Habit Question

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acatholicnun

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Can anyone answer this (any canonists out there?):
Are individual Sisters in totally “non-habited” communities permitted by Canon law or other rules and norms of the Church to adopt the wearing of a habit?
Has anyone ever done this?
I need to know the ins and outs before approaching the superiors, and have been unable to find answers anywhere.
:confused:
 
Dear acatholicnun;

To answer your question alot depends on the religious community that you are a member of. I must backtrack and say that by your “name” I assume that you are part of a religious community.
The wearing and use of a habit is dictated by the norms and canons of the religious community that you are part of as well as any rules imposed at the local house that you are a member of.

I assume that since you are a member of a religious community that you have taken the three traditional vows; i.e. poverty, chasity, and obedence. The wearing of the habit would fall under the area of obedence.

" As a sign of humbleness, the habit must never become an occassion for pride or self-aggrandizment. It should be an outward sign of an inward attempt to live the rule. If it ceases to be this, it becomes worthless and vain."

I would also refer you to I Peter 5:5

The Canons of the universal church do not in this area override the canons, rules and customs of the religious community that you are a part of.

Br Mark, OSB
 
acatholicnun said:
Can anyone answer this (any canonists out there?):
Are individual Sisters in totally “non-habited” communities permitted by Canon law or other rules and norms of the Church to adopt the wearing of a habit?
Has anyone ever done this?
I need to know the ins and outs before approaching the superiors, and have been unable to find answers anywhere.
:confused:
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Your answer really does need to come from an expert. There is probably not enough information from your description to know the answer. Is this a community that has worn street clothes and now some want to change into a habit? Or is this a community living a rule that are not diocesan rites and are wearing habits? When you find an expert, more specifics will be needed to answer your question.

Kathie
 
Canon Law would not be the only place to look for an answer here.

Each community has their Rule and Constitutions which should cover some of this and a religious is bound to these by virtue of their Vow of Obedience.

Even if the Rule and Constitutions do not cover it they are still bound by their Vow of Obedience to their religious superior.
 
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! :eek:

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! 😊
 
acatholicnun said:
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! :eek:

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! 😊
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Oh, you are certainly not alone in this, but I am speaking only of those who are considering a vocation. It would seem that all I talk to of all ages would only consider a full habit order. I don’t feel it to be pride. I have been talking to my spiritual director of late about pursuing a community towards diocesan approval…rural nuns in full habit. In my area there is one 79 year old priest for 5 parishes. Not that a nun can help the priest because the lay faithful are just super helping him. But these rural children grow up never seeing a nun and do not have that visible witness.

Kathie
 
And thanks to Bro. David, too…I didn’t see your post as I wrote my last post! 🙂
 
Canon law (universal law of the Church) does require the wearing of a habit by all religious. However, that law is put into practical terms by the rules and constitutions of the order. You probably should see what is in your rules and constitutions as your first step in coming to answer to your question. An order could make use of a non-traditional habit (take for instance Mother Teresa’s order – if anything, that is not anywhere near the “traditional full habit” that so many traditionalists seem to prefer) and yet be within the guidelines of the Church.
 
Dear acatholicnun;

Again I direct you to review the Rule, the Canons and the Customary of your religious community and theirin you will find the answer to your question regarding the traditional habit in your community. And no it is NOT covered under the general canons of the universal church.

I believe that you have taken a misunderstanding of the writings of Vatican II as well as the writtings of the popes since the council.
But let say that your understanding is correct then as you say your superiors are “incorrect” and “misguided”; but never the less that would make you fall into the catergory of being vain and the vow of obedience to one’s superior would come into question.

Thirty years ago when I was a novice, there was a fellow novice who was rather pious sort of individual; however this did not mean that he was a good canidate to join a religious community. This person always wanted to wear the traditional habit, but this was not productive when he was given chores i.e. feed the cattle, clean the stalls, working in the gardens, etc. He felt that he did not have to do any sort of physical / manual labor and that all he should have to do is pray. While praying is a very important aspect of being a monk; it is not the end all. St Benedict directs us in this regard and says the manual labor is a form of prayer if done with the right attitude. This person’s piety also took the form of flagellation, which it appeared that he took great delite in. However it does not lead one to a more spiritual insight into one’s own life; especially one who is a member of a community. Due to these examples that I have given into this person’s piousness, he was deemed inapropriate to remain in the community and he left. The two area that he came into conflict with the community was his inability to obey his superior (the abbot, as well as the customary of the community) and what was deemed as being “conspicuous religiosity”.

Br Mark OSB
 
Hello, Brother Mark.
Our constitution simply says “We dress simply, in keeping with our tradition”. Sort of vague.
I am more interested in perhaps a veil and simple suit…not the full blown 1500s habit…just something that would be an outward witness.
Alas, perhaps this will not come to be…disobedient I am not…even though the case could probably be made that a particular “religious” outward appearance is probably what VII, Paul VI, and JPII were suggesting.
Such is life.
Peace.
 
You can bring these concerns to your superiors without being disobedient of course. When Mother Teresa heard the call to start a new order, she remained obedient to her superiors while she prayed and waited. I was a in the novitiate of a community that wore the full habit, even while working on the farm, cleaning the guest houses, birthing the calves and sheeps, even while cleaning the animals’ stalls. The habit is a sign to the world, and even those full, long skirts with a whimple and long veil allow both hard work and authentic human connection.

I’ll be praying for you and your community. God bless you.

Gertie
 
acatholicnun said:
Hello, Brother Mark.
Our constitution simply says “We dress simply, in keeping with our tradition”. Sort of vague.
I am more interested in perhaps a veil and simple suit…not the full blown 1500s habit…just something that would be an outward witness.
Alas, perhaps this will not come to be…disobedient I am not…even though the case could probably be made that a particular “religious” outward appearance is probably what VII, Paul VI, and JPII were suggesting.
Such is life.
Peace.
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It might be that all you can really do is pray about it and ask the superior. I’ll be praying for you. That’s a tough one.

I did not find anything about religious habits in Lumen Gentium but there is a brief quote from Perfectae Caritatis
  1. The religious habit, an outward mark of consecration to God, should be simple and modest, poor and at the same becoming. In addition it must meet the requirements of health and be suited to the circumstances of time and place and to the needs of the ministry involved. The habits of both men and women religious which do not conform to these norms must be changed.
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God bless!
 
Our Lord has been telling me through inspirations this week for me to “pray for the reforms that are trying to take place within active communities.” Now I see what He’s talking about.

St. Teresa of Avila would be a good one to “talk” to about this. She’s the one who said that when it came to making a reform within a religious house, one has more to fear from one’s fellow religious than from all the devils.

I was about to say, “check to see what your rule states about the habit.” Now that you’ve published that one blip, you’re going to be building your case on your interpretation of “tradition,” or so it looks.

Be sure to state how long you’ve been feeling this; what precisely you plan to do to interpret “tradition”; and use “I” statements. Assure her that you are submissive to her authority. Are there any others who feel the way you do?

Also, be assured that you’re not the only one in this boat. I’ve had one discerner enter an order in Europe, with the intention of leading a reform once she gets to the right place (read: final profession and voting member of the council). She had already sensed a desire on the part of some of the sisters to return to Latin prayers when she was there on discernment retreat.

If God is for you, who can be against you?

HTH.

Blessings,
Cloisters
 
Cloisters said:
Our Lord has been telling me through inspirations this week for me to “pray for the reforms that are trying to take place within active communities.” Now I see what He’s talking about.

St. Teresa of Avila would be a good one to “talk” to about this. She’s the one who said that when it came to making a reform within a religious house, one has more to fear from one’s fellow religious than from all the devils.

I was about to say, “check to see what your rule states about the habit.” Now that you’ve published that one blip, you’re going to be building your case on your interpretation of “tradition,” or so it looks.

Be sure to state how long you’ve been feeling this; what precisely you plan to do to interpret “tradition”; and use “I” statements. Assure her that you are submissive to her authority. Are there any others who feel the way you do?

Also, be assured that you’re not the only one in this boat. I’ve had one discerner enter an order in Europe, with the intention of leading a reform once she gets to the right place (read: final profession and voting member of the council). She had already sensed a desire on the part of some of the sisters to return to Latin prayers when she was there on discernment retreat.

If God is for you, who can be against you?

HTH.

Blessings,
Cloisters
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And, only God knows why my spiritual director has suggested that I read the biography of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. He seems to feel that I need to know that. Pray the God brings light to me on this ! Thank you.

Kathie
 
kathielee said:
And, only God knows why my spiritual director has suggested that I read the biography of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. He seems to feel that I need to know that. Pray the God brings light to me on this ! Thank you.

Kathie
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The DVD, “A Time for Miracles,” is my suggestion. Then you’ve got the story in less than 2 hours.

Blessings,
Cloisters
 
Thank you to Serra Semper, Gertabelle, Sister Rose, and Cloisters, as well! 🙂
 
kathielee said:
Oh, thank you so much, Gemma. That will be great!

JMJ,
Kathie
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Reading the biography of Mother Seton is light-years away from watching a dvd of her life. Mother Seton’s biography is heavily dependent on her thoughts and her prayers. Mother Seton wrote constantly. If you know nothing about her (and for fun), watch the dvd. Then ask your spiritual director for the name of the biography he has in mind - and read it.

You’ll be glad you did.
 
catharina said:
Reading the biography of Mother Seton is light-years away from watching a dvd of her life. Mother Seton’s biography is heavily dependent on her thoughts and her prayers. Mother Seton wrote constantly. If you know nothing about her (and for fun), watch the dvd. Then ask your spiritual director for the name of the biography he has in mind - and read it.

You’ll be glad you did.
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Considering the way my mind wanders when I read…the DVD is certainly going to be ordered very soon! Thanks a bunch.

Kathie
 
Sister,
I think you too much worried about technical things. Your very first inquiry should be directed towards the Constitution of your order. If you do not find a definitive answer there, then you should consult your Bishop, who is the ordinary with jurisdiction over the matter.
 
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