Here in New Zealand the Habit was completely abandoned by almost every order and congregation after Vatican II and the witness of the Habit was lost to an entire generation. Just recently one of the much loved Sisters who used to work in our parish came back for a visit and while the older folk who had personally known her instantly recognised her, the rest of us who had never met her didn’t know who she was because she was wearing ordinary clothing and looked no different to any of the other elderly ladies surrounding her. I for one would have loved to speak to her, but by the time I found out who she was the chance to speak to her had long gone.
I wear a very simple habit during my waking hours and I must say I find it a little disconcerting at Catholic gatherings to have a fellow Sister completely anonymous in mufti approach me and introduce herself. To wear a habit is to bear witness, to be identifiably present and available as a disciple of Christ+ with all the joys and risks that witness entails.
Personally I think many of of the traditional habits were far too ornate and weren’t very practical to wear even if they did look stunning. Plain and simple and fabric suitable for the climate is what is needed in a habit, - not street clothing, - and I always thought it awful that Sisters abandoned covering their heads too.
