Enclosure in a convent was a local rule for nuns years ago, legislated by a bishop or religious congregation. In 1298, Pope Boniface VIII made enclosure mandatory for all religious women, except in instances of grave, communicable diseases. Most enclosed communities were devoted to prayer and had little or no contact with the outside world.
Some women hadn't entered the convent expecting such a restricted life, and abbesses and prioresses often ignored the arbitrary papal decree. But the Council of Trent (1545-1563) upheld strict cloister and permitted bishops to use police power to enforce it. Disobedience meant excommunication.
Centuries later (especially in the United States), women religious lived with other members of their congregation in convents built, maintained and owned by a parish or other Church-related institution. More recently, when the number of sisters decreased in parishes, groups of religious would join together in inter-congregational living, rather than live alone.
Sometimes convent living is not an option. As convents fell into disuse, many parishes sold, demolished, or renovated their large empty convents for more practical uses, rather than maintain large, sprawling convents for a couple of sisters.
On this date in 1790, a group of Carmelite Sisters arrived in the United States. They set up the first American Carmelite convent in Port Tobacco, Maryland.
- Little White Book, Diocese of Saginaw