Do Nuns Wear Pajama pantaloons?

[i<3franciscans]

[quote name='ToJesusMyHeart' timestamp='1353982871' post='2517352']
When I visited the Sisters of Life a few weeks ago, one of the girls on the retreat asked this exact question about bedtime clothing. She asked in front of all of us, it was a group gathering (about thirty women). I believe she phrased it something similar to "What do you wear to sleep?"

The answer, as given to us by the postulant director, was--quite simply--"pajamas."

(...shocking, right!?!?!!)
[/quote]
I knew a sister who tried to pull off bright pink satin pjs and Uggs when she first entered, but they told her that the sisters generally are "quieter" pajamas.

[mysisterisalittlesister]

Mary brought jeans to wear as pajamas when she entered

[JMJ/M&M]

I was in the Convent years ago & we did have to ask permission to go to the bathroom (as a sign of humility). We wore nightgowns w/long sleeves & when it was cold wore some of our day underclothes over or under them. We accepted it as totally "normal". Our mail was censored (incoming & outgoing). No problem....
We were only allowed to takes a bath 2xs a week & w/a specified amount of water used in the tub; no showers. But we did take our clothes off to bathe. I knew a Sister in another community where they took only showers but had to keep on a coverall. When they complained to the Bishop, he told them they were lucky & that another community in the Diocese had to put blueing in their bathwater....I can tell you one thing: Those were the happiest years of my life! None of that killed any of us!
Go for the goal: Jesus Christ & His Holy Service....

[mantellata]

The above to me sounds like an abuse and over institutionalization ... and I'm usually pretty inclined towards communities with plenty of monastic practices and a well observed Rule. Do you mind my asking what level of approbation the community had? (Public association, Diocesan, Pontifical?) Was this pre-Vatican II?

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='JMJ/M&M' timestamp='1354047273' post='2517818']
I was in the Convent years ago & we did have to ask permission to go to the bathroom (as a sign of humility). We wore nightgowns w/long sleeves & when it was cold wore some of our day underclothes over or under them. We accepted it as totally "normal". Our mail was censored (incoming & outgoing). No problem....
We were only allowed to takes a bath 2xs a week & w/a specified amount of water used in the tub; no showers. But we did take our clothes off to bathe. I knew a Sister in another community where they took only showers but had to keep on a coverall. When they complained to the Bishop, he told them they were lucky & that another community in the Diocese had to put blueing in their bathwater....I can tell you one thing: Those were the happiest years of my life! None of that killed any of us!
Go for the goal: Jesus Christ & His Holy Service....
[/quote]

I don't think I could enter a community that required that a member ask permission before using the restroom. That's not obedience -- that's manipulation and degradation. Using the bathroom is a necessary function of the human body and not something we can control. Controlling a person's use of the bathroom is abuse according to American Psychological Association.

[url="http://nospank.net/couture3.htm"]Using the Bathroom is Your Right, Not a Privilege![/url]

[JMJ/M&M]

It was a Congregation of Pontifical Rite present all around the world. It was Pre-Vatican 2 but the same practices continued for years even after Vatican 2.
Now they have gone in the other direction; probably the "swinging-pedalum" syndrome...

[BarbTherese]

What I meant by "projection one's own concepts around night attire" is that if a person feels that questions about night attire are in poor taste etc., then they probably project that on to others - that they are asking a question in poor taste. We all probably project now and then and no drama. I tried to point out that the person asking may not be 'coming from' poor taste and merely perhaps curious as to whether some sort of special night attire is worn in religious life consistently since religious in habit are consistently in habit during daylight hours - or some other motivation not necessarily coming from poor taste. We are all 'coming from somewhere' (education, experience, possibly cultural influences etc.) and we are all different, unique and one off creations of God - never ever to be repeated as are our various circumstances. "In essentials unity, in non essentials diversity - and in all things Love". A third read of Pope Benedict's "Jesus of Nazareth" has granted me far more internalized understanding than I ever anticipated. An amazing book! Be this as it may, I remain consistently a faulted, weak and in need of Mercy creation. "Why is it that it is not the good that I want to do that I find myself doing and what can save me" [from myself - brackets mine]. Nothing but the Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ" (St Paul)
Another poster did point out and it still can apply that sometimes a "night toque/wimple" is worn at night after receiving the habit. Some other religious orders may have other types of requirements re night attire and probably there are many differences indeed between religious orders on the nightwear score. Other than this, personally I am not uncomfortable with a question about what I wear at night dependant of course on circumstances in which the question is asked.
A religious I know shared that the religious habit and wimple at night caused her to have migraines, which ceased when the religious habit was modified and the night wimple ceased. How she persevered all those many years with almost daily migraines including at night and early morning is amazing - Grace. It witnesses to me that she clearly has indeed (and always has had) a vocation to religious life. She is now professed over 50 years (final profession). She was consistently called upon by her active religious order for quite complex long terms assignments mentally and sometimes it must have been emotionally as well.
Reading these forums I have been totally amazed at all the information that is available re religious life including details of the lifestyle itself - and how open many discussion about the way of life are in fact. I think this is quite positive and a good. I was too afraid (and probably courtesy of very strict pre V2 family and education) to ask almost any questions at all prior to both times I entered. I took it for granted when I entered in my forties that the way of life would not be as it had been in my teens. I was very wrong.

Edited November 27, 2012 by BarbaraTherese

[mantellata]

[quote name='JMJ/M&M' timestamp='1354054190' post='2517892']
It was a Congregation of Pontifical Rite present all around the world. It was Pre-Vatican 2 but the same practices continued for years even after Vatican 2.
Now they have gone in the other direction; probably the "swinging-pedalum" syndrome...
[/quote]

Yikes. Well coming from this side of Vatican 2 I would be inclined to say reform was desperately needed. Perhaps it is why the pendulum swung as far as it did? Nowadays - any Bishop who wouldn't want to get in trouble with the Vatican would never dare to over-reach his bounds regarding something as trivial as how to shower. I am glad that you didn't feel you have any hard feelings regarding what you endured. Martyrdom to be sure!!


[quote name='BarbaraTherese' timestamp='1354056805' post='2517916']
What I meant by "projection one's own concepts around night attire" is that if a person feels that questions about night attire are in poor taste etc., then they probably project that on to others - that they are asking a question in poor taste.
[/quote]

Or we simply believe there is a certain objectivity to the situation itself (whether cultural or otherwise) and leave the intentions of the asker to God.

[DiscerningCatholic]

[quote name='maximillion' timestamp='1354043174' post='2517753']
Do you have periods?
Do you get time off?
Is your mail censored?
Are you allowed to be naked in the bath?
Do you whip/lash yourself/kiss the floor/mix bitter herbs with your food/get hot in that get-up?
Do you ever have fun?
Are you allowed to laugh?
Can you come out if you change your mind?
[/quote]

Kids are the best. LOL "Are you allowed to laugh?" xD

[BarbTherese]

[quote]Or we simply believe there is a certain objectivity to the situation itself (whether cultural or otherwise) and leave the intentions of the asker to God. :)[/quote]

 

Motivation or intentions of another always ideally left to God - man indeed has appearances only, while God knows the heart, and what appears and the actuality can be diametrically opposed...........mea maxima culpa! :)

 

 

 

Edited November 28, 2012 by BarbaraTherese

[Antigonos]

I don't think I could enter a community that required that a member ask permission before using the restroom. That's not obedience -- that's manipulation and degradation. Using the bathroom is a necessary function of the human body and not something we can control. Controlling a person's use of the bathroom is abuse according to American Psychological Association.

Using the Bathroom is Your Right, Not a Privilege!

 

Very early on in my career, even in nursing school, I learned that one was expected to announce to one's co-workers when one took a bathroom break...so the others could "cover" your patients while you were off the ward.  It becomes so engrained that it took me some time to unlearn this habit when I stopped working in hospitals and it wasn't relevant any more as my clinic patients don't need constant attention.

[OnlySunshine]

Very early on in my career, even in nursing school, I learned that one was expected to announce to one's co-workers when one took a bathroom break...so the others could "cover" your patients while you were off the ward.  It becomes so engrained that it took me some time to unlearn this habit when I stopped working in hospitals and it wasn't relevant any more as my clinic patients don't need constant attention.

 

I can totally understand this.  When I worked as a CNA in the nursing home, my co-workers were very unhelpful when it came to covering other patients they weren't assigned to.  I remember being assigned to take a patient to the hospital for a doctor's appointment, which lasted most of my shift.  I came back to find that my unit manager had not asked anyone to help me out so I was forced to stay overtime to do my work and I had not eaten lunch.  I was so angry and frustrated.  No one knew how to work as a team.  You're lucky if your co-workers helped you.