Nuns and Outward Appearances

[miniquedoes]

Hello all I know there are strong opinions about wearing the habit vs not wearing it. I was wondering what are some thoughts about those nuns that do all they can to look their best. I am talking about dying hair (or wearing a wig, even under a veil yes I’ve seen it done), wearing earrings and other jewelry, getting hair done etc… I once met a sister who had dyed red hair, penciled in eyebrows, earrings, and painted red toenails Do you think this would affect vocations to their community also?

 

[Miserys_Fence]

I give very little thought to outward appearances. If the Order does God’s work, helping the sick and the poor, being responsible stewards of God’s creation, and working for peace and justice, I don’t give a flying rat’s patootie what they do or don’t wear,as far as clothes, makeup, hairstyles, etc.

I would love to find an Order that will let me keep my hair long (it’s taken 20 years to grow it out!), but when I find the right one, I won’t care.

Miz

 

[georgewithfaith]

Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, Lex Vivendi

Wear the Habit! Please!

 

[TiggerS]

I do think of the ‘embellishments’ you have mentioned as marks of this world - and that religious are called out of the world, to exist in the world as if they did not and to be seen to be so. To present different standards to this world, higher alternatives - the state of perfection. Hence I prefer some form of habit always - speaking as a layperson. That being so, if I did see a religious in such worldly trappings, I would think “There must be a good reason for it”. I do think that we need to think the best of each other always, for the contrary has a tendancy to divide and be destructive, certainly as a witness to unity and mutual love. If something really offended me, I would not spread it abroad, rather perhaps write a very polite letter to the religious concerned, or speak with her privately. Or if that was not possible, perhaps an equally polite and kind letter to the superior of the religious order. Gossip and finger pointing is always destructive and can tear apart a good reputation, which is a serious matter.

TS

 

[Monica4316]

The purpose of a religious vocation is to leave the world… I think that nuns should wear habits and not be focused on outward appearances. They definitely shouldn’t wear jewellery, makeup, etc, - that is for people in the world, not for people in religious orders, who have a different calling. All these things could be a distraction and temptation to vanity.

 

[jeanne71350]

Hello all I know there are strong opinions about wearing the habit vs not wearing it. I was wondering what are some thoughts about those nuns that do all they can to look their best. I am talking about dying hair (or wearing a wig, even under a veil yes I’ve seen it done), wearing earrings and other jewelry, getting hair done etc… I once met a sister who had dyed red hair, penciled in eyebrows, earrings, and painted red toenails Do you think this would affect vocations to their community also?

I’m actually looking forward to not worrying about all that in religious life. Wearing a veil (not fixing your hair), no makeup, no shopping for all kinds of clothes, wearing sensible shoes sounds pretty freeing to me! It just shows that our husband loves us for what’s on the inside!

-Jeanne

 

[tuscany]

People certainly can do their jobs wearing whatever they like.
Personally, I like to see people dressed in the uniforms of their professions.
When I am looking for a policeman, fireman, airline pilot, soldier, or mailman, I know what I am looking for.
In a hospital though, since the nurses stopped wearing white, I can’t tell them apart from the nurses aids, or housekeeping.
I also think the public is more respectful of someone in a uniform.

 

[TiggerS]

I’m actually looking forward to not worrying about all that in religious life. Wearing a veil (not fixing your hair), no makeup, no shopping for all kinds of clothes, wearing sensible shoes sounds pretty freeing to me! It just shows that our husband loves us for what’s on the inside!

-Jeanne

m actually looking forward to not worrying about all that in religious life. Wearing a veil (not fixing your hair), no makeup, no shopping for all kinds of clothes, wearing sensible shoes sounds pretty freeing to me!

Twice blest are you!!!

It just shows that our husband loves us for what’s on the inside!

As He loves us all - and ideally speaking, so would a marital spouse in the Sacrament of Marriage.
I do think the religious habit is a most attractive and becoming of garments - and it also has much prestige and significance attached to it especially in Catholic circles.

TS

 

[faithfully]

People certainly can do their jobs wearing whatever they like.
Personally, I like to see people dressed in the uniforms of their professions.
When I am looking for a policeman, fireman, airline pilot, soldier, or mailman, I know what I am looking for.
In a hospital though, since the nurses stopped wearing white, I can’t tell them apart from the nurses aids, or housekeeping.
I also think the public is more respectful of someone in a uniform.

But it’s often the undercover cop that catches the REALLY BAD GUYS…

Not having met said nun, I wouldn’t make any speculation on what she’s up too. I could guess… Maybe she’s having a really hard time letting go of her single life??? Maybe she’s appealing to a certain, young female crowd. They might feel she “gets them”… they might open up to her, and in return let her share Christ with them.

Shooting from the hip, it would look odd. I would want more information…

 

[puzzleannie]

Hello all I know there are strong opinions about wearing the habit vs not wearing it. I was wondering what are some thoughts about those nuns that do all they can to look their best. I am talking about dying hair (or wearing a wig, even under a veil yes I’ve seen it done), wearing earrings and other jewelry, getting hair done etc… I once met a sister who had dyed red hair, penciled in eyebrows, earrings, and painted red toenails Do you think this would affect vocations to their community also?

I have been around nuns all my life of every conceivable stripe from liberal to conservative and have never seen what you describe in even the most “advanced and modern” order so I can’t answer.

 

[TiggerS]

Originally Posted by miniquedoes forums.catholic-questions.org/images/buttons_khaki/viewpost.gif
Hello all I know there are strong opinions about wearing the habit vs not wearing it. I was wondering what are some thoughts about those nuns that do all they can to look their best. I am talking about dying hair (or wearing a wig, even under a veil yes I’ve seen it done), wearing earrings and other jewelry, getting hair done etc… I once met a sister who had dyed red hair, penciled in eyebrows, earrings, and painted red toenails Do you think this would affect vocations to their community also?

I have been around nuns all my life of every conceivable stripe from liberal to conservative and have never seen what you describe in even the most “advanced and modern” order so I can’t answer.

Must confess, and having been round nuns all my life both in habit and in secular clothing, I have never seen anything even remotely like it either - not even anywhere near close to it.

 

[Sister_Leocadia]

I personally don’t really have a “beauty” routine. I just wash my face, put my glasses on and I’m done. My habit is simple and so is my veil.

The only thing that might be considered cosmetic, is that I pluck my eyebrows but I don’t do this to look good. My eyebrows are very bushy naturally but they have a tendency to grow inwards on themselves and cause horrible little lumps which I then have to pull the hairs from. Mother allowed me to pluck them after seeing this though I did try to cope without doing anything to them for a while but she put her foot down. So now I have shaped eyebrows which some people have commented on as strange for a nun from an order known for its’ simplicity but it is necessary, I assure you!

 

[puzzleannie]

in fact, having been forced in the course of professional work to associate with some of the most liberal orders of nuns and their schools over the last 30 years I would venture to say some seem determined to make themselves appear as ugly, even unfeminine, as possible, and to avoid anything in the appearance that could be called lovely particularly in the spiritual sense–serenity, modesty, piety etc.

ps routines that are hygienic like shaving and plucking eyebrows don’t in my book come under the heading of beauty enhancement. I curl my eyelashes and pluck my eyebrows, even though I never wear makeup due to allergies, because of ingrowing hairs, on the advice of my eye doctor. and I don’t look noticeably more beautiful because of it, but at my age, who cares?

 

[CathFaith1]

I have been around nuns all my life of every conceivable stripe from liberal to conservative and have never seen what you describe in even the most “advanced and modern” order so I can’t answer.

Same here.

The orthodox nuns I have had the pleasure to deal - tend to wear habits. The few unorthodox nuns I have been around tend to appear quite unfeminine, such as wearing an untucked flannel shirt.

 

[PhilipCal]

As a rather traditionalist layman, I favor nuns wearing the habit. That said, I feel that ordinary good taste should dictate what a Sister wears in place of the habit. There should be sufficient flexibility in dressing for the particular work at hand. But, once more, good taste should be the key.

The very nature of a religious vocation would seem to dictate an awareness of the need for dress in a manner which is both modest, and in keeping with the mission(s) of a given community.

 

[georgewithfaith]

I personally don’t really have a “beauty” routine. I just wash my face, put my glasses on and I’m done. My habit is simple and so is my veil.

The only thing that might be considered cosmetic, is that I pluck my eyebrows but I don’t do this to look good. My eyebrows are very bushy naturally but they have a tendency to grow inwards on themselves and cause horrible little lumps which I then have to pull the hairs from. Mother allowed me to pluck them after seeing this though I did try to cope without doing anything to them for a while but she put her foot down. So now I have shaped eyebrows which some people have commented on as strange for a nun from an order known for its’ simplicity but it is necessary, I assure you!

Sister,

Thanks for posting! It is good to see you wearing the habit because the habit is a great symbol not just for sisters but also for us lay people. I will keep you in my prayers. Nice job on the the blog.

 

[Jesness]

You know the saying you can’t judge a book by it’s cover. If Jesus had looked like Hitler would he have been any less the awesome person that he was/is/and ever will be? So in that regard I can’t say much about what Nuns wear or whatever; but as a matter of preference I like to see a nun if not in the full uniform, at least the habit, because it makes me think of what faith should be- a giving of total self to God. Which is what religious vocation/priesthood signifies to me. So yeah, I like me some habited nuns.

 

[Christine85]

I am wanting to become a nun and I personally believe that I would prefer to wear a habit and uniform as you would call it…the reason being because it would bring equality with the other Sisters in the order and theres something about wearing a habit veil over ones head that I believe would make you more prayerful:nun1:

 

[patsydtr]

It is my humble opinion that women religious should take on the habit. When we hear Our Lords’ Summons and accept it, we are, or should be, out of the secular world.
I have not yet entered, but in preparation I have discarded most of my clothing and shoes. I no longer wear makeup or perfumed items. My skirt and dress lengths are mid-calf and I wear 3/4 sleeves or full length sleeves. I do not show the outline of my body, in dress as I want to be humble in dress and in manner. The order I am joining wears a full black habit and bonnet with veil. I once desired to enter a Benedictine Monastery, but when I saw the “Nuns?” in colorful street clothes, wearing earrings and make up, I was horrified!
If women want to dress in this way, they should work at a bank!

 

[TiggerS]

It is my humble opinion that women religious should take on the habit. When we hear Our Lords’ Summons and accept it, we are, or should be, out of the secular world.
I have not yet entered, but in preparation I have discarded most of my clothing and shoes. I no longer wear makeup or perfumed items. My skirt and dress lengths are mid-calf and I wear 3/4 sleeves or full length sleeves. I do not show the outline of my body, in dress as I want to be humble in dress and in manner. The order I am joining wears a full black habit and bonnet with veil. I once desired to enter a Benedictine Monastery, but when I saw the “Nuns?” in colorful street clothes, wearing earrings and make up, I was horrified!
If women want to dress in this way, they should work at a bank!

May God bless you richly in your vocation.

I do admire your fashion restraint and though not planning to enter religious life, I am very much the same i.e. non fashion conscious - and these are just personal choices of our own for ourselves for whatever reason.
Re the religious habit and religious orders. As I understand things, The Vatican instructed religious orders to return to their roots and that there was no obligation on an order to wear the religious habit unless it was written into their constitution and that those in ministry where secular clothing would be more appropriate, then secular clothing could be worn (providing the habit was not written into their constitution).

POST-SYNODAL
APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION
***VITA CONSECRATA ***
OF THE HOLY FATHER
JOHN PAUL II
"Since the habit is a sign of consecration, poverty and membership in a particular Religious family, I join the Fathers of the Synod in strongly recommending to men and women religious that they wear their proper habit, suitably adapted to the conditions of time and place.

Where valid reasons of their apostolate call for it, Religious, in conformity with the norms of their Institute, may also dress in a simple and modest manner, with an appropriate symbol, in such a way that their consecration is recognizable.Institutes which from their origin or by provision of their Constitutions do not have a specific habit should ensure that the dress of their members corresponds in dignity and simplicity to the nature of their vocation."

If one feels called to religious life and follows that call and has a preference for wearing the religious habit, then to choose a religious order who wears a habit would be the way to go I should think. I know nuns in habit and in secular clothing. The ones I am referring to are admirable women indeed who work hard in their particular vocation and with total dedication. It strikes me as very sad and creating divisions in The Church when a preference for the habit seems to mean one criticizes those religious not in habit - or vv. It is up to each religious order to conform to their particular roots and constitution and we on the outside looking in owe them respect I think and no matterwhat they may wear Matthew Ch6

[25] Therefore I say to you, be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat, nor for your body, what you shall put on.

I think probably what might evolve is that religious in habit and religious in secular clothing will continue to unfold side by side - each for their own valid reasons - and with mutual love and respect for each other and hopefully from the laity too. It is what we owe to each other no matter what we wear.

Peace!

TS