Sister versus Nun - same thing?

[Elzee]

Is there a difference? Are they just different names for the same thing? It seems I never hear “She’s a nun” anymore. I only her “She’s a Sister”. I just got to wondering tonight if there was a difference I didn’t know about. (Sorry if this is a stupid question!)

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

A lot of people use the terms synonymously but technically nuns are enclosed and sisters are not. So someone whose focus is in a monastery is probably a nun while someone who teaches, nurses, or does other “outside” work is probably a sister.

 

[Caesar]

A nun is a contemplative religious while a sister is active. Both are to be addressed as Sister.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Is there a difference? Are they just different names for the same thing? It seems I never hear “She’s a nun” anymore. I only her “She’s a Sister”. I just got to wondering tonight if there was a difference I didn’t know about. (Sorry if this is a stupid question!)

Very strictly speaking, a nun is a strictly enclosed contemplative, while a religious sister is in an active religious congregation. Both are addressed as “Sister”…

 

[Paul_Kuzma]

One way of looking at it is that a Nun is a female Monk who takes “solome vows” and is a contemplative religious. A Sister is useually more active in the community and takes less binding “simple vows” but still recieves the special grace that comes with making those vows.

 

[Sr_Sally]

So, the woman working in your local parish, school, hospital, etc is a religious sister and properly addressed as Sister. Someone’s cousin, aunt, daughter who is in a clositer and who we don’t usually see is a religious nun and is properly addressed as Sister.

 

[bpbasilphx]

<< Both are to be addressed as Sister.>>

Except for some Benedictine houses, where solemnly professed nuns are addressed as Dame.