Understanding Postulancy in Religious Orders

Postulancy is a period of time during which someone, typically a religious candidate, undergoes training or preparation before being admitted to a higher state of life or office.

In the context of religious orders, postulancy is the period of time that a person spends as a postulant, which is a person who has applied to join a religious order but has not yet been accepted as a member. During this time, the postulant receives training and formation in the spiritual and communal life of the order, with the goal of determining whether they are truly called to this way of life.

Postulancy is often followed by novitiate, which is a more intense period of training and formation that prepares the individual for final vows and full membership in the religious order.