The vow of enclosure is a religious vow made by some branches of the Poor Clares in addition to the three vows of obedience, poverty and chastity.^[1]

The sisters known as "extern sisters" (or "externs") do not make this additional vow in order to be able to handle some of the community's needs outside the papal enclosure.

The Poor Clares constitute the second branch of the Order of Friars Minor, founded in the thirteenth century by Clare of Assisi under the inspiration of Francis of Assisi.^[2]

v t e Consecrated life in the Catholic Church
Types	Consecrated virgin Hermit Religious institute Orders Monastic Cenobitic Chapter Enclosed Idiorrhythmic Canons regular Mendicants Second orders Cleric regular Congregations Secular institute Society of apostolic life
Vows	Evangelical counsels Poverty Chastity Obedience Profession Solemn vow Vow of silence Vow of enclosure
Monastery (List)	Abbey Chapter house Cloister Convent Double Hermitage Priory Refectory
Prayer	Contemplation Liturgy of the Hours Mass Meditation Mysticism Rosary
Habit	Clerical clothing Coif Cornette Scapular Vestment
Members	Superior General Provincial Abbot/Abbess Prior/Prioress Grand master Rector Brother Friar Monk Basilian Sister Nun Hermit Anchorite Novice Master Oblate Postulant Lay brother Porter
Other	Asceticism Foolishness for Christ Tonsure Vocational discernment Monastic cell List of religious institutes
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