Mistaken Expectations Can Lead to Terrible Disappointment

 One thing more struck me about the phrase "canonical approval" today when someone who had lived as a non-canonical hermit for a number of years and who had petitioned to be admitted to canonical standing under c 603 made a chance remark. I am grateful she did! She spoke of a priest advisor who felt that after @12 weeks of waiting the person should have already been sent some sort of paper to sign to be granted approval!! This is a serious misunderstanding of what is being petitioned for or why the wait is an ordinarily long one! It underscores why we do not use the term "canonical approval" so much as we refer to "canonical standing" or "standing in (canon) law".

Recently I wrote a piece about transferring from a non-canonical hermit life to standing under c 603. I noted there that one could not simply transfer from a non-canonical hermit state to a canonical one because the canonical one involves added canonical rights and responsibilities. One enters and embraces these through a public act of profession and then, with perpetual profession, by an act of consecration by God in the hands of the diocesan bishop. One cannot simply sign some sort of piece of paper noting one has been "approved" and given canonical standing. One must be professed and eventually consecrated to acquire canonical standing!! The priest who expected this non-canonical hermit to be given some piece of paper to be signed marking "approval" is, if the statement made is accurate, completely mistaken. To the extent this hermit has believed this, she is also completely mistaken and apparently misled in a way that sets her up for significant disappointment.

Consider what c 603 itself says: §2. A hermit is recognized by [or in] law as one dedicated to God in consecrated life if he or she publicly professes in the hands of the diocesan bishop the three evangelical counsels, confirmed by vow or other sacred bond, and observes a proper program of living (Rule of Life) under his direction. [Note the importance of writing a liveable Rule of Life. Note too that the appropriate words for what the hermit does in this process are dedication and profession in the hands of her bishop.]

When one approaches a diocese to be admitted to c 603 standing in law, the approval involved is approval to be admitted to profession and consecration. This does not constitute canonical approval! Again, one is approved to take on the public canonical rights and obligations of an ecclesial state of perfection (to use an older language); one does this by giving oneself wholly in an act or acts of profession. A hermit petitioning for this opportunity needs to understand she is petitioning to be allowed to give the whole of her life publicly to and in an ecclesial vocation with significant rights and obligations, and the church must discern whether she has the vocation to allow this to occur.

I have been writing about this recently to prevent this non-canonical hermit (or anyone else, for that matter) from being hurt and disappointed by her diocese. I have wanted her to know what she has petitioned for and how serious and lengthy the process of approval for admittance to profession ordinarily is. I have wanted her to be able to tailor her expectations because there seemed to be a serious misunderstanding involved regarding "transferring" from non-canonical to canonical standing. I had no idea that a priest advisor believed the diocese would simply have her sign some piece of paper or that twelve weeks of waiting would be considered an exorbitant length of time! Simply having lived as a self-defined non-canonical hermit, does not necessarily prepare one to live a public and ecclesial vocation. It does not even necessarily indicate one is truly a hermit in the way the Church understands that vocation or will allow from c 603 hermits. All of this and more must be discerned by a diocese when they are confronted by a non-canonical (lay) hermit, and that takes time and most often, significant formation as well. When one petitions for admission to profession, one also petitions to be allowed to participate in this entire process of mutual discernment and formation.

I would seriously encourage anyone considering applying to be admitted to c 603 standing, to drop the term "canonical approval" from their vocabulary. One is only approved to move forward with a process culminating in public profession and consecration leading to canonical standing. One petitions to be admitted to this standing in law. There are many acts of approval (and perhaps some of disapproval) along the way. Think and speak instead in terms of standing in law and misunderstanding and commensurate disappointment will be minimized as one's expectations are made more realistic.

Transfer to Canon 603?

[[Hi Sister, is it possible to transfer from non-canonical status to canonical status? I've lived as a non-canonical hermit for the past 6 years and was thinking about applying to be recognized as a c 603 hermit. How long does the process take?]]

Thanks for writing and for your questions. Unfortunately, no, it is not possible to simply transfer to c 603 standing, especially from non-canonical standing or status. This is because one is seeking to move from  the baptismal state to the consecrated state, and therefore to a state where the canonical rights and obligations (for which one must be prepared and into which one must be admitted via profession and consecration) differ significantly. You see, even if one had been a solemnly professed cloistered monastic for three decades and decided she wanted to become a c 603 hermit, she still could not transfer her vows to c 603. Transfers occur between equivalent forms or states of life and then, only with a three year probationary period. 

The c 603 life must be mutually discerned and formed on its own terms before a diocese will agree to profess one. Also, it is not simply about being recognized or approved as a c 603 hermit. When one petitions one's diocese, one petitions to be admitted to the consecrated state of life and that requires profession (usually with temporary vows and then, several years later perpetual vows and consecration). One is not simply declared to be a c 603 hermit, nor recognized as one, one is made a c 603 hermit. That means that one is made ready to make public profession in a public and ecclesial vocation as a hermit living all of the elements of c 603. 

Some of those self-identifying as non-canonical hermits will be more ready for this, and some will be less ready, but the process of mutual discernment and formation must still occur for a diocese to admit someone to profession and eventual consecration prudently. So, how long does this whole process take? Presuming no canonical impediments (marriage is the usual one here, but there could be others), once the hermit's "paperwork" (Sacramental certificates, decrees of nullity, transcripts, and autobiography perhaps) has been submitted a diocese will usually begin meeting with the candidate regularly. They may also ask a c 603 hermit to accompany the candidate to assist with discernment and formation. At some point, the candidate will submit a Rule of Life (this step is by far, the most time-consuming for the candidate). If that passes muster (or even if it has not yet done so), the diocese will request letters of recommendation and the hermit candidate will ask people to submit these to them. All of this can take several years, particularly if the person is a novice at eremitical life. Even if the person has lived alone for a long time this does not make them a hermit, and when they are a hermit, they may not have an ecclesial vocation. 

I would encourage you to think in terms of several years to negotiate this process if one is a good candidate. (Only your diocese can help you know more explicitly.) If the diocese has significant doubts about one's vocation, or if they are clear the person is not called in this way, the process will be much shorter, particularly if there is a canonical impediment involved. My own experience is that so long as a diocese is willing to implement c 603 for a suitable candidate, they will not accept someone in a true process of mutual discernment and formation unless they have some sense they are dealing with an authentic ecclesial vocation. This is one reason they want to examine the person's paperwork before proceeding any further.