Postulant

Upon acceptance, the inquirer moves into the Abbey and becomes a postulant. Postulants live in the novitiate and attend prayers and meals with the monks. Postulancy is considered “residential vocation discernment”; like novices, postulants are under the care and supervision of the formation director, taking classes in the Rule of St. Benedict, Scripture, theology, philosophy, monastic history, and other topics, and engaging in manual labor or other work. Postulants are under no obligation to stay. 

Usually postulancy lasts for a period of five to six months.