What do nuns do?

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What does it mean to be a nun?

What is day-to-day life like?

Do nuns always live in convents or monastic communities?

Can they administer any sacraments? If not, does this mean they have to rely on a priest to celebrate Mass?

What is the sisterhood in relation to the rest of the Church hierarchy? (Do they have authority over other clergy, over lay people, etc.?)
 
They slap kids on the hand with rulers. Just kidding, I don’t know. Thought I’d put that in there.😛
 
There is a technical difference between nuns and sisters, although most people do not make the distinction.

Nuns are usually in the clositered comtemplative orders that work and pray the Liturgy of the Hours inside thier monasteries or convents. Like cloistered monks, they support themselves in a variety of ways just as the monks do: production of food products, liturgical garments, communion hosts, religious art, writing, printing and any number of other activities. I know of at least one group of monks that supports themselves by doing website design.

Sisters on the other hand, although they take vows, are involved in more active apostolates outside of the convent or monastery, such as teaching and nursing and a variety of other ministries.
 
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Emmaus:
There is a technical difference between nuns and sisters, although most people do not make the distinction.

Nuns are usually in the clositered comtemplative orders that work and pray the Liturgy of the Hours inside thier monasteries or convents. Like cloistered monks, they support themselves in a variety of ways just as the monks do: production of food products, liturgical garments, communion hosts, religious art, writing, printing and any number of other activities. I know of at least one group of monks that supports themselves by doing website design.

Sisters on the other hand, although they take vows, are involved in more active apostolates outside of the convent or monastery, such as teaching and nursing and a variety of other ministries.
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A little off the subject, but Emmaus could you tell me what group of monks do website design. That sounds interesting.

Thanks
 
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zeek:
A little off the subject, but Emmaus could you tell me what group of monks do website design. That sounds interesting.

Thanks
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I know of www.lasermonks.com

A monastery that supports itself by selling printer cartridges at very low prices.
 
Dear Archbishop 10-K,

Regarding your question about the place of nuns in the hierarchy, they (along with a religious brother like me) are not in any position of authority–we are distinct from laity but not over them in any way. If you have a chance, read the chapter on religious life in “Lumen Gentium” from Vatican II–you should be able to find it on the internet. Also, try “Perfectae Caritatis” from Vatican II (although that is more specifically for religious).
 
While we are on the subject - are there any good sources for studying the different orders of nuns/sisters ( something that would give a brief history; what their main “work” was, what requirements are to apply to a particular order etc. ). This would be useful for quite a few reasons - adult chatolics who wanted to learn more; parents who want to inform their children or have a child who has expressed an interest in the direction of religious life or even adults who feel they are being called in that direction. How about a guide to the various types of priesthood/monastic orders for parents of a boy so inclined?
 
Interestingly (to me anyway) nuns and monks are technically laity, or were considered such especially in the early centuries.

They are ‘regulated’ of course, if they did not follow a rule of some sort and take it seriously the communities would not have been so long-lasting and successful. The church endorses and oversees some aspects of the monastic organizations.

Although they take vows they are not clergy. They are just like any group of people that may wish to live in common. If a monk should decide (or be required) to seek Holy Orders that is a separate and distinct aspect of their lives.

The monastery property does not belong to the “church” as such, it belongs to them, the community. We could do the same thing right now, pool our resources and secure a piece of property to live together in prayerful coexistence. Of course we would still have bills to pay so we would need to raise money. That’s why most nuns and monks need to work.

That is also why well-heeled donors put up some cash to give communities a start during the middle ages. They ‘endowed’ the monasteries with farms to rent out for income and they also contributed seed money for the building projects. But ultimately, the houses had to make their own way in the world.

That makes it particulary sad when we think of the suppression of monasteries in the past. People assume they were seizing the church’s property, in fact they were taking the property of the disposessed monastics who were often left to starve in the countryside. Think of all the great estates in England that are still called ‘Abbey’. Often the mansions were constructed out of the stones of the Abbey church itself which would now be just a ruin.

Let’s pray for our monastics. A healthy church needs a strong monastic presence in the world.

Michael, that sinner
 
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