What's the most beautiful habit you've ever seen?

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justagirl said:
Sr. Judith Ann,

Since you travel to parishes for Mass, does this mean that you are not cloistered, even though the community is contemplative?

I have to say, I am surprised that a nun in a contemplative community is allowed to be online! Is that normal?

I am just beginning to discern a possible vocation to the contemplative life, and I’m very curious. 🙂
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Thank you for the questions. They are good ones. We are “cloistered”, although Poor Clares generally refer to being enclosed rather than “cloistered”. The Rule of St. Clare is very understanding of differences in times, places, climates and needs. Clare said we could go out for anything that was necessary, useful, approved and reasonable. This is unlike the rules of other monasteries at her time which usually said that they could only leave the monastery in case of flood, fire and famine.

So, yes, we do go out for Mass, the doctor and dentist, go to the bank, to do the grocery shopping–all those necessary things. We occasionally go out for workshops that enhance our contemplative life which is allowed in our Constitutions.

I don’t know how normal it is for other contemplative communities to be online. We use the computer for our work. In fact, one of our sisters–the oldest actually–takes care of websites. She has designed some and updates those and others regularly. It is one of the ways that we support ourselves. Being in a state with less than a million people with only about 4% of those Catholic, the traditional vestment making and making/distributing hosts is not practical nor would it provide us enough money to pay our bills. We depend on our benefactors to make up the difference. That is the way that Francis and Clare wanted their followers to do it.

I hope this helps and doesn’t make it more confusing for you.
Sr. Judith Ann
 
Sr_Judith_Ann said:
Thank you for the questions. They are good ones. We are “cloistered”, although Poor Clares generally refer to being enclosed rather than “cloistered”. The Rule of St. Clare is very understanding of differences in times, places, climates and needs. Clare said we could go out for anything that was necessary, useful, approved and reasonable. This is unlike the rules of other monasteries at her time which usually said that they could only leave the monastery in case of flood, fire and famine.

So, yes, we do go out for Mass, the doctor and dentist, go to the bank, to do the grocery shopping–all those necessary things. We occasionally go out for workshops that enhance our contemplative life which is allowed in our Constitutions.

I don’t know how normal it is for other contemplative communities to be online. We use the computer for our work. In fact, one of our sisters–the oldest actually–takes care of websites. She has designed some and updates those and others regularly. It is one of the ways that we support ourselves. Being in a state with less than a million people with only about 4% of those Catholic, the traditional vestment making and making/distributing hosts is not practical nor would it provide us enough money to pay our bills. We depend on our benefactors to make up the difference. That is the way that Francis and Clare wanted their followers to do it.

I hope this helps and doesn’t make it more confusing for you.
Sr. Judith Ann
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Thank you so much, Sister! That was very helpful. 🙂
 
justagirl said:
Sr. Judith Ann,

Since you travel to parishes for Mass, does this mean that you are not cloistered, even though the community is contemplative?

I have to say, I am surprised that a nun in a contemplative community is allowed to be online! Is that normal?

I am just beginning to discern a possible vocation to the contemplative life, and I’m very curious. 🙂
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I answered your question, yesterday! but I don’t know where it is!! Oh, dear…
Sr. Judith Ann
 
I think the habits of the Trinitarians of Mary are beautiful.

Here are some photos and some information about them from their website trinitariansofmary.org/.

http://www.trinitariansofmary.org/images/About%20Us/Lord's_Feet/Hna_Capilla_SD.jpg http://www.trinitariansofmary.org/images/Vocations/Hna_Bernadette.jpg

http://www.trinitariansofmary.org/images/About Us/Sisters-fountian-edited-2.jpg

I first saw thise type of habit when 3 of the sisters came to our parish. While their time spent at our parish was brief (perhaps just over a year), when I saw the sisters walking in town, it always provided a moment of spiritual reflection. Continuing, for me, it was an outward sign of their being in the world, yet not of the world.

They are a young order.
The Trinitarians of Mary were canonically erected as a Public Association of the Faithful on December 12, 1993 by His Grace, Most Rev. Bishop Emilio Berlie
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The Trinitarians of Mary are a Roman Catholic community of women who lead a non-cloistered Contemplative Life of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration and Monastic Observance for the Building up of the Church in the World and in support of Catholic Priests.
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If anyone is interested in finding out more about this order, their contact information is
San Diego, California: trinitariansofmary@at&t.net
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Grand Rapids, Michigan: trinitarians@alldial.net
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Tecate, B.C., MEXICO:
trinitasmariae@catholic.org
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Open to young women ages 14 – 35.
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Unthinkable! Nobody has mentioned the habit of the Order of Friars Preachers!

I do note the Nashville Dominicans on the first page, but I personally find the habit of the friars to be more striking, both visually and symbolically*.

Br Ursus OP (Oxford)

St Dominic, the founder

A group of friars in full habit

The white tunic, scapular and capuce signify purity. The purity to which the religious aspires, and the purity of the order’s patroness the Blessed Virgin Mary. The black cappa and capuce signify penance, the very penance by which purity is cultivated.

The habit in its simplicity of colour and form is elegant and practical, as well as highly effective in its evangelical witness. Worn with the cappa and black capuce, the habit is worm and practical for travel. It externally realises the spirit of penitential seasons (Lent and Advent). Worn without these, the friar shines a brilliant white, like Our glorified Lord at his Transfiguration (or, as worn during Eastertide, after his Resurrection).

The scapular calls to mind both the holy labours and the sacred functions to which a friar is called as brother, preacher, and priest**. The simple tunic and leather girdle evoke the monastic spirit of stability and work, while the cappa and black capuce proclaim the mendicant friar’s evangelical vocation as a preacher, one who remains not within a remote monastery but proclaims Christ in the hearts of cities.
  • As a man, I can’t appreciate the call to perfection according to a woman’s religious life as well as I can that of a man’s. I do love the habit of our dear sisters, but for this reason it simply can’t tug at my soul in the same way.
** Traditionally, lay Dominicans of both the first and third orders (such as the cooperator brother St Martin de Porres) wore a black scapular, but this practice was revised last century.
 
i think the Franciscan (capuchn habit) is the most beautiful. not in appearance but by meaning. St.Francis lived a life of poverty, he gave all he had to the poor, so that he could be the poorest of the poor for God. He striped off his cloths and handed it to his father, he left town in a rags of some sort and that eventually became the Franciscan habit!👍
 
mark1617bible said:
i think the Franciscan (capuchn habit) is the most beautiful. not in appearance but by meaning. St.Francis lived a life of poverty, he gave all he had to the poor, so that he could be the poorest of the poor for God. He striped off his cloths and handed it to his father, he left town in a rags of some sort and that eventually became the Franciscan habit!👍
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My view is being changed. 🙂 I’m spending time with the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Renewal this week, and I’m becoming drawn into their lifestyle (so much so, that I am going to be in contact with their VD very soon 🙂 ). Their habits, for both their Sisters and the Friars are so austere and beautiful!

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For me, it is the habit I wear.

Especially when I get to put on the white cloak.
 
ByzCath said:
For me, it is the habit I wear.

Especially when I get to put on the white cloak.
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I know what you mean! I love the way O.Carms “wear” their hoods

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CarmeliteGirl25 said:
My view is being changed. 🙂 I’m spending time with the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Renewal this week, and I’m becoming drawn into their lifestyle (so much so, that I am going to be in contact with their VD very soon 🙂 ). Their habits, for both their Sisters and the Friars are so austere and beautiful!
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i also feel interested in their life… but i know I will never be a CFR because they don’t have a foundation here in my country. if they have one, i’ll gladly consider them.
 
ThomasEugene said:
i also feel interested in their life… but i know I will never be a CFR because they don’t have a foundation here in my country. if they have one, i’ll gladly consider them.
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Is there something stopping you from going overseas? It’s certainly not unheard of!
 
Toribus said:
Is there something stopping you from going overseas? It’s certainly not unheard of!
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yes, first i have no money. going to usa may cost me a million pesos or $21,276.60 . I don’t even have a passport yes… A community interested me, the Brigittine monks… they’re at Amity, somewhere in USA (can’t remember what state! but i think it’s Oregon. This teaches me trust.
 
If we’re talking fiction I’d have to say the nuns in the Sound of Music:
 
Based on a true story, yes - the first part of Maria Von Trapp’s autobiography, “The Trapp Family Singers”. (Definitely worth reading if you can find it.)
 
While the story is true, or as true as Hollywood ever is with a true story, the habits are fictional in that they are not meant to represent the real-life habit of any particular real-life religious order.
 
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