# How Does One Become A Nun / Priest? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 11, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-nun-priest/585142 "2011-06-11T20:16:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-nun-priest/585142/1 "2011-06-11T20:16:02Z")
Rather than ask two questions I’ll combine them. Now the back story as I know you’ll be disappointed if I don’t I was watching _the Golden Girls_, and Sofia decides to be a nun. Of course being a sitcom the process was rather rushed and she became a within the course of 10 minutes. But how is it in real life. As there are different religions, let’s for the sake of this example focus on the Roman Catholic Church. So I want to become a nun. What are the steps? And part II (notice the cool use of “II” instead of the “2,” see it’s like _Rocky_) So I want to become a priest. What are the steps? Do you have to go to nun/priest college? I am assuming there is a “trial” period of some sort? Do you have to decided what kind of priest/nun you want to be first? (Such as nun that teaches or nun that helps in a hospital) Again, I realize priests and nun are not equal, in other words, a nun isn’t the equivalent of a male priest but I thought I’d be better to combine the threads then do one thread for each Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-nun-priest/585142/2 "2011-06-11T20:25:27Z")
A priest must go to seminary where they receive a theological degree, usually a master of divinity, but there are others. While in seminary they study biblical interpretation, christology, homilies and other religious stuff. Once they pass seminary, they are ordained by their diocesan bishop if they’re going to be a diocesan priest. I’m not sure which bishop ordains monastic priests, it may just be the bishop of the diocese in which the monastery is located. If you want to become a nun, you spend a chunk of time living in the convent to discern whether you truly wish to join the order, then you become a novice for a while and then take your vows to be a full member of the monastic community. This is the same process that a man who wishes to become a monk must go through. I’m certain many people join monasteries knowing they want to teach or nurse or whatever and I’m sure the monastery will help with that choice but a lot of people don’t necessarily have anything set in mind although they may find one during discernment and of course, if the abbot or prioress says you must do this, then you darn well are going to do that. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-nun-priest/585142/3 "2011-06-11T20:34:01Z")
> [@](#): > > So I want to become a nun. > > What are the steps? Well, if _you_ wanted to become a nun, then there’s a pretty big first step needed. But kidding aside, let’s just generalize it slightly to becoming a monk (“monk” is actually a gender-neutral term). Basically, you go to the monastery you want to join, and tell them you’d like to join. You’re then a novitiate for several years, to give you the chance to be sure that the monastic life is right for you, and then you take final vows. During this time, you’ll be living at the monastery, praying and worshiping with the other monks, dressing in the habit of the order if they have one, taking part in the work of the order (if nothing else, maintaining the monastery itself, though most orders also have some work they do to support themselves, and some they do for outreach), and so on. Or, if you decide as a novitiate that the monastic life _isn’t_ right for you after all, you can leave and go back to lay life, no hard feelings, and you’re still a Catholic in good standing. To become a priest, you’ll need to go to seminary school and receive other training (a process that takes about 8 years), and then receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders from a bishop. Technically, it’s the sacrament all by itself that makes you a priest, but the bishop won’t administer it unless you’ve gone through all the training. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-nun-priest/585142/4 "2011-06-11T20:37:43Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m not sure which bishop ordains monastic priests, it may just be the bishop of the diocese in which the monastery is located. I’m not sure, but I _think_ an abbot might also be able to ordain priests. An abbot is almost equivalent to a bishop. Note, by the way, that not all monasteries are led by an abbot-- Some are just led by a prior, which is a purely administrative position, not a sacramental one. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-nun-priest/585142/5 "2011-06-11T20:42:20Z")
In the RCC, your first step would to be baptized into that religion. I also assume you must have received the sacraments of Confession and Communion. Then, you do what others in this thread are talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-nun-priest/585142/6 "2011-06-11T22:50:59Z")
You probably meant to type “confirmation” there, not “confession”. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-nun-priest/585142/7 "2011-06-11T22:58:34Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > You probably meant to type “confirmation” there, not “confession”. No, but I did forget about Confirmation. Confession is a sacrament. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-nun-priest/585142/8 "2011-06-11T23:00:29Z")
Yeah, but it’s not a one time thing. A catholic in good standing should be getting themself to confession a few times a year at least. So, if you want to be a priest you should have gone at least once but it’s not like it’s part of some pre-ordination checklist like confirmation or baptism. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-nun-priest/585142/9 "2011-06-11T23:08:22Z")
Isn’t there a Doper who’s a postulant or something? She’s working towards becoming a nun IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-nun-priest/585142/10 "2011-06-11T23:16:28Z")
As the saying goes, get ye to a nunnery! ---
**Author:** ![RadicalPi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/radicalpi/32/9806_2.png) [@RadicalPi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadicalPi)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-nun-priest/585142/11 "2011-06-12T00:11:05Z")
This cite is a bit long, but it gives all the ins and outs of what the US Conference of Catholic Bishops expects out of their priests. ([http://www.usccb.org/vocations/ProgramforPriestlyFormation.pdf](http://www.usccb.org/vocations/ProgramforPriestlyFormation.pdf)) It’s a pdf, so beware. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-nun-priest/585142/12 "2011-06-12T00:26:25Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Yeah, but it’s not a one time thing. A catholic in good standing should be getting themself to confession a few times a year at least. So, if you want to be a priest you should have gone at least once but it’s not like it’s part of some pre-ordination checklist like confirmation or baptism. It’s a sacrament, and it’s one you’ll have to receive before Communion. So, yes, it is part of a checklist like baptism. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-nun-priest/585142/13 "2011-06-12T01:27:19Z")
:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-nun-priest/585142/14 "2011-06-12T03:24:52Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > :rolleyes: Not sure what the rolleyes is about. **John Mace** is correct. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-nun-priest/585142/15 "2011-06-12T03:30:13Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > In the RCC, your first step would to be baptized into that religion. Isn’t that only if you’ve never been baptised before? I thought that Roman Catholicism recognized any baptism with water in the name of the Trinity as a valid baptism, without the need for re-baptism upon conversion to Roman Catholicism? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-nun-priest/585142/16 "2011-06-12T03:36:08Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’m not sure, but I _think_ an abbot might also be able to ordain priests. An abbot is almost equivalent to a bishop. An abbott is also an administrative position, not one of orders, and not equivalent to a bishop. There were at some time ["mitred abbots](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbot#Later_Middle_Ages)" (pre-Reformation in England, for example), who encroached on the powers of bishops, including in some cases claiming the power to ordain deacons, but never priests, as far as I know. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-nun-priest/585142/17 "2011-06-12T04:34:13Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > In the RCC, your first step would to be baptized into that religion. > . I’m not sure what you mean by “that religion” (Roman Catholic or just Christian). Just wanted to mention that any Christian baptism is valid as far as the RCC is concerned. You won’t be “rebaptized” as Catholic if you’ve already been batized by a protestant church, for instance. Also, if you happen to be an Anglican or Orthodox priest, you can jump all the required steps and just become a catholic one by accepting to be in communion with Rome, since your former ordination as a priest, having been done by a bishop in the apostolic succession, is valid in the eyes of the RCC (added bonus, you can do that even if you’re married). ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-nun-priest/585142/18 "2011-06-12T12:28:19Z")
I don’t think that’s correct for Anglican priests, **clairobscur**. There was an issue over whetehr the chain of apostolic succession and ordination was broken in the Anglican Church, due to the wording of the Anglican ordination ceremonies in the late 16th and 17th centuries. From the perspective of the Anglican church, of course the view is that there is no break in the chain. However, Pope Leo XIII disagreed, and said so in a Papal Encyclical: [On the Nullity of Anglican Orders](http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Leo13/l13curae.htm). [QUOTE=Leo XIII] 36. Wherefore, strictly adhering, in this matter, to the decrees of the pontiffs, our predecessors, and confirming them most fully, and, as it were, renewing them by our authority, of our own initiative and certain knowledge, we pronounce and declare that ordinations carried out according to the Anglican rite have been, and are, absolutely null and utterly void. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-nun-priest/585142/19 "2011-06-12T14:34:46Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > Also, if you happen to be an Anglican or Orthodox priest, you can jump all the required steps and just become a catholic one by accepting to be in communion with Rome, since your former ordination as a priest, having been done by a bishop in the apostolic succession, is valid in the eyes of the RCC (added bonus, you can do that even if you’re married). A married man became a priest just yesterday in fact. One of about 100 in the country. [http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20110612/NEWS01/106120336/Diocese-Rochester-ordains-married-man-priest](http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20110612/NEWS01/106120336/Diocese-Rochester-ordains-married-man-priest) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-nun-priest/585142/20 "2011-06-12T16:18:02Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Isn’t that only if you’ve never been baptised before? > > I thought that Roman Catholicism recognized any baptism with water in the name of the Trinity as a valid baptism, without the need for re-baptism upon conversion to Roman Catholicism? Could be. I’m not 100% sure on that point, but in any event you would have to be baptized if you weren’t already. And just for the record, I was somewhat playing the pedant in my first post, as part of a long tradition in GQ of squeezing out every spec of factual information about a topic. It surprised me, though, that someone would challenge the clearly factual nature of “Confession” being a sacrament. The Church might officially call it something else, but as someone who was raised Catholic, I can attest that most of us lay people call it that-- Confession. Baptism, Confession, Holy Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders, Last Rights. Those are the seven sacraments I learned in Catechism. Did I miss any or get any wrong? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-become-a-nun-priest/585142.md?page=2)