Regula, caput XI
The Vow of Obedience and the Ring
The bishop receives the nun's vow of obedience and love, seals it with a prayer, and places the blessed ring on her hand as the bride of God.
Christ here sets out the manner of consecration, blessing, and introduction of nuns into the monastery. Then, with the ring blessed, the bishop should approach the handmaid of God and say: 'You must promise God, and me on his behalf, that you will obey your superiors and keep this rule according to your strength, even to the end of your life.' As she promises to do these things, the bishop should add: 'With such an intention you must give your faith to your God and vow that you will love nothing at all as you love your God, and it is fitting for you to assent to him with your whole desire.' Then she answers: 'I assent to my God with all my heart and with all my mind, offering myself to him in all simplicity of heart.'✦ To which the bishop answers again: 'And I, on behalf of almighty God and his only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, assent to you.' And he should read this prayer: 'Almighty God, Jesus Christ, true God and true man, who deigned to descend into the womb of the Virgin, may he be strengthened in your soul, and you in him.' In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.✦ Amen. Then he should place the ring on the finger of her right hand, saying: 'I bless you as the bride of God and as his perpetual possession.'
The Offertory and the Blessing of the Garments
During Mass the nun makes her offering, and her monastic garments are brought to the altar and blessed as signs of humility and penitence.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. After this, the bishop will approach the altar and begin Mass with a hymn to the Holy Trinity, and the handmaid of God will meanwhile stand below, near the sanctuary. When the offertory begins, she is to come forward to the altar, make her offering, and then return at once to her place. After the offertory has been said, her garments — the ones the rule directs her to have in readiness, prepared by the community — are to be brought to the altar before the bishop. He will bless them, reading this prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, who do not will the death of sinners but desire their penitence, we ask your mercy: deign to bless these garments, which this handmaid of yours proposes to wear as a sign of humility and penitence, so that, leaving behind the vanity of this age, she may be found worthy to clothe herself in you through true humility."✦ In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Clothed in Repentance and the Way of Salvation
Stripped of her outer garments and standing barefoot, the nun is clothed in the tunic and slippers while prayers ask for true repentance and a straightened path.
Once the garments have been blessed, one of the clerics will call the handmaid of God to the altar before the bishop. Walking barefoot and removing her outer garments before the altar, she is to remain in a single tunic, about to receive the consecrated habit.1 Then she is to be clothed by the bishop in the regular tunic as the bishop says: 'Almighty God, grant true repentance in your conscience and perfect contrition in your heart.' In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Then she is to put slippers on her feet, as the bishop says: 'Lord our Jesus Christ, make straight the step of your feet and grant that you may now walk in the way of salvation, so that you never again consent to sin, and grant amendment for sins committed and caution for the future.'2 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Cowl, Cloak, and the Piercing Memory of the Cross
As the nun receives the cowl and cloak, prayers ask for balanced hope and fear of God, steadfast faith, and a heart set ablaze by the memory of Christ's passion.
When she is clothed in the cowl, let the bishop say this prayer: 'Lord Jesus Christ, the hope of all Christians, grant you hope and confidence in your heart, so that you may hope in God's mercy in such a way that you do not forget God's justice, and so that you revere God's severity in such a way that you do not neglect God's tender mercy and goodness.' In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Then, when the cloak has been fitted, let him say: 'Almighty Lord God, the beginning of true faith, strengthen and confirm your soul in true faith, and grant you belief in the things that must be believed, and perseverance to the end of life in the good undertaking you have begun.'3 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Next, when the cloak is fastened with the wooden clasp, let the bishop say: 'Our Lord Jesus Christ, who because of the boundless love with which he loved us was nailed to the cross of wood and condemned to a most bitter death, may he himself pierce and transfix your soul with the memory of his passion, so that your love may burn for God alone, and the fire of divine love, embracing you, may grant you rest in his blessed arm, in which all the saints find their rest.'45 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Veiled and Illumined for the Heavenly Way
The nun is veiled and her head is pinned with prayers for protection from harm and for spiritual light to know God and despise earthly things.
Amen. Afterward she will veil her own head with a fillet, the bishop placing a pin and saying the prayer: 'Lord our Jesus Christ, be to your soul a shelter and refreshment, so that no harmful things may be able to harm her.' In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Once the veil has been placed, let the bishop say the prayer: 'Lord Jesus Christ, grant to your understanding spiritual light and wisdom, so that all earthly things and whatever is harmful to your soul may be dead before your eyes, and the way that leads to heavenly things may be illuminated before your soul, so that you may be able to know the one who chose you.' In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. When these things are finished, let the handmaid of God return to the place where she stood before, and let the bishop complete his Mass.
Crowned as the Bride of Christ
At the nuptial blessing of the Mass the bishop crowns the nun, fixes the crown with a needle, and calls her to the altar as the bride of Christ.
When he has reached that part of the Mass at which the priest in a nuptial Mass customarily turns and blesses the bridegroom and bride, the bishop too, with one cleric calling the handmaid of God to the altar, shall place a crown over her veil, saying this prayer: 'Our Lord Jesus Christ fix his mark upon you, which I place upon your head, and direct your will in all the things you have now vowed, so that you may be firm and steadfast, and may he crown you with a crown of joy, according to his gracious will, so that your soul may be inseparably united to him who is one God in three persons.' In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Then let him send a needle into the crown, saying this prayer: 'Jesus Christ, let him fasten your heart and soul with his love, so that you may fear the goads of no temptation.' In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. When these things are finished, let the handmaid of God return to her former place, all the way to the end of the Mass. When that prayer is finished, one of the clerics shall call her to the altar, saying: 'Come forward, bride of Christ, to the altar of Christ!'
Prostration, Absolution, and the Handing Over to the Abbess
The nun prostrates for the litany and absolution, receives the Body of Christ, is led with torches and hymn to the monastery door, and is solemnly commended by the bishop to the abbess.
She herself, then, as she comes forward, should humble herself to the ground on her face, and the bishop, kneeling with his clergy, should recite the litany, praying to all the saints on behalf of the handmaid of God. When the litany is finished, the bishop should rise and approach the handmaid of God as she lies prostrate, and pronounce the absolution of sins over her. And so, having received absolution, she should rise and receive my Body. When she has received it, four sisters should quickly go out through the door by which the handmaid of God is to enter, and bring the bier—which is to be set down strewn with earth before the beginning of Mass—into the monastery. Then the bishop, coming to that same door with the handmaid of God following, and with two torches and the clergy chanting the hymn 'Veni creator Spiritus,' should hand her over to the abbess waiting at the door with the community, the bishop saying to the abbess these words: 'See, before God and all the saints and in the sight of holy Church, I commend the soul of the bride of God into your keeping.' If she falls away through your neglect, her bridegroom Jesus Christ will require her from you. Therefore guard and keep what God has entrusted to you, so that when an accounting is demanded, you may return her more holy than you received her as a holy woman!' To this the abbess should reply: 'This is a great treasure, most dear father, and a difficult task, and my strength isn't equal to it.'
Received into the Community's Common Life
Trusting in prayer and God's help, the abbess accepts the charge; the door is closed, the new nun is led to chapter, and after eight days of gentle entry she takes her place in the order.
But once I'm helped by your prayers and trusting in God's aid, I'll do what you command. And so, once the handmaid of God has been brought in, let the door be closed at once, and let her be led immediately to chapter. And then for eight days she'll be under no discipline, but she'll stand in a lower place in the choir. But once the eight days are completed, let her be held to the observance of the order like the others, and let her be placed next to the last in choir and at table.
Read the original Latin
Christus ponit hic modum consecracionis, benediccionis et introduccionis monialium ad monasterium.
"Deinde benedicto annulo episcopus appropinquans ad famulam Dei dicat: 'Tu debes promittere Deo et michi ex parte eius te obedire prelatis tuis et regulam istam tenere iuxta vires tuas vsque ad finem vite.' Promittente illa se ista facturam subiungat episcopus: 'Tali intencione oportet te dare fidem Deo tuo et vouere, vt nichil omnino sicut Deum tuum diligas, et toto desiderio conuenit tibi assentire in ipsum.' Tunc respondet illa: 'Assencio in Deum meum toto corde et tota mente offerens me illi in omni simplicitate cordis.' Cui sic iterum respondet episcopus: 'Et ego ex parte Dei omnipotentis et vnigeniti Filii eius, Domini nostri Ihesu Christi, assencio in te.' Et legat istam oracionem: Oracio Deus omnipotens Ihesus Christus, verus Deus et verus homo, qui in vterum Virginis descendere dignatus est, firmetur in anima tua et tu in ipso. In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.' Deinde imponat annulum digito dextre manus eius dicens: 'Benedico te in sponsam Dei et in perpetuam eius possessionem.
In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.' Post hec episcopus accedens ad altare incipiet missam cantando de Sancta Trinitate et famula Dei interim stabit inferius iuxta sanctuarium. Cum autem incipit offertorium, ipsa procedens ad altare offerat et statim redeat ad locum suum. Dicto vero offertorio vestimenta eius, que regula iubet habere, preparata a conuentu apportentur ad altare ante episcopum. Que ipse benedicet legens istam oracionem: Oracio 'Domine Ihesu Christe, qui non vis mortem peccatorum sed desideras penitenciam, quesumus clemenciam tuam, vt hec vestimenta, que in signum humilitatis et penitencie hec famula tua ferre proponit, tu benedicere digneris, vt vanitate huius seculi relicta te per veram humilitatem induere mereatur. In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.'
Vestimentis ergo sanctificatis vnus clericorum vocabit famulam Dei ad altare ante episcopum. Que nudis pedibus incedens et exterioribus vestimentis ante altare se exuens in vna tunica remaneat consecratum habitum susceptura. Induatur deinde per episcopum tunica regulari dicente episcopo: 'Deus omnipotens det tibi veram penitenciam in tua consciencia et perfectam contricionem in corde. In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.' Deinde ipsa muniat pedes suos sotularibus dicente episcopo: Oracio 'Dominus noster Ihesus Christus faciat rectum gressum pedibus tuis et det tibi sic nunc procedere in via salutis, vt numquam amplius consencias peccato, donetque tibi de peccatis commissis emendacionem veram et de futuris cautelam. In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.'
Cum autem induitur cuculla, dicat episcopus: Oracio 'Dominus Ihesus Christus, spes omnium christianorum, det tibi spem et fiduciam in animo tuo, vt sic speres de Dei misericordia, vt non obliuiscaris eius iusticiam, et sic timeas eius seueritatem, vt non negligas eius pietatem et bonitatem. In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.' Deinde adaptato mantello dicat: Oracio 'Dominus Deus omnipotens, principium vere fidei, corroboret et confirmet animam tuam in vera fide et det tibi, que credenda sunt, credere et ad finem vite in bono incepto persistere. In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.' Dehinc coniungatur mantellum cum nodo ligneo dicente episcopo: 'Dominus noster Ihesus Christus, qui propter nimiam caritatem, qua dilexit nos, ligno crucis affixus est et amarissima morte dampnatus, ipse animam tuam configat et transuerberet memoria passionis sue, vt caritas tua ad solum Deum ferueat et ignis caritatis diuine amplexans te tribuat tibi requiem in suo benedicto brachio, in quo omnes sancti requiescunt. In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti.
Amen.' Postea ipsa velabit caput suum vitta episcopo imponente acum et dicente: Oracio Dominus noster Ihesus Christus sit tue anime in vmbraculum et refrigerium, vt nulla ei nociua nocere valeant. In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.' Imposito autem velo dicat episcopus: Oracio 'Dominus Ihesus Christus det intellectui tuo spirituale lumen et sapienciam, vt terrena omnia et, que anime tue sunt nociua, ante oculos tuos sint mortua et via, que ducit ad celestia, illuminetur ante animam tuam, quatenus eum, qui te elegit, cognoscere possis. In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.' Hiis finitis reuertatur famula Dei ad locum, vbi stabat prius, et episcopus compleat missam suam.
Qui cum venerit ad partem illam misse, in qua sacerdos in sponsali missa solet se conuertere et benedicere sponsum et sponsam, conuertet et ipse se episcopus et vno clerico vocante famulam Dei ad altare imponat ei coronam super velum dicens: Oracio 'Dominus noster Ihesus Christus stabiliat signum suum in te, quod capiti tuo impono, et dirigat voluntatem tuam in omnibus, que nunc vouisti, vt firma sis et constans, et faciat te coronari corona leticie iuxta benignam voluntatem suam, vt ei, qui in tribus personis est vnus Deus, vniatur inseparabiliter anima tua. In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.' Deinde mittat acum in coronam dicens: Oracio 'Ihesus Christus configat dileccione sua cor tuum et animam, vt nullius temptacionis stimulos expauescat. In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.' Hiis finitis reuertatur famula Dei ad locum priorem vsque ad finem misse. Qua finita vnus clericorum vocet eam ad altare dicens: 'Procede, sponsa Christi, ad altare Christi!'
Ipsa igitur procedens humiliet se ad veniam super faciem suam et episcopus flexis genibus cum clericis suis legat letaniam orando omnes sanctos pro famula Dei. Finitis autem letaniis episcopus surgens ad famulam Dei accedat prostratam et legat super eam absolucionem peccatorum. Et sic absolucione percepta illa surgens sumat corpus meum. Quo sumpto quatuor sorores aperta ianua, qua famula Dei intratura est, exeant celerius et feretrum, quod terra superiecta ante inchoacionem misse statuendum est, inferant in monasterium. Deinde episcopus accedens ad eandem ianuam subsequente famula Dei cum duabus faculis et clericis hymnum 'Veni creator Spiritus' decantantibus assignabit eam abbatisse expectanti ad ianuam cum conuentu dicente episcopo abbatisse hec verba: 'Ecce coram Deo et sanctis omnibus et in facie sancte ecclesie commendo animam sponse Dei in manus custodie tue. Que si per negligenciam tuam lapsa fuerit, sponsus suus Ihesus Christus requiret eam a te. Conserua igitur et custodi depositum Dei, vt, cum raciocinacio queritur, eam sancciorem reddas, quam sanctam suscepisti!' Cui respondeat abbatissa: 'Grandis thesaurus est iste, pater carissime, et labor difficilis nec ad ista vires mee suppetunt.
Verumtamen precibus tuis adiuta et de adiutorio Dei confidens faciam, quod iubes.' Et sic famula Dei protinus introducta claudatur ianua et ipsa statim ducatur ad capitulum. Et deinde per octo dies nulla artabitur disciplina sed inferius stabit in choro. Completis autem diebus octo astringatur sicut cetere ad obseruanciam ordinis et iuxta vltimam in choro et in mensa statuatur."
Scripture echoes
- ↩Deut.6.5;Matt.22.37 — And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Matt.22.37 — And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
- ↩Matt.28.19 — Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
- ↩Luke.15.7;Ezek.33.11 — I tell you, there will be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents more than over ninety-nine righteous persons who have no need of repentance. Ezek.33.11 — Say to them, 'As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'
Notes
- 1 ↩susceptura is uncertain in form (possibly a future participle or a noun); rendered 'about to receive' as the most plausible sense in context.
- 2 ↩sotularibus is an uncertain lemma (possibly 'slippers' or 'sandals'); rendered 'slippers' as the most plausible sense. donetque carries enclitic -que; rendered as 'and grant'.
- 3 ↩principium vere fidei could be read as 'the beginning of true faith' (objective genitive, the origin from which faith comes) or 'the origin that is true faith' (appositional). Chose the more natural objective reading; the prayer asks God, who is the source of faith, to confirm the candidate in it.
- 4 ↩The prayer plays on the image of the cloak clasped at the neck with a wooden nodus: the physical fastening becomes a figure for the soul pierced and held by remembrance of the Passion. configat et transuerberet are violent verbs (pierce, transfix) applied to the interior person; rendered literally to preserve the devotional intensity.
- 5 ↩amarissima morte dampnatus: 'condemned to a most bitter death' preserves the theological force of damnatus as judicial condemnation, not merely 'suffered.' The prayer recalls Christ's death as the ground of the soul's safe enclosure in God.
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