Gabriela Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 Aka "the learning thread". Post interesting, little-known facts about vocations here. I'll go first: What's the difference between a "sister" and a "nun"? Go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PadrePioOfPietrelcino Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 I believe it is a similar distinction as between a Friar and a Monk... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spem in alium Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 Nice idea! I think a nun lives a more contemplative, cloistered life, while a sister is more active in ministry. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristinaTherese Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 (edited) "Sister" is a popular name for women in religious life. (http://www.catholicreference.net/index.cfm?id=36510) "Nun" is a more specific title for a woman in a cloistered, contemplative order, but it is also used more generally for any woman in a religious order. (http://www.catholicreference.net/index.cfm?id=35181) ETA: Those are summary-ish of the dictionary entries linked to. Edited April 26, 2013 by Christina Thérèse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 A Nun takes different vows than a Sister takes. Brother Jay from Catholic Answers Forums has practically written books with his posts about the subject. I would direct you to him if you had any questions on it. His name there is JReducation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maximilianus Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 (edited) What is the difference between an institute of consecrated life and a society of apostolic life? Bonus: name one institute of consecrated life and and one society of apostolic life. Edited April 26, 2013 by Maximilianus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Totally Franciscan Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 Aka "the learning thread". Post interesting, little-known facts about vocations here. I'll go first: What's the difference between a "sister" and a "nun"? Go. A nun makes Solemn Vows. A sister makes Perpetual Vows. It is the vow that is the distinguishing feature between nuns and sisters. Most nuns live in cloistered monasteries, but the living arrangements are not the distinguishing feature between the two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToJesusMyHeart Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 What is the difference between an institute of consecrated life and a society of apostolic life? Bonus: name one institute of consecrated life and and one society of apostolic life. Can't articulate the difference, but Inst. of Consecrated Life: Regnum Christi Soc. of Apolstolic Life: Apostles of the Interior Life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PadrePioOfPietrelcino Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 In researching an answer I found this...so I stole it. "Generally, societies of apostolic life are secular. They are real communities, such as the Secular Franciscan Order. They do have some kind of profession and rule. But they are not consecrated religious. Consecrated religious belong to Institutes of Consecrated Life. As to habits and the title Brother or Sister, that really depends on the statutes of the society. The Secular Franciscans used to wear a habit and use the title brother or sister. In fact, the Secular Franciscans of the Immaculate still do so. Fraternally, Br. JR, OSF" I was just so to the point that changing it would have made it longer :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PadrePioOfPietrelcino Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 Easy peasy one... What does it mean to be discalced ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary's Child Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 lol I know without shoes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Allie Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 What is the difference between the Rule and/or the Constitutions of an Order/Congregation/Community? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriela Posted April 26, 2013 Author Share Posted April 26, 2013 What is the difference between the Rule and/or the Constitutions of an Order/Congregation/Community? Ooooh, that one's hard. From what I understood from my VocDir, the rule is followed by the entire order, but the constitutions are for specific communities. It's really confusing with the Visitandines, because there's a rule, a constitution, and a... something else, I can't remember. Is that right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriela Posted April 26, 2013 Author Share Posted April 26, 2013 A nun makes Solemn Vows. A sister makes Perpetual Vows. It is the vow that is the distinguishing feature between nuns and sisters. Most nuns live in cloistered monasteries, but the living arrangements are not the distinguishing feature between the two. My understanding is that solemn vows are perpetual vows. Those two are the same. The other option is simple vows, which are temporary, usually renewed every year or every few years. So: Nuns take solemn, perpetual vows. Sisters take simple, temporary (renewable/renewed) vows. You are right that cloistered/contemplative communities tend to take solemn, perpetual vows, while active communities tend to take simple, temporary/renewable/renewed vows. But sometimes there are exceptions, so yes, what distinguishes nuns from sisters is the vows, not the apostolate. Someone correct me if I am wrong. This is just what I thought I understood a Benedictine explain to me once! (NOTE: Just because a sister's vows are technically "temporary", that doesn't mean she considers her vocation temporary! On the contrary...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maximilianus Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 Essentially Institutes of Consecrated Life make Religious vows and Societies of Apostolic Like don't.The Society of Jesus is an Institute of Consrcrated Life and the Institute of Christ the King is a Society of Apostolic Life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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