Church Documents
There are many Vatican documents that relate to religious life and contemplative type in particular.
SPONSA CHRISTI – Issued on November 21, 1950 by Pope Pius XII concerning consecrated virginity for monastic women and consecrated virgins. The Vatican website no longer has a version in English.
PERFECTAE CARITATIS– Issued on October 28, 1965 by Pope Paul VI concerning the adaptation and renewal of religious life.
VENITE SEORSUM – Issued on December 8, 1980 by Saint Pope John Paul II on the contemplative dimension of religious life.
MULIERIS DIGNITATEM – Issued on August 15, 1988 by Saint Pope John Paul II on the dignity and vocation of women.
VITA CONSECRATA – Issued on March 25, 1996 by Saint Pope John Paul II concerning religious consecrated life.
VERBI SPONSA – Issued on May 13, 1999 by Saint Pope John Paul II as an Instruction on the Contemplative Life and on the Enclosure of Nuns.
VULTUM DEI QUAERERE – Issued on July 22, 2016 by Pope Francis on Women’s contemplative life.
COR ORANS – Issued on May 15, 2018 by Pope Francis as the implementing instruction of the Apostolic Constitution “VULTUM DEI QUAERERE” on women’s contemplative life.
RELIGIOUS LIFE RESOURCES
POOR CLARE RESOURCES
Order of St. Clare Poor Clares