholic Church Lutheran Churches and the Anglican Communion 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 Contents 1 Purpose duration and formation 2 College fraternities 3 Notes 4 ReferencesPurpose duration and formation Edit 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 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 2 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 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 until ordination to the transitional diaconate takes place The postulant who will not pursue ordination into the priesthood is ordained into the vocational diaconate College fraternities EditIn 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 3 Notes Edit Herbermann Charles ed 1913 Postulant Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company Cor orans Implementing Instruction of the apostolic constitution Vultum Dei quaerere on women s contemplative life No 275 Home Alpha Chi Rho National Fraternity Alpha Chi Rho National Fraternity Retrieved 2018 10 16 References Edit This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Porter Noah ed 1913 Webster s Dictionary Springfield Massachusetts C amp G Merriam Co a href Template Cite encyclopedia html title Template Cite encyclopedia cite encyclopedia a Missing or empty title help Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Postulant amp oldid 1093600023, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
