What are the beliefs, values, norms, and goals of the Catholic Nun culture?

[aslokl]

How are these norms enforced?
What are the manifest and latent functions and dysfunctions of these norms?
What are the motivations to join this culture?
How does class, race, gender, or other inequalities operate in this culture?
What is the relationship between this culture and larger society?

 

[Cat]

How are these norms enforced?
What are the manifest and latent functions and dysfunctions of these norms?
What are the motivations to join this culture?
How does class, race, gender, or other inequalities operate in this culture?
What is the relationship between this culture and larger society?

I’m a convert, so I’m not particularly knowledgeable about this question. But doesn’t the answer to the OP’s questions depend on the Order?

 

[Oneofthewomen]

How are these norms enforced?
What are the manifest and latent functions and dysfunctions of these norms?
What are the motivations to join this culture?
How does class, race, gender, or other inequalities operate in this culture?
What is the relationship between this culture and larger society?

I think a lot of this depends on the order or the congregation that one belongs to.
Each one has it’s own charism and rule.

As a side note, “nun” is kind of a misnomer.
Lay people do not usually see 'nuns" as a nun lives in a cloister and leaves the “world” for a life of prayer, contemplation & solitude.

A “sister” is what most people think of when they say “nun”, the women who taught in schools, worked in hospitals, etc.

A "sister’ friend of mine says it this way-
*

All nuns are sisters, but not all sisters are nuns.

 

[I_love_rocks]

I agree there are wide variations between orders, but some things are pretty standard. If you meant Nun’s then it would be in cloisters. Prayer is always the biggest part of cloistered life, but it takes on many forms. Some are geared towards contemplative prayer, some are mostly intercessory prayer warriors, some are in silent prayer, there is always - to my knowledge - the Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Personal prayer, Community prayer, usually some form of work or labor, the day usually begins very, very early - like 4A, 4:30A… something like that. Depends on the disciplines of the order. They would have a community meal together. They all take a series of vows, like poverty, chastity, and obedience. They are in in strict obedience to the Mother of the convent, and the Pope and of course the Magesterium which includes the Pope and the bishops. They are usually allowed some very small form of visitation from family, not sure if its like once a year for a certain period of time. That may also vary from one order to the next. And each order would have been founded and carried forth under the patronage of one person or devotion, such as Franciscans / Poor Clare’s - try to live their lives as their patron saint did. I believe they all take another name or part of a name which becomes their new identity and it would be a Saint name such as Mary, Therese, etc. When cloistered, they live sparsely, without a lot of creature comforts. Different disciplines may be their physical labors like laundry, baking, and yard work, early mornings, some have specific vocations such as a teaching order (filled with teachers and there would be a certain degree of focus on higher learning). It is a calling - and final vows constitute a lifelong vow of consecrated Holy Orders. One norm would be humility. One goal would be total surrender to God. Beliefs and Goals would be the same as all Catholics, and there may be additional values such as is customary in their order. One example may be mortification, or to be in a state of perpetual prayer. Were you looking for general stuff, or something more specific? Does that help?

 

[Zacdecat]

Obviously, you are not Catholic!

Love of God is the transcendent motivation for a young person to test their vocation.

What are the motivations to join this culture?
The process is deliberately slow and drawn out as to make a final profession is not trivial
The person intent on testing their vocation dialogues with the superior of an order usually in conjunction with their priest. Different orders pursue different goals whether that of the world or not.

How are these norms enforced?
What are the manifest and latent functions and dysfunctions of these norms?
What are the motivations to join this culture?
How does class, race, gender, or other inequalities operate in this culture?
What is the relationship between this culture and larger society?

**How does class, race, gender, or other inequalities operate in this culture? **
The question of class,race,gender is a little peculiar…If you are Catholic, that is enough.
No-one is naive to think human passions can get in the way of living together…it is enough that if it is God’s Will, mere mankind strives for the humility required to co-exist with people from all walks of life

**How are these norms enforced? **
There is a Rule to be followed.

**What is the relationship between this culture and larger society? **
The Order will perform in keeping with works of Christian Charity in ways of education,the care of the Sick etc. The best role of course is the quiet dedication to a Catholic life to be seen by society.

 

[aslokl]

Thank you all! Your insight was very helpful and much appreciated!