Habit Question

[Shoshana]

Have you considered leaving your order to enter another, more traditional one? Wehave Redemptoristine nuns here who are semi-cloistered. There were 4-5 Phillipino nuns that came in from other orders (Fransciscan, etc) to join them. Only one left her original order first and had to restart her postulancy, while the others went straight to the novitiate.

 

[acatholicnun]

Have you considered leaving your order to enter another, more traditional one? Wehave Redemptoristine nuns here who are semi-cloistered. There were 4-5 Phillipino nuns that came in from other orders (Fransciscan, etc) to join them. Only one left her original order first and had to restart her postulancy, while the others went straight to the novitiate.

Unfortunately, it is much more complicated than that. This option would be akin to a divorce…certainly something I would not take lightly.
I’ll keep praying, studying, and asking questions; in time, the answer shall be revealed, no doubt!
Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Unfortunately, it is much more complicated than that. This option would be akin to a divorce…certainly something I would not take lightly.
I’ll keep praying, studying, and asking questions; in time, the answer shall be revealed, no doubt!
Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut.

Following this thread, Sister…keeping you in daily prayer. This sure must be a painful and difficult time for you …Blessings and my regards…Barb

 

[SisterSnowflake]

I had the opportunity to speak with a group of Sisters from a congregation other than my own…they are from a “newer” congregation (less than fifty years old), approved by the Vatican, and wear your average simple “street clothes”.

When I told the former superior that I had been surprised to discover that both Canon Law and the Decree on the Up to Date Renewal of Religious Life from Vatican II both said that Sisters should wear habits, this Sister, who I consider to be both wise and holy, told me that she knew of this and that her congregation was specifically advised that all Sisters wearing a crucifix or pin of the institute was considered to be a “habit”. Now, this Sister is orthodox, loves Jesus Christ and the Church, and would not be a “rule breaker”…so, perhaps she is correct. The Vatican must have approved all of the constitutions of all of the congregations of Pontifical Rite, so I would suspect then, that the vatican has explicitly or implicitly endorsed or allowed the “street clothes” with cross or pin.

Can anyone here confirm this (or offer information to the contrary)? This could perhaps solve the habit question.

 

[catharina]

THANK YOU, Br. Mark and Kathielee!
I do know that I need an expert, and wondered if perhaps any wandered around here.

My community, to which I’ve belonged for fifteen years, wore the habit until after Vatican II, adapting afterward to completely secular dress with the exception of just a couple of Sisters who wear skirt, jacket, and veil. I always thought this was great and in keeping with the mandates of the Council Fathers and the “spirit of Vatican II” that I’d always heard so much about.

Now that I have studied the Vatican II documents and the writings of Paul VI and JP II, I see that we were misguided and probably incorrect!

I’m certainly not seeking pride or kudos for myself, and would probably most likely find dressing in religious attire quite humbling. My “problem”, if I can call it that, is that it seems to me that Canon Law and the mandates of the magisterium require some type of outwardly religious dress, more than a community pin and small cross…am I correct here, OR, am I misinterpreting the documents?

**While I love my religious community very much, the turns we’ve taken in the last number of years are decidedly very “Call to Action”/Diarmud O’Murchu/Joan Chittester…if you catch my drift. ** Our current crop of superiors are really “out there” and would probably be very angry that such thoughts of religious dress are even crossing a member’s mind (yet, actually, it has been a long time coming, with much personal prayer, study, and discernment).

Notice, too, that I am intentionally being vague about to which community I belong, etc., because I do not want to bring any scandal to the congregation. I will say that we are a pontifical rite congregation and that our documents all have approval from Rome.

I’ve come to the conclusion that God and the Church don’t want our religious to be “celibate social workers”, but men and women proclaiming Jesus Christ.

That’s my “problem” in a nutshell!

Dear Sister -

since this thread continues to be active, I’m going to add my opinion re habit-nonhabit and your situtation. It seems to me that the much greater issue is one of your community’s support of the Vatican and its submission to the same. In other words, there are Sisters around the world who wear no habit at all - because they are serving God in places such as China. They can’t be recognized by their religious garb because they have no religious garb. On the other hand, such Sisters who might be in China from countries in Europe or from the States are there as educated laywomen - and are not publicly known as Sisters while in their mission assignments.

However you can be certain that NONE of these Sisters subscribe to the notions of dissidence and division that is supported by groups such as Call to Action - and yes, I do catch your drift. So you seem to be identifying a symptom (habit) that makes you wary when in fact, more essential is that your superiors have made a choice to look away from Rome for their “best” guidance. That is terribly sad and far more to the point, the heart of the matter, than the accidental of wearing or not wearing a habit. I hope you catch my drift too.

You might want to take all of your concerns to your spiritual director - and if you need a new spiritual director, find one. There are many fine and holy communities within the Church - MANY - some old and some new. If Our Lord is leading you to question your community, then I hope you get some unbiased help in your evaluations. ASAP.

As for your stated likening of “transfers” to a divorce, usually it takes place far more simply, in the manner of taking on a “new adopted family,” rather than a divorce/annulment/remarriage.

You remain in my prayers.

 

[Stillkickin]

I grew up going to Catholic schools and was dissappointed when the nuns stopped wearing their habbits. But I couldn’t put into words why it disappointed me. Then a month or so ago I was watching “The Journey Home” on EWTN and Rosiland Moss was on telling about the oder she is starting in St. Louis and she said this about the nuns not wearing their habits: “the nuns joined their order to change the world, but when they stopped wearing their habits I saw that the world had changed them.” When she said that I practically yelled, YES!! that is why the removal of the habit bothered me so much.

I pray for nuns who have lost sight of where their calling should be taking them.

Stillkickin