Entrance into the Religious Life

The religious life is a school of perfection, and evenuntutored pupils may enter that school to begin their progress towards perfection. Hence, not only those who are well practiced inthe observance of the commandments should enter that fife, but also the unpracticed, that they may be removed from temptation, avoid sin, and work towards the attaining of perfection.

A good work done in fulfillment of a vow is better than the same work done without a vow. Hence, it is a praiseworthy thing for one who is called to the religious fife to make a vow of entering that life.

Such a vow binds in conscience. It must be fulfilled according to the measure of obligation assumed by the maker of the vow at the time he made it.

A person may make a vow to enter religion, and keep it by actually entering a community, and then, during his time of probation, conclude seriously that he is not called to the religious life. Such a person does not sin against his vow in leaving the order. For he fulfilled the vow when he entered the order as a candidate, and he has taken no further vow in the order itself. But a man who has passed his probation, and has freely made his solemn vows in religion, is bound to remain in the orderperpetually through all his life.

In olden times, it was the custom of pious parents to enter little children in a religious community so that they mightbe trained from early youth in the duties of the religious life. This custom is no longer in vogue.

When parents are in need of support and cannot befittingly cared for without the help of their children, these latter, even if they be grown up, cannot lawfully enter religion. Apart from such necessity, one who feels called to the religious state is not to be prevented from entering it because of parentaldisapproval or prohibition.

Parish priests may surrender their parochial duties to enter the religious state. For this, they need no special permission from the pope.

It is lawful and commendable to pass from one religious community or order to another if there are genuinely serious reasons to justify the change, and if the change is made in fullobservance of the pertinent laws of the Church.

One may lawfully urge or induce another to enter a religious community, provided there is no compulsion in theinducement, and no unholy circumstance, and no trickery.

A person who feels called to the religious life requires no great amount of discussion or seeking of advice. He must simply follow his vocation. With reference to which order he should enter, some consideration and counsel may be wise.