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 – Implementing instruction of the Apostolic Constitution “Vultum Dei Quaerere” on women’s contemplative life.
RELIGIOUS LIFE RESOURCES
Cloistered Life – Dominican Nuns
