personal possessions

[4EverHis]

Hi

this might be sort of an odd question, but I’m just wondering, for orders such as the Carmelites… and other cloistered contemplative orders… are the nuns allowed to keep things such as family photographs, etc? or would this go against the vow of poverty?

thanks

 

[JReducation]

Hi

this might be sort of an odd question, but I’m just wondering, for orders such as the Carmelites… and other cloistered contemplative orders… are the nuns allowed to keep things such as family photographs, etc? or would this go against the vow of poverty?

thanks

It depends on the constittutions of the community. Even though the order has a common rule, in the case of the Carmelites they follow the rule of St. Albert, the monastery or the federation (if it belongs to one) has a constitution that spells out how to live the rule. You would have to check with the particular monastery and see what they allow.

Having family pictures is not against poverty. However, some communities have rules about attachment to the past and about simplicity in your space, i.e. your room.

I’m not a nun or a woman religious for that matter, but in our community we keep family pictures in a personal album. We do not clutter our living space with pictures. It has nothing to do with poverty. It has to do with distraction when you need to be praying, studying or resting.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Monica4316]

Thank you! I see the point about not putting up pictures around… I just meant keeping some photographs in an album