Pope Francis sets new rules for life in monasteries

The contemplative women should be able to achieve their vocation with the set of new rules released by the Vatican on Friday, July 22, the feast day of St. Mary Magdalene.

Pope Francis signed his approval for the 38-page document "Seeking the face of God" on June 29, the feasts of Sts. Peter and Paul.

The Holy See officially released the document on the feast of St. Mary Magdalene, the patron of contemplative life, converts, glove makers, hairdressers, penitent sinners, people ridiculed for their piety, perfumeries, pharmacists, sexual temptation, tanners and women, according to Catholic Online.

According to the new set of guidelines, monasteries should now align themselves with some form of federation based not just confined to geographical considerations but also extended to similarity of spirit and tradition. Monasteries that cannot be part of a federation should explain and seek approval from the Holy See.

Monasteries should also live according to the cloister the Holy See chooses for it as well as maintain prayer as central to their daily lives.

The new apostolic constitution on cloistered life that added 14 new articles also outlined 12 guidelines on how the contemplative religious can further fulfill their vocations as well as address the legislative gaps of the previous one.

The new rule requires that juridical autonomy should be maintained by keeping the minimum number of sisters and that "the majority are not elderly, the vitality needed to practice and spread the charism, a real capacity to provide for formation and governance, dignity and quality of liturgical, fraternal and spiritual life, sign value and participation in life of the local Church, self-sufficiency and a suitably appointed monastery building."

The pope praised the contemplative women as being able to "more closely" follow Jesus' path "with an undivided heart." He also likened them to "Mary Magdalene on Easter morning, announce to us: 'I have seen the Lord!'"

While the pope helps women in monasteries to live as beacons to the world, other religious women aspire to serve as deacons.

This came as a request from around 900 senior nuns who attended the triennial assembly of the International Union of Superiors General at the Vatican in May asked the pope to create an official commission to study how they could serve as women deacons to the church. The pope responded affirmatively but released nothing concrete just yet.