A Question About A Nun

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BlyssfulDreamer

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After Mass today at the TLM oratory, I was leaving the church and held the door open for a lady(she was in street clothes) behind me who was also leaving. She the chastised me for holding the door open for her, saying that “Women don’t hold the door open for other women, only men do that.” She also said “You exit the church through the right door, not the left.” (The church has double doors) I was about speechless by this time and said I was sorry, though I wasn’t sure for what. She asked if I was married and I answered i was and she said she was Sister So and So and she dropped her hat and as I was reaching to catch it, i accidentally brushed her sleeve and she stepped back almost aghast and said “You never touch a sister!” By this time I was almost in tears and I wished her a nice day and turned around and left.

During Communion (we had no altar servers today) and she was next to me at the Communion rail and when I passed the paten off to her she wouldn’t take ot, as she had a crucifix in her hands that was quite large…so the priest took it from me and put it in front of her.

I don’t know …this is all strange and I feel I have done something wrong to offend her…or am I being completely silly?

Thanks and please feel free to throw the books at me if need be so i won’t make the same mistake next time.
 
Sound like the number of qualities she has from her religious life is…none.

Write it off to a crotchity old bag of anger… and let it go, Each time you go to church, pray for her… eventually it(she) will become a habit.

(P.S. you have a great day to celebrate your birthday)
 
you’re okay :hug1:
common courtesy allows anyone to hold the door for someone.
as for her other issues, can’t say. but prayers for her would be in order.
 
Thanks everyone, I feel better. I was beginning to think I should have stayed in bed this morning…LOL:)
 
MrS said:
Sound like the number of qualities she has from her religious life is…none.

Write it off to a crotchity old bag of anger… and let it go, Each time you go to church, pray for her… eventually it(she) will become a habit.

(P.S. you have a great day to celebrate your birthday)
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I second this.

And, I would probably ask Father what order she belongs to and let her superior know of the incident as well. I suspect some counseling is in order for this woman.

~Liza
 
I bet you will find out this woman is receiving medication for being obsessive compulsive. Either that or she is just bizarre. This is not typical of anyone’s behavior, least of all a nun. And if she thinks by telling you that she is a nun means that she has some special position in life over you…guess again. We are all equal in the sight of God and we are called to a vocation, be it religious, single, or married life. There is nothing wrong with you. Pray for her, because it sounds like she really needs it.
 
And, I would probably ask Father what order she belongs to and let her superior know of the incident as well. I suspect some counseling is in order for this woman.
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Oh, brother…a crotchety exchange for a moment at the church door, and someone needs to be reported and sent to counseling. Sheesh…:banghead:
 
Chatter163 said:
Oh, brother…a crotchety exchange for a moment at the church door, and someone needs to be reported and sent to counseling. Sheesh…:banghead:
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Yes.

If in fact she IS a sister, she should know better than to treat people this way. I’m not suggesting he ring up her superior to bash the woman and suggest she is admitted to a ward - only that he make aware that she may be having some issues (perhaps with medication as some have already suggested).

The concern is for the “sister”, not an intent of revenge.

Sheesh indeed. :rolleyes:

~Liza
 
BlyssfulDreamer said:
After Mass today at the TLM oratory, I was leaving the church and held the door open for a lady(she was in street clothes) behind me who was also leaving. She the chastised me for holding the door open for her, saying that “Women don’t hold the door open for other women, only men do that.” She also said “You exit the church through the right door, not the left.” (The church has double doors) I was about speechless by this time and said I was sorry, though I wasn’t sure for what. She asked if I was married and I answered i was and she said she was Sister So and So and she dropped her hat and as I was reaching to catch it, i accidentally brushed her sleeve and she stepped back almost aghast and said “You never touch a sister!” By this time I was almost in tears and I wished her a nice day and turned around and left.

During Communion (we had no altar servers today) and she was next to me at the Communion rail and when I passed the paten off to her she wouldn’t take ot, as she had a crucifix in her hands that was quite large…so the priest took it from me and put it in front of her.

I don’t know …this is all strange and I feel I have done something wrong to offend her…or am I being completely silly?

Thanks and please feel free to throw the books at me if need be so i won’t make the same mistake next time.
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A nun in street clothes has no business lecturing anyone.

Why was she dogging you about accidently touching her? How the heck were you supposed to know she was a “nun?”

She’s behaving worse than a child. Personally, I’d bring up her rude behavior with her one on one, and if she brushes you off, take it up with her Superior. If she freaked out like this on you, she’ll probably do it to another, and it needs to be addressed as it sets a nasty example.

She owes you a sincere apology.
 
I found this quite interesting:

Distinction between nun and religious sister

In the Roman Catholic Church, the terms “nun” and “religious sister” have distinct meanings. Women belonging to communities like the Sisters of Charity, or Third Order Franciscans or Dominicans are religious sisters, not nuns. Nuns and sisters are distinguished by the type of vows they take (solemn vows vs. simple vows) and the focus of their good works. The type of vows that are taken are dependent on the Constitutions and/or rule of each community, which are submitted for approval to the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, a body of the Roman Curia. The religious community of a nun is referred to as a “religious order” while the religious community of a sister is referred to as an “institute” or “congregation”. Hence, all nuns are religious sisters, but not all religious sisters are, properly speaking, nuns.

From here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nun

~Liza
 
If in fact she IS a sister, she should know better than to treat people this way. I’m not suggesting he ring up her superior to bash the woman and suggest she is admitted to a ward - only that he make aware that she may be having some issues (perhaps with medication as some have already suggested).

The concern is for the “sister”, not an intent of revenge.

Sheesh indeed. :rolleyes:
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I will affirm the “sheesh.” It amazes me that one person’s account of a brief encounter could be the basis of speculation that someone might need counseling. Counseling seems a typical postmodern solution to nearly every difficulty. It certainly has its place, but I cannot see a single report (one that we can only presume to be true) as the basis for such a suggestion.

We all have bad days, some worse than others, and most of us have at some point in our lives snapped at a stranger. Imagine someone coming back and saying that we might have “issues” that need counseling, based on a single occurrence on a bad day. Sheesh.
 
I think, more than anything, this was God’s way of telling you to pray for this Nun.

Nuns have bad days too.

JD
 
Chatter163 said:
I will affirm the “sheesh.” It amazes me that one person’s account of a brief encounter could be the basis of speculation that someone might need counseling. Counseling seems a typical postmodern solution to nearly every difficulty. It certainly has its place, but I cannot see a single report (one that we can only presume to be true) as the basis for such a suggestion.

We all have bad days, some worse than others, and most of us have at some point in our lives snapped at a stranger. Imagine someone coming back and saying that we might have “issues” that need counseling, based on a single occurrence on a bad day. Sheesh.
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And making assumptions appears to be a “typical postmodern solution” as well. :rolleyes: Why did you ever assume that I meant mental psychiatric counseling? Or that she was mentally ill or deficient? Counseling can and does also refer to simply speaking with someone about a situation, and discussing how the situation could be handled better the next time, and understanding why the actions were not appropriate. To “counsel” someone is to instruct them. It doesn’t always have to mean slapping them down on a couch every week and probing into their deepest psyche.

Dang - talk about jumping to conclusions. Sheesh! :rolleyes:

~Liza
 
And making assumptions appears to be a “typical postmodern solution” as well. :rolleyes: Why did you ever assume that I meant mental psychiatric counseling? Or that she was mentally ill or deficient? Counseling can and does also refer to simply speaking with someone about a situation, and discussing how the situation could be handled better the next time, and understanding why the actions were not appropriate. To “counsel” someone is to instruct them. It doesn’t always have to mean slapping them down on a couch every week and probing into their deepest psyche.

Dang - talk about jumping to conclusions. Sheesh! :rolleyes:
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I never stated, implied, alluded to, or even thought anything about pyschiatric counseling. I am not sure where that came from. I referred only to counseling, i.e., in any form–which is why I did not specify any particular type. I recoiled at the amazingly hasty and quite premature suggestion that some might be needed, on the basis of one person’s version of a single encounter.
 
whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid - proverbs 12:1

the vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent man ignores an insult - proverbs 12:16

a wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke - proverbs 13:1

just some things to think about for the original situation and the discussion that followed.
 
BlyssfulDreamer said:
Thanks and please feel free to throw the books at me if need be so i won’t make the same mistake next time.
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What a wonderful opportunity to show love and compassion to another Christian. As many others have said, it doesn’t sound like you did anything wrong - actually it sounds like you were being very courtious.

Just forget the incidents, except to make sure you smile and say hello to the sister every time you see her. Oh, and of course, pray for her. I’m sure everyone who has responded is.

God bless you.
 
“Women don’t hold the door open for other women, only men do that.” She also said “You exit the church through the right door, not the left.” (The church has double doors)…“You never touch a sister!”
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She may or may not be a nun, but she sure sounds like a nut. That’s my “professional” opinion as an opinionated human bean. 😃

Seriously, if she is a nun, someone should be told. Too many people take this sort of behavior as being “Catholic” because the person is a religious. I had a hard time getting my daughter see past the title when we had a crotchety elderly Sister in our parish. She managed to get on the bad side of the Sister at least once every couple of months & would get an ill-tempered scolding.
 
Bonnie said:
She may or may not be a nun, but she sure sounds like a nut. That’s my “professional” opinion as an opinionated human bean. 😃
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That was my first thought, along with “she’s not really a nun.” I’ve never known a sister to insist on not being touched, that would imply never shaking hands or sharing the sign of peace. If there’s a rule about which side you leave the church I’ve never heard of it, moot point in our church since there’s only one door.
 
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