- The first stage is the postulancy. The person who asks to enter the monastery will be a postulant for a few months. He keeps his secular clothes, but already has his hair completely shaved, as a sign of his desire to belong to God (in ancient times, shaving was the distinctive sign of slaves).
The Abbot having sought the advice of his Council, the postulant is admitted to receive the habit: he then becomes a novice.
After two years of novitiate, the brother applies for admission to the community. After a favourable vote by the Chapter, he takes his first vows, for a period of three years. But he must already have in his heart the intention of giving himself forever.
- There are three wishes:
- Through the vow of obedience, the monk is freed from the slavery of his passions and his own will. He obeys his superior as if he were Christ himself. 10 - the vow of conversion of morals commits the monk to always strive for the most perfect. It includes the vows of poverty and chastity. By the first, the monk ensures that he has Jesus Christ as his only wealth, and by the second, that he has him as his only love. 10 - finally, the vow of stability fixes the monk forever to his monastery.
After three years, the monk makes solemn profession. He then takes perpetual vows that will keep him bound to Jesus Christ and to his monastery until his death.
Those destined for the priesthood have received minor orders during their three years of temporary vows. After solemn profession, they receive the subdeaconate, the diaconate and then priestly ordination, usually with a gap of one year between each.
