joining the society
Step one: Discernment
additional requirements include:
Spiritual autobiography
criminal background check
mental health evaluation
three professional references and three personal references
at least two references must be from your parish community
additional documentation / interviews may be requested during the discernment process
Step two: postulancy
Step tHREE: novitiate
(Year of spirituality)
Step four: profession
God calls His children to assume their vocations in life in many different ways. Being a mother, father, sister, brother, friend, counselor, husband, wife, etc., are all vocations that we are called to in order to fulfill our purpose in life and, more importantly, to glorify and honor God Almighty. Regardless of the form of the vocation, an individual’s vocation is ultimately to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul […] and to love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)
Additionally, any vocation requires discernment, which involves prayer and engagement. The charisms of Cor Jesu are very specific; therefore, the discernment process necessarily requires the individual to introspectively review his or her spiritual life and faith life so that they may see a level of congruence with the objectives and work of the Society.
During the discernment process, we encourage individuals to learn more about the Society, talk to an existing member, and most importantly, reflect on the gifts, talents, passions, and ambitions within oneself.
There is no right or wrong answer in the process of discernment. Ultimately, discernment is the process of attentively listening to God and discerning what He has planned for you.
In the Cor Jesu Society, the period of discernment can take a few weeks to a few months and can also include a portion of the individual’s postulancy (see below). Prospective postulants are asked to schedule regular meetings with our Superior General and other existing members. Prospective postulants are encouraged to learn as much about the Society as possible before formally petitioning to become a member of the Society.
After a prospective member decides to formally consider the Cor Jesu Society, they begins the postulancy period. For the most part, this is a more formal continuation of the discernment process. Conversations and meetings with current C.J.S. members continue and the aspirant completes the application for candidacy.
With the period of discernment, postulancy can take anywhere between three to six months. After the Executive Chapter (the management body of the C.J.S.) approves the individual’s application, the aspirant goes through the Rite of Initiation, thereby finalizing an aspirants petition to join Cor Jesu The aspirant now enters the Novitiate.
Once admitted into the Novitiate of Cor Jesu, the novice undergoes the C.J.S’s formation program, eventually graduating to study with all priests of the Society once an assessment and individual course of study has been completed.
For clergy, those without familiarity with the Roman Rite of Catholic liturgy are trained and formed in this venerable liturgical tradition. For laity, formation involves various spiritual exercises and instruction to allow the individual to cultivate a deeper and more intimate understanding of the Mass, thereby spiritually enriching his or her participation in the Liturgy.
Upon completion of the Novitiate and with recommendation by those involved in the individual’s formation, the novice professes simple vows during the Rite of Profession.
Given the disposition of the modern-day person and the various demands of contemporary society, members of Cor Jesu renew their vows every two years as a periodic review of their spiritual lives and commitment to the charisms of the Society.
For some members, upon consultation with their spiritual advisors and directors, they may wish to make a “perpetual profession” in which they commit their lives to the objectives and charisms of the Society.
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