Conventuals

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(1.) Monks or clerical knights who are members of a convent, and have the right of voting at the meetings ( Conventus ). (See Convent).

(2.) Monks in general, in opposition to hermits.

(3.) In several orders, especially the mendicant, Conventuals is a name for those congregations which follow a mitigated rule, (See Franciscans), (See Carmelites), in opposition to the Observants (q.v.), who demand the observance of the rigorous primitive rule, and who sometimes even pass beyond it. The name is especially applied to the Franciscan conventuals, (See Franciscans).

(4.) Sometimes, also, a community of candidates for the priesthood, who, in a monastic manner, lived in common under a provost, were designated by this name.