The Aspirant

     An aspirant is any young woman who desires to become a religious. She must determine which community God is calling her to, namely by prayerful consideration, making inquiries to various religious houses, and by visiting the communities that inspire her. Generally during a visit, the aspirant will have the opportunity to live and work among the sisters for a week or more. Young women who still have uncertainties may return several times for a visit before making any decisions. 
     An aspirant becomes an "applicant" when both the community and the aspirant are willing to try or test the vocation. She is given an application form to complete, and once her application is confirmed, she receives a letter of acceptance along with a date for her entrance.
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The Candidate Becomes a Postulant

      The Postulant has not yet been granted the holy habit, but instead is clothed in a white blouse, a simple dress, and a small black veil. She anticipates the day that she will receive her religious name as a bride of Christ, therefore the title of "Sister" is placed before her baptismal name. The Postulant will spend the next six to nine months becoming acquainted with the basics of community life and the spirituality of the house. The Postulant is free to leave of her own accord at any time during this phase of formation. The community is also free to dismiss her at any time during the Postulancy.
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The Postulant Becomes a Novice

Having completed the period of Postulancy, and having received the community’s approval, the Postulant prepares for her Clothing day. She is clothed as a bride of Christ with beautiful wedding attire, and is privileged to publicly pronounce her consent in striving for perfection. She receives the holy habit with a white veil, a large black rosary, a Benedictine disciplina strap, and her new religious name. The novice will spend the next year in silence, during which she attends classes concerning religious life, the Holy Rule, and spirituality. A second year will follow, during which the novice will be introduced more fully into the community's apostolate. The Novice is free to leave of her own accord at any time during the next two years. The community as well is free to dismiss her at any time during the novitiate.
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The Sister Makes Her Triennial Vows

  Having completed the two years of the novitiate and having received the approval of the community, the former novice is free to become a professed sister by making her triennial vows. During the ceremony, she publicly professes to Jesus Christ that she will observe the vows of obedience, stability, and conversion of manners to the best of her abilities for three years. The newly professed sister receives the black veil which distinguishes her as a vowed bride of Jesus Christ.
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The Sister Makes Her Final Profession

   Having confirmed her vocation through years of testing and having received the approval of the community, the sister is free to make her final profession. The Spouse of Christ fervently renews her vows for life, and receives the long-awaited wedding ring, reminding her that she must continue to strive for Christ-like perfection until death. From henceforth, she is the Spouse of Christ and a Sister of Our Lady of Reparation.