Chapter 2

Of those who desire to enter into this Order, and how they shall be received.

When any one presents herself to you, through inspiration, to take upon her this life, the Abbess shall be obliged to ask the consent of all the sisters; if the greater number consent, having license from the Cardinal, your protector, the Abbess may receive her.

Secondly—When she is to be received, the Abbess is to examine her diligently, or cause her to be examined, concerning the Catholic Faith and the holy Sacraments of the Church, all which, if she believe, and faithfully confess, and promise steadfastly to observe to the end, then, if she have no husband, or in case she have, he must have entered into some religious order, and have made a vow of chastity, with the approbation of his Diocesan Bishop. Likewise, she must not be too far advanced in years, nor have any sickness or weakness of head, which may hinder her to observe the life she is to lead, and which is to be declared to her very particularly at her first entering.

Thirdly—If she be fit and willing, the words of the Holy Gospel shall be read unto her, to wit: Let her go and sell all she has, and give to the poor; which, if she cannot effect, her good will shall suffice.

Fourthly—The Abbess and all the sisters shall be very careful not to busy their minds by meddling with her temporal goods, that she may freely dispose of them as God shall inspire her.

Fifthly—Nevertheless, if she ask their advice, they shall send her to some discreet person that fears God, through whose counsel her goods may be distributed to the poor.

Sixthly—Then her hair shall be cut round, and her secular habit shall be taken away, and the Abbess shall lend her three coats and one cloak; after which it is not lawful for her to go out of the Monastery without profitable, manifest, and reasonable cause.

Seventhly—When the year of her probation is expired, she shall be received to obedience, vowing perpetually to observe the life and form of your poverty.

Eighthly—None shall receive the black veil during the year of probation.

Ninthly—The sisters may also have light cloaks for the conveniency of their employments.

Tenthly—The Abbess shall discreetly provide that her sisters have clothes according to the times, places, and cold regions, and provide as she sees necessity requires.

Eleventhly—The young who are received into the Monastery before they are of sufficient age, shall have their hair cut off, and their secular habit taken away, and be clothed with such cloth as the Religious wear, according to the discretion of the Abbess; and when they are come to proper years, they shall take the habit, as others do, and pass their year of probation.

Twelfthly—And as well for them as the other Novices, the Abbess shall carefully provide a mistress, one of the discreetest of the Monastery, who shall diligently instruct them in modest manners and holy conversation, according to the form of your profession.

Thirteenthly—The same shall be observed in the admittance of the sisters who serve outside the Monastery, and those sisters may wear shoes.

Fourteenthly—None may dwell within the Monastery except they be received according to the form of your profession.

Fifteenthly—I do admonish, pray, and request my sisters, for the love of the most holy and sweet child Jesus, who was wrapped in poor clothes, and laid in a manger, and for the love of his holy Mother, that they will always be clothed in poor clothes.

It is likewise required that none be received into the Order without license of the Protector. This power hath been given by divers Popes, and committed to the General or Provincial, as is set down in the Constitutions. Before any be received they must examine her, or get her examined by the Bishop or his Vicar, as is ordained by the Council of Trent (Sess. 15, c. 17). It is likewise necessary that the Novice should give away all she has to the poor before she enters the Monastery; this, at least, is to be performed by her before she be admitted to profession, agreeably to the Council of Trent (Sess. 25, c. 17). And the year of probation being ended, she is to be admitted if there be no impediment; and the Council says, that the time of the Noviciate being ended, if she be judged fit, she is to be received to profession, and if otherwise she is to be sent out of the Monastery. It is likewise to be observed, that the same Council also ordains (in the 25th Sess. c. 17) the necessity of acquainting the Bishop or his Vicar-General therewith, a month previous to her profession.