Women could not be professed to the Dominican religious life before the age of thirteen. The formula for profession contained in the Constitutions of Montargis Priory (1250) demands that nuns pledge obedience to God, the Blessed Virgin, their prioress and her successors according to the Rule of St. Augustine and the institute of the order, until death. The clothing of the sisters consisted of a white tunic and scapular, a leather belt, a black mantle, and a black veil. Candidates to profession were tested to reveal whether they were actually married women who had merely separated from their husbands. Their intellectual abilities were also tested. Nuns were to be silent in places of prayer, the cloister, the dormitory, and refectory. Silence was maintained unless the prioress granted an exception for a specific cause. Speaking was allowed in the common parlor, but it was subordinate to strict rules, and the prioress, subprioress or other senior nun had to be present. COUNT 5
QSN1 After what age could women become members of the Dominican Order? ANS1 thirteen QSN2 What type of veil must the sisters wear? ANS2 black QSN3 The formula for profession into the Dominican Order is presented in what text? ANS3 the Constitutions of Montargis Priory QSN4 What were the nuns allowed to minimally do? ANS4 Speak QSN5 What were the nuns tested on? ANS5 intellectual abilities