Staring at Priests and Nuns

[GilChrist77]

Let’s start with your closing observation. We don’t sit on scapulars because they tug at your neck making it difficult for you to breath. You pull it foward and drape it over your lap.

Kissing the scapular is a particular tradition of certain religious congregations. Franciscans don’t kiss the scapular. It’s not part of the Franciscan tradition. In the Franciscan tradition the scapular was originally an apron that Francis designed for the novices. It was later, through the inspiration of the Carmelties that the scapular became a sacramental in the Catholic Church. In keeping with the Carmelite spirituality, many communities adapted the custom of kissing the scapular. But scapulars were around long before the Carmelite began to spread of the devotion to the scapular. Like I said, they were originally aprons.

My community wears it to remind us that we must be like Christ who put on an apron and washed his disciples’ feet. As Franciscans we are called to imitate Christ in the most literal sense.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Thank you!

JMJ+
~Betsy

Totus tuus Maria!

 

[LookingForFaith]

I love this thread! (Just had to say it)

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Scapulars are the most annoying garment. They manage to wrap themselves around your face when the wind blows, get caught in electronic sliding doors and car doors. They manage to sping around when the wind is blowing, making you look like a helicopter about to ttake off. And if you sit on them, you can’t stand up, because they tug at your throat. I know, because I wear one. LOL

I think our lady meant them to be a test of patience.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

I learned a new pitfall.

Leaning over to help a student with an assignment, she rolled her chair back and I did not realize it was on my Scapular until I tried to stand up. There was much laughter that day.

 

[JReducation]

I learned a new pitfall.

Leaning over to help a student with an assignment, she rolled her chair back and I did not realize it was on my Scapular until I tried to stand up. There was much laughter that day.

I never had that happen, but I once worked in a psychiatric school and one student tried to hang me by the chord on my habit. Let me tell you, it is not a pleasant feeling when that chord is pulled, because it pulls in at your belly and you can’t breath. From that day on I made it a point to wear our short working tunic, which is nothing more than a habit that is cut off below the hip. It looks like a hoody and you wear jeans with it.

Habits can be dangerous, if you’re not careful. I know a Capuchin who was studying medicine. Their cowl is very long. While in a lab, he leaned back on a table and it caught fire from a bunsen burner. No one was hurt, but it was a scary moment.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[barb_finnegan]

I never had that happen, but I once worked in a psychiatric school and one student tried to hang me by the chord on my habit. Let me tell you, it is not a pleasant feeling when that chord is pulled, because it pulls in at your belly and you can’t breath. From that day on I made it a point to wear our short working tunic, which is nothing more than a habit that is cut off below the hip. It looks like a hoody and you wear jeans with it.

Habits can be dangerous, if you’re not careful. I know a Capuchin who was studying medicine. Their cowl is very long. While in a lab, he leaned back on a table and it caught fire from a bunsen burner. No one was hurt, but it was a scary moment.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Talking about the medical field and the habit…

In 1994 and 1998 I visited Quebec City, Canada, and one of the places I visited was the Museum at the Hotel-Dieu Hospital, which was the oldest continually-operating hospital in North America.

One of the exhibits showed the old habit of the Hospitalier Sisters, who still run the hospital. It was a long white tunic with flowing sleeves, and a long black veil. I wondered to myself when I saw it, ‘What happened when the Sisters had to assist in the operating room? They would have to have been very careful not to get those long sleeves inside a patient’s body!’

 

[JReducation]

Talking about the medical field and the habit…

In 1994 and 1998 I visited Quebec City, Canada, and one of the places I visited was the Museum at the Hotel-Dieu Hospital, which was the oldest continually-operating hospital in North America.

One of the exhibits showed the old habit of the Hospitalier Sisters, who still run the hospital. It was a long white tunic with flowing sleeves, and a long black veil. I wondered to myself when I saw it, ‘What happened when the Sisters had to assist in the operating room? They would have to have been very careful not to get those long sleeves inside a patient’s body!’

There are special surgical habits that men and women religious wear for this type of function. They have cuffs rather than flowing sleeves. In the cases of sisters, the veil is is cut so that it can be folded back and pinned behind the head. There is not starch or bandeau in it. In the case of men, the surgical habit does not have a hood. It has an oriental collar. The bottom of both is narrower so that you can wear a surgical gown over it. Normally, the bottom of a habit is 120" in circumferences. A surgical habit is 90" in circumference. It fits better under a surgical gown.

Many communities of men, such as the Alexian Brothers, do not wear a habit in the hospital, because they are not sanitary. Sisters, such as the Hawthorne Dominicans do not work in hospital wards where there is a danger of contagion. But those who do have a nursing habit and a habit for daily wear. The nursing habit is changed daily.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[HarmonyServant]

Can I pop in with a story? It deals with my mother because she was mistaken for a Sister.

Last fall, my mother took my grandmother to the doctor for a routine check-up. Well, mom decided to wear a black skirt, white blouse, and her silver crucifix. Did I mention that my mother also has short hair? She’s signing my grandmother in at the front desk, and she hears all these whispers. Finally, someone walks over to her and says, “What Order do you belong to, Sister?”

We shared a good-hearted laugh over that one. :yup:

 

[JReducation]

Can I pop in with a story? It deals with my mother because she was mistaken for a Sister.

Last fall, my mother took my grandmother to the doctor for a routine check-up. Well, mom decided to wear a black skirt, white blouse, and her silver crucifix. Did I mention that my mother also has short hair? She’s signing my grandmother in at the front desk, and she hears all these whispers. Finally, someone walks over to her and says, “What Order do you belong to, Sister?”

We shared a good-hearted laugh over that one. :yup:

I love it.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF:thumbsup:

 

[JReducation]

I was married. My wife died when my kids were four and nine. Today they are 20 and 25. One day I attended a birthday part with my kids. It’s an old friend of the family. I went in my habit with my two kids.

When I introduced them as my children or they referred to me as Dad, instead of Brother or Friar, the eyes and the whispers could be heard all over the room. I began to laugh.

Finally, one doctor who was at the party asked me to sit down and asked me how I could have children. To which I responded, “You’re a doctor and you don’t know the answer to this?” He cracked up.

I then went through the list of people who had children and became religious:

St. Rita
St. Augustine
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
The Apostles
St. Joaquina of Vedruna
St. Louise de Marrillac
and many others.

He said, “I guess you’re in good company then.”

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[leann1014]

ok, I live in NYC. We NEVER see nuns, priests etc. So I was walking by central park and saw 2 sisters from Mother Teresa’s order, Missionaries of Charity. Tears came to my eyes and I rushed to be closer … I dont even know why. They were talking to people, EVERYONE was staring at them lol as they walked around and prayed with people, it was amazing to watch. I wanted so badly to talk to them, but a stranger came up to talk to me and so not to be rude, spoke with the person…and they mysteriously disappeared.
I’ll never forget it. I might never know why I tear up when I go to Mass or see sisters walking along.
Star

 

[JReducation]

ok, I live in NYC. We NEVER see nuns, priests etc. So I was walking by central park and saw 2 sisters from Mother Teresa’s order, Missionaries of Charity. Tears came to my eyes and I rushed to be closer … I dont even know why. They were talking to people, EVERYONE was staring at them lol as they walked around and prayed with people, it was amazing to watch. I wanted so badly to talk to them, but a stranger came up to talk to me and so not to be rude, spoke with the person…and they mysteriously disappeared.
I’ll never forget it. I might never know why I tear up when I go to Mass or see sisters walking along.
Star

I’m not a sister, but I do wear a habit. I’ll make sure never to walk on the streets of NY. I’d hate to see anyone cry because they see me. Though, given my built and looks, I want to cry. :crying:

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[barb_finnegan]

Can I pop in with a story? It deals with my mother because she was mistaken for a Sister.

Last fall, my mother took my grandmother to the doctor for a routine check-up. Well, mom decided to wear a black skirt, white blouse, and her silver crucifix. Did I mention that my mother also has short hair? She’s signing my grandmother in at the front desk, and she hears all these whispers. Finally, someone walks over to her and says, “What Order do you belong to, Sister?”

We shared a good-hearted laugh over that one. :yup:

That’s a funny one!

I know the feeling…on my first visit to Assisi in 1979, I was outside the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels [a/k/a The Portiuncula] with my pilgrimage group, trying to find an English-speaking friar to show us around. We found a young friar with longish brown hair who was standing outside. In those days I wore a denim kerchief on my head-I called it my ‘babushka’-whenever I went into a church. This young friar came over to me and said, in a soft French-accented voice, ‘Sister…?’ I became rather flustered and stammered out, ‘No…’ I ran into him a little later inside, right by the Portiuncula chapel, and we ended up talking in a sort of ‘Franglais’ [half French, half English]. He was very sweet-his name was Brother…get this…Francois! And I ended up delaying our group’s departure to our hotel up in Assisi proper!

And when I worked in the Catholic bookstore, I always wore sober-looking clothing, with either a crucifix or a medal around my neck. I also had-and still have-short hair. At times customers would ask me, ‘Are you a nun?’ And I’d come back with the retort, ‘No, but I’d be wearing a habit and veil if I were one.’

 

[gepnav]

I once saw a young Dominican Sister wearing a beautiful, long white habit, walking along chatting with a Muslim woman wearing a full, black burkha with only a slit for her eyes.

I tried not to stare.

 

[AllForYou]

ok, I live in NYC. We NEVER see nuns, priests etc. So I was walking by central park and saw 2 sisters from Mother Teresa’s order, Missionaries of Charity. Tears came to my eyes and I rushed to be closer … I dont even know why. They were talking to people, EVERYONE was staring at them lol as they walked around and prayed with people, it was amazing to watch. I wanted so badly to talk to them, but a stranger came up to talk to me and so not to be rude, spoke with the person…and they mysteriously disappeared.
I’ll never forget it. I might never know why I tear up when I go to Mass or see sisters walking along.
Star

I get that too! Where i live i have yet to see a sister - let alone one wearing a noticeable, traditional habit. But whenever i go to a Youth 2000 retreat and see the sisters wearing their beautiful habits, tears come to my eyes. I have no idea why! They are just so inspiring - the unashamed way that they display their love for Christ! I wish i could be so courageous! God Bless all the Religious everwhere!