Enclosed religious orders of the Christian churches have solemn vows with a strict separation from the affairs of the external world. The term cloistered is synonymous with enclosed. In the Catholic Church enclosure is regulated by the Code of Canon Law, either the Latin code or the Oriental code, and also by subsidiary legislation. Enforced in the past with a largely uniform severity, at least in the case of women, it is now practised with a wider variety of custom according to the nature and charism of the community in question.
The stated purpose for such enclosure is to prevent distraction from prayer and the religious life. Depending upon the reason and the length of time, the proper authority (usually the superior gets approval from the local bishop and/or the Holy See) can allow enclosed men or women to leave the enclosure (for study, for medical reasons, for work in the order or in a diocese, or rarely, to care for a relative). More commonly, cloistered individuals are temporarily released from the obligation of enclosure to participate in a major religious event — a papal visit or a bishop’s visit, for example. This matter is regulated, within the framework of Canon Law and of the particular statutes approved by the Holy See, by the local ordinary, and by the superior of the order and of the individual house.
Some men and women who are cloistered may have knowledge of certain fields like education or health care, depending on their training during formation or the cloistered life, or prior to it. They can provide for the needs of their community, and, rarely, may be allowed to minister for a time outside the cloister. There are procedures in place for the cloistered to receive the needed utilities, communication needs, and medical needs while keeping leaving the cloister to a minimum.
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Author: Wikipedia
Keywords: Religious order, Saint Benedict, Desert Fathers, Monk, Monasticism, Monastic, Monastery, monkhood, solitary, asceticism, ascetic, Nun, Nunnery, Christian monasticism, Christian monastic, Hermit, Rule of Saint Benedict, St Benedict, Franciscan, Franciscan monk, St Francis, Francis, Saint Francis, Francis of Assisi, Eunuch
Bible reference(s): Luke 2:37, 1Co 7:1, 1 Co 7:32, 1 Corinthians 7:34, 1 Corinthians 7:38, 1 Timothy 4:3
Source: This article uses material from the Wikipedia article “Enclosed religious orders,” which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
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