Becoming a Monk QUESTION from Kim May 31, 1999 Is there a similar (to the women's) one-stop shoppe for men considering a Religious vocation other than through their diocese? Also, generally, what are the minimum age requirements? Thanks and God Bless.
ANSWER by John-Paul Ignatius on June 2, 1999 Dear Miss Kim:
I don't know off hand of a similar group that one could call except perhaps the Institute on Religious Life in Chicago. This is a group whose membership includes both consecrated men and women. I am member of this group.
Their number is 773-267-1195
As far as minimum age limits, that can vary somewhat from community to community. In Canon Law (Cn 643) a person must be at least 17 to enter the novitiate and Canon 656 states that for a person to be in temporary profession they must be at least 18 which means that Perpetual Profession cannot take place before one's 21st birthday.
Particular communities may have higher minimum age limits as specified by their Rule of Life.
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