The Spanish Episcopal Commission for Consecrated Life organized a Conference on Male and Female Monastic Life from the 4th to the 6th of October 2018 in order to put into practice the Apostolic Constitution of Pope Francis, Vultum Dei Quaerere and the Instruction, Cor Orans of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (CIVCSVA). The aim was to help the contemplative nuns reach the proper goal of their specific vocation through Formation, the Federations and Associations, and the Cloister.

Those who attended the seminar included: Archbishop José Rodríguez Carballo, OFM, Secretary of the Congregation, who presented in a concrete and practical way the Instruction, Cor Orans and its application for the Cloistered Nuns; Jesus Catalá Ibáñez, Bishop of Málaga, President of the Commission for Consecrated Life of the Spanish Episcopal Conference; Cardinal Aquilino Bocos Merino, CMF. Msgr. Joaquín Mª López de Andújar, Bishop Emeritus of Getafe (Madrid), presented the Ordo Virginum in Spain and the Instruction Ecclesiae Sponsae Imago on the Ordo virginum.

The Carmelite Nuns of the Iberian Region who attended the Conference were: From the Federation Mater et Decor Carmeli, Sr. Mª Dolores Domínguez Pérez, President and Sr. Maria del Carmen del Toro Medina, Secretary; From the Federation Mater Unitatis, Sr. Maria del Sagrario Lorite Beltrán, President and Sr. Maria Mercedes Zárraga, Secretary; From the Verge Flor del Carmel Federation, Sr. Maria del Carmen Izquierdo Marín, President and Sr. Maria Juliana Kanini Kilonzo, Secretary.

The assistants to the Federations, Mater et Decor Carmeli and Mater Unitatis, Fr. Rafael Leiva Sánchez and Fr. Matías Tejerina Espeso also took part in this meeting.